My summer

Today the Wifer and I launch: MusicTeacherTools.com. This is what I've been working on most of my summer.

MusicTeacherTools is an itty-bitty company that we started in order to hoc some music fonts that I've been developing since 2004. Right now, only one of seven total is live on the site (I am still authoring pages for the other six but the fonts are done). It seems like so much work for something that is only gong to sell for $25. However, we aren't looking to get rich. Rather, we are looking to get just a tiny bit of cash from some of the ideas I am always coming up with that are rather useful and have potential for some kind of profit.

In all, my summer has been quite nice. I didn't have to teach (which was a life saver), I had a few private students, I was quite productive with the fonts and such, and I didn't waste too much time (except maybe when I'm Yelping). I also was able to get sage advice from the lady at the Goose & Turrets. Talking with her during my stay at G&T, the subject of how to let go of micromanagement came up. I am a classic micromanager: I'm always needing to be in control of every aspect of something I'm involved in. Problem is that most of the time it is unnecessary and wastes my time. She told me quite flatly that I needed to "get over it" and ask myself if what I was micromanaging was "the best use of my time." It seems to obvious and stupid but I never stopped to think about prioritizing my time. Well, I thought I did but I never really stopped and said "yes, I could do this now and enjoy it, but is this really a what I should be doing right now." And I should clarify that this all applies to the many side-projects and other things I tend to take on. I get distracted easily when I work.

"ohh, look at this shiny article on 'How to use JSON with Google..."

Yea, I'd love to learn it. But, it isn't the best use of my time.

So, I'm making an effort to be more guarded in general with my time as this summer I've discovered that when I've got time to myself I'm much happier.