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Logging off

Published on: March 20, 2008 by Paul Boag

As you may have gathered if you have listened to this week's podcast, I am intending to go offline for until the beginning of May.

Twitter, Flickr, RSS feeds, blogging, email, the forum and podcasting. They all consume a growing amount of my time and normally I am fine with that. I love being apart of the online community. It allows me to give something back, it entertains me and it generates work for Headscape.

However, recently I have become concerned at the number of half finished projects I have on the go. GetSignOff.com (our product for making design sign off easier) is tantalizingly close to beta. We have re branded Headscape and yet our website is horribly out of date. Finally, the book has been progressing at a snails pace for too long.

In addition I have just returned from sxsw, am hosting both the Highland Fling and Future of Web Design in the next few weeks as well as doing a panel for @Media at the beginning of May means it is time to prioritize for a while.

I have therefore decided to go offline until the beginning of May. No twitter (except perhaps while at conference), no flickr, no RSS, no boagworld emails, no forum and no podcast.

Don't worry I will be back. I just want to experiment with a more focused working regime for a while and see what happens.

Speak to you at the beginning of May :)

Comments

Comments are for the discussion of this post. If you have other questions / comments then post them to the forum or send me an email

Post by Mike Robinson on March 20, 2008 12:03 PM

Good luck, Paul! We'll all miss your ramblings ;)
Post by Lee Theobald on March 20, 2008 12:43 PM

Sounds like a smart idea. You've certainly got a lot on your plate and taking a chance to take a step back and concentrate on certain things is bound to be a big help. So enjoy your break :)
Post by Tony Isaacs on March 20, 2008 1:53 PM

nooooooooooooooooo! oh but of course, I do understand. Good luck with all your projects and expect us to start nagging you around May : )
Post by Peter on March 20, 2008 1:53 PM

We'll all miss you, Paul (and Marcus), but I'm sure the break is a good thing. Good luck! :)
Post by Shaun Santa Cruz on March 20, 2008 4:24 PM

Indeed a very wise move. Good luck!
Post by Jaan on March 20, 2008 5:40 PM

Enjoy the time off. You and Marcus will be missed. See you in May.
Post by Sulcalibur on March 20, 2008 6:09 PM

This is obviously a big blow to all the listeners. I can really appreciate how much time is important (as I never seem to have enough).

I should have known this was going to happen as I was just about to send you an audio question. My curse has now struck the Boagworld podcast.

Also does this mean that Marcus is looking for a part time job because I saw some going in my local B&Q :P

On a serious note, I hope you and Marcus and anyone else involved in the podcast have a great break. Also I'm looking forward to the new Headscape design and all your up and coming projects.

Take care people ;)
Post by dave on March 20, 2008 6:14 PM

It is sad to see you go and I will miss all the podcast and great advice I get from your show. Good luck with everything.
Post by Paul Boag on March 20, 2008 6:34 PM

@Dave... you make it sound like we are gone for ever! It is only a month.

@everybody else... thanks for all the encouragement. I have had an awesome time already. Sent all day working on the new headscape site. Really excited.
Post by bert boan on March 20, 2008 8:11 PM

Flippin eck

I have to listen to Buzz Out Loud and TWIT exclusively for a month? This is a sad day. Boag world is the weekly highlight of my driving all over town. Maybe you should work quickly and get back to your public sooner.

bert
Post by David Fuka on March 20, 2008 11:35 PM

Noooooo! I was about to send an audio question too. Well I will have to wait until May. Do not make it any longer, please. I need my fix of Boagworld!!! It's been great listening to you guys. I have learned a lot from you. Thank you for your efforts and I wish you the best.
Post by Dinu on March 21, 2008 2:19 AM

RIP guys....you will be missed ;)

All the best for all the events coming up. Keep up the good work!!!
Post by Dee on March 21, 2008 8:58 AM

Thank you both for all the hard work you put into the podcasts.

Paul, although I shall miss the podcast and blog updates, I am happy to hear you will be working on you book - can't wait to grap a copy. :-)
Post by Sarah on March 22, 2008 2:41 PM

Noooooooooooooooo!!! This is the end of the world (Boagworld)

Good luck with the Headscape website.

Why stop now? I know that you are busy, but we must have a forum to read - that is essential.
Post by Dave Redfern on March 23, 2008 11:10 AM

hope you enjoy your time off.

although i think it is a big mistake to quit doing everything from twitter to the boagworld forums. it is one thing not doing the podcast but quite another to do nothing for a whole month.

headscape use you as a key marketing tool now you are successful at doing this (attending and speaking at conferences, a reasonably large podcast) it should be not abused, afterall a huge part of this community is your closeness (if that is the right word) and interactivity with people.

Dave.
Post by Paul Boag on March 24, 2008 12:18 AM

@dave I am not following you Dave. What are you suggesting might happen if I go completely offline for a month?
Post by Dave Redfern on March 24, 2008 12:34 AM

@Paul - i don't mean to be rude or anything and I am sure there will still be a strong community around you whatever you do.

But look at the forums, the number of posts have already gone down significantly without the push from the podcast nor your regular presence.

Even you have admitted that you use boagworld as a successful promotional tool for headscape and with you missing 5 out of 6 weeks episodes it seems like you are just abusing the strength of the community that you have built. I am not sure that you have your priorities right taking on several chairs of conferences, building web applications and whatever else at the sacrifice of current projects.
Post by Josh Walsh on March 24, 2008 2:40 AM

Paul,

I love the site and podcast, and respect your decision greatly. We all get overwhelmed and need to prioritize.

I must admit that I think you are a bit extreme here. The Boagworld community is a huge part of your success. Stepping away from the table completely seems incredibly risky.

Please consider stepping away from twitter, down to 1 blog post a week and a 10-15 min podcast. Something to let your readers know that you are still making the effort with your limited availability. We certainly respect your time and are understanding.

I just hope you don't lose too many subscribers.

I'm looking forward to your return.

Josh
Post by Bill Grey on March 24, 2008 2:57 AM

We love both you and Marcus..... but you might as well "reel it in" now. You can't keep up that kind of pace forever. Take it from two "old guys":-)

See you in May!
Good luck from California
Post by Bill Grey on March 24, 2008 3:03 AM

Don't listen to the dire words. You guys are pros... you'll have all the work you need. There's more to life than work. By the time you're 58 (like I am), it all looks different. Put your priorities straight before they put YOU straight :-)
Post by Andy Ford on March 24, 2008 4:39 AM

damn, now my web design podcast listening will consist of the Rissington guys talking about cheese and Star Wars
Post by Dinu on March 24, 2008 7:03 AM

I'm not a big fan of the Rissington one, but that's about the only other half decent web design podcast there is right now.
Post by Lee Theobald on March 24, 2008 9:50 AM

@Dave The forum's fine, it's just a quiet period. It's Easter weekend and I think the schools are off too. So I wouldn't be surprised if a number of people are just away for a few days. When the working week starts up again, the forum will peak up again too.
Post by Paul Boag on March 24, 2008 10:31 AM

Thanks for the comments guys. You actually have a good point re the conference. I have taken on too many and I know I have but once you have committed yourself there is no going back. It is just not an option to drop them. Neither is it an option to ignore my responsibilities at Headscape. Although boagworld is a marketing tool to some degree it doesn't replace a corporate website. With the headscape branding done I havento now do the site.

The problem is that a lot of things have happened at the sametime and they are largely beyond by control. What I will not allow is for my work to impact my family life. I do not that the boagworld community for granted but I do put my family first.

I have taken time off before and don't see a huge problem
with this. Name one other tv show or radio programme which has gone on for over two years without the presenters taking a single break? We all need time off and I believe that people understand that. At least the vast majority do.
Post by Paul Boag on March 24, 2008 11:32 AM

@Dave Sorry one more thing. I hope we haven't given the impression that we ONLY use Boagworld as a marketing tool. When we started boagworld it didn't really enter my head that it would be used in that way. Even today there are more efficient ways we could market Headscape. We do Boagworld because we love it. We love the community which has grown up and we love the show.

Sure from a pure marketing perspective perhaps we should have continued on through this month. However, the quality of the show would have been lower and we wouldn't have enjoyed doing it. Boagworld is supposed to be fun and the day it stops being so is the day I stop.

Boagworlders are the best bunch of people I have ever met and it is you guys that keep it fun. However, even with your support we need a rest every now and then to keep things fresh :)
Post by Dave Redfern on March 24, 2008 1:13 PM

@Paul all understandable, i was wasn't questioning your work load or dedication just noting that a month is a long time to take off for anyone show.

I was thinking las night (my life is exciting!!). You are at 3 conferences this month. Why not get a roundtable together for an hour and do that for a few episodes. you have access to some of the leading people on the web so why not take advantage of them?

Would be a nice change of pace to have a few interviews and roundtables post up.
Post by Paul Boag on March 24, 2008 1:52 PM

@Dave. It is a nice idea but very hard to put together. Conferences are mad and its hard to get people to sit down for anytime. Secondly I am committed to the idea of producing transcripts and this is almost impossible for large round table discussions. Finally these still require editing and actually that takes more work than a normal show.

I appreciate your concern for the show but I guess that is just a price I will have to pay for the good of Headscape. We are backed up with work for months to come. Its hard to justify such a high level of marketing in that kind of context.
Post by Joe on March 24, 2008 11:22 PM

The podcasts are great, and I will miss them the coming weeks.

But have a good break, and hope to hear from you later.
Post by Tony Isaacs on March 26, 2008 12:22 PM

Paul, enjoy your "break" although it still sounds like you are going to be busy and I suppose the fact that people are upset that you are MIA for a month should be taken as a compliment. I love your show, it has been a complete inspiration for me since I have started as a full-time web developer a year ago. You inspired me to learn about web standards and I have read every book that you have recommended. All the best, cheers, Tony.
Post by Stuart on March 26, 2008 2:16 PM

I can't say how sorry we, the boagworld community, will miss you both Paul and Marcus. Saying that mind you I do completely understand what Paul is saying that business comes first is a must. I do admire you Paul for your openness and caring attitude for your community which you have created.

Thank you for all you have done for us all to date and I can only hope that when the 1st of May comes we be able to hear the jolliness of the podcast coming back larger then life.

Now I wish I take more of any active part of the listener and committed more to the site/podcast/forum. O well at least I can go around the forum more!

Thanks once again. Hope the work is going well. Hear from you soon in terms of a podcast.

Stuart
Post by bert boan on March 27, 2008 3:31 PM

Isn't the podcast scheduled for next Tuesday? Which is April 1st? April Fools Day?

Is this just a big hoax?

I'm just saying... These guys are pranksters, anything would beat last years "Which story is not true" bit.
Post by Paul Boag on March 27, 2008 5:13 PM

@Bert... damn what a great idea. Unfortunately it isn't an April Fools.
Post by Sez on March 28, 2008 12:55 AM

Enjoy the month away from Mpegs Paul!

As I came to Boagworld podcasts only in the last year, I have quite a few to get through so the downtime will enable me to catch up on some the 2006 casts, so this is all good for me.

You mentioned GetSignOff.com in one of your recent podcasts and giving Boagworld listeners the chance to test it. Being a Project Manager/Producer I'm super keen to get my sticky fingers on this. I throw my hands up in the air so many times with clients and would love to use a application/tool that helped the process along, rather than hindered it.

(If I ever get it right btw - The spam question is not particulary clear Do you want the URL, just the name, .com?? Maybe, what is Paul's surname instead.)
Post by Matt on April 1, 2008 6:27 PM

Good luck it's not easy staying offline in the current world, particularly if you're a web designer, it's like you're obgligated to be more online than most.
Post by Colin Gray on April 8, 2008 3:36 PM

Hi Paul, just wanted to say I really enjoyed the compereing at The Highland Fling, last week. It really brought a bit of variety to the standard lecturing format.

Might have to steal the format for some of my eduacation conferences...

Colin
Post by Lisa Price on April 9, 2008 2:05 PM

Interesting idea - and nice to see someone being brave and confident in saying they can survive without being part of 'the conversation' 24/7. Be interested to know how it went!

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