Fayemyrettehayes

10/31/2023

October kept me busy 💕

09/24/2023

I had such a good time at the Black Alumni Reunion at UC Irvine! Missed these phenomenal women of the Xi Omega Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, inc. so so much!! ❤️

03/26/2023

03/14/2023

9 years down, and a lifetime to go 🔺Happy DELTAversary Sandz! ❤️

03/13/2023

Hey, are you running your business from a regular Gmail account? (Or yahoo, or Hotmail, etc..)

🛑 Get your professional domain and email address ASAP.

You leave money on the table when you don’t take this seemingly small step to make your business appear more credible.

Having a professional email makes a great impression on future customers and is an important tool when building up your brand. Not only does it feel less scammy, but it also helps them make an educated guess on where to find your website.😉

Not sure how? I created a mini tutorial 👉🏾Click the link in my bio to check it out.

By the way, I go into this, and more, in my Professionalize Your Biz course. You can join by clicking ‘Join Professionalize Your Biz’ at the link in my bio 🔑

03/09/2023

Here's why you shouldn't overlook conducting a competitive analysis for your biz ⬇️

A couple of the questions I ask new clients include:
👉🏾 What problem are you trying to solve?
👉🏾 Who's currently experiencing this problem?
👉🏾 Who's currently solving it?
👉🏾 How are you going to persuade others to join your "the winning" team?

Don't start building anything until you have a clear answer for each of these questions.

Swipe to the benefits of performing your competitive analysis! Once you're onboard to start doing them, set a time on your calendar to complete them quarterly. Me? I'm nosy - so I'm peeping what competitors are up to every month.

03/08/2023

Let's talk latest trends in the Tech Industry ⬇️

I stay on top of the latest tech trends for two main reasons:

1️⃣ Life improvement - sometimes, a new gadget or advancement in tech will greatly improve your work/personal life. I would definitely define myself as an 'early adopter' - so I'm always trying new tech. Currently, Chat GPT (the AI chat tool) is my new tech bestie. When I want to reword something or get unblocked - it helps me come up with new ideas. And, it's so cool!

2️⃣ Helps you stay competitive. Whether you're building your own business or working a 9-5 - staying on top of new technologies will give you a competitive advantage. There are lots of folks committed to the 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' mindset. How did that work for Blockbuster, again? 🥲 With new tech, you can offer better products. And at work - you can find creative ways to get the job faster or even automate it so you're working smarter, not harder.

Swipe to see some technologies you should be aware of ➡️

This isn't an exhaustive list so don't be shy! Share some other tech that you're excited about below. 🙏🏾

03/07/2023

How I learned to thrive in the tech industry ↙️

1. Embrace Change. Change is the only constant in tech. There are always new technologies to explore and at times it can start to feel overwhelming. Look, you don’t have to be an expert in every cutting edge technology but it’s important to at least be aware. AI took 2023 by storm. Don’t get left behind by not taking advantage. Check out ChatGPT, it wrote a pretty amazing bio for me based off of just a few small facts - get into it!
2. Focus on solutions. Being solution oriented is probably the most important skill I have in my arsenal. Instead of being completely put down by setbacks - I look at them as an opportunity to be better. It’s not the end of the world if something goes wrong (unless it is, and in that case call for help). Know that you can do hard things, well - too. What I don’t know, I ask for help. I ask Google. I ask my network. There’s no point in sitting in limbo - make something shake.
3. Prioritize Self Care. I’ve burned out more times than I can count. Now, if I need to take an afternoon to binge the Jersey Shore - I’m going to do that. I’m also big on my SPA days and just loving my downtime. This will look different for every person. Find the thing that sparks joy that is also unrelated to work.
4. Stay informed. You don’t have to get ready if you STAY ready! Do that by staying in the know. I subscribe to certain news publications for daily news + insights. I also turn notifications *ON* for accounts that add value. And when that doesn’t feel like enough, I also catch the highlights of news segments from Rachel Maddow and the Daily Show for fun. I’d start by looking for top publications in your industry that you can subscribe to.
5. BONUS: Work your network. You cannot get ahead in any industry without the help of people who are actively rooting for you. I mean, maybe you could - but it’d be that much harder. Check in with your people, turn on notifications for /their/ posts. Support them. We’re stronger together.

03/07/2023

How did I become comfortable enough to quit my job and start offering fractional CTO + software engineering services?!

This year is my 6th(omg) year that I’ve been writing code and offering software engineering and now Fractional CTO services. When I first started out, it was TOUGH. People didn’t really believe in ‘non-traditionally trained’ software engineers. Now, years later - I’ve completely revamped my packages, no longer doing work that I enjoy, and I get to work with startups and small businesses building impactful products.

To get comfortable in this space - I really just had to do it. Imposter syndrome is real. But the more you offer the service.

03/02/2023

Earlier I talked about some tips to keep in mind when creating your MVP. Now, here are some mistakes you need to avoid when trying to get your MVP out there.

👉🏾Overcomplicating the product: One of the biggest mistakes people make is trying to include too many features in the MVP. This can make the product more complex and difficult to develop, which can delay the launch and increase costs. In addition, you want to focus on the CORE functionality to be sure you’re solving the right problem. Start simple.

👉🏾Focusing too much on design: While design is important, it's not the most critical aspect of an MVP. People sometimes get caught up in making the product look perfect, and yes we LOVE a beautiful product, but this can distract from the core functionality and purpose of the product. If you focus too much on perfection, you’ll never launch.

👉🏾Not testing the market: If you build it, THEY WILL NOT COME. Before developing your MVP, it's essential to research and test the market. This means identifying the target audience, understanding their needs and pain points, and validating the product idea through surveys, interviews, and user feedback.

👉🏾Ignoring user feedback: After launching an MVP, it's crucial to listen to user feedback and make changes accordingly. Ignoring user feedback can lead to a product that doesn't meet user needs or solve their problems, which can ultimately result in a failed product. You need to stay nimble and ready to pivot.

👉🏾Not defining success metrics: What gets measured, get’s managed, gets improved. It's important to define clear success metrics for the MVP, such as user engagement, retention, and conversion rates. This can help you track progress and make data-driven decisions to improve the product.

👉🏾Not prioritizing the right features: In an MVP, it's important to prioritize the features that are essential to the core functionality of the product. This can help you launch the product faster and more efficiently, without getting bogged down in unnecessary features.

By avoiding these common mistakes, you can increase your chances of having a successful launch.

03/02/2023

A minimum viable product (MVP) is a great way to quickly test your business idea and determine its viability in the market. Here are some tips for developing an MVP:

✅ Identify your core features: Start by identifying the core features of your product or service that are essential for its basic functionality. This will help you focus on the most important aspects of your product and avoid getting bogged down in unnecessary details.

✅ Keep it simple: Your MVP should be simple and easy to use. Avoid adding too many features or complexities that might confuse or overwhelm your users.

✅Test early and often: Test your MVP as early and as often as possible. Get feedback from your target audience to see if your product meets their needs and to identify any areas for improvement.

✅Prioritize user experience: The user experience should be a top priority when developing your MVP. Focus on creating a seamless and enjoyable experience for your users.

✅Iterate and improve: Use the feedback you receive from testing to make improvements and iterate on your MVP. Continuously improve and refine your product until you have a solid foundation for a successful business.

These are my top 5. Have questions or want to learn more? Click the link in my bio to book time directly on my calendar or just DM me! Happy creating 🚀