Hey party people,

I’m sure for those of you who do check back here from time to time the dearth (I love that word, look it up) of contact from me to you all has been noticeable.

However I will say this: we have been working our little toushes off getting this version 4.0 product to the point where it is now by far the best online PM tool I’ve ever used.

Of course I’m biased, but I can say that one of my personal requirements for this build was indeed to make it indispensable for me, in the way that no doubt Steve Jobs does when he’s designing a new Mac or iPhone. I get the distinct impression that he has his tech boffins give him the latest prototype, he goes away, USES IT, then comes back and is like, “hey it would just be really nice if this did that” and away they go iteratively until something special emerges.

I’ve also noticed similar results in the German automotive industry, having been in a few german cars in the last year or so they just seem to get down to real-world usage and make stuff work better. In many respects this is because someone has a vision, has complete trust in this vision, and even if they risk peeing off 5% of their customer base because they go for a brave-ish choice, it makes the other 95% of people talk about the thing and the 5% become less than significant.

I’m a huge fan of Ricky Gervais, and if you are too you’ll know that his work is always uncompromising. A towering intellect (no doubt if he were in this conversation he’d jump in – proabably only half jokingly – and agree), he is quoted as saying that in developing his work he and Steve Merchant started with a definitive vision, and delivered on it. In Extras he goes further in parodying this when his character gives in to BBC idealism and alters his show for the sake of a few laughs and a paycheck. Ripper artists.

And so, I come to my point. These artists/businessmen are very close to my heart. I observe them, I appreciate them, I would very much one day like to have coffee/beers with them. but for now I’m contented to know that I’m aligned with their ideals, and in my own special corner of the web I’ve done so in the development of our latest product. I had a vision, it was shared with a bunch of creative/likeminded customers, and together we developed a product that helps us get the rudimentary stuff done so we have more time to shape our ideas.

Over the next few weeks I will be posting these new features, and will also be commenting on how/why they were added, and how they might help your business. Until then, have a great weekend!

Ben Prendergast
CEO
Element Software

– Ben Prendergast