[CSL board] Strategic Planning Sessions Will Happen!

[Fred G. Martin]

My reflections after the meeting:

We have had past discussions on strategic directions of CSL.   
Hopefully we recorded these so we can refresh ourselves of what we  
have said in the past.  From memory:

* Server-side software is good and CSL likes doing that.

* One value-add of CSL presently is hand-holding of non-techie  
customers.  CSL-equivalent services (from a tech standpoint) can be  
purchased cheaply (as low as $5/mo).  The main reason CSL's clients  
don't do this is that they like CSL's personal touch and  
availability.  Plus the CSL is free.

* Consulting-type projects (e.g., Lowell Deeds) are good in that they  
bring in money.  But it would be better if they fed into core  
technology of CSL that would improve its overall offerings (e.g., $$  
to fund MVHub dev't).

To me, it is evident that in order for the CSL to do more, Dan's time  
must be MUCH better leveraged.  It is worrisome to hear Dan quote  
figures of 50 - 90% of CSL software dev't is his programming time.   
Programming is fun, but Dan only has 60-80 such hours in a week (and  
really he should be working more like 40-60 hours).

As a case in point, Dan quoted that he worked approx 4 weeks full  
time to complete the Lowell Deeds project.  That is great that (a)  
the work got done, (b) it brought in some money, and (c) Dan enjoyed  
doing it, but this is not a recipe for long term growth.

Clearly the answer involves building a team of competent people that  
can do programming while Dan (and others) bring in paid work or work  
that can lead to $$.

I respect and agree with Dan's philosophy of investing in people and  
building a team, but I am concerned that the results have not been  
too encouraging.  This is in terms of yielding people who are (a)  
productive and (b) supported by the CSL during their productive phase.

I am not sure how to improve this, but I know that teams of competent  
people tend to attract more competent people to their midst.


Fred