WP-Orphanage is now available via the WordPress Plugin Directory, to take advantage of the auto-update feature. In addition, WP-Orphanage is also hosted on GitHub.com in case any developers want to contribute changes.

find . -name .svn | xargs rm -rf

svn st | awk '{print "svn add "$2 }' | bash

Perform a check in, so that all modified files, and other file statuses are cleared, then you just pipe svn status into awk, which will prepare the svn add statements, and then pipe those into your shell to actually fire off the commands. Leave off the | bash part at first to make sure everything looks good to you, and then fire away.

If you don’t want to check in everything first, you could also add a little grep in the mix, to target just your new files, so you can do one big check in after the fact:

svn st | grep ? | awk '{print "svn add "$2 }' | bash && svn ci

This assumes you have the SVN_EDITOR environment variable set up in .bash_profile, so that it will stop and ask you for your check-in message: export SVN_EDITOR=/usr/bin/vi You could also just add the -m “My Commit Log Message” flag to the end of the last statement to skip all that.

Building a custom theme for WordPress can be hard. Sure you get full control over ever square inch of your markup, but there are lots of variables and little tricks you have to remember to implement in order for your theme to support all of the WordPress features. Enter K2, a fantastic theme framework that you can use to CSS your way to a beautiful custom theme while providing a clean upgrade path so you can keep your WordPress installation secure and up to date. This presentation will show you how you can create the blog design of your dreams, using a single style sheet, and will be off interest to technical and non-technical users alike.

Register for Blog Orlando and let me show you how to CSS your way to a custom Word Press theme in K2.

For the past few weeks I’ve been quietly tinkering on a new section of the ol’ xentek homestead, and I’m happy to report that the efforts are starting to bare fruit. In other words, I’ve been scratching a few itches, and have released the results under the GPLv3. The first one out of the incubator is FlareSmith. a WordPress plugin to integrate the FeedBurner Stats and FeedFlare services into your blog – without having to edit your theme.

This plugin was the result of using the K2 theme framework for most of my WordPress sites. I got tired of having to remember to patch theloop.php each time I wanted to upgrade K2. By developing a simple content filter, I could insert the small JavaScript snippet that powers the FeedBurner Stats and FeedFlare integration with your self-hosted blog.

The plugin is available here, and is also hosted at the WordPress Plugins Database – to take advantage of the new plugin upgrade functionality in 2.5.

Enjoy!

P.S. I entered the plugin into a competition. Stop by and vote for me if you get a chance.

They contacted me yesterday to inform me that I am the top performer “Days to Receive Payment” in your category of “Web Design and Development”. And they wanted to ask me, how do I do it?

As my “How Web Sites Are Built” pre-sales document explains, I tend to be upfront about payment. My billing practices are pretty simple actually, and were forged in the 4 years of frustration I felt during the early days years of my consulting practice.

• If the project is a flat rate, and is under $500 – The client must pay up front.
• If its a flat rate, and greater than $500, then a retainer must be paid up front – generally 50%. Larger projects (greater than $5000) can be done in thirds, if the client’s budget requires it.
• If I’m billing hourly than, payment is due when services have been rendered. Basically when the code is in production.
• All other bills are due 7 days after they are received. Fresh Books lets me know when my clients view their Invoices, an indispensable feature.

But it doesn’t stop there.

Though being clear, and upfront about your billing practices is a major step in presenting yourself professionally. You can’t treat the money conversations with your clients like the pink elephant in the room that you’re not allowed to talk about. They are engaging you for services and they know you cost money and you know you charge money – so why act like you have to slip the bill under the door like hotels do? No one likes to wake up with a bill under their door, so quit hitting your clients with invoices like the hotel ninjas. Talk about any upcoming invoices, before they are sent, so that your clients know what to expect. Once they are expecting the bill – they will start to get themselves ready to pay it.

In other words, don’t make the only thing you talk about with your clients be the technical stuff, the business stuff is equally as important, and is a part of the reason I get paid so fast.

You also have to recognize your own value, and then ask for it. This demeanor alone is not off-putting, but empowering. Your clients realize that they hired one of the best in the industry – at least that’s what you told them when you closed the deal! This means providing world class support, especially in your Accounting and Receiving processes – so that your clients feel taken care of. And once they feel taken care of, they will be more than happy to pay their invoices with you.

It was an honor being recognized by the Fresh Books team as a leader in quick payment. Thank you for providing such a kick ass product!

To wrap up, I wanted to show you this Dilbert cartoon. The motto? Know what you’re worth. Price the value you provide accordingly. And then ask for it! Don’t just settle for a 2nd Monitor.

One part entrepreneurial rally cry, two parts iterative dissection of internet trends, and one part philosophical meta-rant; this talk adds up to be one hell of a thought provoker – at the minimum – and could easily be expanded upon.

I’m going to post the pdf for now, but I’m plan on breaking each slide down in future posts. I appreciate all the feedback I got after I gave this presentation, and I hope it inspired you to take some action!

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I have the social charisma to communicate the big picture to your customers, clients, and employees in order to lead, motivate, and inspire them to say and be a YES! in Life and in Business; all without losing the attention to detail that keeps my clients and partners coming back for more.

I’m energetic and passionate, and with enough real world experience to get the job done right. I am also young enough to guide the old guard into the new millennium, leveraging bleeding-edge technologies and trends to their full advantage, whilst being wise enough to know when to hold them, and when to fold them.

I am animated, spirited, and feisty. I bring power and momentum to any organization, project, or team. If you work with me, you won’t be disappointed.

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Software Development, PHP, XML, XHTML, CSS, JavaScript, Graphics, ASP, ColdFusion, Ruby, Web Services, AJAX, Web 2.0, Open Source, Social Web, Blogging, Word Press, Mac OS X, Linux, Windows, OOP, Business Automation, Agile Development, SOA, Security, SEO, SEM, Email Marketing, Lead Generation, New Media, Photography, Music, Resume Writing, Communications, Public Speaking, Event Management, Life Coaching, Consulting, Problem Solving, Innovation, Motivation, Inspiration, Leadership, Training