Sabatino is the technology director for the Belgian business consulting firm Craftzing. He has a keen interest in technology and is developing personal SaaS projects in his spare time so productivity is really important in his life. His daily routine consists of rising at 7:30 a.m., consuming coffee, and attending workstations. At 10:00 a.m., he takes a brief break for breakfast, and at 1:00 p.m., he eats a quick lunch. Between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m., he eats dinner and decompresses. In the late evening, he devotes one to two hours to his personal pursuits.
Sabatino is the technology director for the Belgian business consulting firm Craftzing. He has a keen interest in technology and is developing personal SaaS projects in his spare time.
How do you ensure that your daily activities are productive?
My daily routine consists of rising at 7:30 a.m., consuming coffee, and ascending to my workstation. I commence my day at 8:00 a.m. with intensive labor. As the director of technology at Craftzing, I am responsible for overseeing the consistency of multiple initiatives. In addition, I ensure that our developers have the opportunity to broaden their horizons and share their expertise. This involves collaborating with team members, attending meetings, and mentoring and supporting other developers.
At 10:00 a.m., I take a brief break for breakfast, and at 1:00 p.m., I eat a quick lunch. During my lunch hour, I exercise for one hour.
Between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m., when my duty at Craftzing concludes, I eat dinner and decompress. In the late evening, I devote one to two hours to my personal pursuits, which predominantly consist of Unipage, my own AI tools, and related research.
How do you infuse ideas with life?
As a freelance full-stack developer with a passion for technology, I am always on the watch for novel ideas in fields that stimulate my curiosity. I have been immersed in the field of AI for the past year. In my spare time, I researched and learned about ChatGPT, Dall-E 2, and Stable Diffusion. This led to the creation of https://imagined-with.ai.
https://imagined-with.ai is an artificial intelligence-powered profile image generator (one of the first in October 2022!).
During the first week after launch, when all of our efforts were focused on marketing rather than development, I was responsible for training all orders. The website was initially introduced on Facebook. I informed my Facebook friends about my trip and provided a link to the website. Surprisingly, this post generated the first paying customers. The next step was to engage in marketing. As a programmer, the concept of marketing continues to terrify me, but in the end, it wasn’t that terrible.
I created Tiktok and Instagram accounts for the website and commenced content creation. After a week, I had my first “viral” Reel, which received thirty thousand views within a few hours. It appears that Instagram users appreciate dogs!
I invested time in automating the process until I had a product with a fully automated workflow from beginning to conclusion. The utility is still operational and generating daily revenue at the time of writing (March 2023).
Which trend most inspires you?
The increasing use of artificial intelligence and machine learning across industries fascinates me. Artificial intelligence applications are rapidly expanding, and the potential benefits of this technology are enormous.
I am especially excited about the potential of AI in the healthcare industry. AI enables the creation of disease-predictive models, the analysis of medical images, and the personalization of patients’ treatment plans. In the future, this could lead to enhanced patient outcomes and more efficient healthcare delivery.
I also find intriguing the emphasis on sustainability and ecological technology that is growing. As climate change becomes a more pressing concern, the development of sustainable technologies is more important than ever. AI has the potential to aid in this endeavor by increasing energy efficiency, optimizing resource utilization, and creating new renewable energy sources.
I am anxious to contribute to the development of innovative solutions to the challenges we face, and I am excited to see where the advancements in AI and machine learning will take us in the coming years.
What is an illustration of a productive routine?
Setting specific and attainable goals for myself is a practice that enhances my productivity. Understanding my goals and dividing them down into smaller, more manageable tasks helps me stay on course and make progress.
Trello has been my go-to project management application for nearly a decade. Please do not force me to use Jira, as I find its user-friendliness and interface to be unmatched.
One hour of exercise during my lunch break is another practice that has been of great assistance to me. This includes indoor cycling, sprinting on a treadmill, and rowing machine use. Physical activity helps me clear my mind and maintain focus for the remainder of the day.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
If I could offer my younger self advice, it would be to surmount my imposter syndrome. Despite the fact that a hundred other instruments serve the same purpose, none of them have my personal touch.
Remain insatiably curious, embrace new technologies, and do not be frightened of the unknown. Consider ways to incorporate innovation (such as AI) into your productivity (or even business) rather than being terrified of it. I would advise my younger self not to be afraid of taking risks and pursuing my passions, even if they appear unconventional or outside my comfort zone. I believe that embracing new challenges has allowed me to advance as a programmer, and I would advise my younger self to embrace this attitude earlier in my career.
Finally, I would advise myself to build a strong network of contacts and actively seek out opportunities for collaboration, as these can lead to new initiatives and growth opportunities.
Tell us something you believe almost no one agrees with.
Many people believe that AI-image-generation programs, such as Stable Diffusion and Dall-E 2, could render graphic designers obsolete or displace them in the workforce. These programs, in my opinion, are valuable assets that should be embraced and utilized in collaboration with designers, rather than as adversaries.
What is the one thing you recommend everyone to do frequently?
I would encourage others to explore their passions and acquire new information. My curiosity about AI led me to investigate and experiment with it, which ultimately resulted in the development of two efficient websites. I was able to expand my skill set and develop novel problem-solving strategies by continuously learning and investigating. I believe that taking the time to learn and experiment can aid in our personal and professional development. My advice, therefore, is to always continue learning and exploring new interests, regardless of how unconventional they may appear. Who knows, it could lead to your next outstanding proposal.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed or distracted?
When I feel overwhelmed or distracted, I take a step back and endeavor to identify the source of my anxiety. If the task is related to work, I will examine my to-do list and prioritize the most important items. I assess whether there are responsibilities I can delegate to a colleague. It is sometimes advantageous to take a break and return to a task with fresh senses. As previously stated, taking a break to exercise typically helps me clear my mind. If I feel distracted, I endeavor to eliminate distractions and focus on a single task.
Overall, I believe it is essential to identify the source of one’s tension or lack of concentration and to develop effective techniques to alleviate it. Discovering what works for you can help you remain concentrated, productive, and stress-free, whether it’s taking a break, engaging in physical activities, or utilizing time-management techniques.
What is a strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance your career?
After concluding the Imagined with AI website, I started work on a mobile application with the same name. Enabling in-app purchases was the next challenge. It was created on a Saturday morning, and I uploaded it to the App Store on the same day. On Monday, the very first in-app purchases were made.
I also identified our first B2B partner interested in reselling AI-generated images for their custom photo products. This contributed to the acceleration of our sales, as they possessed their own marketing machine.
Existing consumer retention has been difficult due to the fact that these AI images are typically purchased once and then forgotten. Upselling new generations at a 50% discount to existing customers has been a significant revenue driver and has helped me increase the average customer spend (e.g., their spouse also wants to try it).
How did you overcome it and what did you learn?
Early on in my career as a freelance developer, I ran into a significant obstacle. Despite my best efforts, the client assignment I was working on was not proceeding as anticipated. As the due date approached, it became clear that I would be unable to complete the assignment on time.
I felt disheartened and humiliated by the situation, but I knew I had to assume responsibility and find a way to surmount the setback. I approached the client, explained the situation, and collaborated with them to develop a new plan that would satisfy their needs and exceed their expectations. We agreed to extend the deadline and modify the undertaking’s scope.
I realized the importance of clear and regular client communication. I was able to maintain a positive relationship with the client and ultimately deliver a successful project by being candid about obstacles, establishing reasonable expectations, and establishing necessary boundaries. To underpromise and overdeliver is preferable to overpromise and underdeliver.
Eventually, I understood the significance of perseverance and tenacity. Despite the setback, I was able to turn the situation around and deliver a successful outcome. This experience taught me that even in the face of failure, it is possible to regroup, reevaluate, and find a way forward.
Which business concept will you share with our readers?
One concept is an AI-enabled fitness platform. Using computer vision technology, the platform could monitor and analyze the movements of users during training, and then generate individualized exercise and nutrition programs based on their goals and progress. During workouts, the AI could also provide immediate feedback and encouragement, converting it into a virtual personal trainer. This could be a game-changer for those who lack the time or motivation to go to the gym, as it would allow them to experience personalized fitness at home. Given the fitness industry’s current expansion, this could be a lucrative opportunity for those with the necessary skills and knowledge.
What productivity-enhancing applications do you employ? What is its function?
Concentration modes on iOS save lives. I configured my iOS devices with multiple focus modes for a variety of scenarios, including ‘depth work’. In this mode, I will not receive any notifications.
What was the most significant $100 purchase you made recently?
Recent acquisition of the Logitech MX Master 3S, a quick, precise, and ergonomic computer mouse. This mouse is a game-changer for those who spend the majority of their workday at a computer. In addition, compared to other computer mice of comparable quality, its price is relatively low.
Do you have a book or podcast that has brought you significant value?
The book “The Lean Startup” by Eric Ries imparted valuable knowledge to me. The book “The 4-Hour Workweek” by Tim Ferriss should be considered if you want to maximize your time and increase your productivity.
What recent film or television series have you enjoyed, and why?
Although “Silicon Valley” is not a new series, I only recently began watching it. It is a comedy series that satirizes the technology industry and the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. I appreciate the show’s commentary on the quirks and difficulties of the tech industry.
Accepting new challenges is an important lesson. Instead of being wary of innovation (such as AI), consider ways to incorporate it into your business or workflow.
Establish precise, attainable goals for yourself. By breaking down this goal into smaller, more manageable tasks, you can stay on track and make progress.
Develop an extensive network of contacts and seek out opportunities for collaboration. They can lead to new ventures and expansion.
Set aside your imposter syndrome. Your approach is unique compared to all other tools and enterprises.
Regular exercise purifies the mind and enhances concentration.
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