During the design phase, being able to tweak the pixel look and dimensions of an icon should be as simple as possible; adjusting many lines of CSS code to do this is not it, especially if you didn’t write the CSS originally. You want that icon a little bigger? Tough luck, it was created by someone else at 32 by 32 pixels, now it’s up to you to figure out how to make it all work for 36 by 36. Similarly, implementing an icon should be as simple as writing a CSS background property or adding an <img alt=”" /> tag. It shouldn’t involve adding six meaningless HTML elements nor twenty lines of CSS per icon.

Consider a few projects in your life—some work-related and some personal. The components of these projects are either in your head or all around you—sentences in emails, sketches in notebooks, and scribbles on Post-it notes. The Action Method starts by considering everything around you with a project lens and then breaking it down.

Great read, great tips.

The thing is, if you want to create something truly remarkable, it won’t be built in a day. A great novel, a stunning design, a game-changing software application, a revolutionary company – this kind of thing takes time, thought, craft, and persistence. And on any given day, it will never appear as “urgent” as those four emails (in the last half-hour) from Client X or Colleague Y, asking for things you’ve already given them or which they probably don’t really need.

There is so much right in this article, it’s a must read as it gives you a nice sense of perspective.

In an effort to quell my nasty habit of going app crazy I’ve decided to impose an easy budgeting system on myself. It goes a little something like this: Every month I walk across the street to my local Rite-Aid and I purchase a $25 dollar iTunes gift card. I use this gift card to buy Apps from the App Store. If I don’t use the card that month I carry it on to the other month, or until the funds are gone. I repeat the process every time my card is empty.

This simple system works like a charm for me and causes me to research an App before committing to it. As a result, I end up purchasing Apps that I enjoy more, making my experience with said Apps that much better. I also end up saving money, which is always good.

Try it. It works.