Speaker Interview: Adam Silver

Here at WordCamp Northeast Ohio, we are pretty big fans of the Lifehacker series “How I Work”. We asked our speakers to do a WordPress take on that idea, and thus was born “How I WordPress”- a series where some of the best minds in WordPress share a bit about their process with our readers/attendees.


Name

Adam Silver

Location

Redondo Beach, CA

Current Gig

Husband. Dad. WordPress Educator, Podcaster & Developer, Social Media Manager, and all around nice guy.

Career Summary

Short version: Degree in Theatre Performance and love technology. Mixing the two best I can.

One word that best describes how you work?

Frenetically

Current Mobile Device/Why

Iphone 6 – Apple since 1982. Ain’t changing now!

Current Computer/Why

2012 15″ MacBook Pro Retina. Work anywhere.

What apps/software/tools can’t you live without?

Obvious answer: WordPress. As a tester and troubleshooter, I love, love love DesktopServer. Much smarter and safer to test things locally. Pretty fond of OmniFocus, Dropbox and Freshbooks as well. All that said, I’m trying to do a technology sabbath one of these weekends.. unplug for a long weekend, as I know it’s important.

What’s your workspace setup like?

Custom hacked standing desk with Ikea Expedit series.

What’s your best time/effort-saving life hack?

Checklists and laying out my running clothes the night before.

What’s your favorite to-do list method?

David Allen’s GTD. I use OmniFocus for task management.

After your phone and computer, what gadget can’t you live without? Why?

Blendtec.

What everyday thing are you better at than everyone else?

Explaining high level technology/concepts to non techies/new people to the subject. Also finding the lighter side of any given moment, when appropriate.

What do you listen to while working?

Depends on task. Focused tasks I use Focus@Will. Running: Podcasts + Music playlist for the last few laps/mile

What do you do to stay inspired?

Hug my children.

What are you currently reading?

Essentialism by Greg McKeown

What sort of work are you up to now?

Handful of client and personal projects plus planning my exit from the “Day Job”

What’s your sleep routine like?

In bed fairly regularly by 10pm. Up at 4:45am.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

Treat people the way you want to be treated.

Fill in the blank: I’d love to see ????? answer these same questions

My wife or kids!

WordCamp Kent is over. Check out the next edition!