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
Danny Santoro
Location
Cincinnati, Ohio
Current Gig
WooCommerce Specialist at Automattic
Career Summary
After starting my first business when I was fifteen, I’ve never stopped looking for new ideas, cooking up plans, making things, and in general spreading myself too thin. This turned me into a jack-of-all-trades (but master of none), which is definitely an interesting scenario. 🙂 Regardless, I wound up working for WooThemes on WooCommerce and now for Automattic, so at least I went in the right direction.
One word that best describes how you work?
Manic.
Current Mobile Device/Why
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 – I don’t remember anything unless I physically write it down, but carrying around a bunch of paper isn’t easy to remember, either. So, I have both the Note 4 and the Note 10.1, that way I can write down all my to-dos and grocery lists, have them sync to the cloud, and only forget half the things.
Current Computer/Why
So, so many. Almost all of my work is done on a MacBook Pro 13″, which I plug into a Thunderbolt monitor for day-to-day, desktop style use. It’s great being able to be mobile with that. I do also have a Windows tower (a monster of a PC, really) which is built for high resolution video editing. Conveniently, it’s a gaming PC, too. Finally, I have a Windows 7 Home Theater PC/Gamebox, which can run most older games just as well as a PS4/Xbox One, so it’s a little entertainment center.
What apps/software/tools can’t you live without?
Chrome for browsing. Postbox for mail. Evernote for note taking. Sublime Text for coding. Mau/Markdown Pad for writing.
What’s your workspace setup like?
A white desktop, with a white-ish computer, a white stand, and a ton of black accessories… Also, with daylight balanced LED bulbs as lighting. It would look super futuristic if nerd gear and clutter weren’t everywhere.
What’s your best time/effort-saving life hack?
Hah! That’s a good one, I don’t have any. 🙂
What’s your favorite to-do list method?
Either writing it down (with a pen!) on a blank flash card or scrap paper or doing the same thing in a handwritten Evernote note. Other than that, I don’t have a to-do list.
After your phone and computer, what gadget can’t you live without?
A TV, I guess? Aside from a phone, computer, TV, microwave, and fridge, there aren’t many electronics I like. Do guns count as gadgets?
What everyday thing are you better at than everyone else?
Cat wrangling. They’re psychotic, but I love them.
What do you listen to while working?
A pretty diverse soundtrack, I guess. Country is a go-to, but also some rap, R&B, some pop. Audiobooks, too, and very rarely a podcast.
What do you do to stay inspired?
Chug a Red Bull and remember that life is no fun when you don’t have a steady paycheck.
What are you currently reading?
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2D6 – it's part of a series called Caverns and Creatures. Great if you're super nerdy, not so much otherwise.
What sort of work are you up to now?
WooCommerce, WooCommerce, WooCommerce. The occasional WooCommerce, and actually sometimes just WordPress. Outside of the computer, I’m a pistol instructor.
What’s your sleep routine like?
Terrible ever since I was a kid.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
“It’s only a failure when you say it is.”
Any other tidbits you think might interest attendees?
I once worked at Hollister when I was in high school, so… Ya know. Look forward to my model-good looks. 🙂
Fill in the blank: I’d love to see ????? answer these same questions…
Harrison Ford. Can we get Harrison Ford on the line? I could use a boost in the filmmaking area.