garth_brooks-friends_in_low_places_sAs so often happens, a song provided the inspiration for this week’s newsletter.

If you haven’t heard “Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks in a while, the song tells the story of a guy who drinks to ease the pain of rejection and ends up ridiculing his ex at her wedding. Then, in solidarity, all of the other forsaken folk join in, singing the chorus again and again; “I’ve got friends in low places”.

The song is catchy and, along with Hank Williams Jr.’s hit “Family Tradition”, has become a classic in the popular “justification of self-destructive behavior” genre.

Unless you actually have plans to write a hit song about it (in which case, go for it!), we’d like to suggest today that there may be better ways to deal with your personal shortcomings than by blaming it all on your roots and circumstances.

We are such an adaptable species, that to blame our bad behavior or lot in life on the position we were born into is just lazy. While the situations of our upbringing do in fact set us up for certain challenges and/or benefits, we do have the ability to rise above our “roots”. In spite of what Mr. Brooks and Mr. Williams would tell you, we all face many opportunities daily to do and learn new and exciting things. Don’t let your family traditions and friends in low places tell you what you can and can’t accomplish. Case in point: you can learn to build mobile apps, and we can build the best business in the world.

What started just last fall as a glimmer of an idea to build the best business in the world, one based on educating everyone, has now officially released its first product! This week, the first of what we’re hoping will be many completed products was officially released. Beginner’s Guide to Building Mobile Web Apps is a 3-hour video course, written and taught by WatzThis? and produced by O’Reilly Media. Written for people with no prior web development experience, the course is a gentle introduction to everything you need to know to go from zero to mobile app developer in the shortest possible time. You can view the first 8 (of 55) videos by clicking here.

We’re proud that what started as two people with an idea for a better world has now grown up, just a little bit. Everyone starts out as beginners with serious shortcomings. Rather than moaning about them or about your lot in life, take a step in the right direction and change your situation.

We’re not big on social graces
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