If you talk to anyone that works with me... you'll quickly learn that I'm not motivated by money. I don't often invoice until near-demanded by the customer. You can imagine how this infuriates my wife (sorry, Shirl!)... but that's me.

I am motivated by problems... or more specifically, the call to arms for a solution to a problem.

So what does this have to do with me selling you a $5 IBM Lotus Notes Domino platform app?

I'll explain...

I was asked recently by a developer who was looking for a way to make a name for themselves in the global developer community how they could do just that. While this developer was not an IBM Lotus platform developer, my advice was similar, and something that was echo'ed on a recent episode of Boagworld.

The advice, simply put, is to give it away and build a portfolio.

When this developer asked me how they could establish themselves, my initial response was to ask them if they knew of any non-profit or volunteer organizations in the area. If they were able to find a local organization where they could donate their services.

Giving away your services doesn't exactly establish you as a subject matter expert, but it gives you exposure.

Exposure of your solutions to people -- especially in the volunteer organizations -- who most likely work for larger for-profit organizations.

Exposure of your solutions to customers, as there is no better confirmation of your reported skills then being able to witness them in a production environment.

And -- most importantly -- your own personal exposure to the solution delivery process.

Sure, you might be able to sling code... but until you can work the entire process (from requirements gathering thru development and to delivery), then it's all just theory.

... so what does this have to do with IBM Lotus Notes Domino application development?!

(Click thru for more...)

Sitting through the blogger IBM debriefing for LotusLive Notes, I couldn't help but listening to the call with my developer ears on.

IBM creating a SaaS messaging solution based on IBM Lotus Notes Domino certainly addresses an SMB market requirements, and the hybrid approach that allows growing organizations to evolve their business based on it's needs.

Need to quickly ramp-up a new Domino server in the cloud that's a part of your existing infrastructure? LotusLive Notes (or LLN) is a great solution, especially for the price.

LotusLive Notes is an offering that's meant to -- from what I gathered -- compliment your existing Lotus Notes Domino solution, or allow a 25+ new Lotus Notes Domino customer to quickly ramp-up a no-fuss Domino solution, and get your teams using the messaging, calendaring, and task management capabilities of the standard Domino mail template.

...but again, I couldn't help but listen with my developer ears, and specifically my platform developer ears.

As a result, there was a big take-away for me...

(Click thru for more...)

I have a BlackBerry 9700 - which is the latest device to be released on the AT&T network. It's the best BlackBerry device on the market today.

My brother-in-law stopped over the house this past weekend for my oldest son's birthday. He (my brother-in-law) has an iPhone 3G. Not a 3GS, or even an iPhone 4 with duct tape... but a 2-generation old device. After dinner (and cake), I asked if I could borrow his iPhone for testing my soon-to-be-released Remote Console app.

I was shocked by how much easier it was to navigate the application, how much faster it loaded (his iPhone 3G over spotty-coverage AT&T 3G, my BlackBerry 9700 cheating over WiFi), and ultimately how much I enjoyed the user experience of the iPhone.

It made me remember that my 9700 camera zoom wasn't working.

It made me remember that I couldn't directly upload video from my mobile device to YouTube.

It made me realize just how much I hated my 9700 for its thousand different little cuts.

I had made up my mind that I was going to get an iPhone 4 and swear off BlackBerry devices.

Then I remembered OS6 is coming. I remembered the new Webkit-based browser (which apparently rocks).

I remembered the upcoming release of the BlackBerry 9800, complete with the Palm Pre-style form factor.

The vendor is attempting to give what some might say is a dying platform -- despite it's hold in the enterprise -- new life with the addition on more globally-leverages technologies.

... but this is the last straw. If the BlackBerry 9800 doesn't address this consumers needs, I'm really going to push for the less-secure, more globally adopted by people I actually know, platform.

It started with a single app, but might end with me moving away from a platform I've used for years now...

Remember: Diversification of your skill set is key, and makes for better individual and integrated solutions for your customers.