Who is Chris Nagele?

I’m the founder of Wildbit, a web software company. We build and run web products including Beanstalk, Newsberry, and Postmark.

About Wildbit?

Wildbit originally started as a web software consulting company in 1999. We’ve built and designed web sites and products for clients including Nuzizo, MeetPips, LoseItorLoseIt, and more. In 2009, due to the rapid growth of Wildbit’s own products, the company shifted to products only. We now only offer design services on a limited basis.

Our team of ten is 100% virtual, located in six countries including US, Russia, Ukraine, Germany, Bulgaria, and Serbia. Each person works from their own office or home.

How do stay productive in a virtual team?

Most people think it is a challenge to stay productive with a virtual team due to lack of control and in person communication. I’d argue that since we are virtual, we are actually more productive. The key is having the right people who are self-motivated. Once that happens the benefits of virtual work really show. It allows for complete focus and reduces distraction, which is key to our type of work.

That being said, we do rely on tools like Skype, iChat, Lighthouse, Beanstalk, Campfire and other tools to keep in touch. We also have annual retreats in places like Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Turkey where the entire team gets together to discuss goals and just hang out.

How do you find inspiration for an idea for a new project?

For me, inspiration only comes when doing something else. For instance, the inspiration for Beanstalk came when reading the book Ship It! I wanted more people to have access to version control without the hassle of managing a server, which was also my own personal pain point. Postmark, our latest product, is another good example. Even though we have a robust email infrastructure for Newsberry, we were almost blind to the volume and statistics for our email delivery in Beanstalk. Postmark solved that problem.

What does your typical day look like?

I actually get up pretty late, around 9am or so. Each morning the entire team has a 10am chat in Campfire to discuss how iterations are going and plan the day, so I give myself some time to catch up before it starts. We keep it short, but allow enough time to keep aligned and solve problems. Since each person on the team is several time zones ahead, the mornings are usually packed with tasks like discussing new designs, reviewing new features, and planning iterations.

After that, I spend the rest of the day writing (blog, twitter, content), doing some support, and reviewing the plans for our products. I usually finish up the day by going to the gym.

What do you do in your free time?

My wife and I live in center city Philadelphia, so we spend a lot of time enjoying the city. We also travel as much as possible, which is a clear benefit of having a virtual team and running a software company.

Current favorite apps?

Chrome at the moment. Most of the apps I use are browser based, so having a fast, clean browser makes everything a better experience.

Small picture for your Workplace?

This one is hard to define. I work from home, from an amazing coworking space in Philadelphia called Independence Hall, and from anywhere in the world I travel. The only thing consistent is the laptop (Macbook Air) or desktop (iMac) I use.

What are your personal projects and goals for 2010?

We’re fully focused on our products. We’re only a team of ten people, but the energy that is going into Beanstalk, Newsberry, and Postmark this year is amazing. My main goal is to keep the momentum going.