Are you easily distracted?
Have a tendency to “go down the rabbit hole” or “get lost in the weeds”?
I know I do.

I find that when I have someone to work with, even if they’re just watching and occasionally nodding their head when I ask questions that are really directed at my own mental process than anyone else, I work better, faster, and most importantly, stay focused on the task at hand — especially if there is a time limit.

I’ve tried pomodoro timers, task lists and focus apps, but none of them seem to work quite as well as just having someone there. And it’s great if that someone is vested — or at least interested in the work.

That’s one reason I love pair programming & testing.

I even like to return the favor, and see how other people think, code, and solve problems — and occasionally offer my advice, whether asked for or not.

Working together is just more fun. And it keeps me focused on getting the task done, especially if there is a time limit.

I don’t know who invented the concept of “Rubber Ducking” — but the general idea is that if you’re stumped on a problem, talking to a rubber duck (or some other inanimate object) will help you solve your problem as you explain it.

But some of us are too self-conscious (or as I like to say “self-aware”) to talk to a toy duck, or even a real live pet. (We have real life ducks that quack hello to me every time I go outside.)

I’ve tried talking to AI or sometimes my wife, but they get impatient with me and too readily point out the flaws in my reasoning. So I decided to create a tool, initially for myself, but maybe open it up for others to use well.

Rubber ducks as a service.

The idea is to find someone to pair with, and pay them a nominal fee for their time, and it doesn’t have to be someone who knows how to solve your problem;

in fact, it might be better if it’s someone who doesn’t know, but is interested (or at least good at pretending to be interested) in listening while you solve your problem, and maybe learning a bit while you listen.

So if you’d like to act like a rubber duck while I write automated tests or build software tools for testing software or learn how to do sales and marketing for my small consulting company, let me know.

And if you have something you’d like to bounce off of me and could use an ear to listen to you and help you keep focused while you’re working on something, give me a call, I’ll be your rubber duck too.