My What > How > Why Whiteboard
When you have lots of hats to wear or plates to spin like I do it becomes pretty important to prioritize where you should focus your energy at any given moment. Without a system for how to get things done nothing really can get done. This is pretty much the rule for any entrepreneur. Lots of ideas and energy get you nowhere without smart effective execution.
I like to have in front of me at all times in my office on a white board the WHW of my 10,000 ft view. What am I trying to do, how do I accomplish it and why am I trying to do so much? Here is a breakdown of what I have currently on my white board.
What
I have a few different companies that I have founded or co-founded over the past 10 years. Each is at a different point in the life cycle of a company or brand. My role is usually within each the same. I try to lean on my strengths of creative direction, strategy, user experience design and engagement with a brand.
the established and steady
Locally — 2 year old start-up that is about to take off, co-founder,on the board, helping with design, strategy and sales.
Dirty Coast — my retail brand, 10 years, owner.
Canary Collective — co-owned marketing and web development firm, 7 years, shifting to full freelance support for team and partnerships with other development firms to help manage projects.
the new additions
Screens for Good — within Dirty Coast offering charitable apparel campaigns. start-up, owner.
Bayou Brands — working with nostalgic brands in online and wholesale, start-up, owner.
the experiments
Listen to Your City — a new start-up idea that is more of a passion project and chance to get my hands in 360 VR video and binaural sound recordings with the addition of possible iPad publishing through the Adobe Digital Suite.
Quilt — one of those ideas that won’t go away, will launch when I have the MVP defined and have a team that can get it live and support its users.
How
There are certain areas of focus that are important when making sure I can manage contribute in a valuable way and help move the ball forward with all my different companies and projects.
Goals and Tasks — you will never have a clear idea of where you are going or what to focus on at any given moment, day, week or year without knowing where you want to go and the steps to take to get there.
Delegate and Collaborate — nothing can be accomplished without great team players and partners you can lean on to help propel you forward. Each new person needs to understand the brand, mission and path you are on and each adds their own skill sets and passion. I try to only focus on what I am excited about and have some experience and skill.
Contribute and Measure — The Stoics like Seneca call for being both the participant in your life and the observer. Plan your day and see how you can help contribute the greater cause and measure often how well you are succeeding.
Organic Growth down a Confident Path — No matter how well you plan a brand and company will go where the community, customers or clients want it. You need to be flexible to pivot where needed and let the brands and projects go where there is the demand. But with a plan and with core ideals and a vision for what you are trying to accomplish you can be confident on the path you are on. Nothing derails all of this work like a lack of confidence.
Rules and Triggers — Like any effort to form smarter habits you need to have triggers that help remind you what you need to do next in any given situation. You also need rules to follow to establish constraints and keep you on the path toward your long term goals for any company or project. Without these you miss out on opportunities and will just wander, staying very busy bit getting nowhere.
Why
All of this work has a few end goals for me personally. The hope is I am able to achieve not just financial stability and freedom but to also grow as a person. I have set put of this path of working for myself because I never wanted to have a boss and hate more than anything finding myself without having a choice.
Flow and Focus— Only when working on things you believe in can you really achieve a state of flow. That magical state where you have complete focus.
Choice and Freedom — Having a boss, being in debt and stuck in a job you hate are all ways to erode quickly your spirit and any love for getting up in the morning. Having the freedom to follow my own path and make choices is the greatest advantage to working for myself.
Engagement and Meaning — It is hard to describe the enjoyment you can get from making something, a product or brand, and to have others partake and support what you played some role bringing into existence. Nothing beats a community of people lifting and carrying you forward. This also means measuring and listening to make sure you never point your company or brand in the wrong direction. One that the community does not in the end want.
Identity — I try to not define myself by my work but it is hard when it is so personal. When I have hit roadblocks or had my work fail it is taken very personally. As it should.
Legacy — Taking part in something bigger than yourself. Making passive income from the foundation you help build. Working for the brand as a steward and helping it grow. Helping people in some way with the work.
Now back to work.
