Write, then edit
I’ve spent too much time mentally editing something I’ve yet to write. I want to write, record, and create something perfect the first time around. It’s impossible. In order to make something, I’ve got to make it bad first. I have to make it before I can make it good. I have to write before […]
Spending time for fun
Work tends to feel like work when I focus entirely on the end result. When I really care about the deadline, about the statistics, about the revenue it feels awfully dreadful. Work tends to feel like play when I focus entirely on what I enjoy doing. I love to design, to write, to record, to […]
The Value Of Virtue Before Understanding
It’s impossible to experience the full benefit of a virtuous action before the action is complete. I might understand in some small way what the supposed benefits are, but I won’t experience them. I intellectually understand that going to the gym is good for mental health, but I won’t really believe it until I’ve experienced […]
The power of iteration
If you haven’t put your best effort towards a project because you’re afraid of failing this is for you. In situations like these we crave certainty, and luckily I can tell you with absolute certainty what will happen if you try to build something perfect the first time. You. Will. Fail. That’s okay, it’s good […]
What’s in your kitchen?
The food in your kitchen is the food you’re most likely to eat. Look in your fridge, cupboard, and pantry if you have one. What’s there? Is it mostly healthy, easy to prepare, and tasty? Is it mostly junk? Whatever it is, that’s what you’re probably going to eat. It’s hard to eat a chicken […]
The Manager Is A Shield
I’ve worked on freelance projects and I’ve worked with agencies. Often freelancers who with agencies are frustrated by the management and the “process”. More reviews, more check-ins, more standups, Slack communication, etc. Many designers and developers feel that these things slow them down. They’re right. To a reasonable degree, these processes are designed to slow […]
Sounds good, not helpful
A lot of the advice I give sounds good to me. It sounds clever and I notice too often I find it pleasurable to be witty instead of right. But a lot of advice that sounds good is not helpful. Recently, I used a chess analogy to give advice to a friend that doesn’t play […]
Working Memory
I can only think so much in one direction before I get blocked. It’s like walking down a path that suddenly ends. The thought goes dark, it won’t go any further. That’s when I have to start writing. Writing is like saving the path on paper so I can set a new starting point with […]
A love letter to design & sales: the perfect marriage.
Most people think that art and sales don’t mix. Most people (i.e your competitors) are wrong. In our culture, there’s an assumption that artists make art and salespeople make money. Companies separate marketers and salespeople into siloes so they never interact or learn from each other. This is damaging our businesses, our customers, and frankly […]
Solid Thoughts
I’ll admit it, most of my thoughts are flimsy and probably false. But there are a few thoughts I consider solid. Solid thoughts are something you can stand on, something you can chew. Recurring sources of new ideas. These new ideas are likely to be flimsy. But when tested might become solid. Ideas become solid […]