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Here are a few great habits I've learned from my co-founder that have made me a better performer. Writing these to myself to internalize them:
1/ Almost every meeting can be removed by working asynchronously on a Google Doc and leaving written comments and feedback.
1/ Almost every meeting can be removed by working asynchronously on a Google Doc and leaving written comments and feedback.
2/ If a meeting is necessary, set up scaffolding beforehand. A Notion page or Google Doc with a clear agenda and a written desired outcome from the meeting will suffice.
3a/ I'm a non-linear thinker and usually enjoy "brainstorming" meetings. Riffing live with others helps me generate new conclusions I wouldn't come to alone. (cont'd)
3b/ However, it's important to set an expectation with others that the purpose of a meeting is to brainstorm. This ensures that no one else feels like the time is wasted if there is no final decision.
4/ Timebox live brainstorming sessions. In the session, no ideas are wrong. Avoid the temptation to play devil's advocate and write all the ideas down.
After the meeting, agree to leave written feedback and stack rank the ideas asynchronously.
After the meeting, agree to leave written feedback and stack rank the ideas asynchronously.
5/ Sometimes I can't avoid external "kick-off" calls with agencies, vendors, or freelancers.
I can cut the duration of these meetings by more than 50% by drafting a project brief and sending it around beforehand.
I can cut the duration of these meetings by more than 50% by drafting a project brief and sending it around beforehand.
6/ On that note, get better at writing briefs. Written briefs prevent miscommunication, force clarity of thought, and establish clear deliverables.
Below the brief title, write a 1 sentence summary of what the brief will cover. This sets context for other parties.
Below the brief title, write a 1 sentence summary of what the brief will cover. This sets context for other parties.
7/ Slack @ mentions are sacred. The more I use them, the more I de-value their impact & urgency. Reserve them for important moments.
8/ Before sending a Slack message, ask myself again:
"Is this message necessary?"
"Can I solve this myself?"
"Is this worth disturbing my co-founder's deep work?"
"Can I consolidate this message with other requests later on?"
"Is this message necessary?"
"Can I solve this myself?"
"Is this worth disturbing my co-founder's deep work?"
"Can I consolidate this message with other requests later on?"
9/ My co-founder once spent a month training to become a monk. A lot of silence and meditation is involved. One takeaway he got: "95% of things don't matter in the present and aren't important to stress about."
It's a valuable lesson.
It's a valuable lesson.
10/ Every situation as a founder can feel like a fire drill. 95% of the time, it's not. I can do better at stepping away from the first person into the 3rd person.
From, "I'm anxious about X" to "I'm feeling anxiety about X."
Is that anxiety warranted? Probably not.
From, "I'm anxious about X" to "I'm feeling anxiety about X."
Is that anxiety warranted? Probably not.
