And that's it - review the recent past, set a vision, develop an intentional guide, and then map out the first few steps on that journey.
Prepping for success makes the holidays sweeter. I'm enjoying the present moment and also planting seeds for the future.
Prepping for success makes the holidays sweeter. I'm enjoying the present moment and also planting seeds for the future.
November 25, 2024 at 2:54 PM
And that's it - review the recent past, set a vision, develop an intentional guide, and then map out the first few steps on that journey.
Prepping for success makes the holidays sweeter. I'm enjoying the present moment and also planting seeds for the future.
Prepping for success makes the holidays sweeter. I'm enjoying the present moment and also planting seeds for the future.
4️⃣ Plan
I map out a few simple actions to take after the holiday. I make sure they’re doable, so that I will get them done, feel a "win", and continue toward my planned future. I don't plan out the next few months. That's too much for me. Just the first few steps.
I map out a few simple actions to take after the holiday. I make sure they’re doable, so that I will get them done, feel a "win", and continue toward my planned future. I don't plan out the next few months. That's too much for me. Just the first few steps.
November 25, 2024 at 2:54 PM
4️⃣ Plan
I map out a few simple actions to take after the holiday. I make sure they’re doable, so that I will get them done, feel a "win", and continue toward my planned future. I don't plan out the next few months. That's too much for me. Just the first few steps.
I map out a few simple actions to take after the holiday. I make sure they’re doable, so that I will get them done, feel a "win", and continue toward my planned future. I don't plan out the next few months. That's too much for me. Just the first few steps.
3️⃣ Simplify
I zero in on one area. A project I want to finish, a habit I want to build (or break), or a relationship I want to nurture. Get really simple - "what’s one action I can take consistently to move the needle?" Once I have a sketch of it, it's time to make it real.
I zero in on one area. A project I want to finish, a habit I want to build (or break), or a relationship I want to nurture. Get really simple - "what’s one action I can take consistently to move the needle?" Once I have a sketch of it, it's time to make it real.
November 25, 2024 at 2:54 PM
3️⃣ Simplify
I zero in on one area. A project I want to finish, a habit I want to build (or break), or a relationship I want to nurture. Get really simple - "what’s one action I can take consistently to move the needle?" Once I have a sketch of it, it's time to make it real.
I zero in on one area. A project I want to finish, a habit I want to build (or break), or a relationship I want to nurture. Get really simple - "what’s one action I can take consistently to move the needle?" Once I have a sketch of it, it's time to make it real.
2️⃣ Dream
For me, this vision-casting for the next 3-6 months is the most fun. What does success look like? Jot down things as they come to mind. Don’t overthink it. For me, once I begin to come up with possible paths forward, my mind is into planning mode, so I move on to...
For me, this vision-casting for the next 3-6 months is the most fun. What does success look like? Jot down things as they come to mind. Don’t overthink it. For me, once I begin to come up with possible paths forward, my mind is into planning mode, so I move on to...
November 25, 2024 at 2:54 PM
2️⃣ Dream
For me, this vision-casting for the next 3-6 months is the most fun. What does success look like? Jot down things as they come to mind. Don’t overthink it. For me, once I begin to come up with possible paths forward, my mind is into planning mode, so I move on to...
For me, this vision-casting for the next 3-6 months is the most fun. What does success look like? Jot down things as they come to mind. Don’t overthink it. For me, once I begin to come up with possible paths forward, my mind is into planning mode, so I move on to...
1️⃣ Reflect
Take 25 minutes (while sipping coffee usually) to look back on the last few months. What worked? What didn’t? I write down three wins I want to build on and three lessons to learn from. My format is a simple plus-delta chart, and I use a pomodoro timer for a hard stop.
Take 25 minutes (while sipping coffee usually) to look back on the last few months. What worked? What didn’t? I write down three wins I want to build on and three lessons to learn from. My format is a simple plus-delta chart, and I use a pomodoro timer for a hard stop.
November 25, 2024 at 2:54 PM
1️⃣ Reflect
Take 25 minutes (while sipping coffee usually) to look back on the last few months. What worked? What didn’t? I write down three wins I want to build on and three lessons to learn from. My format is a simple plus-delta chart, and I use a pomodoro timer for a hard stop.
Take 25 minutes (while sipping coffee usually) to look back on the last few months. What worked? What didn’t? I write down three wins I want to build on and three lessons to learn from. My format is a simple plus-delta chart, and I use a pomodoro timer for a hard stop.
Everyone’s caught up in the holiday busyness. This is a golden opportunity to set up an incredible next few months. I’m not saying skip the festivities. Far from it! With intentionality, I use this time to prepare for success in simple (and yes, fun) ways. Here’s my process:
November 25, 2024 at 2:54 PM
Everyone’s caught up in the holiday busyness. This is a golden opportunity to set up an incredible next few months. I’m not saying skip the festivities. Far from it! With intentionality, I use this time to prepare for success in simple (and yes, fun) ways. Here’s my process:
If you haven't done so recently, put a block in your calendar, and do some work on your business, so you can do better in your business!
November 21, 2024 at 4:29 PM
If you haven't done so recently, put a block in your calendar, and do some work on your business, so you can do better in your business!
But if you're not working on your business, you're only getting better by repetition, and that's at best a linear improvement. Want to get better faster? Want to pass your competition? Spend at least a little time working on your business.
November 21, 2024 at 4:29 PM
But if you're not working on your business, you're only getting better by repetition, and that's at best a linear improvement. Want to get better faster? Want to pass your competition? Spend at least a little time working on your business.
Ao pausing weekly to consider what you've learned and what you still need to learn is critical. Yet you need to balance that with getting s#!t done.
And of course, your mileage may vary.
And of course, your mileage may vary.
November 21, 2024 at 4:29 PM
Ao pausing weekly to consider what you've learned and what you still need to learn is critical. Yet you need to balance that with getting s#!t done.
And of course, your mileage may vary.
And of course, your mileage may vary.
I recommend that founders who are in full heads-down growing-the-business mode make sure that they spend at least a half day per week working *on* their business, but not more than a full day a week.
You've got to react quickly!
You've got to react quickly!
November 21, 2024 at 4:29 PM
I recommend that founders who are in full heads-down growing-the-business mode make sure that they spend at least a half day per week working *on* their business, but not more than a full day a week.
You've got to react quickly!
You've got to react quickly!
They don't evaluate what they are doing to trim away things that don't need to be done (or would be better done by someone else). They don't think about where they want to be this time next quarter or next year or next decade.
November 21, 2024 at 4:29 PM
They don't evaluate what they are doing to trim away things that don't need to be done (or would be better done by someone else). They don't think about where they want to be this time next quarter or next year or next decade.
But I'm continually surprised how many people don't spend any meaningful amount of time working *on* their business. They don't take a class or read a book on the job they do.
November 21, 2024 at 4:29 PM
But I'm continually surprised how many people don't spend any meaningful amount of time working *on* their business. They don't take a class or read a book on the job they do.
Most people doing your job are working in their business. They are working hard to get the job done. Cranking through their task list. Using great tools to get s#!t done even faster.
November 21, 2024 at 4:29 PM
Most people doing your job are working in their business. They are working hard to get the job done. Cranking through their task list. Using great tools to get s#!t done even faster.
Some of my favorite moments in my career are when those founders text me with things like "I doubled our ARR this week" or they celebrate a new investment or a big exit.
One thing we always talk about is spending time *on* the business while you're working *in* the business.
One thing we always talk about is spending time *on* the business while you're working *in* the business.
November 21, 2024 at 4:29 PM
Some of my favorite moments in my career are when those founders text me with things like "I doubled our ARR this week" or they celebrate a new investment or a big exit.
One thing we always talk about is spending time *on* the business while you're working *in* the business.
One thing we always talk about is spending time *on* the business while you're working *in* the business.
And so doing something that yielded "no results" actually yielded a ton of value.
When I get that meeting (and I WILL get that meeting) I'll come prepared and informed and still curious.
Should be fun!
When I get that meeting (and I WILL get that meeting) I'll come prepared and informed and still curious.
Should be fun!
November 18, 2024 at 3:51 PM
And so doing something that yielded "no results" actually yielded a ton of value.
When I get that meeting (and I WILL get that meeting) I'll come prepared and informed and still curious.
Should be fun!
When I get that meeting (and I WILL get that meeting) I'll come prepared and informed and still curious.
Should be fun!
If I hadn't set the bar high, I certainly wouldn't have chatted with industry friends who gave me unique insights. I wouldn't still be curious as to whether I'm right in my hypothesis. What a loss that would be!
November 18, 2024 at 3:51 PM
If I hadn't set the bar high, I certainly wouldn't have chatted with industry friends who gave me unique insights. I wouldn't still be curious as to whether I'm right in my hypothesis. What a loss that would be!
If I had adopted the "5 in 5" method, I wouldn't have a stockpile of helpful information to drop over the coming weeks. If I had simply asked an LLM I wouldn't understand their business environment or the tone of the posts from people in their company.
November 18, 2024 at 3:51 PM
If I had adopted the "5 in 5" method, I wouldn't have a stockpile of helpful information to drop over the coming weeks. If I had simply asked an LLM I wouldn't understand their business environment or the tone of the posts from people in their company.
But that's not the thing that made me scratch my head.
What made me pause was the realization that if I hadn't had this high bar for outreach, I would probably never have done so much research.
What made me pause was the realization that if I hadn't had this high bar for outreach, I would probably never have done so much research.
November 18, 2024 at 3:51 PM
But that's not the thing that made me scratch my head.
What made me pause was the realization that if I hadn't had this high bar for outreach, I would probably never have done so much research.
What made me pause was the realization that if I hadn't had this high bar for outreach, I would probably never have done so much research.
et I was careful not to pitch in the email. Don't make it too long. Use triggers. Ask questions. Show them you know them. Speak with an authentic brand voice. Be approachable.
Hours of work to gather info and get the tone just right.
Crickets. Nada. No response.
Hours of work to gather info and get the tone just right.
Crickets. Nada. No response.
November 18, 2024 at 3:51 PM
et I was careful not to pitch in the email. Don't make it too long. Use triggers. Ask questions. Show them you know them. Speak with an authentic brand voice. Be approachable.
Hours of work to gather info and get the tone just right.
Crickets. Nada. No response.
Hours of work to gather info and get the tone just right.
Crickets. Nada. No response.
We know about emerging regulatory pressure. We know about a push to increase ARPU that's actually been sliding in recent quarters.
And I knew exactly how we could solve these problems!
And I knew exactly how we could solve these problems!
November 18, 2024 at 3:51 PM
We know about emerging regulatory pressure. We know about a push to increase ARPU that's actually been sliding in recent quarters.
And I knew exactly how we could solve these problems!
And I knew exactly how we could solve these problems!
And so when I say this email is highly personalized, I don't mean "ChatGPT write an email to Sally at Acme for me" - I mean serious work went into this. We knew about the problems that they are having scaling their current solutions.
November 18, 2024 at 3:51 PM
And so when I say this email is highly personalized, I don't mean "ChatGPT write an email to Sally at Acme for me" - I mean serious work went into this. We knew about the problems that they are having scaling their current solutions.
My process is to do research through my network, through public sources, even through the rumor mill, as we choose these accounts.
November 18, 2024 at 3:51 PM
My process is to do research through my network, through public sources, even through the rumor mill, as we choose these accounts.