Sitting in a 95ºF arena with sweat dripping from all the godforsaken parts of my body I find myself listening intently to my nephew, Anthony Martinez as he is delivering his graduation speech to the student body as his school's valedictorian. He is not a super talkative guy generally speaking, but nonetheless he's mustered the energy to nervously address the parents, grandparents, cousins, brothers and sisters who have come out to celebrate this pivotal moment in the life of their respective graduate. He begins by delivering the business-as-usual thanks and platitudes to his comrades cracking some jokes along the way to scattered hoots and hollers from the stands. But then his tone changed and the message he chose to leave his classmates with is "It's OK. Give up on your dreams."
Continue readinGFor many companies in our now-more-than-ever digitally enabled society, for cost-savings or a myriad of other reasons, many are beginning to embrace the idea of utilizing remote workers. The prospect of using a freelancer has become pretty common, but it used to consist of hiring your friend or brother-in-law. Minimally, someone within a stone’s throw. But with advances in tech, the world has gotten smaller and good help further away all at the same time.
Continue readinGWe're human. And while we aren't given a handbook at birth with all the how-to's needed to successfully maintain ourselves, there are many truths that have emerged over millennia. We know we need to eat, sleep, drink, fuck, run, breathe and so on. And we know it because, if we go without any of those needs for too long, there is an insatiable hunger that comes over us and compels us to take action. To scratch the itch. These internal drives have informed the way humans have built the world around them. Nearly everything is designed and manufactured to satisfy a craving or a need - or a perceived need anyway. Our desires inform nearly every decision we make at any given time, and while they can be influenced by external stimuli, we are generally making choices that we at least believe will serve our need, whatever it may be.
Continue readinGYou’ve all heard the saying before from the French Scientist Jean-Baptiste Leroy, “but in this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Said even more concisely, I believe that there is only one constant, and that is change. As we all know, change can be a force hard to reckon with. Not usually because its physically hard or strenuous—although I suppose it could be—but because it’s scary. And that fear is often the one thing getting in the way of our achieving our fullest potential. An example of this might be when an individual aspires to change careers.
Continue readinGSo many people kick off the new year looking for a fresh start. Something about the turning of the year suddenly inspires people to want to live their best lives, to transition, and to become better versions of themselves. A newfound interest in hitting the gym to discover the abs you just know are in there. A focused push to get out from under your disorganized life. Working to tame your financial landscape. Learning a new skill, picking up a hobby, or transitioning to a new career. These are just some of the many common resolutions bandied about this time of year. However, while many are quick to post their dreams and hopes on the social channel du jour, most will never experience the satisfaction of achieving them.
Continue readinGEverywhere you look these days, people are espousing the importance of relationships. Moments later, they begin telling you how to hack, trick, or 10-step your way into one. It’s true, relationships are the key to just about everything one might hope to achieve in life, so it’s a no-brainer that much is written about them. However, despite many articles to the contrary, there are no shortcuts. You can’t fake authenticity and relationships that mean something require it.
Continue readinG“Experts diagnose. Amateurs give advice.” So says Chris Do, founder of the Futur. And he’s right, you know. This little difference in perspective is what separates the wheat from the chaff. An amateur is quick to allow the self-diagnosed client to proceed to tell them what’s wrong and offer advice to scratch that itch. An expert wouldn’t think to offer a solution without fully understanding the problem first, and the only way we can get to the real heart of the matter is through curiosity and application of expertise. What type of relationship do you want to have with your client?
Continue readinGMarch 2016 was a pivotal point for me not just in terms of business, but in terms of being a human and as we know the two are inextricably linked.I tell this story even though it makes me feel a little stupid or naive. I always feel insecure talking about this experience because it plainly admits just how wrong I was and how skewed my thinking was at the time. However I am grateful for this experience - maybe more than anything else I've experienced so far - as it completely changed the way we do business, and the way I live my life.
Continue readinGIf you have worked as a freelancer or contractor in a creative trade, you no doubt recognize what your client may be telling you without actually saying anything. Hell, while this is common in the creative world anyone who has spent any amount of time in a service business —where you're trading time for money—can relate. The silent treatment nine times out of ten can only mean one of two things: Your client is either on an extended vacation in the Dominican Republic (avoid the mini-bar!) OR your client is out of here and has no intention of paying you for that brand identity you've been killing yourself to finish on the unrealistic deadline they gave you.
Continue readinGWhether you are working in an office environment surrounded by a team of your peers or a digital nomad working out of your camper van overlooking some scenic vista, most will agree that there is little room for lone wolves in the workforce. While team, trusted advisors, or circles of trust come in all shapes and sizes depending on the needs of the individual, few would argue that we are flat out better off on our own. As a freelance or remote worker, you must fight off the natural tendency to go it alone. Instead, you need to focus your energy on growing your pack.
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