The Process of Making Something

The Process 06—The Alternative is Not an Option

"Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face." I love this Mike Tyson quote because it's perfect for everyone trying to make something. Achieving a goal isn't about having a good plan, it's about being able to take punches. A lot of them. As a born and bred planner, I learned this lesson slowly, and in this episode I talk about one of the best ways I found to take a lot of punches.

The Process 05—Life is Messy

Everyone has a lot going on. We’re busy, stressed, overwhelmed, insecure. We don’t need some product to add to that. Life is messy is a mantra I repeat when building products for people. It’s a way to stay empathetic and a reminder to do everything I can to make their lives a little bit better. Not only will people will appreciate it, but you’ll also come out on top in the long run. This episode explores hyper-empathizing with your audience and how that helps you build something that is more likely to resonate with them and be appreciated.

The Process 04—Don't Quit Your Day Job

I learned this lesson the hard way myself. The temptation is strong to drop everything and put all your effort into a new project, but it’s the single biggest mistake people make when starting a business. It puts too much pressure on a new idea and, worst of all, keeps you from learning the behaviors critical to succeeding in the long run. In this episode I explore the irrefutable truths about creating something new that you can only understand when you don’t quit your day job.

The Process 03—The Pressure to Move Fast

"Move fast and break things" — the now famous Zuckerberg mantra cherished in Silicon Valley. But moving fast can be dangerous, especially if you're just getting started. You have to understand where you are in your process and *why* you're moving fast. In this episode I'll talk about the dangers of moving fast, what I'm doing instead, and some ways that you should always move fast no matter what. I love this topic because speed is a religion in so many industries and there's so much blind faith that's actually counter-productive. Hope you enjoy it.

The Process 02—Starting

How to know if it's time to start. I also talk about the app I'm working on (Revere) and how that project came about.