I’m flying to Kentucky this week for dedicated work and user research with a fully distributed startup team. It’s my first “work trip” in several years. I’m excited to spend time in person with the team, and I have high hopes for the work we’ll accomplish over the three days together. I’m incredibly excited because the holiday week (and associated sickness the kids picked up) felt so particularly unproductive. I have high hopes for what we’ll accomplish by the end of the year but fully recognize that the time remaining before 2024 is quickly fading.

This week, I wanted to dive into the speed of life right now. I know how busy it can be when you’re fully employed, but strangely, being unemployed often felt even more busy. Having some structure to your days, plans/goals for your time, and metrics/measures that guide you to success will help to make sure the time is used well.

Flying High

This article on slowing down and enjoying life (8m read) more doesn’t have any particularly astute observations, but had several helpful reminders for me: driving the speed limit (I took this more metaphorically than literally, although they clearly meant it literally) and make time to have fun.

Flying requires getting off the ground.

I’m letting a fear of failure hold me back from starting. I have partnered with Emergent Execs (an executive coaching company in Austin) to create a new Tech Exec Accelerator. We’ll be launching the course in February of 2024. I have talked to several other leaders who have shown me that creating video content to promote and draw attention to the course and get it out beyond my network will be critical. 

But…Video is daunting. Social media is a whole landscape to learn. I need to take my own advice and just “get started and get better.” So, I’m putting it out here today. My goal is to get one short video out into the world by this time next week. 

Fun