At modthink, one of our guiding principals is a sentiment embodied in a quote by IDEO founder David Kelley:
“The goal is to hang out with great people, creating stuff that makes a difference that you could never do by yourself.”
Every Friday we evaluate our performance for the week. We look at our failures and successes. We question our decisions. We celebrate our challenges.
The exercise is, for me, cathartic. I’m able to review all the up and down emotions of being neck-deep in a start-up and value what it all really means. Week #27 went something like this:
Monday meeting with the resurgent Fayetteville Independent Business Alliance (FIBA) at Mim Wynne’s The Handmade Market over in the Evelyn Hills Shopping Center next to Ozark Natural Foods.
Tuesday meeting with Stuart Walker of Clubhaus Fitness to sign our contract and kickoff our project. Sylvia knocked out almost a dozen client Performance Reports, and Matt solved some technical problems with Rebekah Champagne over at Terra Tots resulting in a huge thank you and a hug.
Wednesday started with the always fun Jeff Patrick of American Red Cross down at our Block Street office (aka Little Bread Company). Then we shot up to Bentonville for an equally fun meeting with Cher Evens and Dan Hintz at Downtown Bentonville Incorporated and then with Patti and Ken Leith of EDGES, Inc. Fun, yet exhausting day! We finished the day on a regroup call with our partner Bob Roth, refreshed from his writing junket in California.
Thursday started off in our Bentonville East office (aka Kennedy Coffee) with a meeting of the Brents (Brent Reader and me). I spent the rest of the day at TEDxBentonville while the team was heads down on delivering to our clients. It’s cool to know we have so many amazing people with amazing stories to share right here in Northwest Arkansas. Kassie Misciewcz and the kids from Trike Theatre and Papa Rap, Alvin Lopez were two of my highlights of the day. Sitting with Bryan Gott, Brad Lawless and Brent Reader made for an interesting time. Chatting with Andy Murray of Mercury11 after the event was a treat.
Friday started with an early morning presentation to the CEO Forum II, Tim McFarland’s collaborative group of business leaders from our region. Great conversation with Stan Baker, Kutuk Rock was a treat, as always (cannot say that about most phone calls with attorneys!). Met the young entrepreneurs behind the local startup GrubKing.com.
Somewhere in the blur that was our week we met with Eric Huber of Blue Zoo Creative to discuss client work and to talk about the future website for modthink. We also fielded four unsolicited calls from people who want to work for us; a humbling event that keeps happening. Four in one day was a treat. Four in one hour, unheard of!
And Friday isn’t done yet. My next meeting is with my good friend John Andrews of Collective Bias here at our Dickson Street office (aka Arsaga’s). Then Amy and I will top off the week with one of my Key Forum classmates, Sarah Fennel to attend her Winetopia fundraiser for Restore Humanity.
Basically, I’m living one of our prime directives: hanging out with cool people, creating stuff that matters and doing things that I could never, ever have done for myself.
