Focus & Feedback

There is nothing more annoying and simultaneously exciting than those who challenge your ideas and assumptions while you are trying to focus on building something awesome.  Or as I’ve heard some designers say insanely great.

For those of us with kids, it may be easier to understand.  Once you see the eyes of your first born open to see the their universe for the first time, you realize that the entire world has changed forever for you.  The world no longer is about your craving an In-N-Out cheeseburger but about what would make her have the most wonderful childhood.  Every day.  Every hour.

A question came up from my community at www.startupstudygroup.com about the value of blogging.  Rather than point them to my post about the topic, I argued that I see founders as people and that some need to write.  It’s been a great way for me to organize my ideas and communicate to those in my network.  I am selling without selling.  I share my thoughts on some topics and it may hit a nerve to those readers who then see me as a person rather than a pretentious “personal branding” hack trying to hashtag their way to nicer zip codes.  Ultimately, people want to connect with people.

Having said that, my encouragement for people in the startup community to blog is  to help them become more organized and efficient. Think long term networking for business and career.  But this should not take the bulk of your time when you are coding and shipping.  Focus.  Take care of your new born.  She needs to be held.  She needs to be fed.  You can schedule times for the In-N-Out burgers.

Engage with me on Twitter. I’m @charlesjo.

Your input is welcome