Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship is …
In 2010, I was going through a tough divorce (aren’t they all) while my business was starting to really take off. Despite the outward facing business success, I was also battling what I now know is pretty typical of the entrepreneurial experience: conflict, pain, stress, and perhaps burnout INSIDE my business. It was the first time in my…
Since 2011, I’ve been a part of 3 formal entrepreneurial life groups. Although that’s not their names, that’s the way I see them. And the impact of those groups, the time I’ve spent in them, and the relationships I built through them have been priceless. They have had a profound positive impact on my life…
I was five years into starting and running iThemes when I added a new title to my resume: Dad. Being an entrepreneur and a father is a very interesting combination. It brought up new issues, challenges and questions for me. In fact, it was one of the questions I went to my business group about before our first…
Last weekend, I went on a quick but epic roadtrip with my youngest brother, Matt. On short notice I needed (and let’s be honest, wanted) someone to go with me to our New Mexico cabin (about a 9-hour drive each way) starting on Friday night and getting back on Sunday night. Matt and I are seven years apart…
For some time now I’ve gotten regular requests to do phone calls and consulting. I enjoy talking, listening and helping people, particularly entrepreneurs and young people looking for career direction. Today, I’m taking a step to do that even more, by setting up my expert profile at Clarity. Sometimes it just helps to get an…
In the past couple years of leading and “managing” people, especially young people right out of college, or those who haven’t had many jobs, I’ve seen a gaping hole in the form of teaching people how to be a professional. (Maybe it’s always been there but either way, it’s there.) When I think about this…
I have a couple of disclaimers as well as context before diving into my thoughts on working remote. First, this post is written from a manager’s perspective, not the team member’s, particularly my own as I’ve led and grown iThemes from one person to now over 20+ since 2008. I’m focusing these thoughts and experience sharing on a situation where you…
I had the opportunity to give the keynote talk at WordCamp Ann Arbor in October 2016. In this talk I share what I think are the keys to surviving and thriving in the very future — Pivot and Purpose. Here is the full video: Here is the slidedeck: How To Survive & Thrive In the…
In January, it’ll be 9 years of doing business in WordPress at iThemes. So crazy to think we’re nearing a decade of work. And I’m thankful for every minute of it, even the toughest parts. Today, for a couple of reasons, I’m feeling a bit nostalgic. Almost 9 years later now, one of my best friends isn’t even…
One of the best pieces of advice (experience share, OK, OK) I got as a rookie entrepreneur trying to build our team was: “If you want to see how good your team is and the health of your business, take two weeks off with minimal, if any, contact and see how they do.” I’ve done…