MINDFUL MONEY

Venture capitalists (VCs) have undeniably been the loudest voice and rockstars of startup culture. Their model has paved the way for a very specific type of explosive, high-growth success story. The land of champagne dreams and billion-dollar valuations. But the reality is that a handful of investments drive the bulk of the returns, and behind the dreams of being the next unicorn lies a crucial truth: capital is not free. While this reality is pretty obvious today, it felt very different just a few years ago when the push was “just take the money at those big valuations - it’s basically free”. VC funds don’t invest in good people and good companies, they invest in good industries. When investing in early stage companies, it can be difficult to identify eventual winners and losers and by investing in rapid growth market segments, it’s about identifying the teams that can execute and supply the demand. A few companies will rise in this winner-take-all dynamic while others are on a death march. It can be brutal for founders - particularly for those who don’t understand the game they are playing. And it’s also not really appropriate unless you’re in one of those market segments.

There is, however, another path . A less glamorous, more mindful, intentional approach that prioritizes sustainable growth. It's a slower burn, a calculated climb, but one with a crucial advantage: the unlikelihood of failure. So, before you get swept up in the VC whirlwind, chasing dollars you’re misaligned with, and distracting your company, consider this alternative – a strategic ascent built on a foundation of resourcefulness and a clear vision for your company's future. Not really an innovative concept, but it works.

Capital ALIGNMENT & ALLOCATION

It's about choosing the right capital for your company and intentions - using every dollar like a calculated chess move, strategically positioned to maximize growth and ultimately, value. Literally - increasing the value of your company. Here's how to make it work:

A Different Path

Forget the "raise big to stay afloat" mentality. Instead, focus on raising exactly what you need to reach your next major milestone. This could be a product launch, market expansion, buying power to increase margins, or achieving a specific user base. Using funds to reach a specific milestone, test a market, etc. - not just filling the tank for an indefinite journey and endless rounds and no profitability in sight.

Laser Focus

Don't be tempted to spread your capital thin across a dozen different initiatives. And do not bloat salaries. Identify the one or two growth areas with the highest potential for return and pour your resources into those. This focused approach increases your chances of success and allows you to demonstrate a clear understanding of how capital translates to growth. This means you have clear goals and a clear path.

Metrics are Your Mantra

Quantify your growth. Identify milestones and KPIs that indicate the company is trending in the right direction. This allows you (and your investors) to track the impact of your capital allocation and see early signs you need to adjust. Know your numbers - the real ones - and use them to forecast the future, measure where you’re at, and tell the story of how the capital is producing growth, and subsequently a return.

Bootstrapping Smarts

Never underestimate the power of resourcefulness. Explore creative ways to grow with less and stretch your capital further. Can you leverage partnerships, negotiate better vendor deals, get a purchase order, or tap into free marketing channels? A scrappy, resourceful approach demonstrates not just financial responsibility, but also a commitment to maximizing every opportunity.

Funding Myths

Here's the thing, along the way you've probably heard a few things about raising money that aren't exactly reality. Let's call them what they are: funding myths.

• Myth #1: Profits Don't Matter, Growth is King: This might be true for a select few chasing the VC lottery, but for most startups, years of bleeding cash can be fatal. There's a cost to prioritizing winner-take-all growth at all expenses.

• Myth #2: You Need Millions to Get Started: The truth is, a bootstrapping approach in the very early days can be incredibly effective. Resourcefulness and a focus on building a Minimal Viable Product (MVP) can validate your concept and attract investors who believe in your vision, not just your burn rate.

Remember, VC funding is a powerful tool, but it's not the only one. By understanding the limitations of the VC model and embracing a mindful approach to growth, you can take control of your startup destiny and play in a different funding landscape that prioritizes strong fundamentals and a clear path to profitability. They might be drawn to your company's social impact mission, your innovative approach to a specific market, or simply your potential for steady, sustainable growth.

RITUALS FOR HARMONY

In the intricate dance of life, finding balance can often feel like chasing a mirage - a myth, really. Yet, amidst the chaos and the blending of roles, the power of daily rituals weave together the various threads of life into a harmonious tapestry. When the day to day is unorganized, unstructured, and unfocused, implementing a few rituals offer an integrated path to desired outcomes. 

01 Morning Mindfulness

Each day begins with a ritual of mindfulness. Before the world awakens, I carve out time for quiet reflection, meditation, or journaling. This sets the tone for the day ahead, allowing me to approach each aspect of my life with intention and clarity.

02 Unified Planning Sessions

Instead of compartmentalizing my tasks, I've found that blending them together in planning sessions yields better results. Whether it's outlining business strategies while cooking breakfast or discussing family schedules during a work break, these unified planning sessions ensure that no aspect of my life is neglected.

03 Work-Life Integration

Rather than striving for a strict work-life balance, I embrace the concept of work-life integration. This means incorporating family activities into my workday and vice versa. Whether it's involving my children in business discussions or taking work calls during a family outing, blurring the lines between work and personal life fosters a sense of cohesion.

04 Routine Rituals for Productivity

Rituals paired with specific tasks serve as anchors throughout my day. From the afternoon coffee that signals a transition to focused work to the evening walk with my family that signifies the end of the workday, these routine rituals help me stay on track and maintain momentum.

RITUALS FOR TEAMS

The slashing of meetings has been a popular trend in favor of highly detailed and itemized task lists and project management. Here's the thing. I've tried it. I've implemented it. It works. But, it does miss a little spark. Just that extra something that gets teams excited, collaborating, feeding off each other, throwing out ideas... When traveling, working remote, different timezones, etc., you aren't going to just bump into people. You have to foster connection outside of the physical, because those spontaneous interactions are gold. And so - automate and task out all the requirements to hit goals and get shit done, and then prioritize regularly scheduled meetings to run the company, connect with employees, brainstorm company wide goals for focus, and and foster spontaneous interactions. 

01 Flexibility as a Ritual

While rituals provide structure, they also accommodate spontaneity and flexibility. Embracing the unexpected as part of the daily ritual ensures that I can adapt to changes without feeling overwhelmed. Whether it's a last-minute business opportunity or a spontaneous family adventure, flexibility is woven into the fabric of my rituals.

02 Evening Reflection

As the day winds down, I engage in an evening ritual of reflection. This allows me to celebrate accomplishments, acknowledge challenges, and set intentions for the following day. By ending each day with gratitude and mindfulness, I cultivate a sense of fulfillment that transcends the boundaries of work and personal life.

Daily rituals serve as guiding stars, navigating me through the ebb and flow of life's demands. By embracing the blend of self, personal, and business, and infusing each day with intentional rituals, I've discovered that harmony is not found in separation but in integration. So, as I continue on this journey, I'll keep humming along, knowing that my rituals will keep me grounded, no matter what life may bring.

TO DO LISTS ARE DEAD

The hamster wheel of to-do lists. Employees opening up "My Tasks" only to check them off and the queue to fill back up. The Sisyphean struggle of endless tasks. For many remote workers, the daily grind can feel like an exercise in futility – a relentless pursuit of activity masquerading as progress. It really doesn't have to be like that. Often times, we bog our team down with so many tasks that we aren't measuring the results of them. 

This shift from tactics to outcomes is the key to unlocking the true potential of remote teams. While tasks have their place, they are mere brushstrokes in the grand canvas of achievement. Just a function. Goals, on the other hand, are the bold strokes. Must haves. They are the North Stars that guide our efforts, the measuring sticks against which we gauge success.

Goals provide much-needed clarity and ensure tasks put points on the board - at least one step closer to the goal - and if not... maybe you just scratch them. Yes, I am recommending that if you cannot tie tasks to a milestone, and ultimately, a goal: maybe they don't need done. At least consider it. Setting company and team goals empower individuals and the company as a whole to own their outcomes, fostering a sense of agency and autonomy rather than just checklists. This, in turn, breeds an environment of proactive problem-solving and strategic thinking, where employees are all driven toward common goals.

This is also my number one solution to creating a more collaborative environment. Focusing on goals fosters a deeper level of collaboration and communication. Instead of siloed task-completion, employees must navigate projects with a shared vision. Shared goals become the rallying point, drawing individuals together even in the absence of physical proximity. The Slack channels that once echoed with mundane updates now hum with strategic discourse, replaced by solutions and shared insights to push the team closer to a win.

This shift has profound implications for leadership as well. Micromanagement, the bane of many remote workers, fades away in the face of clearly defined goals. Instead, leaders become mentors and facilitators, providing the tools and support necessary for individuals to chart their own paths to success. The focus shifts from "how" to "what," a necessary evolution in a world where trust and empowerment are the true currencies of performance.

The transition from task-centricity to a goal-driven culture may require a paradigm shift, but the potential rewards are undeniable. Increased productivity, enhanced engagement, and a more vibrant corporate culture – these are the hallmarks of a workplace where goals rule over to-do lists. In the age of remote work, where isolation can lurk just beyond the screen, the power of shared goals to unite and motivate cannot be overstated.

From a management perspective, this can also help identify resource gaps, inform resource allocation, and prioritize goals. 

Are you ready to ditch the task trap and start playing for keeps? Let's focus on the goals, trust our people, and watch amazing things happen.

HOW TO

Embracing a goal-oriented approach sounds great, but how do we make it happen? Let's break it down into actionable steps:

01 COMPANY GOALS

1. Start Big: Gather leadership and key stakeholders to define overarching company goals aligned with your vision and mission. Focus on 3-5 key objectives for the year. I like setting annual and quarterly goals at this level.

2. Cascading Goals: Once set, break down each company goal into smaller, team-level objectives. Assign clear owners and deadlines for each.

02 TEAM GOALS

1. Align and Connect: Bring teams together to discuss their contributions to each company goal. Align team objectives with their specific expertise and resources.

2. Actionable Objectives: Translate team objectives into SMART goals, ensure goals are measurable, achievable, and have clear timelines. Tip: They should be a little out of reach. I like to stretch. Set big goals. If you achieve 100% of your goals... they're not big enough.

03 INDIVIDUAL GOALS

1. Empowerment is Key: Encourage individual goal-setting aligned with team and company goals. Personalized goals allow each team member to create and track their goals.

2. Regular Check-Ins: Schedule individual meetings to discuss progress and provide support. Use progress updates and comments to track individual contributions towards team goals.

04 MILESTONES & TASKS

1. Breaking it Down: Break down each team goal into achievable milestones. Tie completion of milestones to team objectives using dependencies.

2. Task-tastic Tracking: Within each milestone, create specific tasks assigned to individuals or teams. Track progress and celebrate achievements in real-time.

05 COMMUNICATION & COLLABORATION

1. Transparency is Key: Use your project management system to track with progress reports and dashboards to provide company-wide visibility on goal progress. Foster open communication through comments and discussions.

2. Virtual Collaboration: Integrate with tools like Slack and Zoom to facilitate seamless communication and brainstorming, even remotely.

Remember, this is not a one-and-done process. Regularly review and adjust goals as needed to stay agile and responsive to changing circumstances. Celebrate successes, big and small, to keep everyone motivated and on track.

Corporate Rebel specializes in implementing and managing remote-first rapid growth companies that thrive on shared objectives and empowered individuals. Our team can help you: 

• Define and cascade company-wide goals

• Guide teams in setting SMART, slightly-out-of-reach-but-work-hard-for-it achievable stretch goals

• Implement tools for seamless goal, milestone, and task tracking with automatic roll up for clarity and ease 

• Foster a culture of open communication and collaboration

• Celebrate success and course-correct as needed.  

CREATING LUCK

Luck, they say, is when preparation meets opportunity. Which is true, and my point. But that’s not how most people think about it. While many startup founders attribute their success to "luck," there's often more to the story. It's about hustling, working tirelessly, and embracing every challenge that comes your way. Here's what actually creates those big "lucky" moments. Hint: it's in the gritty journey that leads to those *seemingly* serendipitous moments of success.

THIS IS HOW YOU CREATE LUCK

01 LOVE THE GRIND
I know this isn't popular right now, but it's true. Behind every "lucky" break, there are countless hours of hard work. Success doesn't come to those who wait; it comes to those who relentlessly pursue their goals. There's no such thing as an overnight success. It's a relentless, ongoing grind. It's late nights, early mornings, and the willingness to do whatever it takes. Those "lucky" moments are often the result of unwavering dedication.

02 TAKE SMALL WINS
Luck favors the bold, right? Well, it's true. Successful founders aren't afraid to step out of their comfort zones and grab opportunities with both hands. They attend events, pitch their ideas, and take calculated risks. It's about creating your own chances.

03 FAILURE IS YOUR TOUGH FRIEND
Those who are "lucky" often have a history of setbacks. But they don't let failure define them; they let it refine them. Those who create their own luck see failure as feedback, not a dead end. They pivot, adjust, and iterate. 

04 STRANGERS AREN'T DANGER
Sure, networking plays a role, but it's not luck that builds connections; it's effort. Successful founders invest time in nurturing relationships, attending industry events, actively seeking mentors, and often times... literally talking to everyone. All the time. They understand that people provide gateways. 

05 THE PERSISTENCE FACTOR
When others give up, the persistent ones keep going. "Lucky" founders are often those who've weathered storms, faced rejection, and kept pushing forward. It's not luck; it's tenacity.

So, the next time you hear a startup founder cite a handful of opportunities and a lot of luck for their success - remember you can create your own, too. 

THE RELENTLESS PURSUIT OF SIMPLICITY

Today is about answering some questions on how exactly Corporate Rebel works. The how & why. The ultimate goal of Corporate Rebel is to transition CEOs and Founders from working in their business to working on their business. Otherwise - it's just a job, right? That's not the best use of the CEO - whose core function (and usually, strength) is to lead the team toward the vision, represent the company, and build relationships. When the CEO is working in the day to day of the business, it sucks attention from the most valuable aspects of the role, which really cannot be filled by anyone else. Further, most CEOs are really not skilled at operational aspects. This takes a different person. Corporate Rebel removes those aspects of "working in" so the CEO can "work on." Corporate Rebel implements the same practices we use for our clients - so that we can scale our own time and better execute at a higher level - bridging the gap between leadership and teams. 

Corporate Rebel holds the power to propel companies from dreams to reality through data organization, collaboration intelligence, and the relentless pursuit of simplicity and efficiency. Corporate Rebel achieves outstanding results at a fraction of the cost, and here's how.

Crafting the Machinery of Success

At the heart of the Corporate Rebel's mission lies the art of building a well-oiled machine that transitions your company from grinding to active accomplishment. With an unwavering focus on simplification, the Corporate Rebel diligently refines and automates processes, continuously striving for optimization. No matter how much your business expands, the commitment to systemizing and simplifying operations remains steadfast, creating an environment primed for growth, success, and ease. Everything should "just work" to the point where it appears eerily simple. This is because of the detailed processes and automations in place, most of which runs in the background. 

Empowering Your Workforce 

Corporate Rebel understands that a thriving business is built on the shoulders of empowered employees. Through task-oriented process documentation enriched with screencasts, videos, and visuals, your team is equipped with the tools needed to excel. This emphasis on clarity and autonomy fosters an environment where efficiency thrives, leading to increased productivity and innovative thinking.

Unlocking Time: Outsourcing and AI Collaboration

In the relentless pursuit of efficiency, Corporate Rebel embraces the power of delegation. By outsourcing fragments of executive tasks to artificial intelligence and executive assistants, they free up valuable time for key decision-makers. This allows for a focus on high-level strategy, propelling your company forward while essential operational tasks are handled with precision and care.

Harnessing the Power of Intelligence

Data-driven decision-making is the cornerstone of success in the modern business landscape, but many companies do not have the systems (or data fields) in place in order to run the company like this. Corporate Rebel implements these systems and leverages comprehensive reporting and analytics dashboards, providing in-depth insights into both clients and employees. With a clear view of workload management, goal achievement, retention, and agility, your company gains the competitive edge needed to make informed decisions quickly and effectively.

Positioning for the lifestyle you want

You don't build something great by functioning as the gear. You have to be the architect, and build to scale. This is a continual process that must be refined and grow with the company and its team. By integrating robust systems, promoting employee autonomy, leveraging technology, outsourcing task-oriented aspects, and making data-driven decisions, you can finally focus on the destination, the journey, and actually enjoy the process.

DITCH PROCESS DOCUMENTATION

I promise I have a better solution your team will love and actually use. 

Traditionally, process documentation manuals have been the go-to resource for disseminating information. However, I'm notorious for ditching the stale manual nobody reads for task-centric documentation that empowers employees with detailed instructions, notes, screencasts, and screenshots. In this blog post, we will explore the advantages of this approach and why it's so worth ditching process documentation manuals.

01 ENHANCED ACCESSABILITY & USABILITY

Process documentation manuals often tend to be lengthy and overwhelming, making it challenging for employees to find the specific information they need. On the other hand, task-centric documentation breaks down complex processes into smaller, manageable tasks - and puts it in front of the right person at the right time. By providing step-by-step instructions, employees can quickly access the information relevant to their current task, resulting in improved productivity and reduced frustration.

Additionally, task-centric documentation allows for easy updates and maintenance. As processes evolve, individual tasks can be modified or added without having to overhaul an entire manual. This agility ensures that documentation remains relevant, accurate, and accessible to all employees.

02 VISUAL LEARNING THROUGH SCREENCASTS & SCREENSHOTS

One of the limitations of process documentation manuals is their reliance on text-based explanations. While words can convey instructions, they often lack the clarity and visual context necessary for effective learning. Task-centric documentation addresses this limitation by incorporating screencasts and screenshots.

Screencasts are recordings that capture the entire process in real-time, providing a visual demonstration of each step. They allow employees to observe and replicate the process with greater ease, reducing the learning curve and minimizing errors. Screenshots, on the other hand, complement instructions by providing visual cues and illustrating key points. Together, these visual elements enhance the overall comprehension and retention of information.

03 CONTEXTUAL NOTES FOR DEEPER UNDERSTANDING 

While process documentation manuals typically provide general information about a process, they may not always offer detailed insights or context for specific tasks. Task-centric documentation, however, allows for the inclusion of contextual notes that explain the reasoning behind each step. These notes can highlight potential pitfalls, best practices, or considerations, providing a deeper understanding of the task's significance.

By incorporating contextual notes, organizations can foster a culture of knowledge sharing and critical thinking. Employees not only learn how to execute a task but also gain insights into the broader implications and interconnections within the process.

04 STREAMLINED ONBOARDING & TRAINING 

New employees often face a steep learning curve when navigating through process documentation manuals. The sheer volume of information can be overwhelming and can hinder their ability to get up to speed quickly. Task-centric documentation, with its focused approach, simplifies the onboarding process by breaking down complex processes into manageable tasks.

With detailed instructions, visual aids, and contextual notes, new hires can grasp the specific tasks relevant to their role swiftly. This approach accelerates their learning, boosts confidence, and allows them to contribute more effectively from an early stage. Plus, if they have questions, they can ask directly on the task at hand and receive real time, specific feedback. 

05 COLLABORATION & KNOWLEDGE SHARING 

Collaboration is at the heart of successful organizations, and task-centric documentation facilitates this by encouraging knowledge sharing. As tasks become the building blocks of process documentation, employees can contribute to refining and enhancing instructions, providing valuable insights, and suggesting process improvements.

Furthermore, task-centric documentation encourages subject matter experts to create screencasts or screenshots showcasing their expertise. This shared knowledge enables employees to learn from each other, promotes a sense of collective ownership, and fosters a collaborative work environment. This can be done quickly and allows you to build on processes and documentation over time, with real-time implementation. + no need to issue new versions of documentation, because it's already in the right place, in front of the right person, at the right time (you know.... inside the task they're already working on).

THIS IS THE CORPORATE REBEL WAY

It's essential to adapt our documentation practices to meet the needs of modern workplaces. By transitioning from stale process documentation manuals to task-centric documentation, organizations can enhance accessibility, improve learning outcomes, streamline onboarding, and foster a more collaborative and work environment. 

AI, BUT MAKE IT PERSONAL

So, you're sitting at your desk, overwhelmed by a jumble of thoughts, aspirations, and a list of things too long to accomplish in a day or a year or a life, and struggling to focus on the task at hand. Or do you even know which task is "at hand?" In times like these, it's incredibly helpful to have a trusty AI assistant by your side. Discover how practical command examples can help you conquer thought organization challenges, enhance focus, and express your thoughts with clarity and coherence.

01 INTELLIGENT THOUGHT ORGANIZATION

- "Hey AI, help me create an outline for my upcoming pitch"
- "AI, analyze this research material and extract the key points for me."
- "Can you categorize my ideas into sections and provide a structured framework? Here's what is on my mind: [brain dump]"

By utilizing these commands, AI-powered tools can assist you in organizing your thoughts effectively, extracting essential information, and creating structured outlines. By utilizing these commands, AI-powered tools act as your digital assistants, transforming scattered thoughts into a coherent framework.

AI Powered Tools for Intelligent Thought Organization: 

MindMeister: Visualize and structure your entrepreneurial thoughts with this popular mind mapping tool.

Roam Research: Build a network of interconnected notes to capture and develop your entrepreneurial ideas.

Workflowy: Create lists, outlines, and hierarchical structures to organize your thoughts effortlessly.

02 COGNITIVE ENHANCEMENT FOR FOCUS

- "AI, block distracting websites and apps for the next two hours."
- "Help me create a focused work environment by minimizing distractions, AI."
- "AI, provide me with personalized recommendations to optimize my focus and productivity."

With these commands, AI becomes your productivity guardian, blocking distractions and offering tailored suggestions to enhance your entrepreneurial focus. AI algorithms analyze your work patterns and offer practical advice to ensure you stay on track and accomplish tasks efficiently.

AI Powered Tools for Cognitive Enahncement/Focus:

Freedom: Create a distraction-free work environment by blocking tempting websites and apps.

Forest: Gamify your focus and conquer distractions, staying away from your phone and other diversions.

RescueTime: Track your digital habits, uncover time-wasting activities, and reclaim your productive hours.

03 NATURAL LANGUAGE PROCESSING FOR CLEAR EXPRESSION

- "AI, review this document and suggest improvements in sentence structure and grammar."
- "Can you help me refine my writing style to make it more clear and concise?"
- "AI, provide feedback on my presentation to ensure it's coherent and engaging."

With these commands, AI-powered language models act as your writing companions, helping you express your entrepreneurial thoughts with precision. They offer suggestions for sentence structure, grammar, and vocabulary, ensuring that your ideas are communicated effectively. 

AI Tools for Natural Language Processing for Clear Expression:

Grammarly: Enhance your entrepreneurial writing with suggestions for grammar, spelling, and style.

Hemingway Editor: Analyze your writing for clarity and readability, ensuring your entrepreneurial ideas shine..

ProWritingAid: Check grammar, style, and readability issues, and receive suggestions for improvement.

04 SPEECH RECOGNITION & TRANSCRIPTION

- "AI, transcribe this audio recording of my brainstorming session."
- "Convert my spoken ideas into written text, AI."
- "Help me organize my thoughts by transcribing my verbal notes, AI."

With these commands, AI-powered speech recognition and transcription tools capture your spoken words accurately, freeing you from the constraints of typing. Effortlessly organize and refine your entrepreneurial thoughts with transcribed content. You can freely brainstorm ideas without the constraint of typing or writing, and then refine and rearrange the transcribed content to create a well-structured representation of your thoughts.

AI Tools for Speech Recognition and Transcription:

Otter.ai: Accurately transcribe spoken audio, capturing your entrepreneurial ideas with precision.

Rev: Access fast and accurate transcription services for your audio and video files.

Microsoft Azure Speech to Text: Leverage cloud-based technology to convert spoken language into written text, supporting multiple languages and customization options.

CLARITY, FOCUS, & ORGANIZATION: UNLOCKED

By incorporating these practical command examples, you can seamlessly implement AI to overcome thought organization challenges, improve focus, and express your thoughts clearly and linearly. Whether it's creating outlines, blocking distractions, refining your writing style, or transcribing verbal ideas, AI serves as your reliable assistant, providing support and guidance throughout your journey. Embracing AI as a tool for thought organization and expression empowers you to navigate through the complexity of your thoughts, stay focused, and communicate your ideas with clarity and coherence.

These tools leverage AI technologies such as natural language processing, machine learning, and speech recognition to assist you in organizing thoughts, improving focus, and enhancing expression. Remember to explore these tools, read reviews, and choose the ones that align with your specific needs, preferences, and style. 

THE CASE FOR THE I-DONT-CARE-HOW-MANY-HOURS WORKWEEK

We can all agree that companies must operate efficiently and effectively to remain competitive. One of the key factors that determine the success of an organization is the productivity of its teams. However, measuring productivity is not always straightforward, and instead of structuring the company in a way that results and progress can be measured, they opt for measuring time and input with the assumption that it's a good enough indicator (even though we all know it's not). I'm going to make the case for why you should drop the clock, measure output and progress toward goals, and then I'll give you a quick overview of how to forecast workload within reasonable expectations for a workweek, and then allow your team to get it done (or not), for measurable progress toward company goals - because in the end no one really cares how many hours anyone spends doing their job, we just want the results. Let's explore.

01 Output is a better indicator of performance than input

Measuring the time and effort that teams put into a project does not necessarily indicate the quality or value of the output. Instead, measuring the output of a team gives a much clearer picture of their performance. Output is the end result of the work a team puts in, and it reflects the value that has been created. Measuring output enables companies to evaluate the effectiveness of their teams and make data-driven decisions about resource allocation.

02 Measuring output promotes a results-oriented culture

When companies measure time and input, they create a culture that values effort over results. This can lead to employees feeling burned out or undervalued, especially if they are putting in long hours but not seeing tangible results. Measuring output, on the other hand, promotes a results-oriented culture where teams are rewarded for achieving their goals and creating value for the company.

03 Measuring progress toward goals allows for course correction

Setting goals is an important part of any business strategy (and they should be clearly articulated to the team), but it's equally important to track progress toward those goals. Measuring progress allows teams to identify areas where they are falling behind and make adjustments to their approach. This helps teams stay on track and ensures that they are working toward the company's overall objectives.

04 Measuring output and progress toward goals enables better resource allocation

When companies measure time and input, they often assume that more hours worked equate to better results - even though we know that is often not the case. Measuring output and progress toward goals allows companies to identify which teams or projects are creating the most value and (re)allocate resources accordingly. This can lead to more efficient resource allocation and improved overall performance.

Have I convinced you yet?

We implement a results oriented culture with real, tangible processes inside your project management system. Leaders set the company goals, and then collaborate with their team to figure out how to accomplish those goals. You then create the supporting projects and tasks that will move the company closer to those goals and tie them to the completion of the goal for automatic roll up. Each task must have estimated time assigned to it. Just a reasonable estimation of how long that task is going to take. This allows us to forecast workload so you have reasonable time demands for your team and you can also more accurately assess how long it will take the team to reach the desired goal. You must continually evaluate progress (or no progress) toward a goal to ensure everyone is moving in the right direction within the correct timeline. All of a sudden you are able to make decisions about team dynamics, workload, progress, resources - all kinds of factors that may be playing a part in how the team works or lack thereof.

Measuring teams' output and progress toward goals is a more effective way to evaluate performance and run your company than measuring time and input. It promotes a results-oriented culture, allows for course correction, and enables better resource allocation. By focusing on output and progress toward goals, companies can make data-driven decisions and improve the overall productivity and performance of their teams. 

REMOTE FIRST TEAMS ARE WINNNG

I've launched numerous companies in remote environments - largely out of necessity in the early days. And what I've discovered is that maintaining a remote-first work environment consistently proves to be a breeding ground for high-performing teams, even when working asynchronously.

But the biggest advantage of remote work? It's the freedom from the shackles of expensive real estate costs. In startups and early-stage companies, office expenses can eat up a huge portion of available funds, and it's simply not necessary. By going remote, you gain a leg up on your competitors who have to pay high rent or mortgage fees for their office spaces. Instead, you can invest more in your people and products.

Moreover, being a remote company allows you to expand your talent pool and hire the best talent from all over the world, regardless of where they live. This is particularly beneficial if your local talent pool is weak in your sector. Plus, you can reduce your carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable future, which is something we should all strive for.

And guess what? Your customers benefit from that decision, too. By not passing on real estate costs to them, you can offer more competitive prices and better value, which ultimately leads to happier customers.

In a world with ample tools available and where work-life balance and flexibility are becoming more important than ever, going remote is the way to go. So, if you're thinking about starting a business or transitioning your existing company to remote work, let Corporate Rebel help you structure your company for aligned, results-oriented success that is equipped to go further, faster.

PITCHING METRICS + TRACTION TO INVESTORS

When pitching your traction and metrics to investors, it's important to communicate your key performance indicators (KPIs) and growth metrics in a clear and concise manner. Here are a few tips to help you effectively communicate your traction and metrics:

1. Focus on the most important metrics: Investors want to see that your business is growing and that you have a clear path to not just profitability, but the ability to produce a high return on their initial investment. Focus on the metrics that matter most for your business model, such as customer acquisition costs (CAC), lifetime value (LTV) of a customer, churn rate, revenue growth, and gross margin - and demonstrate how you are going to realize a return on investment.

2. Use visuals: Use graphs, charts, and other visuals to illustrate your metrics. This can help investors quickly understand your growth trajectory and see how your business is performing.

3. Provide context: Make sure to provide context for your metrics. For example, if you're talking about revenue growth, explain what's driving that growth (e.g., new customer acquisition, increased retention, etc.) and how it compares to industry benchmarks.

4. Be honest: Investors value transparency and honesty - and even though they may not be the industry expert you are, I promise they see through any BS. So don’t do it. Be upfront about any challenges or limitations you're facing and how you plan to address them.

5. Keep it concise: Your pitch should be brief and to the point. Focus on the most important metrics and KPIs, and avoid getting bogged down in details that aren't relevant to your growth story.

Remember, investors want to see that you have a clear understanding of your business metrics and that you're making data-driven decisions to drive growth and ultimately produce an ROI. By presenting your metrics in a clear and concise way, you'll be better positioned to make a strong case for investment.

CRAFTING NARRATIVES THAT WIN

In remote first environments where work is largely done asynchronously, effective written communication is an essential component of success. It's not enough to communicate to convey information - you must influence with your writing. As systems are implemented, much of our communication shifts from verbal to written, transforming the way we connect and collaborate. In lieu of endless meetings, we now utilize both synchronous and asynchronous communication, where the written word reigns supreme.

As we embrace this shift, it is vital to be thorough, anticipate questions, be mindful of tone, and ensure clarity in our written communication. Here are some tips to get you started:

01 Understand Your Audience & Your Intentions

When it comes to writing for your audience, it is essential to understand who you are communicating with and what kind of influence your message should have. Whether you're drafting an email to your team or pitching a proposal to a client, using the right tone is key to being understood and achieving the desired outcome. To achieve this, be mindful of the language you use and the message you want to convey, and adjust your writing accordingly.

02 Be Clear

Clarity is also vital in business communication. Ambiguity and misunderstandings can derail a project, waste time, and potentially cost you money. When writing, simplify your message, use short sentences, and avoid technical jargon. Break up lengthy paragraphs, and use bullet points to make your writing more accessible.

03 Be Concise

Being concise saves you and your audience time, and encourages them to actually read what you are writing. Writing concisely and getting straight to the point can save time and improve productivity. Avoid extraneous information that does not contribute to the main message, and use direct language to make your point.

04 Call to Action

Your written communication should be actionable, providing clear instructions or calls to action. If you're writing an email to your team, make sure you provide clear steps that need to be taken. If you're writing a proposal to a client, give a clear timeline for completion. Actionable writing ensures that everyone is on the same page and can move forward with confidence.

05 Be Direct

Finally, direct communication is key in business writing. Avoiding ambiguity and being honest is essential in addressing issues quickly and effectively. It ensures that everyone is on the same page and prevents misunderstandings.

06 Address Questions & Objections 

To effectively communicate with your audience, it's crucial to anticipate and address any objections they may have. Unlike a conversation or sales call, you won't have the opportunity to clarify or respond to their questions in real-time while they're reading your content. That's why it's essential to think about potential questions or objections and address them upfront. Don't shy away from discussing potential issues if you have a response to them. Leaving a vacuum of information will only make readers think you're hiding something or don't understand their concerns, making it challenging to win them over.

As we shift to a more written form of communication, mastering these skills can help you achieve your goals and take your team and business to new heights. Prioritize writing with the intention of influencing your audience, and you're on the right path. 

THE KEY TO CROSS FUNCTIONAL COLLABORATION AND CULTURE SHIFT

By far the biggest pain-points most executives are solving for right now are conflict between teams, information silos, competing goals, and an overall stressed out company culture. 

Taking a step back from the original pain-points, leaders need to understand that this is a product of poor team collaboration and unclear/competing goals. 

The speed with which leaders solve cross-functional collaboration problems may very well determine the fortune or failure of their companies. Reducing siloing and increasing collaboration within an organization isn't as painful or difficult as you might think. 

When teams have the tools they need they can solve problems quickly—without wasting time trying to figure out who’s responsible for what - they can work together to establish, review, and achieve shared goals.

The key here is shared goals - and that does come from the top. Executive planning means setting the long term vision and breaking it down into quarterly and annual goals, and then going a step further to help the team see the way there by breaking it down into even shorter term goals. Really there are very few meetings that actually need to happen, but if we can require just one weekly meeting where this week's goals are defined, and a monthly meeting for this month's goals are defined - your team will work together to figure out the way there. Let the team figure out how to reach those goals. This encourages buy in and alignment in the organization, and also allows leaders to keep a pulse on day to day trends and employee engagement. When documented and mapped out clearly, you can begin directly attributing projects and tasks to the achievement of those goals. 

People at companies with clear objectives understand how their work supports their teammates and are also more likely feel their work will help their future career and their workplace cares about their well- being. When this is the sentiment and your organization is working as a team to achieve their clearly defined and measured goals - you start to see a culture shift. You can also start measuring output rather than input, which is what drives profit and productivity. 

Not convinced? According to The Anatomy of Work Global Index Report:

55% of workers at collaborative organizations report revenue growth over the past three years—almost double weak collaborators.79% of workers at collaborative organizations feel well- prepared to respond to challenges—four times higher than weak collaborators.92% of workers at collaborative organizations say their work has value—versus just 50% of weak collaborators.87% of workers at companies with clear, connected goals say their organization is well- prepared to meet customer expectations—more than double those without.25% of workers using 16 or more apps miss messages and actions vs. 8% using 1-5 apps.

So - let's get down to it. I've outlined some key elements to implement on your path to an aligned, collaborative, and stress-reduced organization. I promise you will see increased morale, a sense of camaraderie, and a team ready to reach for higher goals. 

01 Consolidate Apps 

When you're moving fast, it's important to have one centralized ecosystem that brings all the doers and stakeholders together. App switching, loss of focus, information silos - more apps means more hours wasted just trying to work. Executives' goals should be clearly identified - and doers' work should be directly tied to the achievement of those goals. It does take some thought on how to structure this initially, but once it is in place, things will "just work". I recommend using Asana for its user-friendly interface, ease of use, and ability to track OKRs. 

Bonus tip: Ditch flow charts and manuals. While you're setting this up - make sure to automate workflows, turn on team reminders and notifications, and document all processes and expectations inside the actual tasks themselves. The more thorough you are with this, the more valuable data you have to make more informed decisions - and reduce friction for the team.

02 Establish a Communication Plan 

When we collaborate in a smarter way - it is constantly running in the background. You don't even really need to "work" on that. It reduces the amount of and time in meetings, frees up workflow, and keeps the team moving. More often than not, clear communication can make or break successful projects. Clear communication isn’t just about where you should be communicating—it’s also about which team members should be receiving which types of messages.

The good news is, creating an effective communication plan isn’t difficult. All you need to do is define your communication channels and align on when team members should use each so everyone is communicating about the same things in the same place.

As you define your communication plan, identify what to use each tool for. For example, you might decide to use:

• Email to communicate with any external stakeholders.

• Slack for synchronous communication about day-to-day updates and quick questions.

• Asana to communicate asynchronously about work, like task details, project updates, or key documents.

• Zoom or Google Meet for any team meetings, like project brainstorms or your project post mortem.

03 Establish Clear Goals as a Team

I touched on this above. Communicating your long term vision and including your team in setting some short term goals that contribute to that increases buy in and understanding of how the work they do directly contributes to company achievements. Document all incremental goals in your project management system, and identify how you are going to measure progress. 

04 Directly Tie Tasks and Projects to Goals

This allows you and your team to measure whether progress is being made - or not - and what needs attention. You might see a lagging goal and realize a team member is overloaded and you need to find a solution, or you might realize the goal wasn't actually all that critical and you want to push it out so the team can focus on other goals. While you things will come up - you'll be able to see them clearly and have the data to help make more informed decisions and see issues and provide solutions more easily. This is about bringing flexibility and data into your decision making so you can pivot - quickly. 

05 Evaluate Goal Achievements as a Team

One of the many benefits of this structure is transparency. Owners of Key Results grade their progress and the team rolls that up into their objectives. This is visible company wide - and it is quickly evident where things may be lagging and why.

This allows you to evaluate what didn’t work during the cycle and make a note of what worked well. For future cycles, you will be able to double down on your strengths and support your weaknesses. If you’ve missed either objectives or key results, host working sessions with your teams to reflect and learn. 

06 Consider Flattening the Org Chart and Implementing a Pod Structure

The higher the CEO is on the org chart, the more difficult it becomes to make decisions quickly and align goals deeper into the company. Implementing a pod structure inherently requires individuals to collaborate with key team members on a project regardless of their "department"- as it is vital for them to play together so they can win together. Collaborators on any project that contributes to a larger goal are now on a team (this is set inside your actual project management system, not just on the org chart). It is no longer about getting your part done and passing the baton, it's about pushing the team toward the goal - and celebrating the wins together.