In this episode, David and Jamie explore the often-dreaded world of meetings, asking the critical question: "Could this meeting have been an email?" Provoked by Elon Musk's perspective on meeting efficiency, your hosts delve into why so many meetings are unproductive and how to transform them into valuable, energizing sessions.

Discover our meeting rhythms and cadences, designed for our own indie creative business. We break down our weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual meeting structures, including:

• Snippets (Not a Meeting!): How a Slack channel can replace your Monday morning huddle and clarify thinking.
• Level 10s: An in-depth look at this powerful, action-oriented meeting framework from the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), designed to achieve 10/10 productivity. Learn why time limits and clear agendas are game-changers.
• Friday Huddle: The cultural cornerstone of the week, focusing on team connection, learning, and mutual encouragement.
• Monthly Commercial Review: Essential for staying on top of key performance indicators.
• Zoom Out Sessions: One-on-one meetings focused on team member coaching, professional development (including unique "learning" and "risk" goals), and fostering psychological safety.
• Quarterly Rocks Meeting: Setting the 90-day trajectory with "big rocks" that move the needle, and introducing the concept of a quarterly theme (like "Expose Yourself!").
• Annual Goal Setting & Reviews: High-level strategy and personal development discussions.

We share our evolving blueprint for effective communication in a hybrid work environment, offering tangible takeaways and inviting listeners to share their own meeting strategies.

Links & Resources:

• Learn more about Good Space: good.space
• Sign up for the Ideas Club newsletter: good.space/ideas-club
• Book: Traction by Gino Wickman
• Book: Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara
• Notion article on Level 10 Meetings: https://www.notion.com/blog/level-10-meeting-why-should-startups-use-it
• Good Space Level 10 Meeting Template: Level 10 Meeting Agenda

Let us know in the comments: What are your meeting best practices? How do you keep your hybrid or remote team connected and productive?

David and Jamie reflect on their experiences with closing two venues, discussing the lessons learned from failure, the importance of strategy, community dynamics, and the challenges of product market fit. They emphasise the need for genuine connections within teams and the significance of aligning business strategies with operational realities. The discussion serves as a therapeutic exploration of their journey, highlighting the value of learning through adversity and the importance of maintaining brand integrity.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Context

05:57 Strategic Reflections

11:51 Community and Team Dynamics

18:00 The Importance of Brand Integrity

23:48 The Role of Optimism and Realism

Summary

In this conversation, David Brown and Jamie discuss the significance of values in business, emphasizing that the core of any organization should be its values rather than just its products or services. They explore how shared values among team members can energize the workplace, guide decision-making, and shape the company's identity. The discussion also covers the importance of hiring individuals who align with these values and how to create a culture that reflects them authentically. Through personal anecdotes and insights, they illustrate the transformative power of values in building a successful and meaningful organisation.

Takeaways

• The most important aspect of a business is the shared values of the team.
• Values should come before mission and strategy in a company.
• Authenticity in business stems from aligning actions with core values.
• Hiring should focus on cultural fit and alignment with values.
• Values can energise a team and guide decision-making processes.
• It's essential to define and codify values that resonate with the team.
• Feedback becomes clearer when values are well-defined.
• Saying no to misaligned opportunities can lead to more powerful yeses.
• Values should be genuinely reflective of the team, not just the founder's vision.
• Intentionality in defining values can lead to a more authentic business strategy.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Values in Business

02:49 The Importance of Team Values

05:58 Identifying Authentic Values

09:07 Hiring for Cultural Fit

12:12 Building a Values-Driven Organization

15:11 Aligning Activities with Values

18:14 The Process of Defining Values

20:46 Making Decisions Based on Values

23:59 The Role of Values in Business Strategy

26:54 Conclusion: Living Your Values

Jamie's 'Paperclips' article:

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jamiedundas_teamswin-activity-7297207121744416768-wsfn?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAATdDpABYdW1FdrdDz5-BF-1gTOfIsRj07Q

Overcoming Creative Fear and Embracing Imperfection

In this episode of the podcast, David and Jamie discuss the challenges of creative work, including the fears of exposure, self-promotion, and criticism. They share personal experiences and practical strategies for overcoming these obstacles, such as developing consistent creative habits and embracing imperfections. The conversation also highlights the importance of building a supportive community and the role of creativity as a muscle that needs regular exercise. Special segments include references to insights from Seth Godin, anecdotal experiences from Tolkien's creative process, and a focus on the value of shipping work consistently. Additionally, they introduce a tool created by their team to help track daily creative activities.

00:00 Introduction and Setting the Mood

00:26 Welcome to the Podcast

00:53 Introducing GoodSpace

01:44 The Fear of Shipping Creative Work

04:51 Identifying Personal Barriers

05:56 Overcoming Criticism and Self-Doubt

11:04 The Importance of Consistent Practice

16:48 Finding Your Voice Through Quantity

19:01 Uncovering the Gold: Embracing Imperfection

21:19 The Power of Creative Buddies

23:03 Tolkien's Creative Journey and the Inklings

26:18 Confidence Through Consistency

29:07 The Importance of Self-Promotion

34:25 Encouraging Creativity and Daily Goals

37:27 Wrapping Up and Looking Forward

Consistency Calendar

Good Space operates neighbourhood work clubs. They’re designed to help you escape the distractions of wfh and focus on doing your best ever work. Open 24/7 and fueled by delicious coffee.

See more here: good.space

Subscribe to Ideas Club newsletter: https://good.space/ideas-club