End of 2023 - Reflect and Reset

Welcome to the 14th edition and last for 2023.  As we tick over into the new year, I think it’s wise to reflect on our wins and lessons and set a path for success in the year ahead.  Let’s get into it!

What I’ve got for you today:

• Wins & Lessons from 2023

• Future Planning

• Making a Product

• What to listen to this week

Please find any of my previous editions here if you've missed them.

01 / WINS & LESSONS FROM 2023
What a difference a year can make

Well, I think it’s been a bloody productive 12 months.  At the start of the year, I was headed down a path that, in hindsight, would have been fraught with danger.  Through lack of clarity, I could have ended up in a place where I thought I was in control of my career destiny but instead would have severely limited my future.  I’ve corrected that with a 180.

I now have a strong future ahead of me at a progressive and successful product design company, thanks to finding a role at Quad Lock.  From this comes enthusiasm for my role and my ability to contribute meaningfully, not just at QL but on my terms and times when I choose outside of my obligations.  It doesn’t seem like it should be that difficult, but now I have a process for improving my business.  I’ve correctly set up a business for my design services (whatever service that may take) and professionalised many aspects, giving the appropriate attention to areas that I’d neglected in my past freelancing life.  What a small investment in oneself can do for your outlook is incredible.

There are two main lessons I would promote from my 2023 year

1. Don’t be so ignorant of opportunities.
   The Quad Lock role I’m in now, a role I’ve held for about four months and feels like “home”, is one I could have been in for years already - if I had just taken the time to read through their previous job vacancies properly and gave more than just a superficial thought to their business.  Don’t expect great results without significant input.
   

2. Maintain your network.
   It’s easy to admit, in hindsight, that slowly, over time, I neglected my network (design friends and contacts), thinking that I could handle my career direction on my own.  This was a mistake.  Only in the back half of the year, when I started engaging with my network again, did I start to see the value of those connections and conversations.
   
   One of my long-time design friends suggested I take a serious look at the Quad Lock role.  During the interview process, some of the key QL people were friends with members of my network (2nd connections).  On my first day, two new starter colleagues were part of my existing network - one a previous colleague.  Don’t neglect those that have helped you on your path and don’t forget where you’ve come from.

02 / FUTURE PLANNING
Setting a direction

Looking short-term, which I’d consider the next six months, I’m keeping it relatively light. Our family has hit some significant milestones which deserve to be celebrated but due to various reasons, we haven’t had the chance to do so.  We need a holiday and some time to relax and enjoy.  It feels funny to say my short-term career goal is to plan a holiday, but here we are - it’s what is required!  Not just for me; my wife is in the same situation.  So that’s our first half-of-the-year goal.

Thinking from 6 months to 3 years ahead is where things get a bit more exciting.  I’m eying a senior role at Quad Lock, and I have confidence that will be achievable within 12 months.  Quad Lock is the first design role I’ve held with a development and feedback program - and I will be taking full advantage of it.  But where do I want to be with my side hustle?  I’ve been reflecting on this quite a bit more.

I want to sell a product.  It can’t be that hard to do, right?  I’m a Product Design Engineer, after all.  The funny thing is, I’m all about designing physical products, but what I want to sell is digital.  I’m attracted to the idea of selling something low on physical resources to create (and reproduce).  I’m trying to balance my desire to do more product design work outside QL, compared with selling my knowledge to others.  Let’s lay out the factors and see if you might come to the same conclusion as me.

03 / MAKING A PRODUCT
There’s so much to consider

Here are my objectives in no particular order:

• Sell a product and generate an income

• Build on my existing knowledge

• Provide value to others

• Build for the future

• Grow an audience

• Control my time

So I’ve been thinking about developing a course.  Online only, it could be sold on multiple platforms.   Here are some of the reasons why I think it’s a good idea:

• Selling a digital product - it would never go out of stock but can be updated as I see fit

• Repeatable/evergreen.  Those who purchase it can refer to it repeatedly and get more value from it.

• Cross-platform - whatever is sold can be sold from multiple locations. There are many online course platforms available.

• There is a growing community (online education) already

• Utilising existing skills/knowledge base - I’ve previously taught at university for a decade and, since finishing in 2017, have only increased my knowledge in the area of focus I’m considering

• There appears to be an existing demand that I think will continue to grow

• I could build the course in my own time - then, once it’s available, promote it as I see fit

• Ideally, I would no longer rely on projects from clients for my side hustle income

However, I’d like to be completely honest with you.  A part of me wonders whether this direction is a cop-out - avoiding chasing leads and building an audience for selling design services (plus more) but only selling design education.  Am I right? 

I don’t want to make significant changes in direction every few months.  Reminder, this is just for my side hustle, my bonus time (I can do what I want with it).  I suppose I remain unconvinced with my ideas and need to give them more thought.

What do you think? Am I taking an easy way out or would developing an online course a great use of free time?

04 / WHAT TO LISTEN TO THIS WEEK
Codie Sanchez on Ali Abdaal’s Deep Dive

In the conversation between Ali and Codie, they talk about how, just like Codie’s career, human beings don’t have linear paths, and about the question of whether you need periods of struggle in order to achieve wealth, happiness and success. As well as advice for women in the workplace and leadership and they finish by covering a handful of truths that will make you more money than any business degree.

I was particularly interested in the sections towards the end about investing in yourself and giving value without expecting in return. This is timely given my thoughts around developing some kind of course in 2024.