Five hacks to make you less of a hack.

When I was young, a hack was someone that didn't know what they were doing... "oh that guy, he's a hack." Now, it signifies a short-cut to something better. I am all about cooking hacks and life hacks - from my air fryer to intermittent fasting. Lately I have been focused on productivity hacks. As the founder of a start-up and mother in the time of COVID, I am pulled in so many directions, multitasking just wasn't working for me. I was becoming a hack at everything. So I read a few books - including Business Biographies and Memoirs by J. R. MacGregor and the 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma - listened to a few podcasts - like In the Sauce by Haven's Kitchens Ali Coyne and Guy Roz on How I Built This - and put many ideas into practice to increase my productivity.

This is what is working for me:

Prove it: Small wins payoff. 

I love this idea of micro wins, small wins that add up to big results. They say even making your bed sets you up for success. Micro Win. I started Pure Grit with the goal of opening a vegan fast casual BBQ joint in NYC in Spring 2020. When that didn’t work out, thanks to COVID, I started selling our sauces and rub online to keep the momentum up. That pivot led to a much bigger idea about our broken relationship with condiments. I got so caught up in this bigger idea that I completely discounted the BBQ essentials that we are selling today. Almost every entrepreneur on How I Built This tells the story of how they started with one product and gained a cult following which led to investor attention and more products. Just because our products are not packaged the way I want them to be doesn’t make them any less perfect. I worked hard on our sauces, rub, and recipes. I am now focused on celebrating what we have already achieved and on ensuring that everyone I know, and everyone they know, knows about Pure Grit. I celebrate each micro win knowing that they will add up to macro wins and that I am on the right path towards tomorrow.

Discipline: Plow through the chaos and set boundaries.  Life is chaos, but never more so than this year. Work from home. School from home. Zoom meetings. Zoom drinks. What the hell is happening in general? So many distractions. The only way that I survived this year was to set boundaries. After juggling and dropping too many balls to count and feeling frazzled and unproductive, I decided no more multitasking. I instituted a schedule. “So shall it be written; so shall it be done” is my new philosophy. I block off one hour increments to focus 100% on specific tasks, and take breaks in between. These work sprints have increased my productivity and focus measurably. I set daily goals and weekly goals and schedule accordingly (micro wins). This doesn’t just go for work. I schedule making lunch for my daughter, errands, housekeeping, as well as walks, Netflix and fun. Granted, everything is meant to be fluid and oftentimes the entire thing blows up, but the process of putting order into chaos and scheduling my time is centering. 

Resilience: It is easier to dust yourself off with a helping hand. We all know the importance of resilience in life and leadership. As an entrepreneur I have found it even more necessary. When I get rejected, which is everyday to some extent, it hurts. Rejection comes in many forms: from a friend that doesn’t support my brand, a post that gets only a few likes, an editor not covering my product, a retailer that said the product isn’t right for their customer, and an investor that doesn’t believe in my vision. It hurts. All of it. I have learned not to take it personally, but it is my community that helps pick me back up. I am lucky to have partners, like Jenny Mauric, that remind me to celebrate the wins and the yeses. I also lean on my huge network of friends who champion my efforts and cheer me up and on. My village keeps me going. 

Vulnerability: Courage in the face of uncertainty.  The definition of the word vulnerable is uncertainty, risk and emotional exposure. What is seen as a weakness, Brené Brown let us know, is in fact a super power. When we are vulnerable, those are the moments when we show great courage. To move this start-up forward, I have to put aside my ego that tells me to stop and play it safe, and instead choose to be vulnerable. Choose to muster up the courage to lean into the uncomfortable, exposing myself, my ideas, my dreams to others’ scrutiny. Everyday I ask someone for something: advice, support, press coverage, an order or investment. It’s hard and it’s humbling, but I am learning and growing and each time it gets a little easier. Courage is something I have to cultivate everyday and it takes Pure Grit.

Health: You cannot be productive if you burnout. Taking care of myself is non-negotiable. Both mentally and physically. That is one thing I have always done well. To be at my best, I need to exercise, sleep and eat healthy food 90% of the time. I also need to have fun, which includes cooking, laughing, spending time with friends and family, drinking tequila or champagne (with my sisters photographed here), eating chocolate chip cookies, traveling or watching Netflix. I also need to exercise my mind. I am obsessed with audible and podcasts. I take a walk every afternoon to get out of my apartment, stretch my legs and listen to something inspiring. It keeps me in a growth mindset and out of a rise and grind mentality. I am working on meditating as to calm my mind as well. It is a journey. Everyone has their thing. Honor and schedule your thing. Your time. Don’t push aside or minimize its importance. Don’t make it the one thing that you just don’t have time for. Schedule it and take the time.

My five lessons may not be revelatory, but they are to me. I bet you have your five, three or one. What ritual keeps your 4 am voice at bay? Leave a comment, I need all the help I can get.