4 ms·

I've always had a theory that there are some variable luck factors that we can control. Meeting driven, creative and important people is a huge multiplier for

I've always had a theory that there are some variable luck factors that we can control. Meeting driven, creative and important people is a huge multiplier for luck. It, perhaps more than anything I've done, has changed my life for the better. I had a solid job in Mobile, AL working for an ad agency. Although, it felt isolating from the tech world. To combat that I started a publication interviewing designers and entrepreneurs just to stay plugged into the community. So much good has come from a couple years and dozens of interviews. I met a co-founder, was paid to host a similar podcast and have made a ton of friends around the world. Not to mention, I might not be working as a designer had I never started doing interviews. Give yourself opportunities to be lucky.

dwaltrip 8y ago
> To combat that I started a publication interviewing designers and entrepreneurs just to stay plugged into the community. > So much good has come from a couple years and dozens of interviews. I met a co-founder, was paid to host a similar podcast and have made a ton of friends around the world. Not to mention, I might not be working as a designer had I never started doing interviews. This is a really cool idea that makes perfect sense. It's basically a way to get plugged into an ecosystem of effective and interesting people. And everyone loves to talk about themselves, so I'm guessing it wasn't too difficult to find interviewees (at least once you got past the first barrier of being a publication with no history). How did you get the idea? Did you have any relevant experience prior to starting the interviews and then making a publication out of it? What do you think might be some less intensive alternatives? Starting a publication is not for everyone.
- samsolomon 8y ago
  Appreciate the interest! The idea came from a combination of a few different factors. I was bored. There were only a handful of designers and no tech people in Mobile. I was (and still am) a big fan of Andrew Warner and Mixergy. I was listening to a show and had this epiphany—what's stopping me from doing something similar? Nothing. Sure I couldn't go out and interview Bill Gates. But I had friends that were working on interesting things and started with them. I worked in various editor positions for the school paper in college and had an interest in niche publications. That was about all the prior experience I had. As for an alternative: —Make a list of people that you're genuinely interested in. It's helpful if they are in an industry you want to be in. —Come up with a list of questions you'd like to ask them. —Find their Twitter handles or email addresses. —If they live in your city send them a tweet or email saying why you admire them, and ask to buy them a coffee. If not, see if they'd be open to a 15-30-minute call. —Follow-up with them occasionally. I have a friend who is about a year into her career as an occupational therapist. Recently she was asking questions about how she could get ahead. The above is what I recommended. I think it's a valuable exercise regardless of career.
  - dwaltrip 8y ago
    Thanks for the response! I like the mindset. Your alternative is a worthwhile suggestion, I will keep that in mind.

dwaltrip 8y ago

> To combat that I started a publication interviewing designers and entrepreneurs just to stay plugged into the community. > So much good has come from a couple years and dozens of interviews. I met a co-founder, was paid to host a similar podcast and have made a ton of friends around the world. Not to mention, I might not be working as a designer had I never started doing interviews. This is a really cool idea that makes perfect sense. It's basically a way to get plugged into an ecosystem of effective and interesting people. And everyone loves to talk about themselves, so I'm guessing it wasn't too difficult to find interviewees (at least once you got past the first barrier of being a publication with no history). How did you get the idea? Did you have any relevant experience prior to starting the interviews and then making a publication out of it? What do you think might be some less intensive alternatives? Starting a publication is not for everyone.

samsolomon 8y ago
Appreciate the interest! The idea came from a combination of a few different factors. I was bored. There were only a handful of designers and no tech people in Mobile. I was (and still am) a big fan of Andrew Warner and Mixergy. I was listening to a show and had this epiphany—what's stopping me from doing something similar? Nothing. Sure I couldn't go out and interview Bill Gates. But I had friends that were working on interesting things and started with them. I worked in various editor positions for the school paper in college and had an interest in niche publications. That was about all the prior experience I had. As for an alternative: —Make a list of people that you're genuinely interested in. It's helpful if they are in an industry you want to be in. —Come up with a list of questions you'd like to ask them. —Find their Twitter handles or email addresses. —If they live in your city send them a tweet or email saying why you admire them, and ask to buy them a coffee. If not, see if they'd be open to a 15-30-minute call. —Follow-up with them occasionally. I have a friend who is about a year into her career as an occupational therapist. Recently she was asking questions about how she could get ahead. The above is what I recommended. I think it's a valuable exercise regardless of career.
- dwaltrip 8y ago
  Thanks for the response! I like the mindset. Your alternative is a worthwhile suggestion, I will keep that in mind.