I had two unrelated conversations today in which the same issue was discussed: knowledge sharing. Both people I talked with believe that a knowledge-sharing deficit is having a negative impact in various areas. In some instances, it’s widening existing gaps; in others, it’s slowing the pace of progress.

When I started my company, my knowledge gaps around start-ups and technology were massive. I was lucky enough to be able to surround myself with other founders who were open to sharing their knowledge. I credit their willingness to share with accelerating the success of CCAW. Without them, I think it would have taken twice as long for us to reach $10 million in revenue—if we ever had.

Sharing knowledge can have a profound impact. My founder journey is a testament to that. For that reason, I try to share what I’ve learned (for whatever it’s worth) through daily posts and other means. I hope it’s helpful to some people and helps them get closer to achieving their goals.

Today marks the end of my seventy-seventh week of working from home (mostly). Here are my takeaways from week seventy-seven:

• Resilience – I thought a lot about this and had some conversations about it. Life is full of ups and downs. Resilience helps people make it through the downs and is key to outsize success. It’s a big part of entrepreneurial success, for sure.
• Atlanta – This week we saw another big win for Atlanta’s tech community with Mailchimp’s acquisition announcement. Excited to see the city getting some much-deserved acknowledgment.

Week seventy-seven was a busy, steady one. I made good progress in some important areas. Aiming to continue that momentum next week.

Today marks the end of my seventy-sixth week of working from home (mostly). Here are my takeaways from week seventy-six:

• Patterns – I took some time to step back and look at things from a higher level this week. I recognized some patterns that I’ll use to make better decisions.  
• Short week – I love holiday weeks, but the downside is a condensed workweek (the same amount of work, less time to do it). Still, wouldn’t trade my three-day weekends for anything.
• Perspectives – I learn and grow the most when I’m around people who aren’t like me. Exposure to perspectives I either haven’t considered or haven’t understood is good for me. I want to look for more of these opportunities.    

Week seventy-six was a steady one. I’m ready to push through September for a strong end to the quarter.

Today marks the end of my seventy-fifth week of working from home (mostly). Here are my takeaways from week seventy-five:

• Patience – Some situations take time to line up the way I want before I can execute or move forward. Patience is needed. Over the years, I’ve learned to not jump the gun. This week was a reminder of that.
• Holiday – I didn’t realize Labor Day was next week until Wednesday. That was a nice midweek boost. I love three-day weekends and holidays, and I’m looking forward to enjoying this holiday.
• August – The month went by quickly. We’re now in the last month of the third quarter. I spent time thinking about what I want to get done this quarter, and I need to push pretty hard this month to hit my goals.  

Week seventy-five was great. I’m looking forward to recharging over the holiday so I can finish out the third quarter strong.  

I had a conversation with a buddy about a real estate solution this past week. I recognized a problem and called him to get his perspective because he has years of experienced in the space. He agreed the problem is real and the solution seems viable. However, he questioned whether using resources to execute the solution would be the best use of those resources. Based on his experience, he thinks the same resources could be used to implement four smaller solutions in roughly the same time or less. Those four solutions could create value for more people than the larger single solution would.

I’m so glad I asked my buddy for his thoughts. My early thoughts weren’t developed and structured. Even with the rough starting point, though, his experience allowed him to see things  I couldn’t. After hearing his perspective, I’m thinking about this solution differently.

This was a reminder for me that it’s never too early to begin talking with others about ideas. Those conversations can reveal gaps in my thinking and refine it.

Today marks the end of my seventy-fourth week of working from home (mostly). Here are my takeaways from week seventy-four:

• Schedule – This week I went back to a few days with a heavy meeting schedule and a few days with a light schedule so I can focus. The heavy days were hard on my eyes because of Zoom, but they were productive.
• Demo day – I attended a virtual demo day today. It was nice to chat with multiple founders and hear about interesting problems.
• August – The month will be over in a few days. The year is flying by. Before we know it, we’ll be in the fourth quarter.  

Week seventy-four was packed. Lots of meetings and other work and very productive.

Today marks the end of my seventy-third week of working from home (mostly). Here are my takeaways from week seventy-three:

• Alignment – People are more aware of values and purpose. They’re openly discussing how they factor into their decision-making. I’m hearing more people talk about this in relation to their work and as consumers (i.e., what companies they’re willing to buy from).
• Cancellations – A lot of meetings were cancelled by other people this week, for various reasons. It happens, of course, but not usually this much!
• Unexpected outcomes – A few scenarios played out in ways I didn’t expect. It was a reminder to be ready for anything.

Week seventy-three was a good, productive week. Looking forward to unwinding this weekend and getting ready for next week.  

Today marks the end of my seventy-second week of working from home (mostly). Here are my takeaways from week seventy-two:

• No – This week, I’ve been told no and I’ve told others no. In my personal and professional lives. It’s not easy to say it or hear it. This week was a reminder of that.
• Conviction – This was top of mind last week, and it still is. I’m considering more bold moves and want conviction to factor heavily into my decision-making.
• Intention – I had a great conversation with a founder who recently retired. He shared his views on his intentionality as he starts his next chapter. He has a great perspective and he’s using some interesting frameworks. I hope to borrow from some of the things that are working for him.

Week seventy-two was another busy one. I’m glad it’s over. Looking forward to a nice weekend!

Today marks the end of my seventy-first week of working from home (mostly). Here are my takeaways from week seventy-one:

• Rhythm – Lots of things were going on this week, but I was in a good rhythm and one top of it all. I felt organized and proactive instead of chaotic and reactive.
• Conviction – I watched some interesting interviews of successful people on YouTube. All of them mentioned gaining confidence in bold moves by having conviction. This stuck with me, and I’ve been thinking about it all week.
• Knowledge sharing – I want to be more proactive about learning things in areas I’m curious about. Digital communities are a great source of knowledge.

Week seventy-one was a busy one. Lots of good things happened. I felt like I was productive and ended the week on a high note.

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Today marks the end of my seventieth week of working from home (mostly). Here are my takeaways from week seventy:

• Origins – A close friend reminded me of how I began as an entrepreneur. It was unglamorous and at times dangerous (I was dealing with large cash payments from customers). It’s good to think about where I started and how far I’ve come. I believe I’ll share more of those origin-story details going forward.
• Top of mind – Staying top of mind with people can lead to amazing opportunities. I read a book about this years ago, and this week I experienced the power of staying top of mind.
• July – The month is over, and a little more than half the year is over. Time is flying by.

Week seventy was a great one. It was brisk and keep me on my toes. Looking forward to starting August off on a great note.