How I’m Wired

My Schedule

I am most productive during early mornings and late nights. I begin my day at 5 am with a workout, aiming to be in the office by 7:30 am. I am a large person and find it challenging to stay seated for long periods, so I take a midday break to stand or change locations, often working in coffee shops or restaurants for a change of scenery. Physical activity, especially in the morning, is essential for my peak performance.

I don't adhere to a strict 9-5 schedule and am open to working evenings and weekends, especially for high-priority tasks. However, I value my flexibility and dislike being idle in the office. Sleep is a priority for me, and I avoid working late into the night unless absolutely necessary.

Takeaways

  • Productivity Peaks: Early mornings and late nights are my most productive times.

  • Morning Routine: I start my day at 5 am with a morning workout, aiming to be in the office by 7:30 am.

  • Midday Breaks: I take breaks midday to stand or change locations, often working in coffee shops or restaurants.

  • Physical Activity Priority: Morning workouts are crucial for my peak performance and productivity.

  • Flexible Work Schedule: I don't strictly adhere to a 9-5 schedule and am open to working evenings and weekends, especially for high-priority tasks.

  • Preference for Flexibility: I value flexibility and dislike being idle in the office.

  • Sleep Priority: I prioritize sleep and avoid working late into the night unless absolutely necessary.

Communication Channels

Email: More important project related items. Conversations that might span days/weeks. I don’t expect responses immediately or even within the day. Probably includes important attachments. Has a lot of stakeholders involved.

Ping: Day-to-day. I would like a response within the day/hour/immediate. Often requests of stuff I am working on in the moment that are roadblocking me from moving forward. Quick questions. Could be brainstorming notes during a meeting or just things on my mind with no actionable. General coordination. I try to not make pings any longer than 4 lines of text. If it is longer, it warrants a meeting or call. I have no intention on getting into a ping war for an hour. I do think pinging regularly is part of good work. Nobody should ever feel bad about sending a ping, asking questions. This is how things get done and people stay coordinated remotely. If we don’t ping we don’t talk. Should be treated like a knock on the door/desk.

Random Teams Call: Will typically ask for permission to call if not on the calendar. Will use these to facilitate conversations that might span 10 minutes in pings. Try to handle more complex or detailed conversations. Really need to drive work forward and extract some information from someone. If you are green there should be freedom to call, also don’t get mad if nobody picks up. Again this is how things get done. If I called randomly its probably very related to things I am working on at the moment.

Calendar Meeting: There should be an agenda, there should be meeting minutes. Don’t overbook the time. If it’s going to take 10 minutes, put 10 minutes on my calendar. If you put it on the calendar, you drive. These should be driving lots of value and be organized and coordinated. There is nothing wrong with scheduling lot of meetings if they are driving value.

Text/Personal Call: Need to get a hold of someone because they are not answering elsewhere. I typically will not bother someone’s personal or cell number unless permission is given or there is an urgency. I will try to respect your personal unless there is some urgency. Will often first start with text then follow with a call.

Personal Conversations: Love starting meetings with some chit-chat. Love pinging about personal life and things going on. For remote work this is part of working. Lets chat if there is time. This is no different that watercooler talk. Lets talk football, lets talk vacations.

Takeaways

  • Ping me anytime about anything

  • I use emails for more constructive project related conversations that might need stored

  • Call me if I am green even if we do not have a meeting schedule. It does not bother me

  • If you schedule a meeting make sure its driving value and you have it coordinated with an agenda or questions ready. Make sure it is worth the time

  • Under book time before you overbook time (such an easy one)

  • Text/Personal: this really doesn’t bother me. Feel free to blow up my personal. Just don’t expect responses immediately. If there is some urgency leave a message that reflects that. I will often read stuff then respond later if I don’t sense urgency

  • Collaboration is essential to high performance culture, there should be no hesitation to pinging leaders, coworkers, calling people. It is how we stay connected in a digital environment. Also respect people’s time. Do not book an hour on the calendar when you only need 10 minutes.

My Language

Being from the Midwest or immersed in sports culture might be why, but I'm not easily offended. Swearing and informal language don't bother me. Feel free to be direct—I appreciate honesty. I've seen respected people act "unprofessionally" by corporate standards, and I believe in open, truthful conversations. No need for filters; let's tackle the tough discussions straightforwardly.

Takeaways

  • No need to filter out the emotion

  • Speak your mind. Get your point across

  • Be Honest

  • Ask the tough questions

How I Learn


In school, I developed a solo learning style, enjoying diving into papers and deriving conclusions independently. I learn through exercises, often simulating presentations or creating fake deliverables for better understanding and value in testing.

I'm highly visual, preferring notetaking after listening. I use a blank sheet, drawing diagrams and using colored pens to create a comprehensive "cheat sheet." I'm thorough in understanding, not quick to accept information, and engage in extra study to speak fluently to solutions and prepare for future challenges.

Takeaways

  • Often learn in a solo environment

  • I find real value in hands-on exercises, like pretending to give a presentation or creating pretend deliverables to better grasp concepts.

  • When it comes to learning, I'm all about visuals.

  • My note-taking is unique—I opt for a blank sheet, colored pens, and diagrams to create a visual "cheat sheet" that helps everything click.

  • I'm not the quickest to accept what I'm told. I need to truly understand things

  • My goal isn't just to solve problems but to speak fluently about the solutions and be ready for similar challenges down the road.

How to get something from me

When I'm involved in a task, I thrive on feeling connected to the plan. Understanding the problem and the execution strategy is essential for my commitment. Otherwise, I may feel like a mere cog in the wheel. It's crucial for me to believe and comprehend the purpose beyond the deliverable.

To optimize my contribution, setting a clear objective and deadline, similar to a school assignment, works best. I might not initially ask questions; instead, I tend to contemplate the problem, often engaging in solitary problem-solving and stressing over it before seeking assistance.

Takeaways

  • Set a deadline

  • Explain the Objective, Strategy, and the Tactics

  • Schedule follow ups

  • Force me to ask questions

How I manage my Workload

I am a habitual person. In the mornings I review my workload by project or activity topic. I use one note to keep track of all my tasks, my meetings, my projects. Every day I am writing things down on a scratch sheet of paper then at the end of the day I file them away in their proper notebook.

Once something becomes clear with deadlines and becomes more project focused. It falls into a excel or smart sheets type management. It has line items with all the deliverables to meet the main objective.

Takeaways

  • One Note for daily notetaking and objectives

  • Excel/Smartsheets Traditional Project management style for clearly defined projects with deadlines

How I think

I aim to embody a CEO mindset consistently, regardless of my title or role. My curiosity knows no bounds, and I see myself beyond specific job labels. Instead, I approach tasks with the mindset of maximizing assistance and constantly ask, "What would I do if this were my company?" Taking a first principles approach is my strength; I appreciate simplicity and often use metaphors, relating complex business situations to everyday scenarios like a small diner or a sports team. Amidst complexity, I strive to stay focused, asking challenging questions to avoid getting lost in the chaos.

Takeaways

  • Step far back with me

  • Teach me things beyond my defined scope

  • Talk simplified

  • Use Metaphors

  • Ask and answer the hard questions

What Drives Me

My goals fuel my daily motivation, and I hold high expectations for my career. I deeply respect my potential, but achieving it requires continuous work, learning, and self-improvement. I reject the notion of luck in success, believing in forging one's own path.

Coming from a sports background, my competitive nature drives me to achieve greatness and establish my name. I thrive on accountability to teammates and cherish positive feedback, reminiscent of the satisfaction I felt hearing the crowd's roar during my sports endeavors. Ultimately, I aim to witness the impacts of my work and contributions.

Takeaways

  • I have big goals

  • I am a dreamer

  • Competitive Nature drives me

  • I appreciate positive Feedback

  • My teammates drive me

My Greatest Natural Strengths

Growing up through school I was always one of the smartest in the class. I was incredibly advanced in mathematics. Technology always came very easy to me. In turn during group projects and classwork I was the person often pulling the team forward. People copied off my homework and I did most/all of the group project. I cared the most about putting forth A+ work and set the bar. My classmates would often come to me when they did not understand things looking for help. Watching my friends do poorly on tests was never fun, while I did well. My guidance counselors always put me in the most advanced classes knowing I would get bored in others. There was a bar that I had to get A’s growing up. I study hard for tests and presentations. I perform when its necessary.

As an athlete I got up for practice and worked my ass off for my teammates. Getting pushed to unimaginable levels by my coaches became normal. Discomfort and sacrifice were expected. We won and lost as a team. There was no pointing fingers when things went wrong, it was taking corrective action to make sure it didn’t happen again. We picked each other up when one was down, and celebrated wins. I was raised to absolutely despise losing. Continuously work on improving myself and my craft. There was nothing we enjoyed more than the spotlight and the doubters.

Takeaways

  • I am highly analytical

  • I am an engineer at heart. Very good with math/physics/systems

  • Technology and using software is very natural to me

  • I am a great problem solver

  • I do not ever look to others for answers, I look to myself

  • I love helping others get to answers

  • I love teaching when asked

  • I love enjoying success with others

  • I love understanding and learning

  • I am as loyal as a dog

  • Sacrifice is second nature to me

  • I show up for my teammates/colleagues

  • Fighting through pain and discomfort is no stranger to me

  • Have no interest in ego’s and politics

  • I buckle down when things get tough

  • I am hyper competitive

  • I love a challenged

  • I love the spotlight and opportunity to prove myself

  • I care a lot about the work I sign my name on

  • I itch to continuously improve and receive feedback

My Biggest Natural Weaknesses

Growing up through school I was pretty smart and so things came very easy to me. I would lean back, listen to the teacher talk without taking notes and ace tests. I never had to waste time going to office hours or getting tutored. Often if subjects were easy I would fall asleep during class. When others would not be pulling their weight on projects I would just double down my efforts pulling all-nighters by myself completing the project instead of asking for more out of my teammates. This resulted in being completely distant at social events with my friends in family while I thought about how behind I was getting on my work. I would often put so much time and effort into the last 1% of a project trying to place the cherry on top perfectly when it was probably meaningless.

As an athlete I was lucky to always have incredible leadership. Leadership that had my best interest and wanted to see my grow. Leadership that cared more about my success than me. My coaches were so dedicated I never had to lead myself. I got used to clear direction and the plan was always created for me. My coaches would scream when I did something bad and I would get cheers from the crowd and pats on my butt by my teammates when I did something right. I would be punished for losing. Practice was not for fun or smiles. You were to come to practice focused and locked in. Practice was not fun. Winning was fun.

Takeaways

  • I am not a social butterfly

  • I am not naturally collaborative

  • I don’t naturally ask questions

  • I don’t naturally seek guidance

  • I am not incredibly “fun” by most people’s standards

  • I am not a good notetaker

  • I get bored very quickly

  • I stress about work and deadlines and it shows

  • Striving for perfection puts me in paralysis

  • I often forget to speak up as a leader

  • The accountability I hold of my colleagues and managers is maybe too high

  • I get frustrated when I am not challenged

  • I am used to having the plan laid out in front of me to execute on

  • I expect feedback when I do something well

  • I am not a good loser

  • We better be winning before we start having beers

  • I can be intense at work

What Frustrates me

Consistent requests for help on the same topics, especially when someone could easily learn, can be exasperating. I'm open to teaching, but repetitive inquiries are taxing.

Unorganized file structures in shared spaces, especially when a team directory is involved, frustrate me. Keep it clean and organized for efficient collaboration.

Complaints about being busy or the nature of the job irk me. It's work, and resolving challenges is part of the job description. Complaining won't make it easier.

I'm bothered when someone complains about a task not being in their scope while still needing it done.

Takeaways

  • I don’t like someone not interested in learning

  • I don’t like unorganized shared spaces

  • I don’t like people complaining about work

  • I don’t like people complaining that things “aren’t their job”

Culture

I thrive in a workplace culture that encourages camaraderie beyond office hours. Close-knit teams, in my opinion, are the most effective. Grabbing coffee, lunch, or dinner to discuss work, or even stepping out of the office together, fosters a positive environment.

In a male-dominated corporate landscape, I appreciate working with women for their unique perspectives and valuable energy.

Water cooler talk is essential for a good workplace culture, sparking collaboration. Casual discussions, whether about sports or general chit-chat, create bridges for work-related conversations.

Every effective team needs a diverse mix, including the center of attention or the jokester. A company that fosters frequent communication, pings, and chit-chat tends to be more effective.

Getting to know colleagues and recognizing faces, even in a remote environment with cameras on, contributes to a positive workplace culture. I value comfort in attire, emphasizing the importance of feeling at ease at work.

Takeaways

  • Lets do coffee, lunch or dinner

  • Tell me about your family

  • Tell me about your hobbies

  • I love working alongside females

  • Lets talk about the football game for 30 minutes

  • I love having fun people around even if they aren’t as “productive” they make the process more fun

  • Send tons of pings. Send Gifs. Make it fun. Get the people in the building that can break the tension and stress of the day to day

  • Turn your camera on

  • Introduce yourself. Tell me about yourself. I would love to know

  • I’m not judging what you are wearing