Why your business should get involved in your community
Companies that do good, do better. Here are some helpful tips to give back to your community.
The holidays are the perfect time to give back to your community. After all that holiday gift exchanging, take that excitement and bring it outside the office walls. This season, we’re giving you three reasons to spread cheer and get involved and encourage your staff to do the same.
Companies that do good, do better
Consumers are loyal to brands that care about their community. According to a study by the ad agency, Havas, “A consumer is willing to spend more money on your brand if they consider you a meaningful brand.” In this case, “meaningful” means that the product delivers value, personal benefits for the consumer, and collective benefits for society.
Community service and social responsibility can also play a big part in recruiting the team of your dreams. Update your brand’s website to include your core values and the ways you give back to your community and you will most definitely attract like-minded employees. This will foster a stronger culture of purpose and social responsibility from the get-go.
Create community culture
While it might seem obvious, your employees are part of your surrounding community. When you improve your neighborhood, you positively impact the lives of your staff. For example, Sweetgreen, the salad chain, offer their employees “Sweetgreen Impact Hours.” These five paid hours of leave allow their staff to “volunteer, participate in community events, or work at a farm.”
Salesforce, the cloud computing company, offers a similar program on a larger scale. According to Monster, each employee is given seven paid days, or 56 hours, to volunteer. 82% from its 20,000 global employees participate, which equals 918,400 hours of volunteering. (Yep. We did the math ourselves on that one.)
By giving their staff some time off to volunteer locally, both Sweetgreen and Salesforce are creating a culture of solidarity–– not only with the people in their area, but also within their company.
“Community service and social responsibility can also play a big part in recruiting the team of your dreams.”
Show, don’t tell
Saying you’ll do good is one thing. Doing is another. Luckily, bridging that gap is simple. Simply find a charity that aligns with your offering, and commit to donating your goods and services. That way, you can help others while staying in line with your mission. Tom’s Shoes is a classic example of this type of giving. For every pair of their shoes purchased, they donate another to someone in need.
If every company committed to doing business this way, the holidays–– and the rest of the year–– would be a whole lot happier.
How does your company give back? We’d love to hear in the comments below!
Ultra Violet is a vibrant and dramatic color, a cool, complex purple – and it’s been named Pantone’s color of the year for 2018. But what does that mean for the world of design and how can you incorporate it into your business’ branding?
Galaxies far far away, Purple Rain, magic, chocolate, royalty, the Cheshire Cat, David Bowie, the future…just a few things that make us think of Ultra Violet, Pantone’s newly announced Color of the year 2018.
What is the Pantone color of the year?
Every year, global authority on color, Pantone Color Institute choose a color to define the year ahead.
Color of the year stems from an analysis of everything happening in the world at the moment – design, fashion, art, news, travel and more – a visual snapshot of the global cultural mood.
This year’s choice is Ultra Violet, a blue-toned ‘cosmic’ purple, otherwise known as 18-3838. Pantone describe it as “dramatically provocative and thoughtful” but the internet can’t make up its mind.
We can agree it’s an unexpected and somewhat divisive shade and it’s certainly a world away from last year’s fresh shade of green, Greenery. But it’s a bold decision, as Color of the year often is, and it comes with a mission:
“Ultra Violet communicates originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking that points us toward the future.” – Pantone
We asked the MOO design experts what they thought of the choice and how you can put this color into practice when creating or refreshing your own design and branding.
Ultra Violet in design
Millie Davies, Lead Designer
Ultra Violet makes me think of space and all those beautiful images of far away galaxies. They seem unreal – bright and vivid – exactly like this color.
I love what Ultra Violet conveys; luxury, ambition, wisdom, independence, creativity, inventiveness, mystery and magic. It’s an exciting choice and it seems Pantone are trying to push us to imagine what is yet to come with this color.
It’s not a color I use often in my work, in my opinion purple is generally the marmite of the design world. (Some people love it, others hate it!) As it is so vibrant, it’s a difficult color to use in print but it would work well for digital work. It’s often associated with luxury so works well for brands wanting to get across those values.
Product Design’s take on purple
Toby Hexall, Director of Product Design
Ultra Violet makes me think of night time, it’s an opulent color that feels like it should be tactile to the touch.
Purple can be a difficult color to use in product and packaging design – it’s provocative and often divides opinion, but used as an accent it can really elevate a product. Although Ultra Violet is not an overtly bold hue of purple, I think it should be used in moderation to add depth to an overall look.
It has an inky depth to it that could lend itself very nicely to print if you’re looking for a luxurious feel – especially in a business setting. Adding a gloss or a matte finish will greatly affect the overall feel of this color as well.
The view from UX Design
Jane Austin, Director of Design and UX
I love purple, it’s not an every day color – it feels decadent and indulgent – something you see after dark.
Ultra Violet makes me think of Prince, chocolate, pansies, royalty and velvet.
In terms of putting this color into practice from a UX point of view, it’s a tricky one. Interface design is very reticent – it sits back and lets the content sing. I can’t imagine a purple interface, I think it’d be overwhelming and would detract from the content. Perhaps there’s a way of subtly using accents of Ultra Violet – I’m interested to watch how brands interpret it for their branding, site and beyond. It certainly won’t be boring!
“My advice? Go forth into the Ultra Violet unknown and experiment…” – Toby Hextall, Director of Product Design
Here’s what we think 2018 might look like:
Let us know what you think of the color in the comments below!
Nashville indie label Third Man Records has been making waves in the music industry since 2001—playing a big part in the vinyl resurgence in recent years. At MOO, we understand the analog appeal, which is why we are thrilled to partner with companies with like-minded approach. We spoke with them about the label’s humble beginnings and how it brought an old music format back into fashion.
Vinyl revival
Founded in 2001 by Jack White, Third Man Records started out as a way for White to re-release some older White Stripes singles on vinyl. It was a bold move at the time, as CDs were the predominant format to buy music. But White’s bet paid off. With the White Stripes’ rise in popularity, fans began connecting with White’s revival of older analog formats.
Fast forward to 2009—vinyl was in such high demand among music fans, it led to Third Man opening its first-ever physical location in Nashville, Tennessee. The brick-and-mortar was more than just a headquarters—it was also a live music venue and a record shop. More recently, the label opened another operation in Detroit with an expanded record pressing plant.
Old meets new
As the music industry becomes increasingly digitized, Third Man is focused the keeping it tangible—whether it’s a vinyl record, book, or band t-shirt. “We are trying to keep the physical aspects of music alive,” Third Man’s art director Ryon Nishimori says. “There’s just something nice about putting on a record, letting it play, and hearing the music all the way through.” While digital music experiences allow for any song to be played at a moment’s notice, the Third Man ethos harkens back to old-school methods. “Listening to vinyl means you are listening to the music how it was intended to be listened to. It was the first-ever physical music format, so maybe we got it right the first time with vinyl?”
For Nishimori, the vinyl format is the ideal canvas for art directors. Third Man’s in-house design team works together to design vinyl packaging that collectors and enthusiasts alike have begun to cherish. “Every album, book, or t-shirt we produce is a part of our brand that we are sharing with the world. That’s why it’s so important to keep the style consistent throughout all of our mediums.”
While digital formats allow for on-demand playback and purchasing, Third Man sought to keep up with its revolutionary direct-to-acetate recording technology. Musicians can now perform at Third Man’s live soundstage and record their set directly onto a vinyl record. “We tried to bridge the gap in the digital age by using analog technology and speeding up the process,” Nishimori explains. Artists from The Shins to Neil Young have recorded these direct-to-vinyl LPs that are now cherished as collectibles from live performances. “These days, people want things right away, so we try to accommodate. It’s the perfect marriage between old and new technologies.”
In fact, Jack White now holds the record of “World’s Fastest Record” with his 2014 release “Lazaretto.” White took the stage at Third Man Records’ Blue Room venue at 10AM, played through their song and recorded directly onto vinyl. That record was then passed on to production with photos from the performance as the album art and pressed directly to 45s—all within a 4-hour time span.
A labor of love
What keeps Third Man Records running on all cylinders? For Nishimori, it’s the people. “The people that make up Third Man are all passionate about music—everyone chips in and has ideas about the process.” With weekly shows at the Third Man HQ and an impressive catalog of renowned rock, blues, and soul artists—it’s no wonder Third Man attracts passionate employees.
Third Man understands the importance of analog, which is why their employees’ Business Cards communicate their brand. “We have to practice what we preach,” Nishimori says. “We have to have an old-school way to communicate and share information too.”
When the label started, White and co-founder Ben Blackwell decided there was no real need for official job titles, since the label was just a few employees at the time. As a result, each employee got to choose their own job title. “It was just one of those things that was fun when we started, and stuck around as we grew,” Nishimori explains. “It’s a personal touch that people get to add to their Business Cards.” Through MOO Business Services, Third Man employees can log into their own platform and order their own customized Business Cards with their own job titles.
As Nishimori describes, “Third Man’s Business Cards were designed to look like old-fashioned letterpress cards, but in a more modern way.” Fitting—as that’s what their business is all about.
Tell your brand story with MOO Business Services
At MOO, we’ve been helping people make their mark in the world with amazing quality print products for over a decade. And as our customers have grown, so has our service offering. That’s why for bigger businesses—with 10+ employees—we now offer MOO Business Services. It’s MOO + benefits. MOO Business Services combines dedicated account management with an easy online ordering platform and expert design services. It’s a complete package for businesses to give you more brand control and consistency—while saving you time, stress, and money in the process.
Fill out the form here and a friendly Account Manager will reach out to you.
Take a deep breath–– event season is over. You’ve had countless conversations, collected enough pens for a lifetime, and created a hefty stack of business cards.
When you think about following up with all of those contacts, do you get overwhelmed? Don’t worry–– your experience doesn’t have to feel that way. In fact, reconnecting with your new contacts can be fun and meaningful. Not convinced? Here are 5 surefire ways to keep those connections close:
1) Business Card CRM
Don’t worry if you haven’t invested in a CRM system. Excel spreadsheets and Sharpies can do wonders.
Immediately after a conversation with a new contact, write the important details about them on their business card. Since it probably already has their business title, include something that’s more personal–– like your conversation about a mutual love of meditation, or your upcoming trip to their hometown. That way, when you reconnect, you can keep the connection human. Not only is that more fun than leading with business talk, but it also helps the person remember who you are. After all, they probably have a ginormous stack of cards to sort through, too! It’s a win-win.
2) Reconnect with cards
In the 21st century, getting a handwritten letter is the best kind of surprise. It shows that someone thought of you, got a card, wrote you a note, found your address, bought postage, and walked to a mailbox. When Facebook Messenger and email exist, that’s a lot of steps to let someone know that you’re thinking about them! That’s exactly why this personalized follow-up method will make you memorable.
3) Be inviting
As Michael Port famously says in Book Yourself Solid, “People generally hate to be sold, but they love to be invited–as long as the invitations are relevant and anticipated.” By offering an invitation to an event, you’re providing value and opening the door to future conversations. If you’re the type of person who goes to events frequently, this strategy will require very little effort–– and great results.
4) Try matchmaking
Connecting two people via email is a simple yet powerful strategy. After all, it provides value to two people while simultaneously boosting your worth to both. In other words, you’re not just out to help yourself–– you’re creating opportunity for others. As a result, each person will be more inclined to help you in the future. (Of course, helping others has creates that warm-fuzzy-feeling. The world needs more of that.)
5) Comment on content
If you’re in the content creation game, you know that it feels great when people provide a thoughtful response to your work. It’s rare, and really means a lot. That’s exactly why you should take the time to peruse the work of any meaningful new contacts. Then, shoot them an email with some positive feedback. For a guaranteed way to continue the conversation, make sure to end the note with a question.
With these 5 tips, you’ll be well on your way to forming better business relationships. Looking for even more ways to stand out to new contacts? Try MOO’s Luxe Business Cards and Postcards.
Have even more ways to stand out to new contacts? Share them in the comments!
When you hear the phrase “self-care,” you might imagine face masks, bubble baths, and long walks on the beach–– not exactly corporate activities. Yet in reality, small actions for personal wellbeing can also take place at the office. In fact, in an age where people can stay plugged into work 24/7, they’re necessary.
As the folks at First Round eloquently said, “Self-care is about harnessing your energy for productive good. And if that’s the case, then practicing self-care requires a lot more than physical maintenance, and is truly about staying engaged with, curious about, and compelled by what you’re doing every day.”
By taking your employee’s mental and physical health seriously, you give them the ability to recharge and work with a clearer, happier mind. Here are some small steps to help reach that point:
Get flexible
Unless your employees are interfacing with customers one-on-one, the traditional 9-5 might not be essential for all employees. While those hours might be convenient for some folks, they can seriously decrease the happiness of others. Flexible schedules–– even telecommuting or condensed weeks–– can help you get the best work out of your team.
While this new management style requires some trust and adjustment, the advantages make it worth it. For one thing, employees will spend far less time commuting, which equals a healthier mental state. Seriously–– according to a study by the Office for National Statistics, every minute added to a commute decreases their person’s sense of personal well being. Anyone who’s been in an overcrowded subway car knows how true that is! Flexible schedules also allow employees to feel a sense of ownership over their schedule, and can help families decrease childcare costs.
At this point you might be saying: “Great, my team is happy. But what does this do for our bottom line?” Good question! First of all, you’ll increase your ability to hire outstanding employees. After all, people are more likely to work with a company that respects their autonomy. Plus, you’ll earn a reputation as a family-friendly organization and increase overall morale.
Gimme a break
Despite the increasing popularity of phrases like “hustle harder,” every person on the planet works better when they take a break. That’s why it’s important for company management to give their team permission to step away from the desk. Make it clear that they’re doing everyone a favor by getting some space. Not only will they make themselves happier, but they’ll also come back to their work with a fresh mind. It’s a win for everyone.
One of our favorite ways to take a break, while supercharging mental clarity and overall happiness, is meditation. Hey, if it works for Steve Jobs, it can work for you.
Meditation looks different for each participant. Whether you take a 5 minute break every hour to clear your mind, or step away from the computer to go on a walk, it all counts towards a clearer mind. In order to make meditation commonplace within your company, lead by example. If your employees see you taking your mental health seriously, they’ll follow suit.
“Every person on the planet works better when they take a break.”
Less goals, more growth
Goal-setting is an easy way to track progress through the year. Yet if it’s not done correctly, these milestones can lack meaning. That’s why we encourage going one step beyond setting goals. Instead, focus more on the your employee’s development in achieving these goals—whether that be key learnings, new skills, or by encouraging them to try something outside of their job description. These parameters will help employees feel like they can not only meet targets, but contribute to their personal growth and development in their field. This will provide you with a sense of accomplishment, which is crucial for happiness.
If you’re looking for a little extra goal-setting motivation, provide your team with quality Notebooks. You know, the kind that deserve to be filled with their dreams.
An emphasis on self-care within your corporate culture is a must. Have some self-care practices at your office? Share in the comments below!
Illustrator and designer Tim Easley’s best known for his bright palette and bold lines – but being a designer wasn’t always in the plan. Now, Tim’s clients include Nike and Etsy – but how did he land them?
Tim Easley’s design career was somewhat unintentional. Owner of a record store back in the 90s, Tim later fell into design, developing his now recognizable style that can be seen across his personal and client work. In his own words, his work is made up of “bright palettes and bold lines, fused with playful characters and hand drawn lettering.”
Influenced by urban kitsch, nature, and neon signage, Tim has built a fantastic client portfolio including Nike, BBC, Etsy and Disney. But how did he go from owning a record store to designing for Nike? And, how has Tim continued to build such a successful freelance business from the comfort of his own living room?
Tim! How did you get into design and illustration?
I actually never formally studied design at college or university. I owned a record shop in South London in the late 90s and we couldn’t afford to pay anyone to do the design for us so I had a go at it myself. I made a really bad logo, had a go at creating a website and designed some flyers for it.
I’d been working on some other business ideas in the background – one of them was a sneaker website and I ended up doing the design for that too.
A couple of years down the line, I began looking for design jobs and freelance projects – I knew this was the route I wanted to take. I’ve been designing for about 6 or 7 years now.
Why did you decide to start your own business?
In between going freelance, I’d worked in house for a couple of big brands on various projects but it wasn’t a good fit for me. I like working at different times of the day, I’ll often start around midday and work through until 10pm. My process involves a lot of thinking – when you’re stuck in a quiet office with around 200 people and everyone’s got their heads down it can be hard to get into that research mindset. Freelancing allows me to work in a way that suits me.
You’ve worked with some amazing clients – what did you do to build your portfolio when you were starting out?
Nike US were one of my first big clients back in 2012 – they found my work on Tumblr – I didn’t actually post it, someone else did! I got an email from them [Nike] saying they’d found my work and they wanted the design for a t-shirt.
Nike have got lots of agencies working for them and quite a few of the other collaborations have come through them [the agencies] when they’ve been commissioned for a campaign or something. Having said that, there are agencies that’ll often still find me through social media – I post lots on Instagram.
You spent some time working in Tokyo – did that influence your style?
I love Tokyo, I’ve been there a few times now. It’s so bright – there’s a lot of lights and it can actually be pretty overwhelming the first time you go there. I love the neons and the culture. I’d say it’s definitely influenced my style and the way I like to work.
Tell us about your process. How do you like to approach client briefs?
When I receive a brief, I try to get as much information from the client as possible. I’ll then spend some time thinking about what I’m going to do.
I’ve got really good visualization skills so it’s possible for me to plan a lot of the initial stuff in my head, often while on the sofa or in bed. I’ve even been known to think of ideas while asleep, which would be a nice way to work if I could teach my brain to do that more often!
Depending on whether I’m working in a more regimented or flowing style, I’ll start putting shapes together in Illustrator, or sketch out rough ideas. The client will then have some input and I’ll edit my illustration or do more sketches where needed. Once everything is finalized, I’ll trace my final sketches and get files ready for the client.
You run your business from your home studio – how do you manage your time and do you have any tips for others thinking of setting up their own home studio?
I don’t really have a routine, but I will only take on one piece of work at a time. Everything tends to have a very quick deadline – sometimes I can only have around 2 weeks to work on a project, so I do tend to work intensively during that time and then take a minute to stop and reflect where possible before starting my next project.
I think it’s important to figure out how you like to work – I like being at home and I like lots of distraction. Drawing doesn’t leave you with much to think about sometimes so I’ll always have the TV on or some music playing. That’s what works for me – but it won’t work for everyone so spend some time working out what’s right for you.
My girlfriend runs her own business too – she’s a DJ. Every few months, we sit down and have a business meeting. We’ll discuss what we want to achieve in the next month, 6 months, even the next year and agree some goals. It really helps having someone to chat through those things with.
What role has social media played in your career?
It’s played a huge role in my career so far. As I mentioned before, Nike found me through Tumblr and now, many of my commissions come through Instagram. Some people even reach out to me directly through the channel as opposed to emailing me.
As time’s gone on, I’ve started to focus my attention on Instagram, Behance and my website. There are so many social channels out there now – it can become really overwhelming and you can end up diluting your work and your presence if you try to focus on them all – not to mention the extra workload that comes with managing all the different sites.
How do you use MOO’s products?
If someone buys a piece of my work, I’ll always pop a Business Card or a Sticker in the package. Other than that, I actually use Business Cards in a bit of a weird way, I tend not to give them out to people too much. I love to design cards and then take a load of pictures of them and put them on social. I don’t really go to client meetings that often so creating cards and putting them online gives me another way to get my details and designs out there.
I designed some cards for my girlfriend – she’s always meeting people so Business Cards are really important for her. Whenever she hands them out to people they’re always like, ‘oh my god, can I take 3?’ which is exactly what you want and ultimately fulfils my objective: to create something that someone wants to keep.
What are your tips for aspiring illustrators wanting to start their own business?
Pick one social channel that best represents you and your work and run with it. You don’t need to spread yourself across every single social network site to be successful and get your work noticed.
Design your own Business Cards
Photos by Paul John Bayfield
Our customers are creative, inventive and more than a little bit brilliant. Here, 3 awesome illustrators share the stories behind their businesses and show-stopping designs.
These 3 illustrators caught our eye – from punchy pop art to whimsical woodland illustrations – they’ve extended their brands into mini-creations designed to delight their customers.
Ian Viggars
Ian is an illustrator, painter and designer who “creates work in a colorful pop art style.” Before going freelance, Ian was working various day jobs and painting and drawing were merely a hobby. He wanted to try his hand at selling some of his work so he took a leap of faith and set up an online shop. Ian sold a few paintings early on and has since expanded his range of products. He now works on freelance illustration and design projects and created his first ever mural artwork in Stoke Newington, London last year.
Ian loves modern graphic designers like Kate Moross and Aaron James Draplin, but his early inspiration came from the original pop artists – Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol and Patrick Caulfield. Ian’s also aware he’s probably been subconsciously influenced by the animation style of The Simpsons, having spent “most of his life watching it.”
To add something a little different to his customer packages, Ian’s created Stickers. He writes a thank you message on the back and “hopes that the customer will go on to use the sticker.” Ian has also designed backing cards for his enamel pin badges: “these designs are more minimal as the badge is the focus. The card is the perfect thickness to punch a badge through and the colors always look really vibrant – just like a mini-print.” Ian’s customers love his products and often “take photos of their deliveries – including the free Sticker, too!”
Design your own thank you Stickers
Chloe Jasmine Illustration
Sydney-based Chloe creates whimsical woodland illustrations in watercolor and pen. She’s currently embarking on her first children’s book with Walker books and runs an Etsy store where she sells her own handmade greeting cards and art prints. Before setting up her illustration business, Chloe was studying fine arts, majoring in printmaking at the National Art School.
Chloe likes to find beauty in the mundane and simple things. Nature is a continuous theme throughout her work and her style reflects her love for the outdoors and the little creatures she finds along the way: “I’m lucky enough to live fairly close to the ocean, so when I’m not in my studio, I love escaping down to the seaside to clear my head and dream up new ideas.”
After hunting for something affordable – but still beautiful and professional – to include in her Etsy orders, Chloe decided to design Rounded Corner Business Cards. She loves that she was able to have creative control over her designs, uploading multiple illustrations onto blank templates using Printfinity. Chloe printed her cards on Original paper with a matte finish: “the print quality, color accuracy and the quality of the paper is fantastic – it’s super durable and the matte coating is resistant to getting dirty or damaged. I’ve always got a couple on hand in my bag or wallet wherever I’m going!”
Create Rounded Corner Business Cards to pop in your packages
Noe Onoff
Noelia is a self-taught illustrator from the Canary Islands, Spain living in Texas. She works under the pseudonym of Noe Onoff, creating stationery and decorative products “designed to inspire.” Before setting up her business, Noelia was a cellist and a music teacher. She loves music but over time, felt that she needed a new way to express her creative side. Noelia started to draw for fun and what started as a hobby soon became a full-time business.
Noelia is inspired by music, books, movies, and social media: “the sound of rain, my favourite musician, the words of an audiobook or the leaves on my morning walk.” adding that “inspiration is everywhere – you just need to open your eyes a little bit to see it.” Noelia also loves to talk to like-minded creatives, sharing work and ideas.
Noelia opted for Original matte paper as the canvas for her cards. She wanted a format that would give her the opportunity to introduce herself to potential clients whilst also showcasing her passion for illustration: “my cards look gorgeous, professional and the print quality is amazing. My customers love them just as much as I do and always ask me where I got them from.”
Introduce yourself properly – design Business Cards
Looking for advice on how to sell your illustrations? Read our interview with Panopli and find out how they’re helping creative people make real money out of their designs.
From the humble to-do list to the fancy-sounding Kanban board, these organization techniques are ideal for creative folks who like to use their brains in interesting ways…
1. Make a priority checklist with the Ivy Lee method
Time management expert James Clear calls the Ivy Lee method “the daily routine experts recommend for peak productivity.” We call it the $400,000 technique. Why? Ivy Lee, the man who founded the method, shared it with a group of executives in 1918 and told them to pay whatever it was worth. Three months later, he had a check for $25,000 – equivalent to $400,000 in modern terms. Here’s that money-spinning idea in full:
- Write down the 6 most important things you need to accomplish tomorrow.
- Rank them in order of importance.
- Work on your first item until it’s finished. Then, move onto the next.
- When the day is done, transfer unfinished items to a new list of tasks for tomorrow.
- Repeat.
James Clear has a theory about why this method works: it’s simple, forces you to prioritize tasks, and makes it easy for you to single task. Boom. To-do list conquered.
2. Believe the hype with Bullet Journalling
The Bullet Journal method made waves online when it first appeared in 2015 – it’s one of the neatest productivity solutions we’ve seen and one of the most Instagram-worthy too. Millions of people across the world swear that this is the most flexible and efficient system for getting things done – and they can’t all be wrong, right?
The method uses nothing more than a pen, a notebook, and (if you’re a stickler for neatness) a ruler. Each page has a topic and a bullet list with plans, events, notes and ideas. You build your lists around your priorities, marking out different kinds of items with simple hand-drawn symbols. As well as the standard symbols provided by the system, you can create your own, making your bullet journal as pretty or as plain as you choose.
The Bullet Journal works both as a planner and a log – for example, you can note down a future event like a birthday, or record something that happened, for example, your first ever sale to an online customer.
Now, we know what you’re thinking – you’re going to have to get yourself a shiny new Notebook to practice your bullet journalling techniques, right? Sure! We’ve got you covered. Look no further than the newest addition to our fabulous Notebook family.
Designed by Timothy Goodman, this super-cool Notebook features his signature graphic style captured picked out in silver foil: meetings kill creativity. With lay-flat binding and 160 pages of Munken Kristall paper, it really is as usable as it is beautiful. But hurry, this Notebook is limited edition and won’t be around for long!
3. ‘Program’ yourself with checklists
Modern life is full of complex tasks that we error-prone humans have to complete, from setting up your printer to cooking a meal for 2. Surgeon Atal Guwande – a man whose job allows no room for mistakes – recommends using checklists as a way to correctly perform routine tasks with minimum effort. By writing out a step by step ‘program’ for yourself to follow, you can make sure nothing is missed or done wrong, without having to engage a tired or over-burdened brain with remembering what you need to do.
4. Track progress with the Kanban method
The impressive-sounding Kanban board is actually a really simple idea – it’s a set of categories: to-do, doing, and done. You start off with everything in ‘to-do’, and move tasks from left to right across the board as you progress with them.
Born in the world of software development, the Kanban board exists virtually through apps like Trello, and can also be a real-life pinboard or even a section of wall with cards or notes stuck to it. You can get as crazy or simple with this as you want. Into color coding? Go for it. Want to use up those novelty sticky-notes you found in a drawer? Now is the moment!
As Andrew Kunesh notes on the Zapier website, “Kanban is great for teams and those who like to see the big picture at a glance. When using the method, you’ll have all of your tasks, due dates, and task progress in front of you, so there’s nothing keeping you from diving right into your work.”
5. Cut down wasted effort with the Pareto Principle
The Pareto Principle, also known as the 80-20 rule, states that around eighty percent of results come from only twenty percent of the effort. Or, to put it another way, most of the progress towards your goals comes from a few accomplishments. You might be sitting at your desk for 8 hours, but make most of your day’s progress in less than 2.
Based on that principle, the Harvard Business Review recommends that you write down your 6 top priorities for the day, and then cross out the bottom 5. Then try to focus on the top priority for 90 minutes straight. If you find yourself drawn to a particularly cute cat video, write down the task again to re-focus your attention.
After you’ve targeted your most important task with lazer-like precision, you can then (in theory) spend the rest of your day addressing those nice-to-have tasks that usually get forgotten about. Or just watching cat videos – your call.
An added bonus
We want you to lead the most creative and meeting-free lives possible. That’s why we developed a “Meetings Kill Creativity” Chrome plugin, so you’ll never get stuck in an unwanted meeting again. Just click here to download and you’ll not be in your next meeting in no time.