Keeping it P: Poché is the Priority
In the continual pursuit of entrepreneurship, one rule reigns supreme: Poché is the priority. Life as an entrepreneur means knowing that the business is at the forefront of your mind at nearly every moment of most, if not every, day. It took us no time at all to realize that the business we started was our baby, something we would pour our hearts, souls, and value into. We dedicate ourselves to its success, even if that means moving impossible mountains to make it happen.
Prioritizing the Business
To ensure Poches success, we have embraced the following strategies:
Iceberg Lookout: We vigilantly scan the horizon for potential pitfalls. By addressing minor issues before they escalate into major obstacles, we mitigate risks and maintain a steady course. We see this most often in business structure and our organizational practices. At the same time, icebergs take many forms and being prepared means staying agile. Proper lookout requires regular check-in’s with each other, foresight, and a solution-centric mindset.
Rapid + Constant Development: We refuse to rest on our laurels. We continuously seek new knowledge and skills, from leadership to communication to financial management. The pursuit of improvement is an endless journey. We have to keep up with software and new technology on one hand, but the other hand includes what have been traditionally defined as “soft skills”. Accountability, active listening, leadership, and management are all skills to develop early. A Poché tip: practice maintaining balance and flexibility in your daily practice; keeping an apprentice-like hunger for learning will help you navigate all of the “new”.
Prioritizing the Team: Our team is the backbone of our success. We foster their growth, empower their voices, and provide them with the resources they need to thrive. A strong team amplifies our capabilities and ensures the longevity of our business. The best way to prioritize our team is to continue to provide them with resources, access, and a platform to grow and use their voice. Without the team, the business model changes and our best systems start to fail. This has meant: Staying on top of the bag; Chasing projects of substance and alignment; Trusting our designers to have the same feelings of commitment and passion as we do; and Finding ways to work collectively despite all being fully remote.
Sacrifice for balance
Prioritizing can sometimes feel like sacrifice, even if for the smallest hope of success. If you’re an active or aspiring leader, you’ve likely experienced similar emotions. Constant sacrifice can be exhausting, especially when the forward momentum doesn’t give much time for rest. Tobi and I take care to prioritize our own health and wellness, too, so we keep our distance from unhealthy habits as well.
We remind ourselves that FOMO is real and regular. There’s a certain amount of acceptance needed here: you will miss certain events and moments because the business requires you elsewhere. However, that doesn’t mean missing everything. Team transparency and communication are great way to plan for special and sudden moments. This also means being present for life when you do take time away from business. Spending time with friends and family is more valuable when you close your computer: Beware the Laptop Zombie! You do not always have to be “on”. Time away is normal and part of maintaining balance. Enjoy your time not working when you have it.
Prioritizing Poché requires a profound understanding of our lives and priorities. It is a testament to the lifelong love we share for our business and the unwavering dedication we have to its success. Becoming an entrepreneur at a young age was, and still is, no minor feat. Tobi and I were 25 and 26 when we started talking business names; we were fresh out of grad school and eager to start making our marks. Sometimes I look back, wondering if we knew all that it would take to still be here, with each other and a team. It feels as though we each had to upgrade ourselves every year. Not a single sacrifice or rising-to-the-occasion has been without purpose. Poché will always be our first priority.
In the next blog of this series, we’ll talk about kindness and grace as business practices. Caio, for now!