Today is my one year anniversary at FeedRoom and WOW! it seems like a lot longer. They say that time flies when you’re having fun and they don’t lie. Over the last year I’ve learned a lot about the business and a lot about myself.
Here are some things that I either learned or that were reinforced in the last year:
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You shouldn't do anything on your own. For a project or product to be successful you must build a team that works together quickly, smartly and with a common purpose. I've always been a very independent person in both my professional and personal life. Over the last year I've realized that you can accomplish great things with the right people behind you.
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Don't be shy. It's like the MTA says: If You See Something, Say Something. If you don't speak up, who will? When a problem needs to be addressed you should bring it up to the right people, even if you don't have a solution readily at hand. Apply the first point and build a team to address the issue.
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Always watch the bottom line. The economic environment over the last year has been rough, to say the least. If you're building out a solution or product, identify the market need and opportunity early. If there isn't a market, don't build it.
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Innovate often. FeedRoom was a pioneer in online video - if anyone tells you that they were first, it's marketing spin, because the fact is that we were there long before them. That's pretty cool, but it presents challenges. Over the last 18 months this company has reinvented itself from a culture and software prospect to enable itself to innovate. I've been lucky to take part in that transformation and I can see, first hand, that the benefits it allows.
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Don't be afraid of management. This goes back to the Don't be shy point, but it's worth eloborating. If you have an idea, put it in front of management. Tell them why your idea is great and offer to help make it happen.
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There is such a thing as a stupid question. Who ever said that there are no stupid questions is stupid. It's good to be curious, I encourgage those questions, but if something has been documented... go read it and retain the information. Nothing is worse than someone that asks the same question over and over. I have been guilty of this from time to time, but I'm learning to research before asking.
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Be completely confident. If you think you have a great idea stand behind it until the bitter end. Passion is completely necessary and if you don't have it, well, it probably means that your ideas aren't that great to begin with.
I work with the best people in the business and we have the best clients in the business. Because of that, I love my job and I don't think that very many people can say that. Thanks to everyone that have made the last year a great one.
Labels: feedroom, jobs, the feedroom
