2.0s
another layer of uncertainty. Okay, is getting real. I'm already feeling like that inner resistance is cropping up. One part of any job that can feel really uncomfortable is providing tough uncomfortable is providing tough feedback. they always say that this game is a game of survival. That's becoming more and more true.
3.8s
Okay, is getting real. I'm already
5.5s
feeling like that inner resistance is
7.1s
cropping up.
7.7s
One part of any job that can feel really
9.6s
uncomfortable is providing tough
11.3s
uncomfortable is providing tough feedback.
12.1s
they always say that this game is a game
14.0s
of survival. That's becoming more and
15.7s
more true.
25.5s
series. If you're new here, hi, I'm Amy. I work at Google and most of my career is in big corporates like Google and Disney. Hey, I'm Jenny and I've been an early employee at startups like Notion for most of my career and I'm currently in the early stages of starting my own
28.4s
I work at Google and most of my career
30.5s
is in big corporates like Google and
32.6s
Disney. Hey, I'm Jenny and I've been an
35.1s
early employee at startups like Notion
37.1s
for most of my career and I'm currently
39.4s
in the early stages of starting my own
41.1s
company. In this series, we wanted to show our lives in parallel to each other inspired by this saying, the grass isn't necessarily greener on the other side, it's greener where you water it.
43.1s
show our lives in parallel to each other
45.1s
inspired by this saying, the grass isn't
48.0s
necessarily greener on the other side,
50.4s
it's greener where you water it.
64.2s
now, but the reorgs have definitely brought another layer of uncertainty because some reporting lines have changed, some of the team structures have changed, but no thing's actually been implemented yet. So, yeah, there's just a lot of questions, but the general answer is hold tight. I've been holding tight and getting my work done and also
67.3s
brought another layer of uncertainty
69.3s
because some reporting lines have
70.9s
changed, some of the team structures
72.5s
have changed, but no thing's actually
74.0s
been implemented yet. So, yeah, there's
75.8s
just a lot of questions, but the general
77.5s
answer is hold tight. I've been holding
80.1s
tight and getting my work done and also
83.4s
just organizing and cleaning my own life since I can't do that at work. I do feel like I'm on my little own island right now, probably more because I'm remote. So, I'm just trying to find ways to be like more connected, talking to colleagues, making sure I'm doing things that help me feel a little bit
85.4s
since I can't do that at work.
88.7s
I do feel like I'm on my little own
91.4s
island right now, probably more because
93.5s
I'm remote. So, I'm just trying to find
95.8s
ways to be like more connected, talking
98.0s
to colleagues, making sure I'm doing
100.0s
things that help me feel a little bit
101.7s
less removed. Anyways, I don't think I'll have a clear idea on what's happening for a while, so I'm just rolling with the punches, really just focusing on like my day-to-day work because that's still the same for me.
103.6s
I'll have a clear idea on what's
105.1s
happening for a while, so I'm just
106.8s
rolling with the punches, really just
108.6s
focusing on like my day-to-day work
110.8s
because that's still the same for me.
121.2s
let's see, 840 on a Monday. I need to leave the house in like 15 minutes, but really quick every morning I usually take like 5-10 minutes, review my task list, move them over to my calendar and time block everything. So, I'm going to finish this up and I'm going to head out to meet a
123.4s
on a Monday. I need to leave the house
124.9s
in like 15 minutes, but really quick
127.4s
every morning I usually take like 5-10
129.6s
minutes, review my task list, move them
132.1s
over to my calendar and time block
133.6s
everything. So, I'm going to finish this
135.0s
up and I'm going to head out to meet a
136.6s
founder friend where we do our like weekly check-ins on Mondays.
138.7s
weekly check-ins on Mondays.
149.2s
founder path, my relationship to time has changed a lot. In the past, it was always how much time do I have left in this quarter to make sure I hit my milestones. And now it's a lot more existential because I know how many months I have left in my runway and, you
152.0s
has changed a lot. In the past, it was
154.2s
always how much time do I have left in
155.9s
this quarter to make sure I hit my
157.8s
milestones. And now it's a lot more
159.8s
existential because I know how many
162.0s
months I have left in my runway and, you
164.6s
know, when you are your plan A, B, and C, that really lights a fire up your ass. So, now I'm a lot more hyper intentional with my time because it's the only thing that like quiets that voice in my head that constantly asks myself like, did you spend your time wisely today? It's kind of like what I
167.0s
C, that really lights a fire up your
169.2s
ass. So, now I'm a lot more hyper
171.4s
intentional with my time because it's
173.2s
the only thing that like quiets that
175.0s
voice in my head that constantly asks
177.3s
myself like, did you spend your time
179.4s
wisely today? It's kind of like what I
181.5s
was telling you before. Like I feel like Okay, is getting Like I feel like Okay, is getting real. Yeah. And I think I just feel I I'm already feeling like that like inner resistance is cropping up because I know exactly what I need to do, but I'm like, Cuz now I actually have quarterly goals
183.5s
Like I feel like Okay, is getting
185.7s
Like I feel like Okay, is getting real.
186.2s
Yeah. And
188.1s
I think I just feel I I'm already
190.2s
feeling like that like inner resistance
192.0s
is cropping up because I know exactly
193.8s
what I need to do, but I'm like,
196.9s
Cuz now I actually have quarterly goals
199.4s
to even make. Now I know what I want. Yeah. Oh my god, babe, that's huge. That's huge. Quarterly, that's pretty fast. From like, when did you start start? It's kind of like like January. January? Yeah, it's been 4 months. Yeah. Did that feel fast or slow? Every week feels like a month to me, so I don't
202.5s
Yeah. Oh my god, babe, that's huge.
204.4s
That's huge.
205.0s
Quarterly, that's pretty fast.
206.9s
From like, when did you start start?
208.8s
It's kind of like like January. January?
211.0s
Yeah, it's been 4 months. Yeah.
212.8s
Did that feel fast or slow? Every week
215.2s
feels like a month to me, so I don't
216.9s
know. It feels slow. like a lighter meeting day and I woke up with like the most random craving for musubis today. So, I think I'm actually going to make musubis for lunch, which is very unusual for me because lunch is not a part of the routine and that like I just consume whatever is fastest and I
225.6s
like a lighter meeting day and I woke up
227.9s
with like the most random craving for
229.9s
musubis today. So, I think I'm actually
232.0s
going to make musubis for lunch, which
233.9s
is very unusual for me because lunch is
237.2s
not a part of the routine and that like
239.3s
I just consume whatever is fastest and I
241.9s
usually just eat in between meetings. So, this is kind of an anomaly for me, but I also wanted to step away from my computer. I've been feeling like a little frustrated all day today with one of the vendors, so I just figured it would be good to, you know, step away
244.0s
So, this is kind of an anomaly for me,
246.2s
but I also wanted to step away from my
248.0s
computer. I've been feeling like a
250.2s
little frustrated all day today with one
252.2s
of the vendors, so I just figured it
254.2s
would be good to, you know, step away
256.8s
and come back to it when like I feel more refreshed and have just like a cooler head about things. I think one part of any job that can feel really uncomfortable is providing tough feedback. It's just like not the most fun thing to do. And, you know, I've been running into issues with this
259.0s
more refreshed and have just like a
260.8s
cooler head about things. I think one
262.9s
part of any job that can feel really
264.6s
uncomfortable is providing tough
266.4s
feedback. It's just like not the most
268.6s
fun thing to do. And, you know, I've
270.7s
been running into issues with this
272.3s
vendor for a while now, so I'm going to connect with my manager leader today because I just want to make sure that whatever I'm saying is very actionable and very clear, so we'll see how that goes later. Of course, the funny part of making lunch is that I don't have time
274.0s
connect with my manager leader today
275.9s
because I just want to make sure that
277.2s
whatever I'm saying is very actionable
279.2s
and very clear, so we'll see how that
281.7s
goes later. Of course, the funny part of
283.5s
making lunch is that I don't have time
285.4s
to eat it because I spent so much time making it. So, I'm just like eating my musubi really quickly over the sink in 5 minutes so that I have time to like prep for that meeting with my manager. lunch and I actually just finished reading this really great article from First Round and they're interviewing the
287.2s
making it. So, I'm just like eating my
289.7s
musubi really quickly over the sink in 5
292.0s
minutes so that I have time to like prep
295.1s
for that meeting with my manager.
303.4s
lunch and I actually just finished
305.8s
reading this really great article from
307.5s
First Round and they're interviewing the
309.5s
CEO of Roopa Health and I want to read you a snippet because it really resonates how I'm feeling at this moment. She boils down her founder highs and lows to one word. Momentum is everything in this game. When there's momentum and growth, there's energy. When there's not, it's paralyzing. In the early days, you're not tethered to
311.3s
you a snippet because it really
312.7s
resonates how I'm feeling at this
314.5s
moment. She boils down her founder highs
316.6s
and lows to one word. Momentum is
319.0s
everything in this game. When there's
320.7s
momentum and growth, there's energy.
322.8s
When there's not, it's paralyzing. In
324.9s
the early days, you're not tethered to
326.6s
any specific timelines or deliverables or customer pool, you're almost floating aimlessly in space. And that just completely encapsulates how I've been feeling with my founder journey so far. For the past couple months, I've been in this like company idea maze. Now I feel like I have a lot more clarity and direction and just finding more ways to
328.6s
or customer pool, you're almost floating
331.1s
aimlessly in space. And that just
333.3s
completely encapsulates how I've been
335.4s
feeling with my founder journey so far.
337.4s
For the past couple months, I've been in
338.8s
this like company idea maze. Now I feel
341.2s
like I have a lot more clarity and
342.8s
direction and just finding more ways to
345.2s
like generate that momentum for myself, especially in like the day-to-days because, you know, they always say that this game is a game of survival. I feel like that's becoming more and more true as like I'm in this journey, especially as a solo founder so far. I'm going to head over to my local Philz and start
347.7s
especially in like the day-to-days
349.4s
because, you know, they always say that
351.0s
this game is a game of survival. I feel
353.0s
like that's becoming more and more true
355.2s
as like I'm in this journey, especially
357.2s
as a solo founder so far. I'm going to
358.9s
head over to my local Philz and start
361.9s
working on that. oops, 424. I'm going to hop into my last meeting of the day to talk to my manager and I actually realized I've
383.4s
oops, 424. I'm going to hop into my
386.7s
last meeting of the day to talk to my
388.7s
manager and I actually realized I've
391.0s
been wearing this sweater a few meetings in a row now over the past few days, so I think I'm going to take it off. I'm going to send out. I just want to make sure it's actionable. So, instead of like listing out all these past examples of things that have happened, it's like spilled milk, I'm trying to
392.8s
in a row now over the past few days, so
395.8s
I think I'm going to take it off.
407.1s
I'm going to send out. I just want to
408.4s
make sure it's actionable. So, instead
410.2s
of like listing out all these past
411.7s
examples of things that have happened,
413.2s
it's like spilled milk, I'm trying to
415.4s
group into like buckets of issues. So, I'm calling out like one of the buckets that I'm seeing is just being very on top of meeting deadlines. I'm sitting in like a few more check-ins just to make sure we're very like clear on deliverables and the timing of those deliverables. So, anyways, I'm just
417.8s
I'm calling out like one of the buckets
419.7s
that I'm seeing is just being very on
421.6s
top of meeting deadlines. I'm sitting in
423.6s
like a few more check-ins just to make
425.4s
sure we're very like clear on
427.0s
deliverables and the timing of those
428.5s
deliverables. So, anyways, I'm just
430.4s
trying to take all my thoughts, summarize this into an email so that I can send it out. That's the last thing I'm going to do today and I'm going to schedule it to send tomorrow so that it hits more like at the beginning of the day than end of day. here in San Francisco. It's like 80
432.0s
summarize this into an email so that I
433.7s
can send it out. That's the last thing
435.6s
I'm going to do today and I'm going to
437.2s
schedule it to send tomorrow so that it
439.5s
hits more like at the beginning of the
441.4s
day than end of day.
449.7s
here in San Francisco. It's like 80
452.1s
right now. I was like sweating on my way home. But anyway, a few hours like every month, I take these advisory calls with a few startups and I basically help them build and scale out their startup programs. And for a lot of like B2B SaaS or product-led growth companies, startup programs tend to be a really effective
453.4s
home. But anyway, a few hours like every
456.4s
month, I take these advisory calls with
458.1s
a few startups and I basically help them
460.1s
build and scale out their startup
461.9s
programs. And for a lot of like B2B SaaS
464.4s
or product-led growth companies, startup
466.5s
programs tend to be a really effective
468.2s
go-to-market strategy and that is what I did at Notion. And you know, surprisingly, it's been a pretty nice way just to earn income on the side because I do charge an hourly rate for these. It's super low lift. It's literally like a Zoom call, me giving like my feedback or opinion. So, yeah,
470.2s
did at Notion. And you know,
471.4s
surprisingly, it's been a pretty nice
473.5s
way just to earn income on the side
475.3s
because I do charge an hourly rate for
477.7s
these. It's super low lift. It's
479.4s
literally like a Zoom call, me giving
481.4s
like my feedback or opinion. So, yeah,
483.3s
I'm going to go hop onto this call right now and any of you out there who work at companies wanting to build startup programs, let me know. I might be able to help you out. How's it going? Yeah, so where things at right now with the program and how can I best help during
485.2s
now and any of you out there who work at
487.1s
companies wanting to build startup
488.6s
programs, let me know. I might be able
490.3s
to help you out. How's it going? Yeah,
492.2s
so where things at right now with the
493.6s
program and how can I best help during
496.5s
our call today? You know, it's so funny that you asked that because I feel like at Notion, I felt the exactly the same thing where obviously because I've been there since the beginning, I'm seeing this whole journey unpan for you. Some of this just happened in 5 months. Thank you for saying that because I'm like, is
498.0s
that you asked that because I feel like
499.5s
at Notion, I felt the exactly the same
501.8s
thing where
507.0s
obviously because I've been there since
508.7s
the beginning, I'm seeing this whole
510.3s
journey unpan for you. Some of this just
512.2s
happened in 5 months. Thank you for
514.0s
saying that because I'm like, is
515.3s
anything happening? Am I going fast enough? That's when it's just so helpful to have friends like you that can bear witness and just be like, Jenny, chill the out. Like progress is being made. I think one thing that I took away from your day, well, one thing is like now I'm craving spam musubis. The other
517.1s
Am I going fast enough?
518.8s
That's when it's just so helpful to have
521.5s
friends like you that can bear witness
523.9s
and just be like, Jenny, chill the
525.5s
out. Like progress is being made. I
527.4s
think one thing that I took away from
529.4s
your day, well, one thing is like now
531.3s
I'm craving spam musubis. The other
533.2s
thing is that you mentioned the layoffs, things are still happening and they just told us to sit tight. It made me miss how sometimes someone will give you the direction because I feel like when things aren't working, the buck stops with you is how I've been feeling. I mean, I guess like the whole theme of
535.8s
things are still happening and they just
537.5s
told us to sit tight. It made me miss
539.6s
how sometimes someone will give you the
541.9s
direction because I feel like when
543.7s
things aren't working, the buck stops
545.8s
with you is how I've been feeling. I
547.6s
mean, I guess like the whole theme of
549.0s
these videos is the grass is greener where you water it. Like I think we both tried to like pretty realistically show our day even if it's like mundane or if we feel like there's like not this like big thing accomplished, we're just trying to water our day with more color. Exactly. And also give perspective to
550.9s
where you water it. Like I think we both
552.7s
tried to like pretty realistically show
554.4s
our day even if it's like mundane or if
556.3s
we feel like there's like not this like
557.7s
big thing accomplished, we're just
559.1s
trying to water our day with more color.
561.2s
Exactly. And also give perspective to
563.2s
the other person where you and I have blind spot. Okay. I'm going to go make some spam musubis now. Good night.
565.9s
blind spot. Okay.
566.9s
I'm going to go make some spam musubis
568.4s
now. Good night.
