Struggling with struggling: from homework to real work to impact


September 26, 2011 by Jared Goralnick

Harry Goralnick, someone who always is willing to learn and growIn 5 days I turn 30.  Cue the tiny violins.  The truth is, I’m not struggling.  But perhaps that’s the problem.

Remember when we had homework and tests?  It was tedious and difficult to get A’s.  But even without a report card, the best results require the same struggle.

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How to solve the two biggest problems with distributed teams.


September 15, 2011 by Jared Goralnick

Working in MadridI’ve spent nearly ten years working with distributed teams.  Working from San Francisco, DC, Buenos Aires, and Barcelona has offered me perspective, freedom, and a unique sort of productivity.

But there are two common problems that will sabotage any distributed team’s progress.  We fight them every day at AwayFind, and here’s what we’ve learned.

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Kicking ass, with no regrets.


September 12, 2011 by Jared Goralnick

Weighing the options (Chris Akelian photo)I kick ass…but not at most things.  I have no regrets…except for a few.

It’s no secret our greatest asset is time and our greatest predictor of success how we spend it, yet most of us have grown into our roles and task lists without giving it much thought.

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You are not MG Siegler: my reply to his TechCrunch experiment on avoiding email


August 2, 2011 by Jared Goralnick

A large pile of stuff.As someone entrenched in the email space, I’ve received many messages about MG Siegler’s experiment of staying away from email for a month.

While it was an interesting project, I don’t believe his experience or needs are indicative of what I see everyday with AwayFind customers and in my eight years of clients at SET. 

However, you too can reply to 0.3% of your email, read on… (on AwayFind blog)

Be remarkable, not productive.


March 18, 2011 by Jared Goralnick

Hamster wheelDon’t confuse your task list with a way to get ahead.  Doing one thing that’s truly noteworthy will get you further than staying on the treadmill.

Go above and beyond and forget your to do’s.

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You can spot the difference


March 9, 2011 by Jared Goralnick

Two very different dogs, sort ofYou can follow the same steps and get different results.  One reason for that is the intention.  People can see your intent just as clearly as you can.

And if you can’t see it, maybe it’s worth looking for.

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Details that Matter


March 4, 2011 by Jared Goralnick

Wine Glass (by BlakJakDavy on Flickr)Glass of wine.  Outdoor run.  Natural light.

Tempranillo in an artisan glass.  10 mile jog on the Pacific.  Floor-to-ceiling windows facing west.

Details, general and specific.  Some matter to me.  Out there is a set of details that matters to you even more than you know.

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When right is not good enough


February 8, 2011 by Jared Goralnick

In finding the critical path, there are things to ignore and omit.  Going against the ways you’ve learned before might not seem obvious, but it may be the only way to move forward.

The essential requires balancing the details and making what feels like sacrifices…but aren’t.  The right might not be good enough when the clock ticks on.

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The 17th Street Dance and Building a Life


January 27, 2011 by Jared Goralnick

Dancing in the streetIt’s 12:30am on a Wednesday.  I just biked 17th street for the first time.  All tonight was the product of deliberate things that came together.

Pick your thing.  Show up.  Stick with it.

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Pitching your startup when you’re not the founder. Don’t be this guy—don’t let people know your baby’s ugly.


January 20, 2011 by Jared Goralnick

Ugly babyI was underwhelmed by the pitch.  The assistant that presented it lacked passion, vision, and several fundamentals.  He didn’t know me, and he shared unnecessary and unhelpful things about him.

Don’t be that guy.  Founder or not, everyone should be able to represent their startup.

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