Craft Your Future

Ladies and gentlemen, Ben Chestnut; Co-founder and CEO of Mailchimp, one of the world's foremost names in email marketing. Mailchimp is known worldwide as an enjoyable, simple, user-focused marketing platform that sticks true to it's guns and knows how to enjoy itself. Ben talks in this video about management and how to foster an environment that promotes creativity and productivity. If I was ever confused as to why, this video firmly illustrates how Mailchimp gained 1.2 million users. 

Learn more about Mailchimp here and follow their blog to see what inspires him. 

This is the first of many such posts. We want Goalsmith to be a valuable resource for all your goal setting needs, but we also want it to be a source of inspiration and drive for our readers. That's why I figured it was time to introduce you to Sam. Some of you may Have used or heard of the app called Hipstamatic. It's taken the mobile phone photography world by storm in the past couple years. According to a 2011 poll, the iPhone 4 camera is the second most used camera in the world, and out of all the photo taking/editing applications available, Hipstamatic shines the brightest. Last month, the team launched a new app that uses vintage camera types and built in sharing features to allow friends to take and share photos with each other. It's already been given raving reviews... and this blogger uses it all the time. Anyways, without further wait, here's some thoughts by Sam.

                                   1. So, you've had the opportunity to work with some really big clients and create some amazing things. I know right now, you're working with the Hipstamatic team, for example. But I'm curious to hear what actually got you started in development?

I got started with HTML when I was 10 years old. My mom was going to a class on how to make websites that a local ISP was putting on for free and brought me because I liked to play on the computer. I went home, fired up Notepad, and started writing away with all caps tags. Learned ActionScript a little later after I got tired of tweaning in Flash. Took a class on C++ freshman year of high school. Started playing with PHP in my spare time at the same time. A friend and I did our first website for real money using PHP while I was still a freshman. After doing lots of PHP work, I started playing with Objective-C and Mac development while I was still in high school. After high school, I got a salary job doing PHP when the iPhone SDK was announced. I said I knew Objective-C and could probably make something so I made my first app, Bible. After I left that job I picked up Ruby and have thankfully not written any PHP since.

2. What were your biggest obstacles in the beginning, and how did you move past them?

Since I was all self taught, not knowing how to do something was always my biggest obstacle. Lots of reading and time in front of the computer perfecting my craft has really paid off but was definitely no quick trip. At first leaning now to program is very difficult. Once you learn how to learn a language (very meta, I know) it becomes really easy. I went from never touching Ruby to redoing my website in Ruby on Rails in a weekend.

3. Hold old are you now?

I'm 22. Skipping college really gave me a head start on everything. Fun fact: bought a house when I was 19 and sold it when I was 20.

4. How important to you are personal goals?  

Goals are very important to me. Most of how my life is now is due to setting goals and meeting them. I decided I wanted to buy a house, paid of all of my debt, and bought one (granted it was the worst financial decision of my life, but it was a good learning experience). I decided I wanted to move to San Francisco to be near a lot of other great minds, found a job, and moved there—all within a few weeks. Sometimes my goals can be a bit impulsive and sometimes they can take years. I tend to prefer more short term goals so I stay motivated. Planning to do something in 5 years seems silly. 5 years ago I wouldn't have ever imaged I'd be where I am today and I would assume the same is true for 5 years from today.

5. Are there certain things that really inspire you or light your creative fires? What is it that drives you to continue the creative process?

Looking at other people's creations is a huge source of inspiration. I download an enormous amount of apps just to see what other people are doing. When I'm pretending to be a designer, I spend a lot of time on Dribbble too. Probably the biggest source of motivation for any project is stuff that I want. Thinking, "It would be cool if it did this because I'd use the crap out of that feature," makes for good software. Building stuff that satisfies your own needs is super rewarding. Building stuff you care about is way better than building stuff you don't care about. I have worked on dozens of projects that I thought were completely stupid. It turns work into just a job to pay the bills instead of something I'm passionate about doing.

6. What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned in your life?

The value of people. I've worked in teams of one a lot. Working with other people is so rewarding. I wish I would have learned this sooner. Moving from city to city and not knowing anyone sucks. Having friends and doing stuff besides work makes everything better. Common sense, I know, but this took me forever to get right. When you build stuff on your own, it's easy to get into the sense of "this is good enough" because no one else will ever see your code or whatever else isn't public facing. When you work with a team, you are motivated to show off a little and keep things nice so others don't have to wade through you garbage. This alone is amazing. Not leaving my apartment and seeing only the pizza guy  for days is cool for a short while.

7. Do you have any advice for someone who is just now beginning to explore their dreams and future?

You can do it. People hear about some of my perks at work, see our office, or about how much engineers in the valley get paid and say "I wish I could do what you do." The truth is they don't or they would be. If you want to do something, do it. Simple as that. I wanted to learn how to make a Mac app, so I bought a book, fought through it, and made a Mac app. I wanted to make an iPhone app, so I downloaded the tools, fought with it for 6 months, and made an iPhone app. With a little perseverance, resourcefulness, and motivation, you can do it. Go buy a book, google up some tutorials, or whatever and start.

My thanks to Sam for his thoughts. It's inspiring to me that he's done so much in such a short amount of time. Besides being one of the brilliant minds involved in Hipstamatic, Sam also developed the Bible app (as mentioned above), and is a respected part of the development community. Learn more about Sam on his site or follow him on Twitter.

Dowload the Bible App here...

Learn more about Hipstamatic here...

        It's almost the end of the year, and if you're anything like me, you're already planning your resolutions for next year. As I was browsing the world wide web looking for exercise routines, I ran across a great article about foods that boost productivity. I figured I'd take a moment to share my find...

From Lifehack.org:

1. Avacodos. Not only are they delicious, but they also keep you from feeling overly full after a meal. Try this delicious guacamole recipe for a cheap, healthy snack: 

Mash two fresh avocados in a bowl and stir in 1 teaspoon of garlic, 2 tablespoons of lime juice, and some fresh cilantro. Salt to taste. Serve with chips and enjoy!

2. Almonds. Get the salted, roasted, or candied...these little guys are great for not only your heart, but have also been proven to ward off signs of aging, boost brain power, and even help prevent weight gain. Plus, they're cheap, delicious, and easy to carry. 

3. Raisins. Great for helping you fight that post-lunch crash. High in antioxidants, low in fat and calories, busting with energy... Toss back a handful a day, and it'll do incredible things for your health. 

4. Figs. They're naturally sweet, whether they're dried out or fresh. Plus, they're just filling enough to keep you from rolling through McDonalds on the way home from work. 

5. Olives. You know what I love about olives? The variety. Toss them in a salad, cook them on a pizza, or just eat them plain... They're proven to fight symptoms of arthritis, menopause, and asthma. 

6. Walnuts. Much like the almonds, they're high in protein and all those omega-3 fatty acids! 

7. Carrots. Remember when your mother told you to eat your carrots because they would improve your eyesight? She was right! Not only that, but chomping on a cup of chopped carrots a day also provides you with six times the recommended amount of Vitamin A.

8. Strawberries. Jam packed with Vitamin A... much like those carrots that we talked about above... are great for your eyes. Plus, it's also been tied to the prevention of cancer! Not to mention, it tastes awesome on toast.

9. Flaxseeds. Another wildly packed Vitamin A food, flaxseeds are great for your vision, and also for your bowels, attitude, and complexion! 

10. Water. Just drink it. It's better for you than sodas or energy drinks, and it's free too! It's a huge metabolism booster, and keeps you hydrated and focused! 

11. Sunflower seeds. Not just for baseball players anymore, they're great for chasing away that two 0'clock hunger hole in your stomach! And all that energy that they're filled with keeps you going till the end of the day! 

12. Papaya. If you can't find the actual fruit, swing by your local health food store or vitamin shop for the bottled version. It fights arthritis, the common cold, and even the affects of second hand smoke. 

13. Pears. Are your allergies driving you crazy? Nose running? Eyes watering? Eat a pear, they're hypo allergenic. 

14. Green tea. You've got your black teas, herbal teas, and organic teas...to name a few. Not only is it full of anti-oxidants and healthier for you than coffee, but it's still got a bit of a caffeine kick in it as well! Added benefit: it's built to boost your immune system too! 

15. Ginger. That's right, I'm talking about that weird pink stuff that comes with your sushi. Good news, it also doubles as a great way to beat the bloat, nausea, and tight stomach muscles. 

16. Peppermint. It's great for your breath, sure, but it's also a welcome relief for that stuffy nose. It clears out your sinuses, settles those pesky stomach bugs, and relaxes taut muscles. Not to mention, it tastes delicious in a chocolate milkshake... or almost anything, for that matter. 

17. Watermelon. When you think of summer, you think of watermelon. What you don't think though is about all the energy you get from them and how, despite all the flavor, you're eating a 0 calorie snack! Naturally sweet and full of nutrients too. 

18. Yogurt. Eat greek; it may taste a little more sour at first, but soften that bite with some fresh honey or vanilla, and you're in for a treat! It tastes super good, stores for forever, and is full of rich nutrients! 

19. Dark Chocolate. Another incredible antioxidant rich snack that also doubles as an aphrodisiac. Interested? Chocolate also pairs with everything on this list, as well as most white wines, and whisky. It's great for your heart and mind, too!

      Achieving your goals is as much a mental game as it is a physical one. When writing your goals daily, try out this helpful tip:

  Walk out on your pencil. 

Tell it you’re working a lot, and just have too much on your plate right now. 

Tell it that you don’t love it anymore. 

Tell it you’ve moved on. 

Tell it you’ve found someone else. 

  That’s right...break up with your pencil. It’s not the one for you. 

Here’s why. Pencils are editable... made with fixed erasers at the base, and write in a light lead. Pencils are changeable. Pencils live in the moment and can quickly follow a whim. 

Imagine I told you that I had set a goal to run ten miles a day, and that I was very serious about it...but told you the next day that I had re-thought my goal and bumped it down to seven miles a day. I’m still very set of running seven, though. Or maybe five...

You don’t believe me, right? No way! I’m indecisive, and you and I both know that I probably won’t even run a single mile. Pencil goal : eraser mind. 

  Write your goals daily with a pen. Pen’s don’t change...the ink isn’t erasable or forgettable. Some of the world’s most historical documents were signed in ink (the Declaration of Independence, for instance). Ink is eternal. 

Script your goals in ink, and you will find that, not only will they remain in the forefront of your mind... but you will also be less willing to waver on them in the future. 

I talk a lot of this blog about practical application for business goals, but seldom about health-related goals. Well, I'd like to begin to remedy that by sharing this video. 

Dr. Mike Evans takes the time to re-approach the old question of, "What is the single best thing that we can do for our health?" His answer is simple... get out more! At the end of this video, he poses the question, "Do you think you could spend more that 23.5 hours a day sleeping or looking at a screen?" I know how difficult it would be for me...

– J.R.R. Tolkien

"I think if we empower people, let them see the world through design in their ways, let them be players in design, then we as designers will raise the bar of our game. We’ll be demanding more of ourselves."

Chris Bangle of Chris Bangle Associates