PROJECT JOANNA

And just like that, it’s our 10th Valentine’s Day 💖 People said we would never make it, but here we are. ⁣ ⁣ This is always a crazy week for the business, but in amongst all the radio slots and press articles, we’re doing what we always do; helping people feel close to those they love. Working in the space of human relationships has been the biggest honour and I’m so proud of the work we do. ⁣ ⁣ This year we’re sending our Valentine’s Day profits to charities in Australia battling the fire devastation, because obviously we believe love can (and should) reach across the planet 🐨 https://ift.tt/38vTCIM

Things I learned in 2019, a non-exhaustive list: 1. Hold fast to your vision. There will come a day when everyone understands what you were building. 2. When you teach, you learn as much (if not more) than those you are teaching. It is an honour and a privilege to educate. 3. When people show you they don’t care, believe them. 4. You cannot outrun what is asking to be felt within you. Do not rush it out the door, do not fear its arrival. 5. You can’t force things. What flows, flows; what crashes, crashes. 6. Timing is 20%. The rest is in your head. 7. People can only meet you as deep as they’ve met themselves. 8. Kindness will show up in the most unexpected places. Embrace it. Pay it forward. #2019 https://ift.tt/2rN9Hda

Last year I was approached by The Glasgow School of Art to help design and oversee the delivery of their Master’s of Design Innovation & Interaction Design. ⁣ ⁣ It’s one thing to be working in your industry, but to be asked to help define what the next generation of that might look like, was terrifying.⁣ ⁣ This week we wrapped up the academic year and I feel like a proud parent watching my first ‘class’ go out into the world. I probably learned more from them than they did from me. ⁣ ⁣ Back when I was 18 and a fledging art student, I wouldn’t have been accepted to GSA. My tutors told me not to waste my time applying. You are not where you come from, or what people tell you are [not] capable of. We write our own stories 🔥 https://ift.tt/2Hc3Oum

Last week, in the run up to July 4th, everyone started to cancel/reschedule meetings over the holiday. I found myself with a stretch of ‘dead time’. I figured; if I can’t utilise that time myself, how can I give it to others? ⁣ ⁣ Long story short, I ended up volunteering at a kayaking not-for-profit. It was genuinely one of the most rewarding and delightful experiences I’ve had in a long time. ⁣ ⁣ The world can seem like a lonely place sometimes, and often the way to find good in it again is to give things to it. ⁣ ⁣ Those of you who have known me for a long time will also know I used to work as a watersports instructor ⛵️ So there was something wonderfully familiar and nostalgic about being back on the water. ⁣ ⁣ We live in a world where we’re always chasing (or being told to chase) our ‘purpose’. Some days your purpose is just to help a nervous kid find the courage to climb into a kayak. And I’d forgotten about the simplicity of those contributions, and their significance. https://ift.tt/2jSblGg

Spending some time this summer on the East Coast of the US lining up what’s coming next for Little Riot 🔥 ⁣ ⁣ Today we are officially half way through 2019. Planning on spending the rest of my year the same way as the first half; outside of my comfort zone, making decisions based on my hopes, living in new places and trying to grow as a human. And maybe taking the odd cliché photo 🤷🏼‍♀️⁣ ⁣ #newyork#nyc #usa #eastcoast #littleriot #pillowtalk #entrepreneur #buinesstravel #dumbo #brooklyn #femaleentrepreneur #manhattanbridge https://ift.tt/2FITb1A

The cat is out of the bag! I am one of the faces of the new TRESemmé ‘Power Your Presence’ campaign. ⁣ ⁣ It was a privilege to take part in this because I believe it is important that huge consumer brands promote entrepreneurship as something aspirational to women. If we can inspire just one more girl to step into success on her own terms, we’re winning. ⁣ ⁣ Shout out to my eagle-eyed friends who spotted me on a commercial in the middle of Britain’s Got Talent last night 🙈 ⁣ ⁣ @tresemme @tresemmeuk #PowerYourPresence #TRESemme #commercial #hair #press #femaleentrepreneur #femalefounder #womeninbusiness http://bit.ly/2Kk9Hbm

Your ‘disadvantage’ is your power. When you’re the only woman in the room, make damn sure they’re all listening. Happy International Women’s Day to all the other badass women I know 🔥 . #iwd2019 #iwd #balanceforbetter https://ift.tt/2UmNv2x

Thanks @modafirma for inviting me in this week as part of your female entrepreneurs series to talk about the importance of staying human in our digital world. Love that a fashion company is so interested in other industries 💁🏼‍♀️ #stayhuman #bemorehuman #femaleentrepreneur #littleriot #modafirma #pillowtalk http://bit.ly/2RwFIwO

Oh hey, January. Truthfully I don’t care much for the arrival of a new year; every day is an opportunity to start again or do something differently. 2018 was a year that my comfort zone was mainly a speck in the distance. It was also the year I pushed the limits of my health and nearly lost. For the rest of my life, it will always be a year that played a part in defining me. Two weeks into 2019 and still just enjoying the process. Grateful to be living and working across the juxtaposition of joyful chaos and unwavering purpose. http://bit.ly/2CoKGWP

Christmas Ballin’ with my winglady @laurajstembridge 🥂💫 . #christmas #christmasball #ice #workhardplayhard #blacktie #london #entrepreneurs #femalefounders #femaleentrepreneurs http://bit.ly/2BEG7XY

If you only have 24 hours in a day, may one of them be about building and scaling hardware companies. Great to share lessons learned with the teams at @startupbootcamp this morning. #startup #startuplife #speaking #hardware #hardwarestartup #startupbootcamp https://ift.tt/2EGvEPU

Wonderful time at @combineorg this weekend seeing a working farm transform into a creative space. Privileged to live a life surrounded so many doers and boundary pushers. . 📷 @danrubin #combine #combineorg #wintercombine #sussex #countryside #viaduct #outdoors #farmlife https://ift.tt/2SAsyzK

Last November I stood in this same venue in New York and watched the same band. Coincidence brought me back again this year. I was a different version of myself last time. My business was yet to ship a product into 48 countries. In my personal life, I was putting a lot of time and energy into people and things that didn’t deserve it. It’s been a funny old year. Growth takes work and can be uncomfortable and difficult. The things that break you are the things that make you. Nothing is ever perfect and things should always be fluid. But I sure am grateful to be standing in the same spot, one year on, in a very different place. Thankful to have circled the earth and be back here again, finding new meaning in these lyrics and dancing to this music with new people. - #wedepartedfromourbodies #ths #theholdsteady #holdsteady #thsbb #massivenights #massivenightsiii #wehadsomemassivenights #newyork #nyc #brooklyn #brooklynbowl @theholdsteady https://ift.tt/2PklzsO

Spending a few weeks working with the Design Innovation & Interaction Design Master’s Degree course at Glasgow School of Art. Based at their Highlands & Islands campus this week and very much appreciating the serenity of my desk 😍 https://ift.tt/2qqW7HY

When a hotel sounds an awful lot like some of the weird emails you get. https://ift.tt/2yGnkLx

Today, we live in a world where we are more connected than ever, yet more disconnected from each other as human beings. We are more lonely than we have ever been. I started @littleriothq because I was worried this future would arrive. I feared how things would look in years to come; how carrying little screens around in our pockets would affect our relationships with ourselves and each other, our mental health, our society. And, here we are. We live surrounded by technology designed to occupy us, addict us and distract us. We’re vulnerable to the expectation of being available 24/7 to others, of being constantly connected. We’re vulnerable to a constant feeling of inadequacy, isolation, fear of missing out. Connectivity is a wonderful thing but, I urge you all, do not lose sight of the power of real human connection. Especially in times of struggle or darkness. Every day I try to be the change I want to see in the world; to help technology be more human, or at least more mindful to our needs. To build things that add joy to our lives, instead of detracting from them. Everyone is fighting their own battle, so today, on #worldmentalhealthday, I wish you strength in fighting yours, and encourage you to connect with other human beings. Keep talking, keep sharing, stay raw, and stay human 💜 https://ift.tt/2ybUYbE

A belated thank you for all the birthday wishes ✨ I burst into the next year of my existence working and playing in LA. Grateful for this crazy life and everything it affords me. Looking forward to the next 365 days of being a human in the world 🥂 https://ift.tt/2PhJjPc