How I Work (2019)
I never released this back in 2019 so I wanted to release it now as is…….I also plan to do an updated one since some of my tech stacks and thoughts have changed along with me being in a different place in my life.
II love Lifehacker’s “How I Work” series and decided to do one of myself. Without further ado, here is how mines would look if I was interviewed.
Location: In my San Francisco Apartment
Current Gig: HR Consultant
One word that best describes how you work: Structure
Current mobile device: iPhone X
Current computer (and what OS is it running?): Macbook Pro 15 inch 2016
First of all, tell me a little about your background and how you got to where you are today.
Sure. So I was fortunate enough to land at a Top NYC law firm right after college and did HR there, specifically on the benefits side. I was a novice then but gain so much experience there which is why I stayed for almost 7 years. I eventually went on to try the entrepreneur route but if I’m being honest, I wasn’t willing to take the big risks needed for it. Moving along, I eventually went on to work at a couple of start-ups in NY and SF which I moved to for a few years before I eventually felt I was knowledgeable enough to help companies on a higher level, also I craved flexibility and therefore doing HR Consulting would fill that for me. It allowed me the flexibility I desired and but also some stability at times giving me a little bit of white-collar mixed with the entrepreneur in my opinion. I would eventually like to find one company though that I could feel peace with and grow in. My goal is People Analytics.
What apps, software, or tools can’t you live without? Why?
At this point, 1Password has become a non-negotiable for me. It has all my online and physical passwords, wifi, credit card, social, and all types of personal info I can pull up at a moment's notice from my phone.
What’s your workspace setup like?
These days don’t really have a setup although I eventually want to set up a docking station. Currently though, it's just my Macbook on the kitchen table or an outside coffee shop.
What’s your best time-saving shortcut or life hack?
Really writing everything that can be written down, for the most part that means planning out the day in my calendar but that also means figuring out what I should be wearing in advance for the week (I haven’t gone to the Black Turtleneck and Jean uniform default yet although I’m considering).
What’s your favorite to-do list manager?
Wunderlist has been my go-to for some time, it is alive and kicking. I’ll probably switch to Microsoft’s Todo if they can get a Mac app out there soon.
Besides your phone and computer, what gadget or tool can’t you live without and why?
Airpods, Apple Watch, and my Trimmer for shaving
Apple Watch has helped motivate me more to stay fit.
My Trimmer keeps me looking slightly clean in-between haircuts.
What do you listen to while you work?
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As much as I try, I find it hard to concentrate while listening to anything so I don’t listen to music too much at work so usually my headphones are playing by an artist called Dead Air (j/k)
I do love listening to music when I bike (I always keep one ear open to hear my environment).
I love my 90s Hip Hop and gangster rap music.
What are you currently reading?
I take so long to finish books but currently reading the Art of not giving a fuck
What everyday thing are you better at than everyone else? What’s your secret?
Consistency.
How do you recharge? What do you do to forget about work?
Alone time is my best recharge. It could be sleeping, listening to a podcast, or watching a show or movie all to myself.
What’s your sleep routine like? Are you a night owl or early-riser?
An early riser, I try to be up at 5 am on weekdays so I can get a workout in and get to the office early while my brain is most sharp.
Fill in the blank: I’d love to see _________ answer these same questions.
Barrack Obama
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Not sure if it was advice but it was definitively a wake-up call for me where I was judging how can people buy NBA2k every year because in my mind it was essentially the same game with different rosters and a slight shine to it. The same would go for sneaker-heads and anyone else who spends money on things I didn’t find valuable.
My Partner made a good point and said to me “don’t you buy the same iPhone every year” and that blew my mind because it put things in perspective for me. Who am I judge what someone deems valuable because the same argument could be made about myself and my spending habits.
In conclusion, I learned to not be so judgmental
Another one, don’t remember who but learning to be okay with putting work out there without the perfections I crave.
Is there anything else you’d like to add that might be interesting to readers and fans?
I like to Cycle, being in SF really help me realize the importance of hobbies that promote movement to your body and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Can you touchback on the word to describe how you work?
Oh yeah, you mean Structure.
For me, it’s all about everything having a place and not having a feeling of chaos. My brain just won’t be able to concentrate like that.
I’ve heard you advocate analyzing data to improve HR organizations. Tell me how that works. What sort of data do you draw upon to improve a company’s culture?
Great question! I really want to get more into People Analytics because it is a combination of my professional mantra — People, Tech, Data.
Back to your question, it’s all about the direct data like employee surveys simply asking employees how they feel about the job, their pay, their manager, etc, and using all that to get a pulse check of the company or a specific department. But I also think the indirect data is just as important too like attrition, demographics, pay scales, and so on to do our own internal gut check and make sure we are doing what we need to do or find out where we are lacking to make course corrections.
In conclusion, all the pieces matter and as long as you are intentional, you can improve and/or retain a company’s culture.
Thank you for your time!
