Hey, I’ve Been Thinking…

Category: Blog Posts

  • The Joy of Running: Brooklyn Half Marathon and the Beauty of Embracing Challenges

    Last weekend (April 23rd, 2023), I had the opportunity to participate in the Brooklyn Half Marathon, an experience that reminded me of my love for running and its impact on my life. First and foremost, I’d like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to my wife for her unwavering support and guidance in helping me schedule and prepare for this race. Without her, my procrastination might have caused me to miss this incredible event.

    As I recount the moments leading up to the race, I’m filled with appreciation for the fun runs I had, albeit mostly solo due to work commitments. The day before the race, I enjoyed a short warmup run to Prospect Park and back, exploring a part of Brooklyn I hadn’t seen much of before.

    This experience reinforced my belief that running is an essential and joyful activity in my life, providing both physical and mental benefits. Sometimes, all you need is the motivation to get out there and push your limits. Support from friends and family is invaluable, and their presence weaves beautiful threads into the fabric of our lives. I was especially grateful to have my parents come out and witness me running, a moment we could all cherish together.

    This was my second race, with my first being the New York Marathon back in November 2019. These events serve as milestones, reminding me to work towards my health and personal goals. In life and business, setting goals and establishing deadlines is crucial. While it’s not always about meeting those deadlines precisely, taking the time to plan and work towards them is invaluable.

    Running the Brooklyn Half Marathon on a rainy day added an element of adversity, but I found beauty in it. Covering 13 miles in pouring rain was a first for me, and despite the cold, there was something magical about it. This experience parallels the challenges I’m facing in my work life. Rather than succumbing to them, I’m embracing the beauty of running through them and growing stronger.

    This race served as a reminder of the power of perseverance, goal-setting, and the love and support of those who matter most. As I continue to run and face life’s challenges, I’ll always cherish the memories and lessons from this Brooklyn Half Marathon.

    picking up my bib for the brooklyn half marathon
    before race day running to prospect park
    my Brooklyn marathon finish time one hour 52 minutes

  • Embracing AI-Driven Content Creation: A Small Business Owner’s Excitement

    As a small business owner, I’ve always struggled with content creation. I have a wealth of ideas, but finding the time and discipline to articulate them has been a constant challenge. With the arrival of ChatGPT, I feel a newfound excitement for the potential this technology brings to the world of content creation.

    The power of ChatGPT lies in its ability to rapidly deploy and structure ideas for publication, making it easier than ever to share our thoughts and insights. I am eager to test this technology in the coming year, and I am thrilled about the opportunities it presents to other content creators.

    More effectively with less time and resources, I can now communicate our brand and value proposition in ways that were previously unimaginable. Using my mobile on the go, I can instantly develop an idea on the fly and extrapolate in 5 minutes in a way that would have previously taken me an hour. In this era of technological innovation, small business owners like myself can share our ideas and reach a wider audience faster than ever before.

    Of course, with increased accessibility, I anticipate a lot more noise in marketing, so it remains crucial to maintain a unique proposition and value. I can only imagine how much more dynamic and colorful sales emails coming my way are going to be 🙂. Customer service emails are also likely to become a lot richer and more personalized. The ability to generate content quickly is now available to everyone, and 2023 marks the beginning of a new era in AI for marketing, customer service, and copy.

    Over the next few years, I think we will see this technology deployed on a global scale, revolutionizing the way we move our businesses and ideas forward. As an example, I am currently using ChatGPT to create this blog post using voice typing, allowing me to generate content in a fraction of the time it would have taken previously. (Link to the video of me creating it is below)

    One area I am particularly excited about is using ChatGPT for Well Woven’s B2B marketing, specifically in the realm of design development and technical understanding for area rugs. With ChatGPT, we can create presentations and share our expertise and ideas with retailers more efficiently than ever before.

    In conclusion, the purpose of this blog post is to share my excitement for the future of AI-driven content creation and demonstrate the capabilities of ChatGPT, voice typing, and Google Docs in rapidly forming a blog post. In just a few minutes, I have been able to put my thoughts on “paper” and share them with you. The potential for this technology is immense, and I cannot wait to see how it will continue to evolve and transform the landscape of content creation for small businesses like mine.

  • What makes a great leader?

    Being a leader is not an easy task, there’s always a lot going on and a lot of different objectives that need your attention. But what sets a great leader apart is their ability to navigate all of this in a calculated and intuitive way. They know how to prioritize and make decisions in real-time that will have the most impact and be the most valuable to those around them.
    Great leaders understand that the world is constantly changing, and they are able to adapt to these changes. They are able to take in a lot of information and make sense of it in a way that makes the most sense for their team or organization. This can be a difficult task, but great leaders are up for the challenge.
    Another thing that sets great leaders apart is their ability to communicate effectively. They know how to get their ideas across in a way that is easy for others to understand and they are able to inspire and motivate those around them. This is a skill that is invaluable in today’s fast-paced world.
    Lastly, great leaders are relentless in their pursuit of success. They don’t give up if people don’t understand an idea the first time, but instead continue to present it in different ways until it is understood. They understand that leadership is not about the first idea, but about the consistency in the pursuit of the idea.
    In short, great leaders are able to navigate the world’s complexity, adapt to change, communicate effectively and be relentless in their pursuit of success. They have the ability to make a real difference in the lives of those around them, and that’s what truly sets them apart.

  • 23 – Istanbul Rap

    (this was created with my ideas and written by ChatGPT)

    Verse 1:
Istanbul, the city of dreams
Where history and culture intertwine
I'm back again, for business and pleasure
But this year's got its own set of measures

Pivoting to changing conditions
It's a new game, with new positions
2022 had its ups and downs
But we gotta keep our feet on the ground

Chorus:
Inflation and banks have high rates
Staying creative, that's our fate
Watch our costs, maintain our margins
We'll make it through, like true champions

Verse 2:
War in Ukraine persists, it's a tragedy
The economy's uncertain, globally
But we gotta stay ahead of the curve
Being proactive, clever, and reserved

America's war, in Ukraine's land
Big powers vying for dominance
Technology, arms, pressure on the rise
Let's hope for peace, minimal casualties and no surprise

It's a new year, a new way to look at things
Different challenges, new seasons
We gotta navigate these waters
Ebb and flow, but we'll make it ours

Outro:
Istanbul, the city of dreams
We'll make this year a memorable theme
Stay strong, stay creative, and stay the course
We'll make it through, with power and force.
Let's all hope for peace and prosperity for all. Focus on our businesses and continued growth.
    Photo by Selcuk Teke on Pexels.com

  • From Thoughts to Words: Expressing Myself through Writing

    Writing is a powerful tool for self-expression and personal growth. For me, it’s a way to create clarity in my thoughts and ideas and tap into my creativity. It brings a sense of joy and harmony to my life and allows me to connect with others in a meaningful way.

    As I sit down to write, I am reminded of the power of sharing my ideas with the world. I believe that by publicly expressing our thoughts, we can inspire others to think differently and see things in a new light. Whether it’s sparking a new idea, answering a question someone has been pondering, or simply providing a bit of energy to help someone take the next step, I am convinced that by sharing our ideas publicly, we can create a more connected and vibrant society.

    In recent years, advancements in AI technology have enabled me to develop my ideas quicker and more seamlessly. But while AI can help with grammar and technical aspects of my writing, the ideas and thoughts are all mine. I take pride in my writing, it’s a genuine and accurate representation of my feelings.

    As an introvert, expressing myself doesn’t always come naturally, but writing is a form of creative expression that I am tapping into more as I get older. It helps me to articulate my thoughts and ideas in writing before meetings, which helps me see the connections between my thoughts and reduces confusion in my delivery. It also allows me to be of more value to those around me by being able to clearly express my ideas.

    I have been in the rug industry, designing textile products for the last 15 years, and more intensively in the last 5 years, with a focus on design. I am more of a producer, studying trends, analyzing materials, and trying to connect the dots between technical aspects and what the customer wants. I am still in the learning process, but writing has allowed me to give the best version of myself. It has helped me to think through ideas and improve them, it allows me to express myself in a multi-dimensional and multi-faceted approach, and it has given me more confidence to take my ideas and develop them quicker.

    In conclusion, writing is a powerful tool for self-expression and personal growth. It allows me to create clarity, connect with others, and express myself in a unique and meaningful way. It’s a joyous experience and I’m excited to keep sharing my ideas with the world.

  • A Self-Bio for Improved Team Communication: Getting to Know Your Teammate:

    As the leader of our close-knit startup, I am truly grateful to have such an incredible team by my side. I understand how essential it is for my staff to become familiar with my work style, the way I operate, and my personal endeavors. Recently, I felt inspired to put together a self-bio to communicate these aspects more effectively, helping me become a better colleague and support system for all of you. In 2023, I am eager to refine my ability to articulate these things, becoming a more effective executive in our startup. Here are some key elements of my work style and approach:

    Introduction:

    Hello, I’m Adem, the CEO of our team. I am thrilled to collaborate with all of you and your teams. One of my main goals for 2023 is to improve my communication skills and become more approachable.

    Operational Approach:

    • I conduct biweekly or weekly 1-on-1s to keep everyone informed and on track.
    • Consistency is crucial so you can plan effectively.
    • I’m an advocate of shared documents featuring agendas, action items, goals, and updates. The GitLab handbook has been a source of inspiration for planning and operating a remote/distributed company. I believe remote work is the future, and we are in the early stages of this transition.
    • Weekly team meetings are scheduled as needed for updates and decision-making.
    • I expect team members to be prepared to participate in meetings, even if they are via video conference in different time zones (I always try to accommodate the best option for the team).
    • Quarterly and yearly planning sessions are held, with strong pre-work and follow-up to ensure alignment between internal and external teams.
    • I am currently working on improving this process.

    Personal Development:

    • Eventually, I’d like to schedule career sessions to understand your goals, history, and future ambitions.
    • This will help me comprehend your personal development interests and aspirations in relation to your long-term plans.
    • I believe in reviewing top 3-5 personal goals on a quarterly basis (separate from team plans).
    • I am more than happy to share my personal goals with you as well.
    • Every 3-6 months, we can discuss and plan how to get the support and time needed to achieve personal goals.

    Team Communication:

    • Feel free to add me to emails or documents as an FYI or to keep me informed about what’s happening within the organization.
    • I prefer “no presentation” meetings, as in-person meetings can be costly for the company.
    • I appreciate context and find it helpful to be included in conversations and kept up-to-date on organizational happenings.
    • I am passionate about understanding and improving the organization, so don’t hesitate to keep me in the loop.
    • I eagerly anticipate meeting everyone in the company and learning about our collective work and goals.

    Management Style:

    • I am collaborative and enjoy discussing decision options through documents and group calls.
    • Although new to whiteboarding, I relish writing out ideas and working through them together. I’m a fan of Miro and Apple Freeform for organizing visuals and Docs.
    • I value deep thinking and strive to apply first principles as much as possible.
    • I can be slow to decide at times, but if you need a decision quickly, just let me know.
    • I am generally hands-off as a manager but may be more involved initially in new initiatives to gain a better understanding of the project.
    • I expect team members to make many decisions independently, but I am happy to help if you face a particularly significant issue.
    • I am always here to listen and support you, and I want to know what’s going on with you and your team.
    • I am working on being less hands-on and overly supportive, focusing instead on being a better leader and coach.

    Thanks for reading this. I’m sure this will continued to be updated as I progress and uncover new things that I think can be helpful.

    Kind regards,

    Adem

  • We’re simply human beings.

    At the end of the day, we’re all just human. Imperfect creatures trying to navigate this complex world and become the best version of ourselves that we can be. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about continually striving to improve and learn.

    And sometimes, it’s the small, incremental improvements (law of marginal gains that states the 1% improvements lead to substantial gains) that can make the biggest difference in the long run.

    So let’s embrace our humanity, recognize that we all make mistakes, and continue to work towards bettering ourselves each and every day.

    That’s all for now. I wanted to write a post today to stay consistent with my writing in 2023 and I hope to keep doing that in the future. I want to do better and have more detailed thinking and analysis in my posts. I will try to improve every day and I hope that shows in my work. Thanks for reading and I’ll see you in my next post.

  • First Blog Post.

    Hello! and thank you for taking the time to visit my blog. My name is Adem Ogunc and I am the founder of Well Woven Inc, a rug design company. While I am grateful for the work that I do, I am constantly striving to learn and grow, both personally and professionally.

    That is why I have created this personal blog – as a way to share my thoughts and ideas, and to engage in meaningful conversation with all of you. I do not pretend to have all the answers, but rather, I hope to use this platform to humbly share my perspective and possibly even learn from others along the way.

    In addition to my work in the rug industry, I also have a passion for e-commerce marketing and am always seeking new ways to improve and expand in that field. Outside of work, I enjoy staying active, watching movies, and spending time with my loved ones. And of course, as a true foodie at heart, I cannot resist the allure of delicious Mediterranean cuisine.

    I am grateful for the opportunity to share my thoughts and insights with you, and I hope that my words may spark some thought or provide a kernel of value to anyone who takes the time to read them. Thank you again for visiting, and I look forward to connecting with all of you.