Hey, I’ve Been Thinking…

Category: Blog Posts

  • 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.