6 karma · joined August 19, 2015
- Sleeping. I was highly suspect of the fact that all those sidecar-style bassinets were sold as almost brand-new...well, it's because there is a significant portion of babies who don't want to sleep apart from their mommy. Our kiddo would not leave a warm body for 4 months. Now try to marry that with safe sleeping recommendations. Pure hell.
I am adamantly against sleep training. I think it's a cruel practice and industry created so adults can go back to work. Which most of us we have to, shortly after having a baby or giving birth. So those things are extremely hard to marry. FOr me, I took the hit (instead of the baby taking the hit). Highly recommend watching this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCZzzqFkyiU&t=2s, and Gabor Mate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tdljIW86e8
- I can't emphasize enough how important it is that you jump in and help your wife/parther 50-100% more than you think you should. I can't emphasize how hard birth is for the mother. And how hard the early months and years are. There is a peculiar silence around the fact that we go through a major medical event, then are supposed to hop right back on the horse and share things 50-50 with our partner. Whereas our bodies are already taking 70-90% of the work. Add to that that the shitty division of labor in our society (and every other) where women's emotional labor (all the appointments, all the supplies, all the clothes, etc.) is already huge, and THIS is what leads to divorce. Not the lack of dates (although I too vote for making room for dates, or at least simple short emotional check-ins with your partner). Recommended reading: https://bookshop.org/books/how-not-to-hate-your-husband-afte...
Good luck! You'll make a great dad! <3
We recently had a fabulous hackathon at Retool, I'll chime in shortly, or ask someone else to.
After almost 10 years in tech marketing, here is what I see, especially on the early side of things:
1. A lot of marketers are afraid of tech (yes, even if they've worked in tech for years). Or, they won't take the time to learn it, even at the most fundamental level. It doesn't help that in their always stressful first months there is zero room for this. Everyone wants results, but how do you actually learn the thing you are marketing = at a more fundamental level than "positioning".
It doesn't help that marketing leaders are not focused on this, even when their teams tell them loud and clear that they need a better understanding of the product.
2) Technical cofounders expect marketers to learn--I don't know-- by osmosis ?
IMHO, there should be a product/landscape training geared at the marketer for every new marketer joining. In the early stages, that means the technical cofounder spending a lot of time with their marketing cofounder, and the marketing cofounder taking the time to learn and absorb.
3. Technical cofounders put marketing on the back burner. They want results, but are not willing to put in the time. And of course, they have zero time with all other priorities. But this is the #1 priority!! You should forever be a core marketing team member, and the face of your company. Establish that trust and open the door for your marketers to come to you for hands-on help. Write (content is key), speak, check in.
I highly recommend one of my favorite reads about tech marketing:
http://www.daniellemorrill.com/2010/09/startup-marketing-2nd...
"Here are some things I’d suggest you look for in your first marketing hire.
--wants to know how the product works --is endlessly curious, and isn’t afraid to ask a lot of questions --never has to be told the same thing twice --will stay up all night while the engineering team races to ship --is always thinking about how to simultaneously increase throughput and ROI, while decreasing operating expense (definition of “lean”) --loves customers obsessively, and doesn’t have a cynical bone in their body --knows when to be a bulldog -- is humble – for example, they would clean the bathrooms when they can’t afford a janitor --understands the tradeoffs of time vs. money, and values both someone who is a logical decision maker and isn’t afraid to argue for what’s right, or back down if it’s not worth the fight"
1) focus and time 2) lack of marketers who are, if not already knowledgeable, willing and able to learn about your tech
Those very candid people who say they are average on GSD? Those would be my executives.