Hi, I'm Victor.

I walked into the immaculate elevator and requested the top floor.

46 flights later, I found myself in a large, quiet lobby with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Chicago’s Loop and Lakefront. It’s a familiar sight that never ceases to mesmerize me. I was lured to the windows. I paused. For a moment, everything was calm.

“Can I help you?” a voice interrupted my daydream.

There were two women in the lobby overseeing the front desk which elegantly sat in the back third of the room. They likely watched me drift past them. If I was dressed any more casually, they may have called security. Instead, we began bantering about how amazing it must be to work from that space everyday. Finally, they kindly asked, “Are you here just to admire the view or do you have an appointment?”

I told them I was there to meet with one of the partners of the prestigious law firm.

“I’ll call and let him know you’re here.”

Soon I was greeted by two men in pristine suits. I quickly wondered if I belonged there. But as we began our conversation seated at the long wooden conference table, their gracious tone and genuine interest in Ei put me at ease. We placed one of Ei’s advisors on speaker phone and for the next hour discussed an array of matters regarding our legal affairs. It was one-part checkup and one-part exploration of our next steps.

Throughout the meeting, I interrupted several times to ask for the definition of a term or explanation of a concept. With every question, I had to admit my own lack of knowledge. But I didn’t want to. I wanted to shy away from questions and nod as if I knew what they were saying. However, the more honest and curious I was, the more interested they were in helping. By the end of our conversation, we had established next steps for the coming season.

That’s a picture of most of my meetings these days – sitting with people who are more experienced, financially successful, and incredibly well put together. I often find myself wishing everything in my world was further along. Instead I’m asking 100 questions and fixing countless little mistakes. Where I want to be is consistently ten steps further than where I am.

If you’re taking any type of Leap, you’ve decided to get out of your comfort zone, which means you’ll have moments of feeling that way as well. You’ll move through days and months of questioning yourself or doing work that’s not quite the quality you’d envisioned. The more important the leap is to you and others, the more you’ll feel it.

In the words of Ira Glass, fight your way through that.

Keep going through the conversations where you feel uncertain. Face the decisions that seem grand. Rather than being frustrated that you haven’t “arrived,” let your curiosity shine through and remember where you hope to land. With each thing you make and attempt, you will take a small step forward. You’ll learn more about your craft, your world, and yourself. Which means wherever you land and however long it takes, you’ll be better off than when you began. And I promise…at times, the view will be amazing.

Keep Leaping,
Victor

I’ve never been one to write New Year’s Resolutions. But I do enjoy the idea of giving a theme to the year – one word that will center me when I question what I should be focusing on.

Last year, the theme was Make and it fueled a near-maniacal pursuit of making a physical product, Leap Kit, to be both useful and beautiful.

This year, the theme is Home.

The word seems to be a globally evolving concept that can simultaneously illicit hope and sadness. When I was a kid, home was a physical place where I could sleep, eat, shower, and sprint through the halls wearing nothing more than my skivvies and a cape.

As I got older, I realized that kind of home is a luxury. I went to college in Chicago near a housing project called Cabrini Green and watched as underprivileged communities were displaced for new development. More recently, I hear the words “Refugees” and “War” as governments battle over politics and religion at the cost of people’s livelihood.

Personally, I’ve been a minimalist for the past four years. I can pack most of my belongings into a four-door sedan. But growing up in the midwest, I’ve always felt pressure to lean into the ideals of the “American Dream” home – a picturesque physical place to settle down and raise a family.

However, I think home is both a place and a feeling – being centered or where you’re supposed to be. It is something you make for yourself, share with others and, at it’s best, it’s something you take with you. So I’m curious about starting in a different place this year:

How can I help others define home for themselves?

No, I’m not able to build physical spaces for those in need (not yet anyway). But education is often the place people go when they’re at a point of transition. Even if they have a home, individuals who take the posture of a student look to institutions and new information to provide building blocks to make a better home. This is both figurative, a better home within to feel more confident and centered, and literal, a better home to spring from and retreat to.

There is much more to learning than sharing and absorbing content. It must also entail grappling with our values, beliefs, dreams and our definitions of necessity and success.

The more you know what home means to you, the more you will know what you need to learn, what you need to earn, and most importantly, what you can give.

And perhaps, when you can answer those questions, you’ll find yourself at home.

A few writers and entrepreneurs whom I respect have established rhythms for taking annual breaks from their craft to rejuvenate. It’s a type of creative hibernation.

I know consistency is really important. And I’m a huge fan of sharing Wednesday mornings with you. But I’ve decided to use the end of the year to retreat for a short season.

I’ll be taking time to continue producing Leap Kit with the team and to design Ei’s 2016 programming. But, more importantly, I’ll step back to reflect on personal goals and chart next steps.

Plus, you and I will miss each other and we’ll both come back fresh and revitalized in 2016. There will probably be virtual hugs or high fives, which I look forward to!

So until then, thanks for hanging out with me in your inbox or on your feed every Wednesday. I can’t wait to see what next year brings for both of us.

Have a great Wednesday,
Victor Saad

PS: If you’re looking for Holiday/New Year gift ideas, check out The Leap Year Project Book on Amazon or Pre-Order a Leap Kit here (shipping in early 2016).

Sometimes, life gets so full and moves so fast, you forget how to be grateful. That’s when you need to shift your perspective. Zoom out. Sit in a different chair. Go to another part of the world. Take someone with you. Let them plan parts of the trip without you knowing anything.

You may find yourself on mountains and next to glaciers. You may sleep in domes and tango on dance floors. You may dine with kind-hearted people from Australia and Argentina.

Then, your memory will be jogged and you’ll recall what matters most.

Trust me…

The red colon between the two numbers stared at me like two eyes disappointed in my decision.

The past few days have had my mind spinning faster than usual. I feel a sense of responsibility, belief, and excitement for what we’re building. There has been a greater need for writing, planning and strategizing. Yet, there has also been more of a need to be present with people – sharing the vision and inviting others into what we’re making. Full days are leading into nights full of scribbles and sticky notes and Google Docs.

Making anything is simultaneously awesome and unsettling. If what you’re making does well, you have to be prepared to manage expectations. If it doesn’t do well, you’ll have to regain trust and try again. If I’m being honest, I never really want to fail. I don’t think anyone does. But, as soon as I admit that, I realize I’ve become too nearsighted.

Empathy is the hero in the story of fearing failure.

When we thoughtfully consider the circumstances and needs of those around us, we realize that everyone is building something. It may not be a product or company, but they might be building a family, a career, a rhythm, or something of great value to them.

So, pursue your best work. Do it with all your might. At times, it will push you to your limits. It should.

But let those pushes and pursuits remind you that everyone is making something. It’s part of what connects all of us. Seeking to understand the journey of others is what will truly make your work good.

Last week, the Ei community and I completed a month-long crowdfunding campaign for Leap Kit. The days leading up to the campaign and throughout the month of October were full of twists and turns.

This post will be a space to capture and share the lessons learned from leading the campaign. Hopefully, it can be a reference point for you if and when the time comes to launch one of your own. 

What kind of campaign?
Decide early on what kind of campaign you want to run. For us, we knew we wanted to go with Kickstarter. But, even within that platform, there are a couple of routes to consider:

Option 1: Product Test
If you’re just trying to test an idea quickly, set a small goal and short timeline (ie: 2k – 10 days) and launch the campaign without too much effort. Be thoughtful, but leave polish behind for speed.

Option 2: Product Launch
If you’re aiming to truly kickstart a product, then build a small team and give yourself 3-4 months to create the campaign and 30(ish) days for the actual Kickstarter.

In general, the notes below are with the Product Launch option in mind:

Pre-Kickstarter

Get the story out there.
As soon as you think you might create a Kickstarter, launch a landing page to share the idea and invite people to sign up for email updates. We used Unbounce.com.

This will help you articulate and test the story behind the product while also building your community before launching the campaign. If possible, create your landing page three months before you launch your Kickstarter.

Build a team.
Running a crowdfunding campaign totally alone is nearly impossible and may drive you batty. Recruit a few reliable friends or consider hiring a virtual assistant. The main tasks for us included:

• Writing (Campaign Page, Video Script, Newsletters)
• Community Management (Twitter, Facebook, Kickstarter updates)
• Press Outreach (influential bloggers, podcasts, news outlets)
• Financials
• Video creation

Start sharing behind-the-scenes updates of bringing your idea to life.
Begin documenting and sharing the small steps along the way. Make a list of your closest friends, family, advisors, supporters, and the people who sign up on your landing page. You can use Mailchimp or a simple excel doc to manage the list. I called my emails “Sunday Leap Letters,” and sent them every other Sunday during the four months leading up to the campaign. Keep these brief and include helpful information that your friends might be able to apply in their life. A simple outline for these notes could be: Highs – Lows – Learnings – Next Steps

Prototype and test your product before creating your Kickstarter.
Kickstarter should be one of your final steps, not your first. Start making simple versions of your product with the resources you have and test it with your friends as soon as possible. Ask them for honest feedback and what value they see in the product within their daily life. Take voracious notes. In our case, the amazing folks at Stanford’s d.school nudged us and invited us to spend time doing this in their space.

Also, if possible, capture the prototypes and conversations on video (camera phone is fine). The footage will help people see a glimpse of what you’re making and how you’re bringing it to life.

Keep the message simple.
In the land crowdfunding in general, you need to be authentic with your own story and clear about the value of the product. The second part was especially important for Leap Kit because it needed more explanation than a familiar product like a speaker system or iphone case. In any case, make sure your video and campaign page are remarkably clear about how the customer’s life will be better because of your product. 

Also, the video doesn’t need to be over-produced. I’ve even read that the more unpolished videos actually get more views. Personally, I love filmmaking and enjoy getting lost in the process, so I had fun with a few talented friends (Nick Martin Film & Northbound Studios). We made a couple of pieces throughout the campaign (Exhibit A, Exhibit B, Exhibit C). I learned a lot by pushing myself to write and direct a few different ideas, but I don’t think that’s necessary for everyone or for every situation.

Reward Levels
Don’t go crazy. 5-7 levels max. I wish I would have done two things differently:

• Created a small ($5) level from the beginning. We added one later in the month.
• Created an early-bird level to generate interest quickly.

And, make sure your main level falls somewhere in the middle of your lowest and highest reward.

Aim for a small goal.
It’s no secret that 44k was a high goal. At first, it made sense as I did the math for producing 1,000 Leap Kits – a lofty number but one that could create a strong community around the idea. But as soon as I launched it, I realized that I could have flipped my thinking – set a small goal, fund it quickly, and use the month as a success story. That was a tough-lessoned-learned, to say the least.

Thankfully, one of the positive consequences is that it brought our community together. The students, staff and new/old friends rallied. They used Slack to communicate regularly and set times to group-share various bits of content with their communities. It was amazing. Also, the higher goal forced me to explore various ways to improve the messaging around Leap Kit.

Still, the lesson is to set a small goal, reach it quickly, and use that success to invite others.

Bring your community to the starting line.
After you submit a project to Kickstarter, their team needs to approve it. This may take 1-2 days. After you are approved, you can hit the launch button anytime.

Before you hit the final “launch” button, take time to rally your community and give them no-brainer ways to share the campaign. For us, this included:
+ Click-to-Tweet link
+ A link to launch a pre-written email (learn how to create one here)
+ A link to Facebook post they could share

For Leap Kit, I wonder if I launched too quickly after getting approved. It may have been beneficial to take a few more days to countdown to a specific launch day/time to make sure everyone knew exactly when we were starting.

Press & Cross promotion
The most valuable thing you can do with your campaign is get it in front of as many people as possible. Tim Ferriss has a few great paragraphs about this in his 2012 post about Kickstarter.

Whatever you do, remember: permission is key. If you share lengthy requests with strangers who don’t care about you or your product, it will come across as spammy. That’s not helpful. Trust me. This is why it’s important to find the specific people who care about your idea before you launch and to foster that community (ask for feedback, give them first look at the product, share calls, ask questions, etc).

When reaching out to an entirely new person (or group of people), keep your request clear, brief, and communicate why you thought to reach out to that specific person.

For Leap Kit, the greatest shares were:
Product Hunt (Thanks to Jason Zook for posting)
Yorokobu (Thanks to Eduardo Vea Kating for the interview)
Stanford’s Blog (Thanks to Emi Kolawole for editing & sharing)
Chicago Tribune (Thanks Amani Elahi for the intervie!)

We also added a “Hello Bar” to Ei’s Website, which was surprisingly helpful.

Lastly, Kickstarter’s community is wonderfully strong. Backers like backing things. If you can find other campaigns who are rolling at the same time as yours, consider reaching out to them and suggesting a cross-promotion. This simply means that you’ll include their campaign as a PS in one of your updates to your backers. They’ll do the same with yours.

Roll out new content throughout the campaign.
Throughout October, we regularly released new photos, videos, and blog posts. This helped with spreading the message without simply saying “Back our Kickstarter.” Communicating ideas, concepts, and research around the product shows that you’re trying to build something valuable…not that you just need money.

Put your computer away.
Seriously. In order to stay healthy, find other things to occupy your time that has nothing to do with a screen. Increase your workout regiment, pickup flyfishing, ride your bike often, etc. Slot time for working on the campaign and then leave your computer behind. During the very last week of the campaign, the Ei staff, students, and community even let me take a trip to Patagonia that I’d been planning for months. I was actually in the mountains on the final day and didn’t know the final result of the campaign until two days after it was complete.

Of course, that was a unique situation, but it was a reminder that good ideas don’t revolve around just one person. You can (and should) step away at times.

Whatever happens, remember…
Life is much bigger than one product or idea. Do your research, do the hard work of putting your best possible work into the world, press the launch button, and reflect on what you learn along the way. Then, keep going.

Thank you!
If you’re reading this, you probably took the time to participate in some fashion. Thank you for watching the video, sharing feedback and backing Leap Kit. If you’re interested, there’s still time to place an order before we produce our first batch. And, if you took part in the campaign or if you watched it unfold, feel free to message me with any other reflections you think I should include in this post.

As for me, it’s back to working with the team to making you the best kit we can.

Thanks again,
v

ps: If you’re seriously considering launching a crowdfunding campaign, you should read everything you can by my good friend Clay Hebert. He’s a pro in this space.

Thursday Words.
It doesn’t quite have the same ring as Wednesday Words, does it?

The truth is that October has been more full than usual. The process of producing, marketing and finalizing a new product (Leap Kit) has proved to be one of the greatest challenges of the year. I’ll share a few lessons in the coming weeks. But, for every challenging moment, there have been three-fold more to be grateful for. Thanks to those of you who’ve been part of that effort. You have infused these days with levity and friendship.

Still, this isn’t meant to be an apology or an excuse for missing my first Wednesday without notice since I began writing. This is a reminder that each of us should hold a few routines closely and tightly. Keep doing the things that make you who you are and fuel the best version of yourself. If you miss, it’s not the end of the world…just pick back up the next day.

And, if you ever decide to pause or stop, that’s ok too. Just be sure to make that decision when you’re well rested and in good company.

Have a great Thursday,
v