Virality is just a fancy term for “word-of-mouth” growth. The proliferation of good ideas is expedited by the people who love the product or service. And the taxes for not having a good idea is advertising. Though common, think about how unnatural it is to pay someone to have your ideas heard. Facebook and Kesh Catering are targeting two different audiences with very different goals but they avoid these taxes by allowing their audience to a tell great narrative for them. Each company’s value proposition goes beyond what they initially intended and now they reap the benefits of having loyal brand advocates.

Efe of Abbe Designs understands this concept as well and I’m confident she won’t ever have to pay those pesky taxes. She is a talented graphic designer who I worked with to bring to you all The Knoble’s official logo. She reached out to me to offer her services and with the stellar outcome, I plan to take ownership of spreading the word about her affinity for exceptional design.

Ultimately, you want to be your own boss and work from the beach, right? Or is that just me? Most of us will never reach the level of success Facebook has, but it is our responsibility as product designers to enrich the lives of people we interact with in a professional context. And maybe, just maybe they will tell a friend who will tell another friend. If your passion is matched with superb follow through, virality will become part of the DNA of your company and you can avoid paying taxes. Your constituents will gladly advertise your expertise on your behalf because they will almost feel like they owe it to you.

That’s Knoble.

Feel free to contact Efe directly via email. She would be happy to hear how she can help you go from concept to completion.

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That’s the question you should always ask yourself after accomplishing one of your goals. Resting on your laurels will only get you left behind by the people who were once trailing your progress. And the people who once looked up to you will start to question your drive to push the status quo.

Say you make an annual $50 donation to your favorite nonprofit organization. You could either wait for them to ask you for an equivalent donation the following year or you can have that internal dialog every motivated person experiences. Asking yourself “What’s next?” and coming up with an answer that’s impactful to the organization. “Maybe I can go to one less restaurant next month so I can donate $75. And if I carpool with a co-worker every once in a while, I could actually double my original donation.”

The same goes for personal goals. Maybe you got the new job you wanted, or by working out you fit the new jeans you bought, or you finally found the courage to invite your attractive co-worker to a party. In all cases, that question still looms and it’s your opportunity to turn it into a statement. What’s next is I will get a promotion within 18 months. What’s next I will invite my friends to the gym and help them shed some holiday season pounds. What’s next is I will tell my co-worker what’s been on my mind (after a couple drinks, of course).

The idea here isn’t to assume that you’re never satisfied. On the contrary, it’s to be content with your current situation but not fall into complacency. Too often, we work really hard to reach a new plateau in our professional or personal lives and we forget that it’s only a rest stop for the next big climb to the top. Of course it’s warranted to enjoy the moment but you shouldn’t let it cloud a bigger vision. The vision you wrote down when you were an audacious little kid. The vision your parents still believe you can obtain even when you express doubts.

We’re taking our own advice at The Knoble. We launched a month ago to positive responses and it’s really easy to bask in that honeymoon feeling. But starting something is more about executing your long-term vision than patting yourself on the back when friends and family say you have great idea.

That’s Knoble.

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We’ve all been there, but today is a day you can change your course of action with a new set of rules: Start. Do. Finish. That’s the mantra for whatever time of day you’re reading this.

something worth remembering this day about. The proverbial mountain we climb only gets less steep by taking that first step towards the peak. Start a handwritten letter to an old friend. Grab your loved one and start building the dresser that’s been collecting dust since the clearance sale. Start a new tradition in your household; it can be anything from washing everyone’s dishes after you lose a bet, to seeing who can burp the loudest after drinking their favorite soda (I still say “pop” my fellow Midwesterners). Once you start something, you grow an affinity for it and that’s how lasting memories are made.

more of what brings you joy. If doing your job is making you miserable, you can complain or apply for your dream job. There’s plenty of people who would gladly take your position. In the meantime, do something impactful. Spreadsheets and annual reports don’t talk back when you’re yelling at them, so consider having dinner with some work friends to learn more about their lives; more about what makes them come back to work every Monday.

the book you started months or years ago. But first finish the chapter. But before that, finish the first sentence. You see what I’m getting at? Finishing takes a certain dose of willingness many people fill in with excuses. For example, it’s more rewarding and admirable to finish a marathon in last place rather than never put on your running shoes. You will have earned the right to bask in last place glory.

Tell someone you’ll start, do, or finish something today. They’ll commend you for it and may likely join you.

That’s Knoble.

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