Search


Three helpful tools for getting your business to the next level

As an urbanist, I see entrepreneurs as the lifeblood of cities. They are what give cities their own unique identity and sense of vitality. And as an entrepreneur myself, I know how hard it can be to get your business going. Along the way, I’ve picked up a few tricks that have helped take my work to the next level.  There’s a lot of advice out there for entrepreneurs, most of it bad, but I’ve found the tools below to be incredibly helpful.

 

1. Get Stuff Done Like a Boss


get stuff done

This is my daily productivity system. It’s premised on the notion that what we lack isn’t time, but mental bandwidth. By placing my workflow into a well-defined system, I’m able to stay on top of multiple projects without feeling overwhelmed. Take a day to take this course and set up your system. I promise you will be pleased with the results.

 

2. Canva.com

canva

My wife is a graphic designer, so I’ve come to appreciate the importance of aesthetics in business. A well-designed document or poster can be the difference between success and failure. Canva is a great tool for creating good design easily, quickly, and cheaply. A lot of the content is free, and premium elements only cost a buck. I was able to design the Transit PolicyLab workbook, as well as the social media presence for #becausesomeliveshere using Canva. The website has some limitations though, so for more involved design jobs, I recommend hiring a professional (my wife does freelance).

 

3. Profit First

profit first

Profit first is a money management system based on behavioral economics. The premise is that demand rises to meet supply. For example: when you have a new roll of toilet paper, you don’t use it judiciously, but when you start to run out you are able to make it last. The same is true for our operating costs, which is why it can be so hard to be profitable. Dispersing a percentage of your revenue to a profit account first allows you bake profitability into the DNA of your company.