Infinitive’s Post

Meetings can make or break you and your company’s success. Let's face it: we've all been in a meeting that drones on and on...Is there anything worse? Time is precious to our team members and our clients. We respect that by striving to have productive and efficient meetings at Infinitive. Here's what's worked for us: + We are disciplined about starting on time. It is not uncommon for people to arrive (in person or virtually) a minute or two early. + We stick to the agenda and the purpose of the meeting. + We do try to have fun during the meeting, have some social chatter, catch up, etc. + If we have achieved the goals of the meeting, we end the meeting. It is not uncommon for meetings to end early at Infinitive. The reality is that meetings are where stuff gets decided, planned, and/or done. Meetings make things happen, and the way they are conducted tells you a lot about a company's culture. Never underestimate the importance of meetings. Sometimes, all you get with a prospect is one sales meeting. You better make that a good meeting for you both. Otherwise, you will never meet again.

Finding your rhythm as CEO and entrepreneur is an ever-evolving balance of managing business, personal life, and people. Here's how I (try to) manage it on a weekly basis: Monday Madness: The week kicks off with a flurry of meetings. First, I review the sales pipeline. Then, we dive deep into our weekly planning meetings to agree on what we want to accomplish and what we'll do to get there. Then, I have a few one-on-ones, set and communicate leadership priorities, oversee marketing reviews, and welcome any new team members. Tuesday to Thursday Hustle: These days are dedicated to engaging with clients and prospects. I conduct more one-on-ones, discuss win plans by market or partner, and conduct deal reviews. On these days, I hope to be doing my heavy lifting as CEO, building relationships and making progress toward goals. Focused Fridays: I wrap up the week with a focus on our offerings, more one-on-ones, and account reviews. If possible, I try to end the day early to recharge. Weekend Recharge: Like the evenings, weekends are for family with a mix of relaxation and adventure. At least once a month, we try to explore a new city, visit our kids at college, or enjoy time with friends. That said, work always is on my mind. Am I in a lot of meetings? Yes, but we ensure every meeting has a clear purpose, starts and ends on time, and wraps up early if objectives are met. Occasionally, there are project fires to fight, but thankfully, those moments are rare. Meetings are where relationships deepen, collaborative magic is generated, and big things happen. I'm a people person. The person-to-person work — collaborating with the awesomely awesome Infinitivians and meeting clients/prospects — are my strength and a highlight of my week. By spending time with people, I learn about the cutting-edge work we're doing for our clients and how we can sharpen our skills to better consult on the issues clients face today. I also learn what drives and motivates my team so we can better serve clients. Through it all, the most important part of finding balance is right mindset. I strive to make every meeting and event enjoyable. I'm serious about hitting our goals, but don't take myself too seriously. I want everyone to enjoy working with me and for Infinitive. As a CEO and entrepreneur, things are always in a state of change. You'll never "arrive" at the perfect balance, so make sure you have fun while you stay on your toes.

Here's to the Infinitive Intern class of Summer 2024! For the past several years, we’ve had an internship program to identify and develop potential future Infinitivians.  Each week, they meet several folks with different skills, backgrounds, and roles. They learn new technologies and have the opportunity to get accredited or certified in specific technologies. In other words, they dive right in and learn what we're all about.   We have a great group this year. Thank you, William Hagenlock, Anthony Farewell, Jillian Mastropaolo, Stella Lee, Ishaan Hundal, Darcy McFarlane— I'm proud and honored you chose to spend your summer at Infinitive.

A fun workplace makes for a great workplace. One way I encourage that is by asking team members for office music suggestions...I just can’t stand quiet workspaces.  Of course, some folks wear headphones to have private conversations and video calls in an open area or listen to their favorite music as they work. That's okay—it's still fun to have team-curated tunes playing throughout the office. I ask folks to play music and encourage them to play their favorites, whether a playlist, Spotify, or whatever app they use. Each team member can own an hour of the day to share their tunes. The communal officer "jukebox" can be a great way to get to know one another.   Below is my first personal playlist on Apple. It’s a bit dated, but I actually listen to it every now and then. I laugh that Poison has so many entries on my list... I must have just seen them in concert. What’s missing is my passion for the Beatles. Prince and the Beatles are my go-to's, and of course, there are various others. Do we share any of the same tracks or are your playlists in a whole other genre?