Conversation Pit 001: Creative Mode
A response to Paul Graham's 'Founder Mode'
‘Babe, wake up! Paul Graham wrote another article!’
Hello, fellow creative in business. I hope you had a great Labor Day Weekend. I checked my Twitter feed periodically, and it seems lots of folks in the tech startup-verse are talking about ‘Founder Mode,’ Paul Graham’s newest short essay.
In short, it details two types of ‘modes’ founders are in—Founder Mode vs. Manager Mode. You might not care—as this might not apply to you—but let me reimagine this thought and walk you through how this does apply.
Why should I care about ‘Founder Mode’?
The main argument PG outlines is that most founders get bad advice: ‘Run your company like a manager would.’ Meaning, no skip-level meetings and only talk to direct reports.
Of course, this doesn’t make sense. A ‘founder’ and CEO should be able to talk to everyone at a company. They should be able to check in with anyone at any level at any time.
Why? Because at the end of the day, the founder is responsible for the direction and output of the company. They can't trust that communication up the 'food chain' will remain intact. It's like a game of telephone—context, severity, or other crucial details can get lost in translation.
Here’s why this applies to creatives.
We’re responsible for seeing our ideas through. Our job is to do justice to the vision as it was drawn up in our minds. Sure, sometimes we can't do that because of resource constraints or skill gaps. But it's our job to ensure we hold ourselves (first) accountable for bringing the idea to life.
Think of it this way: You're the founder of your creative vision. You need to ensure that every element of the project is something you can be proud of. That's your job. You need to assume that the people on your team who aren't the 'founders' or creatives don't care about this as much as you do. They don't feel responsible to the greater cause. So it's on us to ensure every aspect of our vision is being met.
Creative Mode in Action
Let me give you an example. Earlier this year, I hosted our first event—Living Room Social: Brunch & Books. On the day of the event, my biggest priority was to make sure everyone had a lovely experience. I wanted my hospitality to be felt at every corner of the event.
By the time the event was starting, our chefs were prepping the salads, Maximilian was spinning the vinyl, and my sister was filling the mimosa glasses.
Something I’ve learned at LAOBRA is mastering the ‘transition’ phase between a guest’s arrival at the venue and their walk into the venue. This state of transition is how we set the tone for their experience.
So I did the same thing at my event.
Sure, I could have delegated check-in to someone who was down to run the ‘door,’ but I felt like it was giving someone else the job that I thought was crucial to the experience. I needed to set the tone of what my guests were to expect.
There are key elements of the ideas we bring to life that are the most crucial and have to be done by us. This means we have to get really good at prioritizing.
Learning how to prioritize certain elements of the creative vision might have to be a separate post, but for now, we can cover the ‘gut check.’
What do you want someone experiencing your creative vision to feel? What element is most crucial to them experiencing that feeling?
^ That’s your priority. That’s what you need to ‘micromanage’ or even do yourself until you can find someone who you trust in that category.
An Example:
For example, let’s say I was managing an ad campaign for Flamingo Estate’s Exfoliating Peppermint Soap Brick. I know the soap market is quite crowded, but I also know our customers are in a premium segment of said market.
My main priority would be to convey the feeling of freshness within the ad campaign. My next step would be to identify the elements of the ads where we can showcase this ‘fresh’ feeling.
That, to me, would be in the visuals and the copy.
So I’d oversee that myself, or maybe I’d even write the copy and shoot the video myself.
But maybe I’m not the best copywriter or cinematographer. So I’d have to work closely with those folks to ensure my creative vision (or at least the priorities) are in good, aligned hands.
The rest of the production still has to happen, of course. But I can trust the rest of the crew to make it work.
Another Example:
Consider a songwriter working on a track for an emerging indie artist's debut EP. The indie music landscape is competitive, but our target audience seeks authenticity and emotional depth.
In Creative Mode, my focus is on the song's emotional core. For this particular piece, the goal is to convey a sense of vulnerability and raw honesty. That's our distinguishing factor.
The key elements to achieve this are in the lyrics and vocal delivery. That's where I need to be directly involved.
I might spend hours refining the lyrics or recording multiple takes of guide vocals to capture the right emotion. This aspect is non-negotiable for me.
However, I recognize that I may not be the most skilled producer. In that case, I'd collaborate closely with a producer I trust. My role would be to guide them, ensuring they understand and can convey the emotional nuances I envision.
The other aspects of music production – mixing, instrumentation, and overall sound design – can be handled by experienced professionals. I trust their expertise in these areas. But the emotional essence of the song, its vulnerability? That's where I remain hands-on, overseeing every detail to preserve the integrity of the creative vision.
The Takeaways
So, what can we learn from this 'Creative Mode' approach?
Prioritization is key: Be in tune with your greater cause, the pure 'idea,' to understand where you need to zoom in and where you can give space.
Get your hands dirty: Don't be afraid to dive into the specifics when it matters most. Your personal touch can make all the difference.
Trust, but verify: Give your team room to work, but stay connected enough to ensure the vision stays intact.
Adapt on the fly: Sometimes, you'll need to make tough calls. Maybe you don't need three speakers and a subwoofer. Maybe one speaker will do. These decisions are up to you, the creative, at the end of the day.
Own the vision: Remember, you're responsible for bringing your idea to life. Don't let it get lost in translation.
Wrapping Up
This might feel like more work. It might feel like you're stepping on toes or not 'staying in your lane.' But here's the thing: Your lane is wherever your vision takes you. You're the founder of your idea, and it's your job to see it through.
So next time you're working on a project, channel your inner founder. Go into Creative Mode. Your ideas—and the people experiencing them—will thank you for it.