[00:00:09.14] - Gordon
Hello.
[00:00:09.24] - Taylor
Hello.
[00:00:10.05] - Gordon
My name's Gordon from Drayson Design.
[00:00:12.01] - Taylor
And I'm Taylor from The Creative Tinker.
[00:00:13.27] - Gordon
And welcome to "This Week With Taylor and Gordon," a weekly podcast and vidcast where we talk about things that have affected our businesses over the last seven days. And welcome back.
[00:00:23.29] - Taylor
Welcome back.
[00:00:24.17] - Gordon
Thank you for joining us. We should, first of all, talk about our new season. We didn't mention it last week, and last week was our first episode of our new season. We're now on season 6. Can you believe we would get to season 6?
[00:00:40.16] - Taylor
I didn't, no.
[00:00:41.19] - Gordon
And we asked for your suggestions for colours, and I said we can't do yellow because that's not going to go well with other colours. But we decided on, if you haven't already seen it, yellow. We changed the other colour, the text colour that goes over the top of it so that it would work well for accessibility. Hopefully, just up here, you should be able to see that it's gone yellow as well, which signifies the season that we are in for this episode. We also went through and changed all of the graphics throughout the whole website and for every episode from now on for Season 6 to be yellow. That was a mammoth task, wasn't it?
[00:01:27.22] - Taylor
Yeah.
[00:01:28.04] - Gordon
Well, not so much for you. You did just the website bit. I did all the graphics. A huge number of graphics, and Taylor just changed a couple of colours in the website. But it should now all be yellow. It should look good. Please let us know what you think in the comments. We'd love to hear from you. Let's get straight into our topic for the second episode of Season 6. Do you want to go first or shall I?
[00:01:54.00] - Taylor
I'll go first this week.
[00:01:54.19] - Gordon
Off you go.
[00:01:55.27] - Taylor
So this week, I want to talk about how you manage your work when you're self-employed and you work pretty much by yourself.
[00:02:08.02] - Gordon
Okay.
[00:02:08.29] - Taylor
Something that you have to do when you are self-employed and you have to create the tasks that need to be done. What this means is that for every single bit of work that you have to find, first of all, so you have to go out and find work, you then have to then figure out what work needs to be done; you then have to write down what that work looks like. You then have to actually do the work. You then have to check the work, and then you have to then approve and submit the work. Quite a lot of things you have to do. And I have always, for the most part, struggled with project managing and trying to keep track of projects and things like that, because what happens is I'll add in a task and do it then and there as I add the task in.
[00:03:02.04] - Gordon
Pardon me.
[00:03:02.28] - Taylor
What that means is you're doing a lot of context switching. So I was reading a book called "The Productivity Ninja," or "How to be a Productivity Ninja." I was also listening to a talk a couple of weeks ago. And what they said is that you have to have two sides to your business, essentially, and you have to wear two different hats. But these hats have to be completely independent of each other. There cannot be any overlap. You can't be wearing them at the same time. And so the idea behind it is that at one point you're a project manager. So you're the person that is doing basically all the speccing of tickets and making sure that you figure out what you need to do. And I also had, since I started doing some work for another company that is in a more corporate environment, they work in what's called sprints. And you have somebody that will create and manage all of the tasks that need to be done. They will take in the tasks requested by things like other people in the team, and then they will spec it out to exactly what is needed from that ticket, so what needs to be added or done, and what the success criteria looks like. And if it's a bigger task, they will break it down into smaller tasks. I found this a really enjoyable experience. I think if it's done properly, then it should be really really easy for a developer. And so, I took that and tried to implement it in my own business. So the idea is that, as I said, when you're the project manager, all you're doing is you're thinking about what needs to be done, all of the different tasks. If there's bigger tasks, then you break those down into smaller tasks. And you're basically writing a spec for yourself. So you're being very, very clear saying, "this is what needs to be done. This is what a completed ticket looks like." If there are any external things, so any resources or anything else that is relevant to that ticket, it's all should be contained inside of that. And then I then switch my hat, my invisible hat, and then I'm the doer. All, what I do when I'm the doer is, I look through the... Because I set up as a Kanban board. I look through, I pick one task, I do that, I move it to the completed column, I pick another task. And I don't think about anything to do with "what do I need to do next?" Because when you're doing that, you're having to context switch between trying to figure out at the same time of trying to do it. I found this method has started to work because I don't have to think heavily what I'm trying to do, in the same way.
[00:06:05.05] - Gordon
Well, you do have to think heavily because you're making sure you get what you do correct. But what you're not doing is thinking about something different. You're thinking about just that one task.
[00:06:13.19] - Taylor
Yeah. So it helps me to not context switch between doing six tasks at once because I open up one task and have that on the screen, so I can't do anything else. And I try and force my brain to not think about what else needs to be done. I will go through and finish the list of all the tasks. And then if I decided at a later date, "actually, I need to revisit this and check," then I'll go and inspect more tickets, review all of the tasks that are done. It's also really nice because I can add blockers. So, blockers are really nice because it means that although I know that I can't do those tasks yet, I can associate another task with that. So I can essentially say, "You can't do this task until this other task has been done." But I can still add it in there while I'm doing in the planning phase. So yeah, that's what I've been up to recently. I'm really enjoying it, and it's helped a lot for, like I said, the context switching, trying to do five, six different things at once, and also trying to figure out things on the fly and being a lot more meaningful in both my strategy and my planning, and then also being more productive in the doing because I don't have to try and maintain so many things.
[00:07:32.05] - Gordon
You mentioned a book which we'll put a link to in the show notes, but you recommend that book?
[00:07:38.28] - Taylor
Yeah, I really enjoyed it. There were lots of things from that book. This was just one of them, and when I also had the talk that I listened to that said things along the same line, that's when I clicked that, I was like, "Okay, I need to give us a look."
[00:07:54.29] - Gordon
Well, we'll come back to you, I think, in the future and see if you're still using that method or if you've refined it in any way, or decided not to do it at all. That would be a very interesting discussion. Before we move away from your topic and you, do you want to tell us how you got on with your 75 day challenge?
[00:08:17.16] - Taylor
Yeah, so I completed it, which was really nice. There were a lot of days that I didn't feel like it. I'd go out for a walk, for example, at 11pm at night, which I don't recommend, but things just happen and life gets in the way, but I managed to do them. I think the trickiest things, or from what I thought would be tricky and what was actually the trickiest, it was probably quite interesting. So I thought probably cutting out fizzy drinks and energy drinks would be one of the hardest. But because I switched from sugar drinks to non-sugar versions about a year or two ago, but when I came off them I didn't have that sense of craving, which I thought I would have. There were lots of things that actually tried to force me to get fizzy drinks, especially when you get any takeaway or anything. It's either you get a fizzy drink or you get water. I don't really want to waste my option from a takeaway with a water, so I'd just order a fizzy drink and give it to dad. But I think I found the hardest was, I think, the eating. Eating the 2,500 calories was a lot because I always had to think, "what are my plans for my next meals?" Using prep kitchen helped a lot because it meant that I didn't have to think as much about what I was having for lunch, for example. I was normally having cooked meals in the evenings with the family and stuff. But yeah, it was always a matter of "what am I going to eat, when am I going to eat?" And then water as well was another one is trying to drink the water throughout the day. Otherwise, I end up chugging 2 litres almost in the evening, which isn't fun. They're probably the two hardest things I found. Probably the next bit after that was probably the exercise, especially when we were at family gatherings over Christmas and things like that, and it was very difficult to get them in because you don't want to seem rude, but at the same time, you need to go for those walks or whatever to get those two 45 minutes in, especially when one was outside.
[00:10:30.29] - Gordon
Yeah. So, just very quickly and briefly, what are you keeping and what are you not keeping from your challenge?
[00:10:38.18] - Taylor
I'm still figuring it out. I haven't really stuck to anything since I finished. I've just been enjoying being able to have fizzy drinks again and enjoying not having to be so strict. I still want to do my exercise. I still enjoy being active, just not to the level of feeling bad or guilty if I don't go.
[00:11:03.04] - Gordon
So maybe we'll come back next week and you'd have had another week to think about it and you can let us know what you are going to keep and what you are happy to let go.
[00:11:13.28] - Taylor
Yeah.
[00:11:15.08] - Gordon
Let's talk about the weather, first of all. It's been really cold recently to the point that we've actually just got a brand new duvet and fluffy duvet cover because it was getting so cold. You can probably hear in my voice, I've got the remnants of a cold, and I think you've got potentially one as well there. A lot of illness around at the moment, which we need to be mindful of, especially when we are doing work with other people, or going into a place like a hospital, which I do. You don't want to spread anything to patients who are already poorly. And then this week, we had snow where we are. And we didn't have it quite as bad as some other places, but we had it that it covered our cars and stayed for a little bit, made the roads a bit icy. And this has been the week when I've had final rehearsals for pantomime. We open tomorrow afternoon. We've got 10 performances. So Saturday the 11th, tomorrow, is our first performance. We got two on the Saturday, two on the Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and then two on the Saturday. So, it's going to be a very, very busy week coming up. It's been a very busy week already because we've had rehearsal on a Monday, we had band call on Wednesday, We had dress rehearsal yesterday. We've got another dress rehearsal this evening, and then it all starts tomorrow with paying audience. So, I had someone ask me why I do pantomime, because it's an amateur production and I don't get paid for it. It's all coming out of my time. When you're self-employed, that's one of the things that is quite valuable because you need that time to make sure you can earn money and pay your bills. So, the reason I do it is, there's two reasons. One is I really enjoy it. Pantomime in particular is great fun, especially when you're the dame, which I am and was last year. That's a great character to be because you get to interact with the audience, which is really good. You get to carry the show along, if you like.
[00:13:35.27] - Gordon
You're there in case anyone messes up and you can go, "Whoa, hang on, let's see, the audience aren't understanding this. Let me just explain." And carry on that way. That's always fun. You get to do the audience song sheet, which is also great fun. The dame is a fun character. You get to wear makeup and put dresses on and pretend you're a lady. So that's a lot of fun. Being with a whole group of people doing a show is very different to what I would do normally when I'm out performing. So, if I'm out doing a magic show, it's me. I'm the set putter upper. I put all the scenery up. I bring all the props in. I sort out my own costume. I don't wear makeup, but were I to be on somewhere where there's lights, then I possibly would.
[00:14:27.17] - Taylor
You have full control of everything.
[00:14:29.14] - Gordon
I have I've all control over everything, but also I've only got myself to blame. Whereas when you are doing a performance, an amateur performance, we've got 20 people in the cast, and that doesn't include the dancers. There's another nine chorus, and then there's eight with two groups, so that's 16 children in the show as well. Plus you've got all the backstage crew, plus you've got all the front of house, plus you've got the director, the choreographer, the musicians, the costume. There's a lot of people involved, and it's really good to share this experience with other people. It makes it a lot more fun. And that's one of the reasons why I do pantomime, because I'm working with others and I'm collaborating with them and we're taking the script that's given, we're listening to the director as to what they want, and then we're making the show as good as we possibly can be, so that the audience get to enjoy it more. And hopefully, we'll have a lot of audience coming along. I know that the Sunday afternoon is already sold out. There's 180 seats per performance, and we've completely sold out on the Sunday afternoon.
[00:15:44.24] - Gordon
The last Saturday, I think we've got something like five tickets left for the afternoon and then something like 30 for the evening. We're doing really well. As we do the performances, people will talk to other people and we'll get people coming in to watch the other shows as we go through the week. And so, hopefully, it'll be a really positive experience, and it's a lovely way to start the year. Something that's going to be a great memory for me, something that I get to think about after the event and celebrate it. We video the show, so we'll have that on record. The other reason I do it is because I'm honing my skills. Not only performance skills and acting and singing and dancing in this case, but also theatre skills. We've got other people in there. I didn't mention them before, but we got the lighting guy and we got the sound people. So I can learn from them. I can see what they're doing. One of the lighting people involved is involved with the National Theatre. So they know what they're doing. They've got all the software, they've got all the lights. They know how to light a set and a scene.
[00:17:00.00] - Gordon
And that's the thing that I'm learning. I'm looking, going, "Oh, that's very interesting. They're doing that, they're doing that." And it's all going in, and I'm learning it through osmosis, basically, just seeing it around me and absorbing the knowledge. And it's the sort of knowledge that you don't really come across easily, unless you seek it out or you're in an environment like this where you have professionals doing that sort of thing. And that's why I do it. So mainly for fun. It's my downtime. It's a hobby. It's something I do for fun. And secondarily, secondarily, is that a word?
[00:17:43.17] - Taylor
Secondary.
[00:17:43.29] - Gordon
Secondarily. Secondly... Let's go with that one. Sorry, Hayley, you're going to have to deal with that. Hayley is the one who transcribes all this. She'll have to figure all that out. Sorry about that. And secondly, it's because I get to learn things and skills that I don't already have. So that's why I do it, mainly the social aspect. It's a fun thing to do. We get to share and be creative, and we get to share it with the audiences, and hopefully they really enjoy it. A by-product of that is that people see me perform and it elevates my reputation as a performer from people who watch me.
[00:18:25.06] - Gordon
Every now and then, people might see my advert on the back of the programme for Gordon's Magic, and they may book me. I don't know that there's been many that have done that, but there must have been a couple. So business-wise, it's adding a little bit. Nothing in comparison to the amount of time for rehearsals and so on that you put into it. But it's a really worthwhile experience. If you are so inclined, you want to find a creative outlet, go join your local amateur dramatics club. There are lots of them around. They do plays, they do pantomimes, they do musicals. Just find a group that you think you would like to join. Go along and see what they're all about. Watch one of their shows, see how much fun everyone's having, and join in. Even if you're not a performer or you don't think you're a performer, it's great for creating confidence in you and getting up in front of people, and talking, and remembering lines, and everything that goes with being on stage. If you don't want to be on stage, go do one of the backstage jobs. You can do backstage for us.
[00:19:32.23] - Taylor
Yeah.
[00:19:33.18] - Gordon
There's lots of jobs that are available: set making, lighting, sound, costumes. There's a lot of people who put a lot of talent and energy into a performance. And the people in the cast are the ones that get to see the audience reactions. Everyone else is part of that though, and creates the reason people enjoy it. So wish me luck. Don't actually wish me luck because that's really bad luck. Wish me to break a leg, that's the way you do it, for the shows. And if you are in the area, Sanderstead, I'll put a link to the website. It's sdclub.org.uk. We're doing "Robin Hood," 11th to the 18th of January. Do come and join in the fun. And if you're coming, let me know. I'd like to come and say hello to you. That's everything from me.
[00:20:29.11] - Taylor
And me as well.
[00:20:30.12] - Gordon
Thank you so much for joining us. As always, you can like, share, and subscribe. We're on YouTube, and please leave any comments you like below the YouTube videos.
[00:20:40.22] - Taylor
You can also go to our website thisweekwith.co.uk to find all of our past episodes.
[00:20:45.22] - Gordon
And if you would prefer to listen to us, we're on all the major podcast platforms. And if you find one we're not on, let us know, and we'll find a way to get onto that for you. We'll be back with you next week at 1pm on Friday, assuming that I'm able to and I'm not sleeping during the day because I'm so tired from the pantomimes. Until then, my name is Gordon, and I'm from Drayson Design.
[00:21:08.23] - Taylor
And I'm Taylor from the Creative Tinker.
[00:21:11.16] - Gordon
Goodbye.
[00:21:11.16] - Taylor
Bye.
