These are irregular verbs. They don't follow the "-ed" pattern. And they're deadly in high-stakes moments because they sound careless.

The Fix

Memorize the three forms and say them out loud.

KNOW:

• I know
• I knew
• I have known

THINK:

• I think
• I thought
• I have thought

Practice Daily

Spend 3 minutes drilling these. Record yourself. Play it back. Much like building any productivity framework, consistency is what makes the difference.

25-30% of all spoken English mistakes come from just 10 irregular verbs like these. Master them and you eliminate a huge source of hesitation.

Why It Matters

This is the kind of thing that goes unnoticed until it doesn't. When you're in an important meeting or speaking at events, these small errors can undermine your credibility.

Your English is fine. Small fixes. Big impact.

Irregular verbs trip up even experienced speakers. The good news? A few minutes of daily practice can eliminate most of these common mistakes. Record yourself, listen back, and you'll hear the improvement quickly.

Which irregular verb trips you up most?

Luxury Fashion & Brand Events

My portfolio spans some of the biggest names in luxury and fashion:

• Seoul Fashion Week (S/F 2019)
• Chanel Show, Seoul 2019
• Fenty Beauty Seoul Launch, 2019
• Hermès Mens Show, Seoul 2019 & 2025
• Apple TV Korea Launch, Seoul 2021
• Dior Show, Seoul 2022 & Mexico City 2023
• AMI Paris Show, Seoul 2022
• Gucci Show, Seoul 2022
• Fendi After Party, Seoul 2023

For my sixth fashion show with Hermès, we built an entire structure by the river—a small village to support a beautiful runway show and after party. The amount of talent and coordination behind the scenes is staggering, and I've learned how to manage every moving piece.

Looking back on five years of luxury events brings gratitude for the connections made along the way. Covid cancellations, comebacks, cross-continental moves—the exhaustion fades, but the energy and people stay.

The IP Conference Series

Not all business gatherings need to feel like conferences. That's why I co-produce the IP (Interesting People) series with Andrew Wilkinson.

IP2 in Victoria brought together 80 fascinating minds who hate awkward small talk as much as I do. Zero PowerPoints, 100% real talk. Deep conversations that actually mattered. Mastermind sessions that sparked real insights. Digital relationships transformed into real friendships.

For IP3, I designed our signature annual event remotely from Seoul—working with local designers on biobooks, wristbands, badges, and all the little touches that make an event feel special.

Community Events

Great events don't require big budgets. For an Internet Pipes and My First Million meetup in Houston, two hours flew by as we brought together people from oil & gas, politics, personal finance, and tech. The energy was so good we created a WhatsApp group on the spot and committed to monthly gatherings.

I also covered the Global Aeropress Championship—a wonderfully strange event where baristas from 70 countries competed with unique brewing methods. It showed me how passionate communities can come together around shared obsessions.

What I Bring to Your Event

Whether you're planning a luxury brand activation, an intimate founder retreat, or a community gathering, I can help with:

• End-to-end production — Venue selection, vendor management, timeline coordination
• Design direction — Collateral, signage, digital assets, and those small touches that elevate the experience
• Guest experience — Name tags that spark conversation, seating that encourages connection, programming that respects people's time
• Remote coordination — I've produced events across continents from Seoul; timezone differences don't slow me down

Let's Work Together

If you're planning a special event and want someone who sweats the details, I'd love to hear from you.

Get in touch to discuss your project.

The Portfolio

Over five years, the work has spanned some of the biggest names in luxury and fashion:

• Seoul Fashion Week, S/F 2019
• Chanel Show, Seoul 2019
• Fenty Beauty Seoul Launch, 2019
• Hermès Mens Show, Seoul 2019
• Apple TV Korea Launch, Seoul 2021
• Dior Show, Seoul 2022
• AMI Paris Show, Seoul 2022
• Gucci Show, Seoul 2022
• Fendi After Party, Seoul 2023
• Dior Show, Mexico City 2023
• Hermès Mens Show, Seoul 2025

Conclusion

Looking back brings gratitude for all the fun moments and the connections made along the way. The portfolio speaks for itself, but it’s the people and energy that make it worthwhile.

Here’s to what 2026 brings.

The Winners

Here’s the list of winners:

• CHAMPION: Australia
• 2nd place: Switzerland
• 3rd place: India

Photo Gallery

Here are some pictures I took during the event.

The Community

I never knew there was such a solid community.

I hope Aeropress will become more popular in the future. The taste is good, and the process of making is like a science experiment, so I really enjoyed it.

Conclusion

The Aeropress Championship showed how passionate baristas from around the world can come together with unique brewing methods.

It’s clear why Aeropress has such a dedicated following.

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The book breaks down this elusive quality into seven principles that anyone can cultivate.

1. Re-Imagining
2. Personal Bias
3. Serendipity
4. A New Lens
5. Time Design
6. Kind AI
7. Signals

Re-Imagining

See things differently than they appear. Re-imagining means looking at the familiar and finding new possibilities. Take what exists and envision it in a completely different context or form.

Personal Bias

Your unique perspective is a strength. Personal bias is the distinct lens through which you see the world based on your experiences and background. Embrace it as what makes your work authentically yours.

Serendipity

Creative breakthroughs often happen by accident. Serendipity means staying open to unexpected discoveries and happy accidents. Remain curious and receptive to opportunities that weren’t part of your original plan.

New Lens

Look at problems from fresh angles. A new lens means actively seeking different viewpoints and stepping outside your usual frame of reference to find innovative solutions.

Time Design

Be strategic about how you structure your creative process. Time design involves knowing when to push forward, when to step back, and how to create the right conditions for ideas to develop.

Kind AI

Approach your work with generosity and empathy. Kind AI means bringing warmth and human understanding into your creative process, considering the human impact of your work.

Signals

Pick up on subtle cues and patterns others miss. Signals means tuning into small details, cultural shifts, emerging trends, and unspoken needs before they become obvious to everyone else.

Conclusion

Hosoda’s framework shows that creative intuition isn’t mysterious but learnable. The seven senses are re-imagining, personal bias, serendipity, new lens, time design, kind AI, and signals. Each one can be sharpened through awareness and practice.

Instead of waiting for inspiration, actively develop these senses in your daily work. Start by identifying which ones you already use naturally and which need more development.

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This is a translated version from the original Korean post, offering a practical look at what a partnership is really like.

Survival Teamwork

Marriage is survival teamwork, not romance. It is about working together to navigate life’s challenges as a unified team.

Read the Room

If someone is angry, quickly read the room. Paying attention to your partner’s emotional state is key to preventing small issues from becoming big ones.

Hidden Meanings

“Did you eat?” means “I love you.” Often, love and care are shown through simple, practical questions and actions.

Apologize Fast

Apologize fast and skip the excuses. A quick, sincere apology can resolve conflicts before they have a chance to grow.

End Fights

Don’t win fights, end them. The goal of a disagreement should be resolution and understanding, not proving who is right.

Loud Gratitude

Be loud about gratitude and swallow complaints. Focusing on and expressing appreciation for your partner builds a positive foundation.

Endless Negotiation

Marriage is endless negotiation. You have to smile through it because partnership involves constant compromise and finding middle ground together.

Conclusion

These seven points are a reminder that a successful marriage is often built on practical actions. It is about being a team, communicating with care, resolving conflicts quickly, showing gratitude, and negotiating your way through life together.

Here’s a quick rundown of the seven points.

1. Marriage is survival teamwork, not romance.
2. If someone is angry, quickly read the room.
3. “Did you eat?” means “I love you.”
4. Apologize fast, skip the excuses.
5. Don’t win fights, end them.
6. Be loud about gratitude, swallow complaints.
7. Marriage is endless negotiation. Smile through it.

By embracing these simple truths, couples can build a stronger, more resilient partnership that lasts.

What marriage realities have you found to be true?

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I almost skipped an event recently because a work call ran late, but I’m so glad I didn’t.

That last-minute decision to show up led to meeting an amazing new friend and reminded me why consistency matters more than perfect timing.

Always Go

I was invited to an event but got stuck on a call that went way over time. I sat there debating whether it was even worth showing up anymore. The event was probably halfway over, and I’d be walking in super late.

But I decided to go anyway, just to say hi to the host and show my face.

Unexpected Connection

That’s when I met Carlos, a really cool founder who happened to be running late too.

We ended up having this brief but incredibly fun and insightful conversation. There was no big business lesson or profound moment. I was just genuinely happy to meet a new friend.

Sometimes networking isn’t about collecting business cards or making strategic connections. Sometimes it’s just about meeting cool people who you click with.

Keep Showing

The lesson here is simple but powerful: keep showing up because you never know who you might meet.

If I had stayed home and used the late call as an excuse, I would have missed out on meeting Carlos entirely. Some of the best opportunities and friendships come from the events we almost skip.

Conclusion

The magic happens when you show up consistently, even when it’s inconvenient or you’re running behind. You never know which casual conversation will turn into a meaningful connection or friendship.

That brief chat with Carlos reminded me that networking is really about genuine human connections, not just business transactions.

Don’t let perfect timing stop you from showing up. The person you’re meant to meet might be running late too.

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I worked with a few local designers to create our biobook, website, wristbands, badges, visuals, and all the little things that add a special touch.

If you need help with your events let me know!

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It’s often the most surprising flavor combinations that create the most memorable meals, and this dish was a perfect example of that.

Yum yum!

It also reminds me of the joy and discovery you can find when you slow down and truly engage with the process of cooking, a sentiment I explored in my last post.

The Ingredients

This is battered calamari, with curry powder and shredded green apples, and parsley.

This unique dish pulls together the savory warmth of curry, the crisp tartness of green apple, and the fresh, herbaceous notes of parsley—a clear departure from more traditional calamari accompaniments.

The Verdict

I could have never come up with such a strange combination, but it was very delicious.

It’s a testament to culinary creativity, where seemingly disparate ingredients are balanced to create something that is not only cohesive but truly delightful.

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We are often told we are too good to be in the kitchen, and how we should go out there to follow our dream careers when there is a lot of joy and healing when you prepare ingredients, clean, cook, and serve a meal.

My cute apron

Maybe it’s time we stopped rushing past these simple moments.

There’s wisdom in slowing down and honoring the work that nourishes us.

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We built a building by the river and a small village to support a beautiful fashion show and after party.

So much that happens behind the scenes. And so much talent locked in for projects like these.

I am very fortunate to have been part of it.

I’ll post more learnings and observations about working in these type of events soon.

For now, here are some pictures that I took during the event.

Building

Models walking

Behind the scenes

Awesome setup

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Since then, I’ve collected the most effective delegation strategies from founders, CEOs, and content creators who have mastered the art of building projects and high-performing teams.

Here are the most valuable lessons and resources I’ve discovered.

These principles connect to a broader philosophy of preparation. I explore this in The Only Productivity Framework You Need.

Hiring an EA

Austin Rief, Co-founder & CEO of Morning Brew, shared a guide to hiring an EA which is a great blueprint for finding, vetting, and onboarding an executive assistant. I’ve personally referenced it multiple times. He is an investor in the EA agency called Oceans.

My current VA came through a referral but I first hired through the agency iWorker (the nice thing is that they do a bit of the screening and you don’t need to commit to hire full time), and I did my own direct hiring through onlinejobs.ph, which is THE primary job board for Filipino talent. It takes a bit longer to find the right talent.

If any of this sounds a bit much, just go on Fiverr to get a taste for delegating to a VA.

VA/EA Starter Pack

My friend Cathryn, who runs a thriving e-commerce business, is basically a systems genius. She’s created this comprehensive virtual assistant starter pack that’s really useful. It’s closer to a delegation survival kit. She was inspired by this article worth reading as well

Get your virtual assistant starter pack. Includes:

• Personalized Assistant Guide
• Real Job posting example (& template)
• Notion dashboard

Personal User Manual

Speaking of user manuals, Steph Smith talks about having a personal manual that is broader framework for how you interact with the world. You can see it here. I found it on her website and it is pretty neat.

What to Delegate

Nick Gray is also a master delegator and works with a virtual team. If you are wondering what you can have your assistants do for you, here are some ideas. His guide is packed with practical ideas that’ll make you think, “Wait, I can delegate that?“. Looking at his list made me realize I was doing way too many things that could easily be handled by someone else.

How to Delegate

Here’s the truth about tools: they matter, but not as much as you think. I’ve gone from sophisticated Notion setups to simple WhatsApp voice notes, and guess what? Both worked. These days, I’m back to using Google docs and spreadsheets. The best tool is the one that both you and your VA/EA will actually use.

What really matters is understanding the five levels of delegation, brilliantly outlined by Michael Hyatt. You go from step-by-step instructions to teaching your EAs to starting thinking and making decisions on your behalf. It takes time… but it is pretty cool when it works.

Books

We all know “The 4-Hour Workweek” and “E-Myth Revisited.” They’re classics.

But “Buy Back Your Time” by Dan Martell has come up in different posts and been recommended by people I trust. I recently bought it and will share notes when I am done.

A Few Extra Things

• While not strictly about delegation, MrBeast’s leaked production guide is a masterclass in clear communication. The “What, How, Done” framework, communication lines and bottlenecks, consultants as “cheat codes” were some of my favorite parts.
• Sam Corcos appeared on the Tim Ferriss Show and shared a public Notion doc containing his tasks and processes, each with accompanying Loom video instructions. Sam’s approach is simple and brilliant: he’d record himself completing each task while giving instructions, capturing various scenarios and nuances along the way. This method of recording yourself first, then delegating, was a very simple add to my workflow that made a big difference. Loom lets you build written SOP guides from the recordings too (you need to upgrade for this feature)

Here's the thing about delegation—it's not about finding the perfect tool or following someone else's system exactly. It's about building a foundation of trust and clear communication that works for you and your team.Start with these resources, but don't get caught up in making everything perfect. Pick one area to focus on—maybe it's creating your user manual or defining delegation levels—and build from there.Remember: the goal isn't to delegate everything. It's to free up your time and energy for the work that truly matters to you.The hardest part? Taking the first step. But trust me—future you will be grateful you started today.

I have a place in Korea where I get all my glasses from. I’ve gone to the same person for almost a decade now.

Let me share what I’ve learned along the way.

The Foundation: Finding Your Eyewear Artist

The cornerstone of great eyewear isn’t just about the frames—it’s about finding the right person to guide you. My experience has shown that:

• Don’t just shop for frames – search for an expert who truly understands how different styles complement various face shapes and personalities.
• Look for someone who can be honest with you. My guy suggests glasses and he will smile, frown, or shrug. In each instance he is trying to see if the glasses look compliments my face, and whether I look happy with them.
• Make it fun. We usually do a leader board of glasses. We usually leave out the runner up, and keep storing the ones that are no go. After trying a handful, we decide which one is the keep.

Building a Long-Term Partnership

The magic happens when you invest in the relationship. Here’s what I’ve learned over my ten-year journey:

• Take time to build genuine rapport with your eyewear specialist
• Return to them consistently – this allows them to understand your evolving style
• Treat the relationship as a partnership rather than a transaction

The Communication Factor

Clear communication leads to perfect results. My approach:

• Provide honest, constructive feedback about what works and what doesn’t
• Be specific about your needs and concerns
• Don’t hesitate to express when something isn’t quite right

The Perfect Outcome

The end goal is simple but non-negotiable:

• Never settle for “almost right”.
• Take the time needed to find the perfect match
• Trust your instincts – when it’s right, you’ll know it

Why This Works

This approach is universally effective because it’s built on fundamental principles of any good service relationship.

When you combine the right talent with clear communication and high standards, good things naturally follow.

For those interested in experiencing this level of service firsthand, you can find my trusted optician here: naver.me/xqfua1Bf

Here’s what happens when you bring together 80 fascinating minds who hate awkward small talk as much as you do:

Beyond the Traditional Conference

This wasn’t about name tags and PowerPoint presentations.

Instead, we experienced:

• Deep conversations that actually mattered
• Mastermind sessions that sparked real insights
• Intimate breakout groups where vulnerability wasn’t just welcomed—it was the point
• Watching Nick Gray work his MC magic in person (spoiler: he’s even better offline!)
• Seeing online heroes transform from avatars to real humans who share the same challenges

What People Took Home

The beauty of genuine connection is what it leaves you with.

• Inspiring conversations that went beyond the usual “what do you do?”
• Connections that felt real, not networked
• Fresh insights and learnings from shared scar tissue
• New acronyms to Google (because everyone was too busy connecting to pretend they knew everything)
• Apps discovered through organic conversations
• Podcast recommendations from people who’ve lived the stories
• Newsletters that came highly vouched for
• Stories that will influence decisions for years to come
• Encounters with leaders who were genuinely generous with their experiences

Why IP2 Hit Different

This wasn’t your typical Victoria business gathering. Here’s what made it special:

• Zero PowerPoints, 100% real talk
• Conversations continued from Tiny’s HQ view to late-night restaurant tables
• Digital relationships transformed into real friendships
• Every connection felt intentional, not forced
• Community vibes that outlasted the event itself

See you at IP3!

Because sometimes the best way to level up is to step away from the slides and into real conversations.

As I was writing my response, I realized just how many tools I rely on daily.

Here’s my complete stack breakdown:

Why I’m Sharing This

Before diving in, it’s worth noting that this stack has evolved over years of trial and error.

Each tool earned its place by solving specific problems in my workflow.

Building a good tool stack is only half the equation. Learning to delegate effectively matters just as much. I share my best resources in On Delegation.

While it might seem like a lot, each serves a distinct purpose that makes my work possible and more efficient.

Monthly Subscription Tools

These are the services I pay for month after month. They form the backbone of my daily operations:

• 1Password – My digital vault for all passwords, secure notes, and documents. Essential for managing countless logins securely.
• Loom – Quick screen recordings and video messages. Perfect for explaining things to team members or clients without scheduling a meeting.
• Canva – My go-to for creating social media graphics, presentations, and basic design work. Makes me look like I have a designer on staff.
• Superhuman – Email client that helps me reach inbox zero faster. The keyboard shortcuts and AI features save hours each week. While it’s one of the pricier tools, the time saved makes it worth every penny.
• Notion – My second brain. Where I keep all my notes, documents, and project management. The backbone of my personal organization.
• Google – Can’t escape the Google ecosystem. Using Drive, Docs, and Sheets for collaboration and cloud storage.
• Dropbox – Additional cloud storage for larger files and backup. Great for sharing heavy files with clients. While there’s some overlap with Google Drive, Dropbox’s sharing features and sync reliability make it indispensable.
• Descript – Makes editing podcasts and videos feel like editing a document. A game-changer for content creation. The ability to edit video by editing text has revolutionized my content workflow.
• Riverside – High-quality remote recording platform. Essential for podcast recording and professional video interviews. The local recording feature ensures I never lose quality due to internet issues.

One-Time Purchase Tools

These tools required an upfront investment but continue to deliver value without subscription fees:

• Cleanshot – The best screenshot tool for Mac. Perfect for capturing, annotating, and sharing screens quickly. The scrolling capture and instant cloud sharing features make it superior to built-in screenshot tools.
• Things3 – Beautiful task manager that keeps me organized without overwhelming me. Simple but powerful. Its design philosophy of being powerful yet unobtrusive helps me stay focused on actual work rather than task management.
• Magnet – Window management tool that lets me arrange my workspace perfectly. Small investment, huge productivity boost. Essential for maintaining an organized screen when working with multiple applications.

The Cost vs. Value Equation

Looking at these tools, it’s natural to consider the total cost.

However, I’ve found that the right tools pay for themselves many times over in terms of:

• Time saved
• Professional polish added to my work
• Reduced stress and cognitive load
• Improved client communication
• Better organization and workflow

How I Evaluate New Tools

When considering adding a new tool to my stack, I ask myself:

• Does it solve a specific, recurring problem?
• Is it significantly better than free alternatives?
• Will it integrate well with my existing workflow?
• Is the learning curve worth the potential benefit?

The Reality Check

Holy crap.. when you see them all listed like that…

It’s eye-opening to see all these tools laid out in one place. Each one serves a specific purpose in my workflow, but seeing them all together really puts into perspective how many different tools it takes to run a modern solopreneur operation.

Final Thoughts

While this might seem like tool overload to some, each piece of software serves a specific purpose in my daily operations.

The key isn’t having every possible tool, but rather finding the right combination that supports your specific workflow and business needs.

This stack continues to evolve as new tools emerge and my needs change.

What works today might need adjustment tomorrow, and that’s okay.

The goal is to have a system that supports your work rather than becoming work itself.

Sometimes you build up expectations about meeting someone you admire, and reality doesn’t quite match up.

This was exactly the opposite.

First Impressions

She is such a smart pro!

But what really stands out is how she combines this professional excellence with genuine humanity.

In a world where leadership often feels distant or performative, Codie brings a refreshing authenticity to every interaction.

What Makes Her Special

Three things really struck me about our interaction:

• Her kindness shows through in every interaction – it’s not just a public persona, but a genuine part of who she is
• She’s incredibly generous with her time and insights, sharing knowledge freely and enthusiastically
• Her thoughtfulness extends to everyone, regardless of their position in the org chart – a true mark of authentic leadership; In an era where many leaders carefully curate their interactions, Codie’s approach stands out.

Breaking Down Professional Barriers

One of the most impressive aspects of meeting Codie is seeing how she breaks down traditional professional barriers.

She shows that you can be:

• Highly successful while remaining approachable
• Professional while being genuinely warm
• Expert in your field while staying humble and open to learning
• Influential while maintaining authenticity

The Reality vs. Expectation

You know how they say never meet your heroes? Well, this was the complete opposite.

Meeting Codie in person proved that she’s even more impressive than I imagined her to be.

It’s rare to meet someone whose real-world presence not only matches but exceeds their public reputation.

We recorded a podcast with Andrew Wilkinson, check out the episode here.

Two hours flew by meeting some amazing people from the Internet Pipes and My First Million community in Houston.

There’s something special about when the internet does its magic and brings together cool people from all corners. Our group was wonderfully diverse – we had folks from oil & gas, politics, personal finance, and more.

What We Talked About

Our conversations were rich and varied:

• ChatGPT Use Cases – Everyone shared their favorite ways to use this tool
• Tech Stack Discussions – Diving into what tools and technologies we’re all using
• Current Projects – Sharing what we’re each working on and building
• Business Opportunities – We even explored starting a cleaning business together!
• The Egg Carton Lady – We bonded over our favorite My First Million podcast episode

Building Lasting Connections

The energy was so good that we didn’t want it to end.

We created a WhatsApp group right there and committed to meeting again in a month.

This is what happens when online communities come to life.

A Call to Action

Here’s what I learned: Look around and see what’s happening in your area.

Your internet community might be closer than you think.

Go out and meet your people – you never know what collaborations or friendships might emerge.

Special thanks to Ahrif Sarumi for co-hosting this amazing gathering!

This is what happens when we take online connections offline – two hours can fly by, and suddenly you’re planning businesses with people you just met in person.

The internet truly makes magical things possible.

Building the “It Wasn’t That Bad” Muscle

Each successful interaction shows them that stepping out of their comfort zone isn’t as scary as it seems.

Experiencing the “I Did It” Moment

There’s a special pride that comes when they return to us, having handled this adult responsibility on their own.

Learning Life Skills

These encounters help them practice their English and learn to interact respectfully with service workers.

Other Ideas

This post went viral on Twitter, and here are some favorite suggestions from other parents:

• Call the hotel front desk to ask for more towels
• Hand tips to valets when they bring the car around
• Drop money in street musicians’ hats
• Handle grocery shopping with a list
• Navigate through airports from entrance to gate
• Order at steakhouses – picking cuts, temperatures, sides, and desserts
• Place their own orders at restaurants
• Make calls for takeout orders
• Ask store employees for help
• Speak directly with doctors and nurses during appointments
• Handle their own communication with teachers

See my full post on Twitter here along with the hundreds of replies.

A mantra for some, a tattoo for others, mise-en-place literally means “put in place” in French. It is the art of prepping and arranging the ingredients and the tools before starting to cook. It’s how chefs survive and thrive in the kitchen. And it is one of the most effective productivity frameworks I’ve tried.

Can Mise-en-Place Bring Calm to Your Life?

While mise-en-place is intuitive, it is also intentional. The word “mise” is the past participle of the verb “mettre,” which means “to put.” To say mise en place, means that it has been placed at its place. It didn’t get there on its own. The concept of ideating, carefully planning, and arranging, in order to be rewarded by a great flow of execution, is hopeful and empowering.

The concept originated from the kitchen brigade system led by the culinary royalty Georges-Auguste Escoffier, in the 18th century. Inspired by a military-esque hierarchy, the first iteration of mise-en-place, established defined roles and specific tasks to be completed at different times during each service. Instead of the chaos of cooks running around, this structure brought a sense of calm to the kitchen.

The system is simple and the metaphor relatable. David Charnas covers this topic in depth in his book Everything in Its Place (originally “Work Clean”). Out of the 10 work clean principles, the following three delivered results on my creative process from day one.

I. Arranging Your Workstation

Anthony Bourdain calls each workstation the chef’s universe and maybe he meant it in a literal way. Chefs make tiny movements, only pivoting within their quadrant. They rarely have space. Maybe they don’t need it– everything they’ll need has been carefully set up within reach.

And isn’t our goal for productivity nearly the same? Everything we need, when we need it? Take the Zettelkasten, or “slipbox” method. The German sociologist and philosopher Dr Niklas Luhmann published more than 70 books and nearly 400 scholarly articles in his lifetime by arranging note-cards in different containers. For each book he wanted to write, he had a drawer with all the ingredients prepped.

In today’s digital kitchen, your “meez” is the equivalent of having your desktop organized, so you can access your notes and tools with fewer mouse clicks. You want to arrange your space and your resources, so you are not constantly switching contexts. For my English coaching I used to have different folders for articles and notes. Today, from one Notion page, my clients can access all the session notes and resources. Both my clients and I know exactly what to find where, because it is all organized and ready to be consumed.

II. Cleaning as You Go

Forget batch cleaning. In the kitchen the cleaner you work, the faster you work. And good chefs clean as they go. This applies to my notetaking. Creating and polishing notes on-the-go has been a game changer. I used to take a lot of notes, but a few days later, removed from the situation, they would be incoherent and unusable. The extra 5 to 10 seconds I now spend typing a brief context, what the note actually means, and where I want to surface it in the future, ensures that 3 weeks later I still understand. This is what I call the ignorance test, clueless test, and the no-context test. Last year only about 5% of my notes would pass this test. Now, about 80% do. Those ingredients are ready for future use.

III. Finishing

Commit to delivering. Imagine you have found the perfectly ripe heirloom tomatoes to go with the imported burrata cheese straight from Italy, drizzled with that olive oil from the boutique vineyard you found at a small town in Spain, with the organic basil that you just picked up on your way home. You have the ingredients for a Caprese salad to die for. You even made the effort to clean, cut, and prep the ingredients.

Now, imagine you change your mind and get takeout instead. None of the above matters if you don’t make the dish. The ingredients will go unused and some to waste. The same goes for our creative work. The notes you gathered for that essay you were excited about? Unless you hit publish, the notes will go unused and some buried. As Seth Godin said in his latest book The Practice, “shipping because it doesn’t count if you don’t share it.”

Is that all?

Things in their place?

You put the ingredients in the right place, and you are set. Sounds easy, right? The concept really is that simple, but the underlying planning and careful calculation that paves the way for this system to work is much more complex. When planning for my classes or even this essay, I researched, talked to people, gathered data from different sources, and, only then, started prepping my ingredients to arrange for execution.

Chef’s Table is a Netflix documentary series of some of the most iconic chefs in the world. My favorite episode is Alinea’s Grant Achatz (Season 2, Episode 1). In one of the scenes, Achatz and two of his executive chefs plan the menu for their new restaurant Next. They are wearing white coats, in front of a whiteboard with no white space left. They discuss their goals, the experience they want the guest to have, the philosophy behind the meal. Before any cooking happens, there is serious planning. And this is the unsung hero of mise-en-place.

The system works because the steps preceding the arrangement have been well-considered and carefully designed for each meal. The same goes with the work we put in for our creative pursuits. The wrestling with the ideas causes temporary pain. But there is a reward: if the ideations and planning is well thought-out, the rest takes care of itself.

How Can This Apply To Delegation?

When working remotely, we need to provide clear directions of what we want (duh), but also provide all (ALL) the necessary resources and tools for others to complete their tasks efficiently.

Let me share a fresh example. I am looking to hire an assistant podcast producer. I had a short list of 2 candidates, and I sent them a brief for a test project:, create a short clip with existing footage. Before going further, take a moment to think about what kind of information you would need to provide to a brand new contractor to complete the project.

In my project brief, I included:

Task description: vertical video clip (less than 60 seconds) to upload on YouTube, Twitter, Instagram (all links provided)

References: 3 sample videos showing what I liked. (bonus tip: I sometimes include what I don’t like as well, to educate the contractor on how I think). References are key for test projects to guide the contractor and not have them do redundant work.

Content: a rough cut of the video that I want the editor to use. It could be the raw video or a shorter clip.

Access: this is particularly important, because, for any given project, we are working with different platforms. It could be Figma, Canva, Google Drive, Dropbox, Artlist (where I have my music and stock footage), or any number of other platforms.

Loom video: a brief Loom video going through the task. I absolutely love this service, because it allows you to record your screen in the most effortless way. Why do the video if you have everything laid out? It is always easier to show and tell than just tell. I have had more success and less do-overs with extremely clear directions.

I could have all of these different items sent via email, but instead I have it all on a single Notion page, a tool I love, because you can mix different types of media and organize it with minimal effort.

Tools like Notion and Loom are core to my daily workflow. I share my full stack in My SaaS Stack.

How Can This Apply To Day-to-Day Activities?

This is our garage. We placed a table in the path we take to leave for the kids’ activities. Before they hit the soccer field, we stop by The Table and pick up the shin guards, the shoes, the gloves. When we get off, we put things back on The Table for our next trip. And it may sound a bit “weird,” but it works.

Something else that may sound weird: I started using mouth tape during my sleep. After I opened my Amazon Prime package, I ended up leaving the tape on the kitchen island, exactly where I had opened it I would only remember to do it right as I am getting into bed, and that meant havng to turn about 3 lights on to go to the kitchen island to grab it.

But now, I keep it by my bed. When I need it (and when I remember it), it’s already there. In fact, set there, it serves as a reminder to use it.

Small systems like this have made a real difference in our family life. I try to teach my kids to engage with the world. More on that in Why I Make My Kids Talk to Servers.

This same visibility applies to my daughter’s comb, which is usually where the kids do the final prep before school. I used to keep it in the bathroom, but then I noticed that I normally noticed my daughter’s hair in the living room, right before we would have to leave. Since we are in a rush to get the kids out the door, I would often skip fixing the hair. Now this one specific comb stays in the living room, by the TV stand, so it is visible. I see it, remember, and do it. It is all conveniently placed.

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Embrace the art of mise-en-place beyond the kitchen. It’s more than arrangement; it’s noticing, mindful planning, intentional action. Chefs master their craft with it, and so can we master our day-to-day. Organize, prepare, execute. Implement it in workspaces, creative projects, and team collaborations.

The result? Smooth workflows, clear communication, steady output. Revolutionary, yet super simple. Mise-en-place offers a platform and project agnostic framework to bring flow to your work and life.

Now, let’s chop chop.

1. What My Granddaughter's Hamster Taught Me About Work
2. The Hamster Wheel Is Not What You Think
3. Why the Hamster Wheel Metaphor Is All Wrong

My daughter got a hamster and I became a hamster grandma.

It has been super cool to watch her.

Video Gallery

https://x.com/monicalimco/status/1988280657043484725

The Running

She runs on her wheel nonstop, then pauses, snacks, and runs again.

The Metaphor

The whole "hamster wheel" metaphor for work does not really hold up.

She loves it.

The Art

She also made a drawing yesterday and called it The Sound of The Dancing Sea.

Is it not fun?

Conclusion

We use the hamster wheel as a metaphor for meaningless work, but watching my granddaughter's hamster made me realize the hamster actually loves running. Maybe the problem is not the wheel itself, but how we feel about what we are doing.

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