Design the Space to Think

Remember the summer of 2020? Covid-19’s effects on the world isn’t clear. Maybe the kids will be back at school. We probably don’t know too many people who’ve gotten sick. Working from home is still novel, maybe even fun.

Patrick O’Shaughnessy recalls pacing in his backyard “bored and restless”. He used the disadvantage of being home to his advantage of more time to talk on the phone. He spoke to an acquaintance who had some ideas.

A few weeks later Patrick founded two new businesses.

“It was one of these funny moments in time,” Patrick recalls, “that I wish we had again so other people could experience it because I had that moment of realization like, oh my God, I can do whatever I want, and no one will question it. And that's an inertia breaker, and it was remarkably valuable.”

There’s the classic expression to work on your business, not in your business - and it’s a classic for a reason - we don’t. Instead, we put out fires, continually hire, and hope to retire. It’s groundhog day.

Covid changed the context and allowed O’Shaughnessy the time, space, and perspective to think. But you don’t need a pandemic.

Quiet your space. Let your mind wander. Be a little “bored and restless”. And create something awesome.

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