The “How I Work” series, most noteworthy done by Lifehacker, has been reproduced by multiple authors for good reason: people love to hear from successful and influential people and learn the intricacies of their day-to-day. It can be inspiring and motivating to hear about the best, and oftentimes most simplistic practices.
Bi-monthly, you’ll hear from thinkspace’s Stephanie Slaton, Executive Assistant of thinkspace CEO Peter Chee, as she makes her way around the office getting to know you. In our “How I Work” series, thinkspace will feature members from Redmond and Seattle who are veteran entrepreneurs or startup techies, answering what will become our standard “How I Work” questions. You’ll be able to catch up on previous featured stars here as well. This “How I Work” entry features Tiffany Larson of ZappBug, a thinkspace Seattle member.
Name:
Tiffany Larson
Current Gig: I do both Marketing Management and Web Management at ZappBug
One word that best describes how you work: Sprints
Current mobile device: IPhone X
Favorite verb: Strive
Grit Score: 3.70 (If you’re interested in learning your Grit Score take the test here)
How do you recharge or take a break from work? I take short walks
What was your dream job/passion project as a kid? I was obsessed with animals and wanted to be a Veterinarian. But as I got a little bit older there was a live stream on tv of archaeologists unearthing mummies in Egypt and after that, all I wanted to be was an archaeologist and go to Egypt.
Sunrise or sunset: Sunset
Tell us a little about your background and how you got to where you are today. I graduated from college with my degree in Visual Communications and Design. I graduated during the recession and getting a Graphic Design job was nearly impossible. I had an interest in web design and development but my school didn’t offer much at the time, so I taught myself the basics of front-end development. With the help of a little saying “Fake it until you make it,” I was able to get my first web development job for an eCommerce store. I moved on to a social media marketing company and from there to my current role at ZappBug.
Number of unread emails right now? Thirteen in my work inbox, 5000+ in my personal. I make sure I check for important emails and I just ignore the others.
First thing you do when you come into work? I have to get coffee.
What is your email management strategy? I read what is important and then once every couple months I do a mass delete of all the spam and non-important emails .
How do you keep yourself calm and/or focused? I make lists for everything. By breaking down larger projects into small tasks it helps me to stay focus and not overwhelmed. I feel a lot more accomplished when I can look at a project and see half the tasks checked off.
What’s your perspective or approach to work/life balance? I think it is super important to have a good balance. If you work too hard for too long it can really drain you. I have worked for companies in the past that didn’t believe in the balance and it just burns you out. I am very lucky to currently work for a company that believes strongly in a work/life balance.
Are there any work rituals critical to your success? I work in sprints. I spend around two hours at a time getting lost in my work and then I get up and go for a short walk and repeat.
What apps/software/tools can’t you live without? PhotoShop, Everything Google (analytics, drive, etc…), and Asana.
Last thing you do before leaving work? I double check that I have completed my list for the day and if there is anything left I create a new one for the start of the next day.
What’s your least favorite thing to do, and how do you deal with it? I do not enjoy writing, especially large pieces of content which is needed for marketing and websites. Writing is not my strong suit, but obviously most jobs involve a lot of writing. I will usually quickly write something up and have someone copy or edit it, or I will just straight up ask or hire someone else to do it for me.
What are you currently reading, or what’s something you’d recommend? “Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders.” I have just started it. I am not sure if I would recommend it yet.
Who are some mentors or influencers you wish to thank or acknowledge? I have a couple of college professors that really pushed me to do my best, Brian Kamp and Kristine Hwang.
Describe your workspace? Organized chaos; my desk is always a little messy.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? I mentioned earlier, “Fake it until you make it.” We are lucky enough to live in the day of the internet. It is so easy to google anything you don’t know.
Interested in becoming a “How I Work” spotlight? Contact Stephanie at [email protected] and she’ll be excited to come chat!
