Do you have someone in your life that is the ShizNit? Someone who is always there for support? For me in business that is Nancy Goldstein of Compass X Strategy.  She is my business teammate and functions as our Chief Marketing Officer for JOUZGE; i.e. she gives a ton of time, energy and brilliance but doesn’t get paid as much as she should- what a gig, huh?

We had a very intense 2015 year for my start-up company JOUZGE. While we laughed and cried recapping the year, I asked Nancy “What are three things (see the Law of Threes* below) I can do to make our working relationship better?” and this is where she adds some brilliance. Nancy says “Oh, I like this, it’s similar to a military term called After Action Review.”  This was new to me as I do not come from  a military background or corporate America, where these terms have been used and modified.  

Background: In simple terms, After Action Review- AAR was developed by United States Army and incorporates the following 4 principles:

1. Assess what was the goal
2. Look at what actually happened
3. Identify what parts of the plan worked and which ones did not
4. TAKE NEW ACTION NOW or seriously don’t bother with the above

This is something that can be applied to anything. For example, what if a class, a friendship, a sport, an activity, etc. is just not going the way you want it? Apply the AAR, see the four principles above, and act on how you can move forward.

I will use the example with Nancy and myself:

1. Assess the GOAL. OMG, I need a team! I cannot remind girls they have jouzge by myself.
2. What actually happened? We do not have a revenue stream yet as we are pre-launch.  Which means we cannot afford to pay people to do work on a regular basis at this stage. Who is in a position to give the extra percent while not being compensated appropriately? How will we reward and incentivize them?
3. Heck Yes That is Working and Let’s NOT Do That Again
   • What works:
     • appreciation for hard work and a job well done- a thank you goes a long way
     • finding mentors and advisors. I have some AMAZING people that help guide me.
     • finding people who believe in your mission, what you are doing and are superheroes…insert Nancy, Lauren Galley, and several others here who will remain nameless but know who they are.
   • What does not work:
     • Asking for the sun and the moon but not compensating for such. People must get a return on their investment. This can be anything from a business to friendship. You must ABSOLUTELY find a way to give back.
       
     • Don’t listen to everyone. Not everyone knows what they are doing in all circumstances. Listening to others is great but not everyone always understands your vision and mission. It is important to focus your time and energy with those that can truly help you deliver.
       
     • Do not procrastinate the hard stuff whether this is work, school, or a friendship. Dig in and get it done. The stuff you want to do does NOT get done in your absence.
       
4. Take New Action and Figure it out! We are setting up an advisory board which allows for board members to receive a future economic interest (incentive) and allows for a capital contribution(lights on). These are people that have experience, have given critical feedback, and bring something to the table that I do not with regards to knowledge(team). Additionally, these folks can and will hold me accountable for launch (figure out the hard stuff). They execute on deliverables, ie. they say they are going to do something and they do it.

The most important part of the AAR is #4. As mentioned DO NOT BOTHER with the first three if you are not going to take action.  If not it is all just hot air. You are here because you want to change something. So do it and rely on your team to hold you to it.  Your hard work will inspire your friends to deliver on their own AAR. Number 4 will be the hardest but after all you’ve got this…you’ve got so much jouzge.

To the Power of GIRL,

 

 

^*What is the Law of Threes? I have this thing, always improve on three things(at least a year), if I am irritated with three or more people then I know it is actually me causing the trouble, get up and move after three hours of work, eat three servings of veggies a day, three chances you are out, …you see where this is going. Silly? Maybe but it totally works and keeps me in check.

 

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