Behind The Scenes: Our Product & Offer Development Loop with Program Manager, Caitlin O’Bryant
Episode 784: Show Notes
Joining us in this episode is Boss Project’s Program Manager and Creative Director, Caitlin O’Bryant. She is an integral part of the team and contributes to a broad mix of things, but she’s here today to discuss our development cycle, how we go from idea to launch to product, and offer improvement!
After attending design school in Seattle, Caitlin took the leap and started her own business as a wedding stationery designer. Five years later, 2020 happened. By the time things had stabilized, she realized she had lost her spark for stationery. That’s when she applied for the role of Graphic Designer at Boss Project. The rest is history!
We’re in a brand new phase. So often we’re just sharing the end project, but today we want to give you some insight into how things start out as just an idea and what it looks like to make those edits. Let’s dive in.
Listen on your favorite podcast player
A Peek Behind the Scenes: Developing New Ideas at Boss Project
It starts with a conversation. That’s the initial spark. We all have unique perspectives at Boss Project and we have a culture where we all feel comfortable to ask ‘what if?’. Sometimes it’s a five-minute conversation and other times it's a three-hour meeting. We take the time to vet and consider each idea fully. We’ve been in active development for the new version of the co-op since the beginning of the year. The initial phase of a project is pretty standard for ideas of every size. However, bigger projects require more meetings along the way to analyze new information and implement new changes and edits.
What’s Behind Our MVP Process
Something that’s crucial for how our business runs, and to keep it running is MVPs. A big lesson that we’ve learned through this mechanism is that constant development and analysis are necessary. Even if you perfect something before bringing it to launch, there are likely to be changes you have to make afterward. When an idea is there, part of the testing phase is often selling it before development. There is so much that we learn during the sales process.
How We Embrace Continuous Improvement
Even when you excel at something, you have to be willing to assess whether it's worth it from a time perspective. That’s what’s behind our continuous improvement loop. We’re not set on the process. When you’re doing the same thing over and over again, it’s so important to regularly evaluate it and then formalize those thoughts. One of the ways we make sure of this is through a debriefing meeting. We sit down and consider who the client is, their industry, the fit, our deliverables, how long it took, what we charged, and more. We also gather feedback from the client through a call with them. But before we worked with them, we found that we were jumping the gun a little bit. So, we slowed down and we added a stopping point. This came in the form of a presentation of the strategy we had created for the client.
What it Means to Manage Productivity by Taking it One Detail at a Time
It would be really easy to let our ideas stay ideas. But if you constantly bite off a little bit at a time, it’s so much easier to create traction in the long run. There’s something we need to highlight with all this in mind. There’s a difference between making changes along the way and tweaking so much and so often because you’re not confident in your work. It takes skill to discern the difference and to manage feedback effectively. Everything we do at Boss Project is either about speeding up the time it takes you to complete something or making you more money. As you grow, it’s so important to keep delivering your offer while you introduce new things, otherwise, you’re going to feel like you’re starting over from zero!
A Few Ways Our Team Stays Creative
Boss Project has been so many things. So how do we stay creative when we’re committed to one particular model? We’re currently working on a massive rebuild of the Creative Template Shop. In the meantime, we’re also doing shop drops, talking about podcasting, and more. There’s a lot of variety in our day-to-day, and we all encourage one another to find creativity outside of work too. It’s about building the life around you where you can access different kinds of creativity. Generally, if you’re building a business it's because you have ideas! So you have to have the discernment to know the difference between what to do now, what to bank for the future, and what to enjoy for its own sake.
We have a really amazing group of people working behind the scenes at Boss Project! Each member is an integral part of running the business. And so are you! Because you listen and participate, we are able to do what we do, and we are here for you! I want you to feel like this is a safe place, and you can be who you are. That’s why I created the Organic Workshop! Join us there to find some of the much-needed support you need to make the most of your business and put your life first.
Quote This
If you constantly bite off a little bit at a time, it’s so much easier to make traction over time.
Highlights
A Peek Behind the Scenes: Developing New Ideas at Boss Project [0:05:54]
What’s Behind Our MVP Process [0:11:08]
How We Embrace Continuous Improvement [0:04:22]
What it Means to Manage Productivity by Taking it One Detail at a Time [0:22:14]
A Few Ways Our Team Stays Creative [0:34:23]
OUR GUEST:
Caitlin O’Bryant
Caitlin on Instagram | Caitlin’s previous business Instagram
Caitlin O’Bryant is the Program Manager and Creative Director at Boss Project. She is an integral part of the team and contributes to many different business areas. From building client websites and improving client experience to managing programs, developing the curriculum, and so much more!
Key Topics:
Business Planning, Ideas, Brainstorming, Getting Organized, Business Development
