Bloc Thinking

As an independent, either solo-entrepreneur, freelance or consultant, you constantly have to negotiate and prove your value to your (potential) clients. It is a painful exercise that very few are prepared to face at the start of their adventure. Unfortunately, this quickly can become the main culprit for the anxiety and stress that characterize too often the solo experience.

This week, we all discovered that the simple detail that was missing for companies around the world to suddenly discover the wonderful advantages of remote working was... a global pandemic. Now, millions of workers are supposed to become immediately productive in an environment that they, often, never associated with work.

Every single January, most of us go through the same ritual: full of hope, we set up ambitious goals for ourselves for the new year. Then comes the installation of new productivity apps encouraged by pervasive App stores, persuading us that this is the solution. We all know what happens too often next. A few months later, we wither in disappointment and self-doubt.

Ah, the freedom of freelancing, of being your own boss! The concept of running your own business is enthralling, however, very few take the steps towards self-employment. And of those, a good amount drops out of the adventure after just a few months. Are you wondering if you had what it takes to become a successful solo-entrepreneur? Then, this episode is for you. Werner and Jonathan discuss the l...

And we’re back! 2020, new year and new iteration for our beloved show Bloc Thinking. Starting today, during each episode, we will focus on a question that you asked us, during more focused shows that will last less than 30 minutes. Short, focused, efficient but with the same energy that characterised our duo.

Wishing our listeners a prosperous 2020. Keep an ear out for us, Jono and Werner will be in your feed soon.

It's the end of the year and the traditional time for assessments. Both Werner and Jonathan reflect on what went well in 2019 and what they need to work on and improve in 2020. Werner talks about his desire to focus his efforts on structure and process while Jonathan shares how 2019 went well for him and how he wants to continue to do more of what he did during that year. They then talk about the...

Werner and Jono just got back from Berlin and Amsterdam respectively. Jonathan was invited to speak about a project he's doing in West Africa, and Werner attended the inaugural Event Design Collective Mastermind. Both events provided them with an opportunity to reflect on business in Africa and at home.

Jono and I want to create something else with this platform. Maybe it's time to do something real, something that could gather our listeners around a topic we all care about. Let's face it; we are tired about talking about senior, junior, UX vs UI ... maybe we should be talking about creating sustainable businesses and how we can avoid getting screwed over by the man.

Buying the right gear and software for your business can cause headaches and unnecessary strain on your budget. Yet, sometimes you have to take the plunge, and we don't blame you if you get excited about that new piece of kit. Werner's excitement about a recent purchase, to support an upcoming project, takes us on an unplanned detour into the world of AV hardware and the software.

Jono's hit a downer this week. I'm sure you've had the same in your business or freelancing practice. We share some honest thoughts and cheer each other up as we continue to be grateful for this adventure of 'self-determination' that we're on. We also have a small reading challenge - if you're like to join us.

We gave each other a homework assignment, read 'Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future' by Peter Thiel. We share what we gained from this reading this book (and how it might benefit you).

Running your own business has its ups, downs and challenges. Jonathan and I share what we've been doing the last few week's wrapping up with Jono's review of the recent Framer Loupe 2019 event he attended in Amsterdam.

Ahmad Kadhim Head of Design @mytimesaved (Canada) joined us as a special co-host. Together we explore what it means to work remote and to leverage the freedom in a meaningful way. We ask whether formal studies still makes sense. What about having a varied background with a diverse set of skills? Is it an asset, or might it weigh you down?

Jono is on his way to Framer Loupe, and I still love Omnigraffle. Figma, Sketch, Framer and Jonathan's awesome new business cards - yes he is a product manager. What do all this mean? We huddle together in a room to discuss all this and bid each other safe journeys.

Starting your own 'sideshow' requires some structure and planning, especially if you have to do it with limited additional investment. We dedicate the bulk of the show discussing a tool we created to help you structure your ideas and bootstrap your gig. We also spend a few minutes, at the start to reflect and pay tribute to a South African legend and what his work meant to Werner and Jono.

Listen to your body; keep track of what you are eating and how you are keeping yourself busy. In the episode, Jonathan sign's up for a gym membership, and Werner explores the world of intermittent fasting and tightening the belt on email and interruptions from Donald Trump. Design your life, your work, your health, ​and love.​

Productivity. A topic covered by a serial procrastinator and a man who takes his focus to the next level. Jonathan and I chat about our strategies and the software we use to keep ourselves focused and on track. Well, mostly.

We reflect on some of the topics the speakers at Product Camp Gdynia sparked this year. Fads, methods, product development, foreign accents and Werner's awesome new pencil are just some of the topics covered in this episode.

Sometimes you just hit the record button to catch up with an old friend. Jonathan Gall and I reflect on our respective professional journeys since becoming self-employed here in Poland. The pitfalls and insights after beyond the safety of our former cubicles.

Maciej Saganowski is the mastermind behind Ultimo Studio a boutique consultancy located in the North of Poland. His experience in Sales and Marketing has given him a strong business understanding which he believes will be a crucial skill as designers move from general UX roles into Product Design and Development.

A prolific explorer and entrepreneur Damian Madray moved to Silicon Valley where he co-founded The Glint; a collective of creators with the aim to bring people together to connect in deeply authentic ways. This paved the way to his new project, a start-up titled, Presence. It is here that he is focusing on, what he calls an 'enquiry' into how Experiences can be scaled in a sustainable way.

Iryna Oleksiuk and Adam Liwiński is part of the volunteer team designing TEDxWarsaw 2019. Iryna takes care of event-experience while Adam, a TEDx veteran, is the project owner. We peek behind the (Polish) red circle to give you a taste of what (and who) it takes to create this event along with a few handy tips for the next time you get on stage. Psst. Listen to the clip after the end credits to fi...

No one ever said that it's going to be easy starting your own business. Meet Joanna Skorupska, for a candid discussion on getting fired, discovering the maker movement and finding your calling in life (sometimes in the most remote and unexpected places). Joanna is the founder of Radicalzz studio, where she has made it her mission to accelerate the sustainability and innovation practices in the fie...

Starting the new year nice and easy with a few good books and perhaps some Tacos and a good Mexican beer. This episode was recorded in San Diego California and is a rundown of my favourite books of 2018. If you love reading about design, and topics related to becoming more aware then this would be for you. It's also a handy primer, just in case you get locked up, and you're not sure which book to...