Hi, I’m Cooper!

If you’re reading this, you’re probably working with me or wondering what it would be like to work with me! The purpose of this doc is to give you some context on what I’m like as a coworker and as a person.

This was inspired by the trend of manager READMEs that was floating around hacker news a while back. I’m writing this in the hopes that the trend takes off more broadly – I’d love to have a little guide to the working styles of everyone you work closely with!

Note that this doc is W.I.P. (and so am I)! It’s a list of preferences weakly held. Don’t worry if our preferred working styles don’t mesh at face value - knowing that will only help us figure out how best to work together. Nothing in here is etched in stone. 🙂

Professional Interests

  • I possess the ability to swiftly adapt to new systems or practices, independently analyze them, and proficiently implement them with minimal external guidance or support.
  • I lean towards being a generalist rather than a specialist. My expertise spans a broad spectrum of digital marketing and technical domains.
  • I am passionate about unraveling complex logistical puzzles. Marketing operations, in particular, captivates me with its intriguing challenges and the thrilling prospects it offers to enhance the effectiveness of marketers.

Communication Style

  • While I enjoy verbal discussions for various matters, I prioritize written communication in business for several reasons. It enables well-thought-out, concise, uninterrupted presentation of ideas and facilitates easy tracking[1]. Additionally, not all business interactions are conducted in writing, so summarizing and documenting verbal discussions helps maintain accurate records.
  • While I tend to avoid excessive meetings, I greatly value action-oriented ones. I particularly appreciate meetings with well-defined agendas and expected outcomes. In my view, every meeting should conclude with clear next steps, responsibilities assigned, and deadlines established.
  • An important exception to my inclination to avoid meetings is one-on-one sessions, which I find invaluable for fostering a deeper understanding of one another, exchanging feedback, and assessing our satisfaction with our work. If we collaborate closely but lack a regular schedule for one-on-one discussions, I believe it's essential we address this.
  • NoHello fan[2]

Working Culture

  • I'm goofy and like to have fun at work and in life but also work hard and am results focused.
  • I prioritize empathy and believe in maintaining a workplace free from hostility and discomfort. If I observe behavior that makes myself or a colleague uncomfortable, I'm inclined to address it through one-on-one communication. Similarly, if my actions ever make you uncomfortable, I encourage you to directly inform me. However, if you're uncomfortable doing so, please feel free to share your concerns with someone who can relay the message.
  • I highly value feedback as I believe it is a valuable gift. I encourage you to share your feedback with me, whether it's positive or negative, as soon as it arises. Early, direct, and consistent feedback is crucial for achieving excellence in our work. After all, a little bit of validation is something we can all benefit from.
  • I prioritize work-life balance, firmly believing that your personal well-being should be your top priority. From a business perspective, it's clear that content and balanced individuals tend to produce their best work.
  • I maintain a positive perspective and consistently seek the silver lining in any situation. Rather than dwelling on less favorable outcomes, I prefer to channel my efforts into finding solutions for improvement. When circumstances are beyond our control, I shift my focus to what I can influence and take action accordingly.

Personal Interests

  • Family: Family holds a special place in my life, and I prioritize spending quality time with them.
  • Exploration & Adventure: I have a passion for hiking and have explored various trails in the Boundary Waters region, including Snowbank Lake, the Border Route Trail, and parts of the Superior Hiking Trail.
  • Reading & Writing: I find writing to be a valuable tool for learning[3][4]. While I have been a long-time reader of non-fiction, I recently broadened my horizons by incorporating fiction into my reading list[5].
  • Collector of Hobbies: I thrive on learning new things and have a penchant for picking up new hobbies, making me a versatile generalist.
  • Inspired by Tim Ferriss: I'm a follower of Tim Ferriss, drawing inspiration from his work and ideas.

Miscellaneous Quirks

  • When I'm actively engaged in work, I prefer to be contacted through non-interruptive means such as email or chat messages. I regularly check these when I reach a suitable break point in my tasks. Interruptions can significantly disrupt my workflow and require extra time to regain my previous focus.
  • I tend to work from 8:00am to 5:00pm.
  • A single screen improves focus.

Let's do awesome work together!

Inspired By

Footnotes

[1]: I like how Basecamp explains the value of pitching an idea here.
[2]: Check out https://www.nohello.com/
[3]: Gregory Gundersen does a fantastic job explaining how writing helps.
[4]: See Dick Guindon's quote
[5]: I don't currently recall what it was that I read but I just found this post by Hannah Frankman that does a good job explaining it.

Last updated: October 03, 2023 @ 15:03 (CDT)