Building Something Better
By Amy Jones
My 1000%-braver goal is founding a company and building an app that will change the way we feed on content—for good. I'm a first-time founder who is a life/progress coach + strategist by trade. So I'll be sharing stories of walking my talk in pursuit of this big, scary goal. I'll be sharing takeaways you can use, whether you're building a business or a more meaningful life. This is real, truthy-truth you can learn from and be inspired by. Here's to adventures in progress, feeling better about being human, and the occasional sprinkle of salty language. Check out the app: recollectbetter.com
Building Something BetterSep 03, 2018
00:00
22:51
The messy middle
Last few months have been teaching me some things and this episode is sharing about that. My Clever Brain desperately wants me to polish this up and come up with something cooler to write here, but I am going to override that suggestion and call this good enough. 🤓 it’s messy here, in the middle of a big scary goal.
Sep 10, 201921:12
Being brave
I am being brave right now. Literally. I'm in the experience of being—which is to say actually feeling—brave. It sucks. It's super uncomfortable. Kinda like when you're on an airplane that hits the turbulence that makes your stomach drop.
Since I was taking care of myself in this moment by writing in my journal (a thing I sometimes do); I decided—why not share it with you in real time? In my experience examples are incredibly helpful when teaching about being brave. That's why I'm here to be an example for you.
Which means: I'm feeling vulnerable and twitchy because that's a thing that happens when any human person is being brave. Yet I'm also feeling resolute in sharing what it's like for me because I know it's going to help some of you with whatever's going on in your life right now.
I make mention of a few things on this podcast—here are the links:
The article I wrote a couple years ago: How to be brave
The trampoline/rebounder I bought 7 years ago that still works like a champ
xx by WeFunder (accelerator for female founders)
Feb 13, 201940:36
Getting sucked into fear
This is a big one. I've been getting sucked into fear quite a bit lately and from some of the messages I've been receiving from our listeners, I know I'm not the only one.
To be human is also to be afraid. We may be smart, but we're also designed to get real scared when we do anything new. Or big. Or brilliant.
Which is to say that most days, I am afraid, if not terrified. It can be so easy to get sucked into that fear and the scary stories my Clever Brain comes up with.
I'm thinking of them like those riptides that suck people out to sea. Most people's instinct is to swim to shore and struggle against the powerful current. But the way we get out of riptides is kinda like the way we get out of overwhelming fear.
Sharing what that's like for me and how I navigate through it. It's what I've been practicing a lot this week. For anyone else who is daring to create something great, who is in the midst of a journey or adventure aka rollercoaster, I hope you'll find this comforting.
I also hope it will spark some inspiration for you and help you notice when you're in fear and take steps to move through it.
If you'd like to try out the Recollect prototype to see if it can help you navigate any emotion you're feeling, please request an invite here: recollectbetter.com
Jan 07, 201921:56
Bonus: The Latest
New here? Listen to THIS. By THIS, I mean the latest version of my sharing what we're doing here, why we're building something better, and what the hell that better thing is.
Of course, if you've been a listener to any of the previous episodes, you are very welcome, too. It's just that I realized Episode 1 was no longer the most relevant backstory for those who are new and wish to hear the story.
Here's the latest.
P/S If you wish to try out our prototype and get a taste of what Recollect feels like for you, please request an invite here: recollectbetter.com
Jan 06, 201924:01
Dancing with "DESIRE!"
Extra truthy today. Well, at least it feels that way.
Simply because wanting something so bad feels so damn vulnerable. UGHHH!
Hoping you can relate.
While my DESIRE! (that awkward spelling will make sense once you listen) is bringing Recollect into the world and giving us all a tool to help us feel so much better...yours is something else. Something so YOU.
Perhaps you've been keeping it inside. Maybe you've only told your journal. Or your dog. Maybe some friends! But you haven't yet summoned your courage to boldly state your desire because it's SCARY. It's so bloody uncomfortable.
Because what if we don't get what we desire? What if our burning, yearning thing doesn't turn out the way we want it to? When we want it to? Ughghghghgekekekekekahhhhhgggghghgh.
I'm in it. In this dance with desire, taking the next breath, the next right step and captaining my human vessel through this choppy bit.
The realest of real talk today. Please enjoy and if you feel so moved, join us at recollectbetter.com to request an invite.
Simply because wanting something so bad feels so damn vulnerable. UGHHH!
Hoping you can relate.
While my DESIRE! (that awkward spelling will make sense once you listen) is bringing Recollect into the world and giving us all a tool to help us feel so much better...yours is something else. Something so YOU.
Perhaps you've been keeping it inside. Maybe you've only told your journal. Or your dog. Maybe some friends! But you haven't yet summoned your courage to boldly state your desire because it's SCARY. It's so bloody uncomfortable.
Because what if we don't get what we desire? What if our burning, yearning thing doesn't turn out the way we want it to? When we want it to? Ughghghghgekekekekekahhhhhgggghghgh.
I'm in it. In this dance with desire, taking the next breath, the next right step and captaining my human vessel through this choppy bit.
The realest of real talk today. Please enjoy and if you feel so moved, join us at recollectbetter.com to request an invite.
Dec 09, 201840:03
Recollecting your Self
Been experimenting this week—seeing if our little prototype can help provide the right thing, right time according to situation, not solely based on what we're feeling in the moment.
Because, fundraising. Fundraising is my latest endeavor and something that I haven't done before—not in this way. Since I'm a human person, this new thing seems big and scary at times.
When I can remember, I can talk myself through the fear and get back to the truth. Which is: The funds are being raised. It's not a matter of if, but when. This is turning out. We're already on our way.
The thing is, it's real easy to forget that. I have a Clever Brain who loves to tell scary stories and distract me from that truth. Thus, the experiment.
I created a series of reminders and truths for myself that bring me back to what matters when I catch myself freaking out about fundraising.
This episode is me sharing about exactly what that means and how it's turned out so far.
Now, I realize you're not likely fundraising as well. You've probably got some other important or scary thing going on in your life. So many your Clever Brain has stories about your work or relationships or future or past. Thus, you'd be served by a different series of reminders.
Which is why we're building Recollect and why I'm offering Founding Members the opportunity to build a custom recollection of reminders that are specific to their life and their truth.
Founding Members can do this by requesting an invite to try our prototype (aka the "skateboard" version, which will make more sense once you sign up and receive the intro email). Then, I'll reach out with a link that makes it easy-peasy to set up.
If you're not a Founding Member? How about becoming one? All it takes is a $50 deposit toward your future membership. Sign up here: recollectbetter.com/join
Because, fundraising. Fundraising is my latest endeavor and something that I haven't done before—not in this way. Since I'm a human person, this new thing seems big and scary at times.
When I can remember, I can talk myself through the fear and get back to the truth. Which is: The funds are being raised. It's not a matter of if, but when. This is turning out. We're already on our way.
The thing is, it's real easy to forget that. I have a Clever Brain who loves to tell scary stories and distract me from that truth. Thus, the experiment.
I created a series of reminders and truths for myself that bring me back to what matters when I catch myself freaking out about fundraising.
This episode is me sharing about exactly what that means and how it's turned out so far.
Now, I realize you're not likely fundraising as well. You've probably got some other important or scary thing going on in your life. So many your Clever Brain has stories about your work or relationships or future or past. Thus, you'd be served by a different series of reminders.
Which is why we're building Recollect and why I'm offering Founding Members the opportunity to build a custom recollection of reminders that are specific to their life and their truth.
Founding Members can do this by requesting an invite to try our prototype (aka the "skateboard" version, which will make more sense once you sign up and receive the intro email). Then, I'll reach out with a link that makes it easy-peasy to set up.
If you're not a Founding Member? How about becoming one? All it takes is a $50 deposit toward your future membership. Sign up here: recollectbetter.com/join
Dec 03, 201824:26
Being in the in-between
The in-between moments of life are rather tough for many of us to handle. They're in between being "on" and looking like we have our shit together. They're in between the highlights and Instagramable moments.
Chatting about them today because I was inspired by a few lines in the movie I saw today. Bohemian Rhapsody tells a bit of the story of the rock band Queen and it's enigmatic singer, Freddie Mercury. While this is not a movie review, this chat is inspired by Freddie's mention of a "quest for distraction in the in-between moments."
That resonated with me very much—that's really what Recollect (our soon-to-be app) is all about. Helping us human as we move through the in-between moments that we often don't know what to do with.
Hope this will resonate with you, too. And if you haven't yet, please check out recollectbetter.com and request an invite to our test out our current prototype. It'll give you a taste of what magic is to come!
Chatting about them today because I was inspired by a few lines in the movie I saw today. Bohemian Rhapsody tells a bit of the story of the rock band Queen and it's enigmatic singer, Freddie Mercury. While this is not a movie review, this chat is inspired by Freddie's mention of a "quest for distraction in the in-between moments."
That resonated with me very much—that's really what Recollect (our soon-to-be app) is all about. Helping us human as we move through the in-between moments that we often don't know what to do with.
Hope this will resonate with you, too. And if you haven't yet, please check out recollectbetter.com and request an invite to our test out our current prototype. It'll give you a taste of what magic is to come!
Nov 25, 201814:56
Bringing Mindfulness to the masses
Mindfulness is for everyone. So many of us just don’t realize it yet.
Mindfulness is not just for some people who are spiritual or privileged or educated. It’s a simple practice of remembering to be present.
For the most part, humans are not great at being present—at least not in “modern” society. I’m not great it. I’ve gotten better over the years and continue to improve, but I wouldn’t say that I’m great at it.
Because it’s far too easy to forget to be present and dive back into our past and dissect what’s happened—or—to imagine a future and what might happen and how we’ll handle it.
This is what drives me to build something better and create a tool that I’ve been craving. Perhaps you’ve been craving it too.
I don’t want Mindfulness to be hard. I don’t want it to be complicated or “good” or for some people. I want it to be as easy as choosing a different app to tap—instead of the ones with endless scrolling.
I’m committed to Recollect honoring humanity—which is to respect our individual preferences, beliefs, and experiences. To not judge who is worthy is who is not. But to create a framework that is so lovely to use that anyone can fill it with whatever content matters to them.
We’re on our way. We’re making progress. We’ve got our first investor (super exciting) and we’re raising the money we need to take this next level.
If you haven’t heard: We’ve been testing the prototype version of Recollect with great success—if you’d like to join the community that’s using the prototype, please head to recollectbetter.com and request an invite!
Mindfulness is not just for some people who are spiritual or privileged or educated. It’s a simple practice of remembering to be present.
For the most part, humans are not great at being present—at least not in “modern” society. I’m not great it. I’ve gotten better over the years and continue to improve, but I wouldn’t say that I’m great at it.
Because it’s far too easy to forget to be present and dive back into our past and dissect what’s happened—or—to imagine a future and what might happen and how we’ll handle it.
This is what drives me to build something better and create a tool that I’ve been craving. Perhaps you’ve been craving it too.
I don’t want Mindfulness to be hard. I don’t want it to be complicated or “good” or for some people. I want it to be as easy as choosing a different app to tap—instead of the ones with endless scrolling.
I’m committed to Recollect honoring humanity—which is to respect our individual preferences, beliefs, and experiences. To not judge who is worthy is who is not. But to create a framework that is so lovely to use that anyone can fill it with whatever content matters to them.
We’re on our way. We’re making progress. We’ve got our first investor (super exciting) and we’re raising the money we need to take this next level.
If you haven’t heard: We’ve been testing the prototype version of Recollect with great success—if you’d like to join the community that’s using the prototype, please head to recollectbetter.com and request an invite!
Nov 20, 201827:16
When something happens
It's inevitable. Whether you're building a company or a relationship or a new habit, things will be going well enough until something happens. It's not so much a matter of if, but rather when.
For me, something happened a few weeks ago (I got sick) and I couldn't keep pace. As a recovering perfectionist, I'm claiming it a victory that I surrendered to my body and didn't try to keep all the plates spinning.
I concentrated on restoring my health and doing the next right thing.
Now that we're getting back into the swing, I have some very exciting news to share about Recollect and where we're headed.
Per usual, this episode is unpolished, truthy, and a bit messy. In other words—par for the course, when building something better.
If you'd like to learn more about the app or try out our prototype, head over the recollectbetter.com and request an invite. We'd love to have you!
For me, something happened a few weeks ago (I got sick) and I couldn't keep pace. As a recovering perfectionist, I'm claiming it a victory that I surrendered to my body and didn't try to keep all the plates spinning.
I concentrated on restoring my health and doing the next right thing.
Now that we're getting back into the swing, I have some very exciting news to share about Recollect and where we're headed.
Per usual, this episode is unpolished, truthy, and a bit messy. In other words—par for the course, when building something better.
If you'd like to learn more about the app or try out our prototype, head over the recollectbetter.com and request an invite. We'd love to have you!
Nov 14, 201856:22
Feeling all the feels
Life can have a lot of LIFE in it, you know? A lot of intense and often painful things swirling around—for us personally, for those we love, and for our countryfolk.
This has been a week of so many feels. So many intense feels. On multiple levels. Wanted to dig into this within a few contexts, as I'm sure you'll be able to relate to at least one, if not more.
This is something I get pretty fired up about. It's one of the primary reasons I decided to build Recollect and invite all of you to this party. I believe that until we can learn to allow all our feels, all the time, we're going to be paying the price. And the cost is high.
So, reflecting on what's been unfolding and what I've been learning from y'all—especially those of you who have been helping test our prototype a.k.a. the skateboard version of Recollect.
If you are curious about Recollect or the prototype, please check out recollectbetter.com and request an invite.
I remain incredibly excited about how this adventure in building is going. Lots going on I look forward to being able to share about soon. For now, let's talk feels. All feels welcome!
This has been a week of so many feels. So many intense feels. On multiple levels. Wanted to dig into this within a few contexts, as I'm sure you'll be able to relate to at least one, if not more.
This is something I get pretty fired up about. It's one of the primary reasons I decided to build Recollect and invite all of you to this party. I believe that until we can learn to allow all our feels, all the time, we're going to be paying the price. And the cost is high.
So, reflecting on what's been unfolding and what I've been learning from y'all—especially those of you who have been helping test our prototype a.k.a. the skateboard version of Recollect.
If you are curious about Recollect or the prototype, please check out recollectbetter.com and request an invite.
I remain incredibly excited about how this adventure in building is going. Lots going on I look forward to being able to share about soon. For now, let's talk feels. All feels welcome!
Oct 08, 201820:49
Wrestling with feeling tired
I know you know. And I'm guessing you struggle with it, too. This internal tussle of feeling tired and feeling like you don't have time for it. Like it's evidence of some kind of failure or weakness.
Well, my friends, it's evidence that you're a human person. And as a founder of a company, I am reminded daily that building anything great, making anything better, takes a shit ton of energy. And leaves us feeling tired—often on a daily basis.
Sharing how I'm sorting that out today and how I catch myself in the tussle. Giving you, as always, the truthy truth and the play-by-play of being better, whilst building something better.
I mention, as I do every episode, the app that we're building and in this phase of things, the prototype we're testing. If you're like to join us, go on and request an invite at recollectbetter.com.
Well, my friends, it's evidence that you're a human person. And as a founder of a company, I am reminded daily that building anything great, making anything better, takes a shit ton of energy. And leaves us feeling tired—often on a daily basis.
Sharing how I'm sorting that out today and how I catch myself in the tussle. Giving you, as always, the truthy truth and the play-by-play of being better, whilst building something better.
I mention, as I do every episode, the app that we're building and in this phase of things, the prototype we're testing. If you're like to join us, go on and request an invite at recollectbetter.com.
Oct 01, 201819:04
Deciding what kind of time you have
None of us know how much time we have here on our sweet planet.
Each of us gets to decide what we do with it.
I've been deciding what to do with mine.
Which is why I'm sharing about a decision that I've been weighing this week as I build my startup, Love Saves Lives (which is all about building Recollect). It's a big one.
Hoping that you'll find some inspiration or food for thought as you see this in your life. Because too often, we don't really consider this sort of thing until something awful happens.
Might we all be so wise to consider this before we lose a job or navigate a divorce or receive a terminal diagnosis or lose someone we can't live without.
Let's decide before the next time life tries to decide for us.
Read on: www.recollectbetter.com/podcast/2018/9/23/deciding-what-kind-of-time-you-have
Each of us gets to decide what we do with it.
I've been deciding what to do with mine.
Which is why I'm sharing about a decision that I've been weighing this week as I build my startup, Love Saves Lives (which is all about building Recollect). It's a big one.
Hoping that you'll find some inspiration or food for thought as you see this in your life. Because too often, we don't really consider this sort of thing until something awful happens.
Might we all be so wise to consider this before we lose a job or navigate a divorce or receive a terminal diagnosis or lose someone we can't live without.
Let's decide before the next time life tries to decide for us.
Read on: www.recollectbetter.com/podcast/2018/9/23/deciding-what-kind-of-time-you-have
Sep 23, 201824:16
Being willing to disappoint
When does disappointing people (or risking it) actually serving a greater purpose? This is the question that I've been marinating on today. At Female Founder School this week, we were challenged to narrow our focus to our early adopters and solving their most critical problem. Doing so is important and necessary for building this app—this requires me temporarily prioritizing some folks more so than others and I kinda hate that. I know it's the right thing to do intellectually, but it still feels damn uncomfortable.
Maybe you're also building a business. Maybe your'e not. Maybe you're a human person who is needing to focus on serving one person or group or yourself for a season—with very good reason.
Doesn't mean it's easy. Here's how I'm navigating and what it's really like behind the scenes. More truthy truth!
Want to know more about this app I keep referring to? Maybe you're an early adopter? Request an invite: recollectbetter.com
Also, if you're curious: femalefounderschool.com
Maybe you're also building a business. Maybe your'e not. Maybe you're a human person who is needing to focus on serving one person or group or yourself for a season—with very good reason.
Doesn't mean it's easy. Here's how I'm navigating and what it's really like behind the scenes. More truthy truth!
Want to know more about this app I keep referring to? Maybe you're an early adopter? Request an invite: recollectbetter.com
Also, if you're curious: femalefounderschool.com
Sep 17, 201823:16
Getting better at getting rejections
Y'all. I so wanted this one.
I wanted so much to be invited to an accelerator that would have given me an incredible opportunity to learn from some amazing women and immerse myself in building this app for three months. It also would have come with enough money to get this prototype we currently have to the next level.
Yet, it turns out I was part of the 99%+ of applicants that didn't get in.
And that feels shitty. Even though the odds were super small (I didn't realize how small).
This podcast episode is not about telling you that you shouldn't feel shitty when you receive a rejection. It's not about glossing over the physical pang you get when you hear the news. Or ignoring the weight of waking up in the morning and having a split second before remembering that it didn't turn out as you'd hoped.
This is not about telling you to buck up and have "better luck next time!"
This is what really happened and what I really do to get better.
Request an invite: recollectbetter.com
I wanted so much to be invited to an accelerator that would have given me an incredible opportunity to learn from some amazing women and immerse myself in building this app for three months. It also would have come with enough money to get this prototype we currently have to the next level.
Yet, it turns out I was part of the 99%+ of applicants that didn't get in.
And that feels shitty. Even though the odds were super small (I didn't realize how small).
This podcast episode is not about telling you that you shouldn't feel shitty when you receive a rejection. It's not about glossing over the physical pang you get when you hear the news. Or ignoring the weight of waking up in the morning and having a split second before remembering that it didn't turn out as you'd hoped.
This is not about telling you to buck up and have "better luck next time!"
This is what really happened and what I really do to get better.
Request an invite: recollectbetter.com
Sep 09, 201823:43
Discovering that you don't suck
For as long as I can remember, I've had this voice in my head that's been awfully convincing. It's done everything it can to persuade me that I'm not good enough as I am, that people don't care about what I create, and that I'm delusional if I think I can contribute something meaningful.
Clearly, that voice is an asshole. And we've all got one.
I call it our Clever Brain. I suppose scientists call it the amygdala. Same, same.
If we don't understand how this sucker works, the consequences are devastating. If we listen to that voice prattle on about how we're not enough and we believe it, nobody wins. If we don't see it for what it is and choose to make something anyway, we cannot come fully alive and give what we're meant to give.
I know this, as a coach. I walk it, as an entrepreneur.
This chat today is about how I do that—taking you behind-the-scenes and into my head/heart for the human part of creating technology.
Request an invite for the app: recollectbetter.com
Clearly, that voice is an asshole. And we've all got one.
I call it our Clever Brain. I suppose scientists call it the amygdala. Same, same.
If we don't understand how this sucker works, the consequences are devastating. If we listen to that voice prattle on about how we're not enough and we believe it, nobody wins. If we don't see it for what it is and choose to make something anyway, we cannot come fully alive and give what we're meant to give.
I know this, as a coach. I walk it, as an entrepreneur.
This chat today is about how I do that—taking you behind-the-scenes and into my head/heart for the human part of creating technology.
Request an invite for the app: recollectbetter.com
Sep 03, 201822:51
Wrestling with the urge to conclude
We humans aren't fans of not knowing stuff. We much prefer to assess situations, gather evidence, and make a determination ASAP.
This is working/This is not working.
He's the one/He's not the one.
I'm doing better/I'm doing worse.
This is a real human thing we do throughout our days in various areas of our lives. I'm wrestling with it in the context of building a new technology and testing whether or not this hypothesis I have actually works. This is the story of that and how I navigate as a first-time founder and creator of a new technology (not knowing what the hell is going on).
Not knowing is actually OK. Not that it often *feels* OK.
Find out what this app is that we're building and request an invite: recollectbetter.com
This is working/This is not working.
He's the one/He's not the one.
I'm doing better/I'm doing worse.
This is a real human thing we do throughout our days in various areas of our lives. I'm wrestling with it in the context of building a new technology and testing whether or not this hypothesis I have actually works. This is the story of that and how I navigate as a first-time founder and creator of a new technology (not knowing what the hell is going on).
Not knowing is actually OK. Not that it often *feels* OK.
Find out what this app is that we're building and request an invite: recollectbetter.com
Aug 26, 201812:02
Embarrassed + unprepared is an excellent place to start.
Amy Jones, here. I’m a life coach + strategist who has also founded a company (Love Saves Lives) to build an app that will help millions of us humans feel better. I call it Recollect.
It’s an entirely new kind of content feed that serves up the right content at the right time so that we feel better right away. I’m creating this podcast to invite you into the adventure and story of how a community of us are dedicated to building something better.
The co-Founder of LinkedIn famously said that if you release your technology and aren’t a bit embarrassed, you waited too long. I can assure you that I feel a bit embarrassed and not like I’m “ready” to do this.
As a coach, I know those are excellent signs that indicate I’m simply being brave and showing up as I am with what I’ve got.
I’m here to give you the behind-the-scenes of what it’s really like to build a movement and go after a big, scary dream. To request an invite to this amazing app we’re building, go to: recollectbetter.com
It’s an entirely new kind of content feed that serves up the right content at the right time so that we feel better right away. I’m creating this podcast to invite you into the adventure and story of how a community of us are dedicated to building something better.
The co-Founder of LinkedIn famously said that if you release your technology and aren’t a bit embarrassed, you waited too long. I can assure you that I feel a bit embarrassed and not like I’m “ready” to do this.
As a coach, I know those are excellent signs that indicate I’m simply being brave and showing up as I am with what I’ve got.
I’m here to give you the behind-the-scenes of what it’s really like to build a movement and go after a big, scary dream. To request an invite to this amazing app we’re building, go to: recollectbetter.com
Aug 13, 201832:24