Matt Curtis on Why Transparency is Key to Collaboration Success

In Chapter 19 of 20 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, Matt Curtis answers "What Have You Found to Be the Keys to Creating Successful Project Collaborations?" Curtis finds the key to a successful project collaboration is being transparent. For Curtis, transparency opens a collaborative conversation or negotiation more directly toward moving forward with a solutions-focused outcome.

Matt Curtis is the director of government relations at HomeAway Inc. Previously he was deputy to Austin mayors Lee Leffingwell and Will Wynn. He has represented the City of Austin at the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National League of Cities. In 2011, Curtis joined the Harvard Kennedy School Urban Policy Advisory Board to work on national best practices facing American cities. He earned his bachelor's degree in radio, television and film from the University of North Texas. 

Bijoy Goswami on Why to Get Eight Hours of Sleep Every Night

In Chapter 8 of 17 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, community leader Bijoy Goswami answers "What Role Do Habits and Routines Play into Your Pursuit of Living a More Fulfilled Life?" Over his life, Goswami finds adhering to sleeping eight hours a night helps him stay fresh and healthy. He notes how getting enough sleep is as or more important than having a healthy diet and exercising regularly. He shares how he shifted his behavior from childhood early wake-ups to adult life as a late person who sleeps in before starting his day.

Bijoy Goswami is a writer, teacher, and community leader based in Austin, Texas. He develops learning models to help individuals, organizations and communities live more meaningfully. Previously, he co-founded Aviri Software after working at Trilogy Software. Goswami graduated from Stanford University. 

Bijoy Goswami on How to Make Progress By Living in the Present

In Chapter 11 of 17 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, community leader Bijoy Goswami answers "As a Business Owner, How Do You Decide What Time Horizon to Focus on in Your Work?" Goswami finds he is more capable of achieving goals by living in the present and not making long-term plans. He embraces living on a journey that often takes unexpected turns and gives himself flexibility to take those turns when things go differently than planned.

Bijoy Goswami is a writer, teacher, and community leader based in Austin, Texas. He develops learning models to help individuals, organizations and communities live more meaningfully. Previously, he co-founded Aviri Software after working at Trilogy Software. Goswami graduated from Stanford University. 

Bijoy Goswami on How to Turn Constraints Into Opportunities

In Chapter 16 of 17 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, community leader Bijoy Goswami answers "How Are You Learning to Do More With Less?" Goswami shares how it is not about doing more with less but recognizing that doing more with more is a better way achieved by taking a different point of view on the situation. He references the bootstrap metaphor from the Baron Munchausen story where Munchausen pulls himself up by magical bootstraps to have himself and his horse from drowning in a swamp.

Bijoy Goswami is a writer, teacher, and community leader based in Austin, Texas. He develops learning models to help individuals, organizations and communities live more meaningfully. Previously, he co-founded Aviri Software after working at Trilogy Software. Goswami graduated from Stanford University. 

Bijoy Goswami on Finding Strength Through Conscious Living

In Chapter 17 of 17 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, community leader Bijoy Goswami answers "At This Moment in Time, What Are the Sources of Strength and Struggle in Your Life?" Goswami shares how he tries to live a life where he consistenty expands his consciouness through experiencing and learning. He struggles when he tries things when the situation or timing is not right but ultimately finds strength through the process of embracing and not retreating from new experiences.

Bijoy Goswami is a writer, teacher, and community leader based in Austin, Texas. He develops learning models to help individuals, organizations and communities live more meaningfully. Previously, he co-founded Aviri Software after working at Trilogy Software. Goswami graduated from Stanford University. 

Audrey French on Overcoming Self-Doubt to Live a More Fulfilled Life

In Chapter 15 of 21 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, new mother Audrey Parker French answers "What Role Do Habits and Routines Play into Your Pursuit of Living a More Fulfilled Life?" French shares how she has used neurolinguistic programming techniques to identify subconscious behaviors and shed negative ones and use positive ones. She pushes herself to get over issues of doubting herself when making decisions and appreciating that as a new mother she will make mistakes and be able to correct them over time.

Audrey Parker French is a new mother living with her husband and son in Austin, Texas. Before leaving work to focus on family, French co-founded CLEAResult, an energy management consulting firm she helped grow to #144 on the 2010 Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies and then sell to General Catalyst Partners. She graduated from Wake Forest University. 

Courtney Spence on Learning to Do More With Less

In Chapter 5 of 20 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, nonprofit CEO Courtney Spence answers "How Are You Learning to Do More With Less?" Spence shares how having a new responsibility of raising a girl in kindergarten has shifted budget toward her schooling and away from eating out at restaurants. Spence also finds she does more with less at work by graphing resource commitments to projects.

Courtney Spence is founder and CEO of Students of the World, a nonprofit empowering a diverse network of student and emerging filmmakers to apply storytelling skills in purposeful work. She is also the Founder and CEO of CSpence group, a creative agency building millennial-focused content and programs for brands. Spence earned a BA from Duke University. 

Courtney Spence on How to Avoid Burnout Working a Fast-Paced Job

In Chapter 6 of 20 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, nonprofit CEO Courtney Spence answers "How Do You Avoid Burnout and Maintain Performance Working a Fast-Paced Job?" Spence shares how the last six to nine months before her interview has been one of the most difficult times of her life. In that period, she has also experienced great joy, getting married and becoming a step-parent. Never one to work out regularly, she finds regular workouts and acupuncture wellness therapy help keep her more present at work and with family.

Courtney Spence is founder and CEO of Students of the World, a nonprofit empowering a diverse network of student and emerging filmmakers to apply storytelling skills in purposeful work. She is also the Founder and CEO of CSpence group, a creative agency building millennial-focused content and programs for brands. Spence earned a BA from Duke University. 

Courtney Spence on Listening to Needs First and Teaching Second

In Chapter 10 of 20 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, nonprofit CEO Courtney Spence answers "How Are You Becoming a Better Teacher?" As a company leader and as a parent, Spence finds becoming a better teacher is about listening first and teaching second. In a world where everyone has an opinion and listening seems to get harder to do, she finds it is more important than ever to prioritize.

Courtney Spence is founder and CEO of Students of the World, a nonprofit empowering a diverse network of student and emerging filmmakers to apply storytelling skills in purposeful work. She is also the Founder and CEO of CSpence group, a creative agency building millennial-focused content and programs for brands. Spence earned a BA from Duke University. 

Courtney Spence on Overcoming a Fear of Confrontation at Work

In Chapter 18 of 20 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, nonprofit CEO Courtney Spence answers "What Has Experience Taught You About How to Better Manage Confrontation at Work?" Spence shares how avoiding confrontation is a problem she is working to solve as a leader. She notes how she has started to face confrontation as it has come up in her office, especially when she decided to relocate her organization from Austin to San Francisco.

Courtney Spence is founder and CEO of Students of the World, a nonprofit empowering a diverse network of student and emerging filmmakers to apply storytelling skills in purposeful work. She is also the Founder and CEO of CSpence group, a creative agency building millennial-focused content and programs for brands. Spence earned a BA from Duke University. 

Hattie Elliot on How Optimism Builds Relationship Trust

In Chapter 3 of 15 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, entrepreneur Hattie Elliot answers "How Do You Establish Trust When Building Relationships?" Elliot shares her optimistic philosophy on believing others are good people and trustworthy until they prove you wrong. She finds that while the approach may not always work, the optimism she brings into relationships has helped her build a business around relationships and develop trusting friendships she builds over time.

Hattie Grace Elliot is the founder and CEO of The Grace List, a social networking company that creates destination events and experiences to forge lasting personal and professional connections across its young professional members. Elliot graduated from the University of Cape Town in South Africa, where she studied economics, philosophy, and politics.

Hattie Elliot on How Finding Love Changes Entrepreneur Aspirations

In Chapter 5 of 15 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, entrepreneur Hattie Elliot answers "How is Your Long-Term Perspective on the Future of Your Business Changing Over Time?" After finding someone special and getting into a committed relationship, Elliot rethinks her long-term goals for her business. Whereas in the past she was patient, she now looks at more aggressive ways to ramp up her business and position it to be sold in coming years.

Hattie Grace Elliot is the founder and CEO of The Grace List, a social networking company that creates destination events and experiences to forge lasting personal and professional connections across its young professional members. Elliot graduated from the University of Cape Town in South Africa, where she studied economics, philosophy, and politics.

Hattie Elliot on What It Means to Be a Leader Running a Small Business

In Chapter 14 of 15 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, entrepreneur Hattie Elliot answers "What Does It Mean to Be a Leader in What You Do?" Elliot shares how being an entrepreneurial leader running a small business starts with waking up each day and making the most of it. It means fighting through adversity and challenge, staying honest with others, being optimistic about reality, and never playing the role of a victim.

Hattie Grace Elliot is the founder and CEO of The Grace List, a social networking company that creates destination events and experiences to forge lasting personal and professional connections across its young professional members. Elliot graduated from the University of Cape Town in South Africa, where she studied economics, philosophy, and politics.

Matt Ruby on Being Comfortable Not Getting Asked For Advice

In Chapter 5 of 19 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, standup comedian and Vooza founder Matt Ruby answers "How Have You Learned to Give Better Advice When People Ask You For Help?" Ruby shares how he is not often approached for advice. He finds it may be due to coming across as unapproachable or doing work that is not fully understood by others. While Ruby does not try to avoid people, he shares that not being asked for advice is fine with him and allows him to be left alone.

Matt Ruby is a standup comedian based in New York City. He also founded Vooza, on online comic strip web series that makes fun of tech startup culture. As an actor, director, writer and producer, Ruby leads the creative direction for the team. Before his comedy career, Matt was employee #1 at 37Signals. He graduated from Northwestern University. 

Anatole Faykin on How to Work With People Who Do Not Think Like You

In Chapter 4 of 16 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, Internet entrepreneur Anatole Faykin answers "How Are You Learning to Work More Effectively With Different Personality Types?" Faykin shares how he has learned to listening to and observing others to understand how they perform best. He finds there are many ways to be successful and keeps an open mind to embrace these different approaches on a team.

Anatole Faykin is an Internet entrepreneur and digital marketer exploring new career options. A passionate world traveler and problem solver, Faykin plans to return to graduate school to earn a biosciences masters degree. Previously, Faykin has started multiple companies, including Tuanpin, a Shanghai startup he sold in 2011. He holds an MBA from NYU and a BS in computer science and biology from the California Institute of Technology.

Anatole Faykin on The Privilege and Pleasure of Giving Advice to Friends

In Chapter 5 of 16 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, Internet entrepreneur Anatole Faykin answers "How Have You Learned to Give Better Advice When People Ask You For Help?" Faykin shares how giving friends' advice is both a privilege and a pleasure. He notes that giving advice is tough, as often a friend is looking to have a listener and to vent rather to actively seek out feedback. Faykin works to discern those who want to vent from those who actually want advice and answers.

Anatole Faykin is an Internet entrepreneur and digital marketer exploring new career options. A passionate world traveler and problem solver, Faykin plans to return to graduate school to earn a biosciences masters degree. Previously, Faykin has started multiple companies, including Tuanpin, a Shanghai startup he sold in 2011. He holds an MBA from NYU and a BS in computer science and biology from the California Institute of Technology.

How to Improve Creative Project Team Collaboration

In Chapter 15 of 17 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, author and small business owner Rachel Lehmann-Haupt answers "What Have You Found to Be the Keys in Creating Successful Project Collaborations?" Working on creative project teams, Lehmann-Haupt has learned to prioritize getting along with teammates, even when she disagrees. While creative tension facilitates collaboration, disrespect kills it. She finds a general level of respect is fundamental to working together with teams in a creative business environment.

Rachel Lehmann-Haupt is a writer, editor and multimedia content strategist. She is the owner of StoryMade, a storytelling studio that creates new media content solutions for businesses. Previously, she was a founding editor and multimedia producer at TED Books, designing TED Talk content for tablet computers. She is the author of "In Her Own Sweet Time", published in 2009. Lehmann-Haupt earned a BA from Kenyon College and a Masters in Journalism from UC-Berkeley. 

Etiquette Advice for International Work Trips

In Chapter 16 of 23 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, business strategist Bryan Law answers "How Have You Learned to Work More Effectively Across Different Cultures?" Law quickly learns different cultures do business in different ways. While in the UAE working in Dubai, Law makes a social faux pas around a Muslim woman and eases tension by making fun of himself.

Bryan Law is a Principal in the Global Business Strategy Group at Google and a board member at Angola University. Previously, he was a manager at Monitor, management consulting firm. He has worked in consulting roles at Watson Wyatt and Mercer. He earned an MBA from the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Business and a BA from Georgetown University.