Focusmate

Have you used this service? This is not an ad...just an inspirational hit and a thank you to the creator of Focusmate. I am new to Focusmate. I have been leading virtual coworking experiences for entrepreneurs on zoom since 2016. Nothing comes close to the ease, accessibility and power of Focusmate. If you are like me and you GREATLY benefit from the power of virtual coworking, there are a few elements to focusmate that I find so inspiring (elements that go far beyond productivity). This video explains these elements, but here is my personal fave. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, SOMEONE is out there who you can schedule a work session with, and help each other remain accountable to your goals in life and in work. There is so much HUMANITY in this service, and it goes far beyond "getting things done." Thanks for creating this amazing platform.

Product Spotlight by George Levin: Focusmate George Levin, the founder and CEO of Hints, shares his personal insights on interesting products he’s come across this week. This time, he talks about Focusmate, a tool designed to help you stay focused and accountable with an unexpected approach. ___ Focusmate helps you stay focused and accountable using an unexpected approach. You block time on your calendar to finish a task, and Focusmate matches you with someone working simultaneously via video call. This person becomes your accountability partner. You briefly discuss your tasks, wish each other luck, mute yourselves, and get to work. One of the things I love most about Focusmate is how it helps me tackle complex tasks on which I usually procrastinate. You block a session, and as the time starts ticking, you think the task is too big and hard. Five minutes… ten minutes pass, and you begin with some micro steps. By the end of the session, you're deep into the work. A quick pause, and you’re booking another session because you can’t stop now. The best part is time-blocking tasks in advance. Knowing someone is waiting for you adds enough pressure to keep you from skipping the session and helps you stay on task. Focusmate taught me to respect my time blocks. Without it, I often felt tempted to handle something more urgent or start answering emails instead of focusing on my planned tasks. It might sound cheesy, but the people on Focusmate are incredibly lovely and cheerful. Their positive energy, even during a quick 30-second chat before jumping into work, can be a great motivator to tackle something challenging. From a business perspective, I love Focusmate’s simplicity. The problem of staying focused and accountable is well known, and we work better when surrounded by others who are also working. Founder Taylor Jacobson connected these dots and built Focusmate. Taylor’s perseverance is impressive. He’s been steadily improving the product every month for eight years.  If you also struggle with procrastination when working alone and find yourself checking emails or pouring another cup of tea instead of working, try Focusmate. About Focusmate (PitchBook): Founders: Taylor Jacobson, Michael Galanos Founded date: 2016 Last funding type: Seed Total funding: $921K Headquarters: New York, USA Type: Private Company Investors: Amasia, CoVenture, Alumni Ventures, Remote First Capital, Very Serious Ventures, betaworks

Major celebration time. In August, Focusmate made its first marketing hire, adding Nathan Collier as Growth & Community Lead. 🔥 Being an entrepreneur often means doing almost everything yourself, at least for a time. Hopefully, eventually, you get to hire people who are smarter and more experienced than you are. Being 8 years in now, it is so exciting to bring on such a brilliant, talented, experienced marketing leader. Not only that, but, this role marks a new emphasis on 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 for our community members - something that is sorely needed in our hyper-isolating modern society. Fun facts about Nathan: ▶︎ Nathan was one of the 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘸 𝘥𝘰𝘻𝘦𝘯 users of Focusmate, joining the community in July 2016. ▶︎ He was the first user EVER to complete 200 Focusmate sessions — even before I did! Please join me in welcoming Nathan to the team, and in celebrating this huge milestone. ☺️