I'm back... but it's been far too long. Sorry about that!
My last broadcast went out on April 7, 2024. Nearly a year has passed since my last email. But... I've been a little busy. Let's get you caught up:
A few weeks after that email, my son August was born!
He's a happy, bubbly, healthy little guy now, but his entry into this world was a little bumpy. I spent a few months in full-time dad mode after a hospital stay, a bout of Covid, and the normal wrecking-ball nature of a newborn.
Once things calmed down on the home front, it was back to work at The Futur. Accelerator steadily grew, and I worked on larger projects like completely revamping the systems that handle free downloads.
Then November arrived... and that's when everything changed.
Early that month, it was decided that Stephanie Owens and I would be parting ways with The Futur. And as a part of the transition, the Accelerator program would come with us: a massive, exciting, nerve-wracking endeavor.
If you'd like to hear my thoughts on the whole transition, the story behind it, and how it felt to leave a grand adventure that lasted nearly a decade, click here to read the last email I sent as COO of The Futur. I have so much gratitude towards Chris Do and the Futur team, and so many fond memories.
The next few months were a whirlwind of action.
This process wasn't a simple or easy. In addition to starting a brand new company, migrating the program into the new company, and continuing to provide a high level of support to the Accelerator community, Steph and I also helped simplify the Futur's digital footprint.
It was a lot. I spent 12-14 hours at my computer most days, and didn't take a day off except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas between the middle of November through the end of January.
Being able to grind like that can feel a superpower, but it can quickly become a curse - sprints are meant to be short bursts, not status quo. But I'm really proud of what we were able to accomplish... and happy that it's finished.
And, as of the first of February, I am once again a full-time entrepreneur.
I gotta be honest: I'm stoked. Another grand adventure. I feel reinvigorated, excited, and ready for this next chapter.
So, what's next?
It's been 50 days since my last day at The Futur, and since then, I've been hard at work paving the way for what's next, without forgetting where I've been.
I've committed my the last near-decade of my career to serving the creative community. Sharing knowledge and creating resources and tools for those who create has been my mission and passion - and I'm not stopping now.
Between Maker Division and Watson, I'm determined to continue supporting this incredible creative community. And at Alden, I'm dedicated to keeping my own creative spark alive and stay current in the world of client work.
Maker Division
At Maker Division, our mission is to help creatives build happy, healthy studios. We do that through a combination of community, curriculum, coaching, and a library of practical tools. This program has been battle-tested for over two years, and we've got hundreds of real-world, actual results for members all over the world.
My cofounder, Stephanie Owens, is a decorated educator and talented lettering artist at the studio she runs with her husband Nathan, Gold Sheep Design. We're a small but mighty team: we've produced hundreds of critique videos and host weekly coaching calls available to anyone in the program.
Want to learn more about Maker Division? Click here.
Watson
That brings us to Watson. Watson is the toolset I wish existed years ago. We're building software designed specifically for creative studios: You'll be able to manage your clients, projects, finances, notes, and network all under one roof. No more zaps, spreadsheets, or crazy learning curves for software built for other industries: That's the goal.
It's early in development, but the team is almost ready to launch the beta version of our first feature set designed to manage client projects, streamline approvals and keep everything moving forward. I partnered with two incredible engineers to help this become a reality: Lassiter Gregg, a back-end genius, and Oliver Taylor, a front-end wizard.
I'll keep you in the loop, but check out the new website here
Alden
If you've read my previous articles, you might know I'm a huge fan of what I coined as the solo studio: a small creative shop that does work for select clients, but also partners with others to create new businesses and products.
That's precisely what I'm building... slowly.
You'll start to see my studio, Alden, come to life over the next year. If Maker Division is where I teach, Alden is where I practice. Currently, I'm working on a branding project with an absolute dream client working side by side with a dear friend. We're close to wrapping this up, and I can't wait to share the entire process (and outcome!) with you soon.
Final thoughts
So yeah... it's been a year!
A kid. A career pivot. A company launch (or two). And somehow, through it all, I feel more aligned with my purpose than ever before.
And if the last 50 days are any indication.. I'm just getting started.
If you're still here, thank you. I'm grateful for you reading this, for following along, for investing time with me when time is so precious. And I can't wait to share more with you soon.
Until then,
Ben Burns
Founder. CEO. Designer. Maker. Dad.
For those who create™
