Emagineer Digest Weekly #1 - Self-sufficiency

As our Emagineer team surpasses 70 members, I’ve recognized the growing need to communicate, teach, and collaborate more closely with my team on our journey from good to great. These emails are collected here for record keeping and will serve as a valuable reference for both current and future team members.

from: shahzil amin
to: emagineer team
date: saturday jan 4, 2025, 3:02 PM
subject: Emagineer Digest Weekly #1 - Self-sufficiency
body:

Good afternoon team - 

Every person under the Emagineer portfolio will receive these emails from me a few times a month. The goal is simple: to collectively learn, collaborate, and execute at a higher and faster level so we can grow into a collection of great companies. I always welcome any thoughts, feedback, comments, questions, or concerns.

This week, I want to focus on self-sufficiency. In my perfect world for all our brands, each team member takes ownership of problem-solving from start to finish. What do I mean by “self-sufficient”? It’s straightforward:

1. Own the Discovery Process
Rather than waiting for someone else to pinpoint the issue or hand you a roadmap, dive in and figure out potential solutions on your own. Gather any relevant data, outline possible fixes, and present your best recommendation. Come to the table with a plan that needs confirmation, fine-tuning, and greater ideation - not creation.

• Example 1: If you spot something that’s always slowing down your tasks, dig into the details yourself. Identify the exact step causing the delay (e.g., waiting on approvals, missing details, unclear procedures), and propose a fix to your manager.
• Example 2: If social media engagement drops, don’t just say “It’s down.” Propose real causes backed by data - new content themes, posting schedules, refining ad copy, adjusting audience targeting, testing new subject lines, or launching a targeted ad campaign.

2. Absorb and Apply Feedback > Immediately
Once you get input from leaders or teammates, act on it. Build upon the advice you receive, and avoid circling back with the same questions later. We want to be a team that doesn’t need the same or similar guidance twice.

• Example 1: When told to “add more data,” gather the metrics or user insights to strengthen your pitch. Next time, weave those numbers in from the start as that is the expectation going forward.

3. Go Beyond > Next-Level Anticipation
Self-sufficiency also means being thorough and resourceful. Do the research, analyze the data, and think through the next steps or set of questions so you can confidently champion your solutions. This level of proactive thinking sets high performers apart.

• Example 1: Before any discussion, ask yourself, “What might my manager or teammates ask next?” If you’re pitching a new idea, be ready to address costs, timelines, metrics, potential roadblocks, and alternative approaches.
• Example 2: If you’re improving team coordination, don’t just fix the communication channel - review how tasks are assigned, check timelines and dependencies, and see if better tools or processes can reduce friction.

Over time, these habits will strengthen your expertise and fuel our shared goals. When everyone in the organization takes ownership like this, we become far more capable of tackling any challenge that comes our way.

Think bigger, act decisively, and let’s keep raising our bar.