Published by Leonardo Calcagno
Who are you :
Hey, my name is Eric Schmidt. I work as a designer & creative specializing in marketing. I like creating solutions for complex communication challenges. I’ve been doing this type of work in some capacity for nearly 10 years. I like things that make sense, make things better and work well.
Your current job :
I work as a Digital Creative Manager with Firmex, a SaaS company which offers the best data rooms on the market and they provide expert level process support. They’re also a good bunch.
In which city are you located?
Toronto, Ontario
A word to define what kind of worker you are :
über
What tools are essential to your life (app, software, etc..)
Most everything I do is with Adobe software, of course. Anything for documentation and administrative work, it’s Google Docs. Coda is my favourite environment for editing code. And Grooveshark is also on most of the time.
What does your office space look like?
It’s nice. Open spaces, white walls, hardwood floors. A converted industrial loft from back when Toronto had a Garment production district. We have big windows which let in a lot of light which is important. I don’t sit in a cubicle, I don’t do cubicles.
What kind of music do you listen when you are working ?
Many varied and weird kinds; Ravi Shankar, Tame Impala, German language lessons, Iron Butterfly, Richard Wagner, Krishna Das, Wooden Shjips, the list goes on… and always changes.
Do you have a way to organize your day to maximize your work ?
Yes, time is always the most demanding constraint of any project. List out project stages, deliverables, tasks, prioritize, plan & block out time. And never look back.
What tips would you give to improve productivity ?
Work hard when you can, take breaks when you need them. Do the most difficult thing first the most enjoyable thing last and don’t beat a dead horse. When something is done, it’s done don’t procrastinate by overworking something that is a relatively low priority.
You’re better than your colleagues to :
Nothing. Everybody is great given the right timing, effort, interest and luck. We also have different skillsets and roles. A good team has people who are all great at different things and respect each others work. We’re all in the same boat.
What is the best advice anyone has given you ?
Everyone is waiting for their chance to be heard.
What is your best tip for saving time ?
Ask why something needs to be done. The task or project as outlined may not always be the best or optimized to achieve the goal given. Think about what would be better.
What is your routine start and end of the day ?
Coffee at the beginning of the day. Jägermeister at the end. Depending on the day, sometimes two of either.
Aside from your computer and your phone, what gadget can you not you go without?
Pocketknife. It’s weird but I’ve had a pocket knife nearly everyday for most of my life. Most of the time it is completely unnoticed, but on occasion you just really need a pocketknife. You won’t know how handy it is, until you really need one.