Rules aren’t really in a snail’s nature.
The tightest regimen they tend to follow is: see a leaf, eat the leaf, locate next leaf.
But the right rules make things run relatively smoothly, which is why I’ve got a few policies and ideals I stick to when it comes to running this place.
Ways of working
I don't have regular daily working hours. Sometimes I'm out of bed and straight to it, sometimes I don't start until the evening.
I work on bigger, longer-term projects, making sure not to take on more than I can handle. That generally looks like two projects at a time, with two days a week reserved for retained client work.
And I don’t do rapid turnarounds or crunch deadlines. I’d hope that’s obvious.
I take a week off every 6 or 7 weeks. It's for the good of my health and, consequently, my work.
I'll always let you know about any time off I've got planned well in advance. I'll also make sure our timeline for completing our project isn't affected.
Project management
If you’ve got a specific way of organising your work, I’ll happily use it.
If you don’t mind or want me to choose, Notion is my project management tool of choice.
Insurance
Dinghy reckon I'm a safe bet and have provided me with Professional Indemnity Insurance to the tune of £100,000. Our work together is covered.
How I communicate
Nothing truly urgent has ever been communicated over email. That’s why I don’t respond immediately - and why I’ll never expect you to, either.
I prefer speaking over email, but if we work together, you’ll find my phone number in our contract.
Phone calls and emails are the only ways I communicate about work.
No-go industries
I will not work with gambling, arms, tobacco, oil and gas, or other rapacious and/or ethically misaligned businesses.
I'm good at what I do, but not if I'm hunched over my laptop from 9-6 every day. If I'm jumping between emails, Slack, social media dopamine hits, and every other thing that pings and dings on my computer, I'm not going to do the great work you've hired me for.
These systems, processes, and checks and balances are for both our sakes.
- You get the best results.
- I get the space to do what I do best.
- And we both push back against the idea that being busy is a badge of honour.
Snail Studio tech stack
I use the following tools and technologies to run my business and recommend them - in painstaking detail - to anyone who makes the mistake of asking.
Some of those are referral links. If you join any of those services from those pages, we’ll both get a small kickback. If there is an incentive involved, the page should make it clear and explain what we’ll both get out of it.
If you’ve got any questions or want to know why I give these products the thumbs up, just email me and ask.
