Projects & Thoughts

I'm launching 12 products this year.

Perfectionism and lack of structure are holding me back from dreams I'm ready to live. For years I've been inspired by Pieter Levels' project to Launch 12 Startups in 12 Months–I'm stepping into that arena today because it scares me the right amount and if I had just 12 months to live, this is how I'd invest it.

Review & Reframe, 1/1/2025

Review after the development and launch of the first 5 products:

I'm really enjoying the energy and motivation this project is giving me to share my self and my interests, connect with professionals in my space, and not overthink things in the spaces I tend to get stuck.
The months that I've had a heavy workload or travel outside of this project have been stressful to hit my (entirely self-made launch deadline).
I really enjoy when there is a strong theme and sense of building on the last month's work.
I've started some products that haven't been a match and have required a mid launch pivot--this has been tough especially when it's close to the end of the month when this happens.
Once a concept is locked in, the initial rounds of CAD design and prototyping can move quickly! At a rate of 1 - 4 new versions per day the products can evolve quickly.
I like sharing on LinkedIn and my website the most. Short videos on LinkedIn seem to drive the most engagement (over text, images and links).

Reframe for 2025:

I'm cutting the "Launch" out of my tagline, since it doesn't quite feel true. The 'make sales' part of launch is something I really need to learn how to do, and is why I am challenging myself with this project.
Internally, my new intent each month is to research and create a new product concept and then share it on this site and LinkedIn to see if anyone cares :)

Goal 1: Growth

The book Mastery by Robert Greene invites us to take a deep look at our life, and encourages creating 'apprenticeships' in pursuit of mastery in our life's calling. This product development project is the apprenticeship I believe I need to extend my skills beyond design engineering, prototyping and manufacturing into industrial design, validating product concepts and introducing products to the market.
My theme for the year is Digital Design & Manufacturing.

The goal of an apprenticeship is not money, a good position, a title, or a diploma, but rather the transformation of your mind and character...into someone who is disciplined and focused, with a mind that can handle complexity.
― Robert Greene, Mastery

My Past Apprenticeships

Childhood:

Growing up in my father's woodshop, and spending a summer in a welding shop. (Mentors: My dad, Nelson LaFrancis)
6 years of small team creative problem solving in Destination Imagination. (Mentor: Mark Headlee)

Young Adulthood:

Flight Training in a 4 seat Cessna (Mentor: Wally DeVasier)
Starting an importing business based on world travel through SE Asia, India, Nepal, and China. (Mentors: So many books and my partners)
Iowa State University to study Aerospace Engineering then pivoting into Industrial Engineering upon discovery of 3D Printing/Additive Manufacturing (Primary Mentor: Dr. Matt Frank)

Early Career:

Purchasing and renovating a 4-plex, founding intentional community (Mentors: Paul Merrill, Ryan Peterson)
Purchasing Nuhill Technologies, Inc and developing it into my current business, Prototyping Tech specializing in prototyping and production parts for medical device OEM's (Mentors: Keith Nybakke, Mark McCauley, my employees and customers)
Saint Louis University for Masters of Science in Biomedical Engineering (Mentors: Dr. Jenna Gorlewicz, other professors and lab-mates)

Today: This Product Launch Project (Mentors: I'm looking!!!)

"You must see your career or vocational path more as a journey with twists and turns rather than a straight line" —Robert Greene, Mastery

Goal 2: Work with great people on a Mission

I love the feeling of comradery. I will do my best to create an effective team for each product I take on this year. The three most crucial criteria I see for success and enjoyment in these teams are that each member:

Has already developed the skills needed to deliver on their role.
Is a great communicator and treats people with encouragement and respect.
Has strong interest and appropriate availability to develop our solution.

Goal 3: Risk being seen

I'm in a season of learning that my best is on a continuum of growth. There's always better. Sometimes people will judge what I do, maybe hate what I do, maybe even hate me. That's okay. My job is to do my best at what I feel most drawn to do, honor my responsibilities and agreements, and live the best f***ing life I can live!
I accept. I accept the challenge, I accept reality, I accept that I don't have control of everything.
I commit to listening to and growing through any feedback that I get.

Other Intentions

I intend to launch new products on the 1st of each month.
I intend to start with simple, stand-alone mechanisms that will be useful building blocks in downline products (likely in Robotic and Additive Manufacturing applications).
I intend to experiment launching on several platforms including
- Kickstarter, Etsy, Amazon, A Shopify store hosted on this site. We'll see what makes the most sense.
I intend to experiment with different forms of community engagement to gauge desire for product ideas and feature validation including posting on:
- LinkedIn, JoshAdams.io, And maybe on: