# 6 questions I need help answering (+ a call for writers!)

*Hello friends! It's been a while! You likely signed up for this after
reading [one of my essays on
Medium](https://medium.com/@SeanBlanda?utm_source=Blanda&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=6-questions-i-need-help-answering-a-call-for),
[my personal
website](http://seanblanda.com/?utm_source=Blanda&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=6-questions-i-need-help-answering-a-call-for),
or seeing something on
[Twitter](http://twitter.com/seanblanda?utm_source=Blanda&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=6-questions-i-need-help-answering-a-call-for).
I send this thing every few months, mostly a wrap-up of stuff I'm
working on and thinking about — all ending with a sweet flag. See past
issues
[here](https://tinyletter.com/blanda/archive?utm_source=Blanda&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=6-questions-i-need-help-answering-a-call-for).
Now, to the newsletter:*\
![a mural in Atlanta](../images/8a821651a983.jpg)

And now, an update in the form of questions I’m thinking about.\
Do you know any of the answers? Hit reply to this email and let’s be
friends:

### **1 - What makes for a good discussion?**

**![an event at Pilcrow House](../images/5a2e25c2aa5c.png)**In November,
I created [Pilcrow
House](http://pilcrow.house?utm_source=Blanda&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=6-questions-i-need-help-answering-a-call-for)—an
event series about important ideas and something I hope can evolve into
a physical event space one day. The third event is this week, and I’m
trying something new: a sit-down dinner with Tim Carmody, publisher of
The Amazon Chronicles. You [can get your seat
here](https://pilcrowhouse.ticketleap.com/3-tim-carmody-amazon/?utm_source=Blanda&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=6-questions-i-need-help-answering-a-call-for).

At the previous two Pilcrow House events, I went with a “speaker series”
approach. Person in front of room, Q and A, etc. The feedback was
positive, but I kept hearing some version of “I want to have a
conversation” in the attendee feedback.

The format for \#3 is a discussion about Amazon over some good food and
good wine. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever done before, and I’m
interested to see if it “feels” more on-mission. I’m thinking a lot
about how to structure the dinner and the conversation. How much is too
much structure? And is it the best way to build community? Have
thoughts? Are you good at hosting dinner parties? Hit "reply."

### **2 - Who are the best online feature writers?**

![Inside design branding](../images/bdcd946ea4fe.png)

I’ve been at my full-time gig at InVision for six months now, and things
are settling in. My big focus: relaunching [Inside
Design’s](https://www.invisionapp.com/inside-design?utm_source=Blanda&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=6-questions-i-need-help-answering-a-call-for)
editorial strategy. Right now, that means finding a steady team of
capable freelance contributors.

If you’re a journalist with feature writing experience and have an
interest in writing stories about digital products, design, and
designers, let’s talk. I have a budget. Check [this contributors
guide](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GcZmAeEY_aMWc-QhAysOeN8xpzHkT8U5_N9dUzlkmy8/edit?utm_source=Blanda&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=6-questions-i-need-help-answering-a-call-for)
or reply to this email. You must have feature writing examples to share.

### **3 - Was this a complete waste of my time?**

![screenshot of AOYP](../images/53ca502617d8.png)

On Twitter, I take pleasure in pointing out examples supporting my
strong belief that we all should own our distribution platform and stop
relying on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, etc. So, [I made a single-purpose
site](http://www.alwaysownyourplatform.com/?utm_source=Blanda&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=6-questions-i-need-help-answering-a-call-for)
to send to people. There may be a rainbow involved.

### **4 - What makes a "unicorn" startup so special?**

[I interviewed Notion founder Ivan Zhao for Inside
Design](https://www.invisionapp.com/inside-design/ivan-zhou-notion-interview/?utm_source=Blanda&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=6-questions-i-need-help-answering-a-call-for)
and I came to admire his long-term, first-principles outlook. I promise
you that it's not the typical founder interview. My favorite part of the
interview is Zhao reminding us all that we can do great things with
small teams. “Moby Dick was written by one person,” he quipped.\
\
The productivity app is swatting away investors and (until very
recently) the press. It may not be the "next" big startup, but I'm
interested to see where Zhao and team head next.

### 5 - What’s the best way to manage a remote team?

I’m entering year three of working remote. [I shared some observations
on
Twitter](https://twitter.com/SeanBlanda/status/1090624748067917824?utm_source=Blanda&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=6-questions-i-need-help-answering-a-call-for)
([which got picked up by
Lifehacker](https://lifehacker.com/how-to-survive-the-challenges-of-working-remotely-1832239650?utm_source=Blanda&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=6-questions-i-need-help-answering-a-call-for)).
I’ve since had some people reach out to me to talk about remote work,
especially managing remotely. I’ve been reading some of the modern
management books and find them helpful, but I’ve yet to find the perfect
fit for a remote worker. So if you work remote or manage people, I’d
love to hear from you!

### 6 - What’s the best way to grow a side project email newsletter?

[The
Discourse](http://thediscourse.email?utm_source=Blanda&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=6-questions-i-need-help-answering-a-call-for),
my email newsletter about how we talk to one another, has crossed the
2,000 subscriber mark. But more importantly, it has a fun community of
people reading and replying, with open rates \>50%.

One of the most popular things appearing in The Discourse is my "14
rules for staying sane online", [getting picked up by
Kottke](https://kottke.org/18/12/14-rules-for-maintaining-your-sanity-online?utm_source=Blanda&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=6-questions-i-need-help-answering-a-call-for).
So I’ve commissioned a local artist to create a poster of the rules
worthy of your office. I’m currently in the process of creating it, but
if you’re interested in getting a heads up when it's ready, [subscribe
to the
Discourse](http://thediscourse.email/?utm_source=Blanda&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=6-questions-i-need-help-answering-a-call-for)
or reply to this email.

### Etc.

I was [asked about design’s role in storytelling by
Setka](https://accent.setka.io/10-insights-state-visual-storytelling-2019/?utm_source=Blanda&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=6-questions-i-need-help-answering-a-call-for).
I’m a bit of a curmudgeon in this one.

### 🇳🇵Official newsletter flag (for now):

 

![Nepal flag](../images/3feaf37e665b.png)

This is the flag of Nepal, the mountainous country nestled between China
and India and (a) home of Mt. Everest. It’s the only flag in the world
that has more than four corners. The moon and the sun represent rival
factions of the ruling dynasty in the mid-20th century.

Dear reader, may all of the parts of your life find the precarious unity
of Nepal and its flag.

--Sean