Week Two: Emails and API

This is the second week of a month-long project for Praxis. For the whole month, I’m working with Raposa Technologies to prepare for their launch in June. There’s a lot to be done, so check out more here!

The first week was for strategy, information, and preparation. The second week is my first action week, where I begin to put it all together. Interestingly enough, this week has turned into a lot more research and learning- a continuation from the first week.

I thought Week One would be the bulk of my research, but as I continue to work with Raposa Tech, I have realized that you never stop researching and learning; even if you thought you knew all there was to it beforehand.

What I did this week:

1. Signed up with ClickUp for team management updates and task organization
2. Connected my Medium with Raposa as one of their writers
3. Created automatic emails for signup (App signup, website signup, and Medium signup)
4. Learned what JSON and Javascript are and how they’re used
5. Learned how to use Postman Learning Center to develop an API
6. Learned the basics of Funnel Building using Fire Nation
7. Wrote blog post “Resulting: You Don’t Even Know You’re Doing It”
8. Wrote blog post “Fear; The Most Influential Emotion”
9. Documented Mailchimp email formatting

What I would have changed this week

Two weeks in, and I have already made multiple changes to my month-long plan. After talking with Raposa technologies about their ideas, we modified my original goals halfway through the week. Going from one idea to another during a limited time frame can make things feel overwhelming and stressful. Luckily I work well with change and have adapted my strategies to fit the new plans.

I’ve done this by taking a non-committal mindset as I work and learn. I had an unseen setback in my personal life that took a lot of time away from my project. I was able to use this setback to reformat my mindset and perspective. I ended up rethinking and removing multiple goals from my outline. Interestingly enough, even though I have less now, it has actually added substantial value overall.

I also would have changed how I did my organization before. The first week I used Notion to compile my thoughts, goals, and daily to-do’s. Being the very thorough person I am, I spent a lot of extra time updating this for the second week. I could have spent this time actually producing content, emails, or reading. Raposa introduced me to a new organization system called ClickUp.

It takes very little time, is already formatted exactly how I want it, and is already linked with my other team members in Raposa. This has saved me time editing, updating, referring to multiple sources, and sending information back and forth between us. I am much more efficient and organized with this new platform.

What have I learned

Last week I learned general information, theories, and how the mind works to process information. This week I have learned how to use this information to my benefit.

1. I learned a lot about efficiency and finding outside solutions from seemingly unrelated topics. I happened to listen to an episode from one of my favorite podcasts this week called The Mindset Mentor, that really put things in perspective and helped me think outside the box. They talked about the invention of fast food; long story short, the creator meticulously made every part of the burger-making process systematized. He also took the drive-thru ATM idea from a local bank to create the first food drive-thru. This message immediately made me think in a new way when I heard it.
2. I learned how to reevaluate my time and hold myself accountable. Sometimes doing the work is a lot like going to the gym. You never want to do it, but you always feel great afterward. I started using a new program called ClickUp with the Raposa team that shows my deadlines to everyone. They can check on my work anytime, it’s more efficient, and it has multiple formats like a calendar or list pre-coded, so I don’t have to spend time doing it myself on Notion. I thought I had this well under control last week, but this week has shed even more light on organization possibilities.
3. I learned how API works and how to utilize it with Mailchimp. I did this using Postman Learning Center which also taught me how to coordinate their services with other business and portfolio ideas. I learned how to send and authorize a request, write test scripts, and chain requests together using this service.
4. I also learned how to help with basic design coding, how website design can be more appealing to users, and what to do to attract and hold potential clients via design and color schemes.
5. I learned how to do basic funnel-building emails and marketing strategies. I did this through meetings with the Raposa team and intaking content from the Fire Nation Entrepreneurial courses and resources.

Last week I focused on creating a foundation for the project, including research and a solid outline. If I hadn’t done that, this week could have gone in a very different direction when life disrupted my plans. Instead, this week brought a lot of changes to the outline, but some valuable improvements. I took many potentially bad situations and turned them around for the better, which I am considerably proud of. I produced some well-researched, quality content to post to our blog. I also opened multiple opportunities into API, coding, and design that I was not expecting to delve into.

Next week, I will be going further into API and funnel building as I refine the emails I created, but I will mostly produce content for the blog. My goal is to write at least one full blog piece every day of the week. I will also be reading the book “The New Market Wizards” by Jack D. Schwager to get more relevant trading information to add to my posts and create a more rounded knowledge base.