Field Notes
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Field Note 8: Drawing the Map
I was raised to believe there was a formula. Follow the rules. Work hard. Be responsible. Do the sensible thing. Do all of that, and eventually, everything will pay off. I believed that. I think part of me still does. The funny thing is, I don’t remember ever actually having a map. There was never… Continue reading
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Field Note 7: The Work Is Never Finished
There’s a phrase in sales that says, “Always be closing.” Lately, I’ve been thinking about a different version of that idea. When you’re building something of your own, it feels more like: Always be building. The work never really ends. There’s always another email to answer, another project to improve, another idea worth exploring, or… Continue reading
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Field Note 6: The Work Behind the Work
Yesterday got away from me. I had plans for the afternoon. There were things I wanted to work on for my own business, a list waiting for me, and—as usual—more ideas than hours. Instead, client work happened. An email needed an answer. A transaction needed a follow-up. A database needed attention. One thing turned into… Continue reading
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Field Note 5: The Job Description I Didn’t Know I Was Writing
For a long time, I thought I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do. Technical writer. Transaction coordinator. Operations consultant. Marketing assistant. Book editor. Every time I found a new role that sparked my interest, I wondered if I was changing directions again. Lately, though, I’ve realized something. Maybe I haven’t been… Continue reading
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Field Note 4: The Difference Between Being Busy and Being Effective
There was a time when I measured a productive day by how exhausted I felt at the end of it. If I answered every email, attended every meeting, crossed dozens of things off my list, and barely had time to eat lunch, I considered it a successful day. Now I’m not so sure. Being busy… Continue reading
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Field Note 3: Before You Buy New Software, Fix This First
There’s a temptation every business owner knows well. When something feels disorganized, we assume there’s another app waiting to solve it. A better CRM. A different project manager. A smarter AI assistant. A more expensive subscription. Sometimes those tools are exactly what’s needed. Most of the time, though, the real problem isn’t the software. It’s… Continue reading
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Field Note 1: Why I Built a Library
Every business has a story. This is the story behind why JoAnna Hicks Operations was built as a library instead of a traditional business website—and why thoughtful systems matter. Continue reading
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