David Chislett

Working from home has been tough for some, but not for David Chislett, founder of The Writing Word, who’s been working remotely since 1994.

David teaches us to dig into our creativity and be open-minded to new ways of thinking. 

Read on to learn more about David, his business, and how he handles obstacles.

Hustle Amsterdam (HA): Where are you from? And what brings you to Amsterdam? 

David Chislett (DC): I was born in Portsmouth, UK, raised in Johannesburg, RSA, and am a resident in Amsterdam, NL. I came to the Dam on an adventure with 17 kg on my back and no plans. I stayed for love and now have a wife, two kids and a house (weight unknown).

HA: Tell me about your business? What is your mission? 

DC: I am on a mission to change the world. I help people and organisations unlock their creative capacities in order to solve problems, come up with great ideas and change their environments.

HA: How are you handling our new “normal” due to the coronavirus outbreak? What impact has it had on your business? How has the transition to working remotely been for you? Are you being strict with a routine or taking it day-by-day?

DC: The immediate impact of the lockdown on me is that I cannot work. My wife has a great, full-time job where she is needed full-time. Thus, I am at home with our kids being daddy daycare. However, if I was able to work, there would be little impact on me. I have worked alone and remotely since 1994. 

The transition to coaching and training via Zoom is an interesting one, and something I am already busy with for the future. But, because my overall environment has changed a lot thanks to the lockdown, I am on a strict, day-by-day outlook. 

I find that trying to think too much about what my business may look like after lockdown, what I need to do etc, is a road to insanity. I stay in the moment, try and be all zen and drink wine at night.

I find talk of the “new normal” ironic and amusing. It’s tragic that it takes an event like this to make everyone realise what has been apparent for decades: the way we work and do business is deeply flawed and broken. It needs to be re-thought and replaced. Now that everyone can see that, I am looking forward to seeing what comes next.

HA: Why The Writing Word? What brought you to Training?

DC: The name was a spontaneous thing when I got to the KvK to register my eenmanzaak and I found out it needed a name. However, it draws on my primary sources: the writing process and a fascination with language!

I decided to launch the idea of Creative Thinking training after a marvellous clarity session with Beth Farris when I finally realised that my creative career, my entrepreneurial years, and my maverick drive to change the world could all fit under one umbrella.

“I tend to not work with goals and hard timelines when it comes to the future of what I do. Instead, I aim at specific things I want to achieve on the longer timeline of taking over the world.”

HA: What is the current state of The Writing Word? Do you have six and 12-month goals for your business? 

DC: I tend to not work with goals and hard timelines when it comes to the future of what I do. Instead, I aim at specific things I want to achieve on the longer timeline of taking over the world. The longer I stay out here, doing my own thing, the more I understand that everything takes more time than I think and that trying to force important steps into a preconceived timeline just generates unwanted pressure and stress. I am motivated, I don’t need a deadline!

HA: What kind of obstacles do you face in your company? How do you handle them?

DC: Well, this is one of those things that will be interesting to assess once I can work again. Creative Thinking Training was a hard sell before the crisis. People thought it was a nice idea but didn’t see the need. Now that everything is at sea, perhaps they are more open. 

But more practically, I am a foreigner in a new country. My network is limited and it's hard to build the kind of network I need. But I handle all of this in the same way: I act, I observe, I adapt and I act again. It's all a long, iterative experiment really.

HA: What has been your most successful moment so far? And how do you celebrate your wins? 

DC: I was booked to speak in Austria for a team of 20. Fantastic! I never used to celebrate wins. Now, there is generally a blog post, some bubbles, and a moment of reflection and contemplation. It gets ticked off the list.

HA: How have you accomplished what you have? Did you go to business school? Did you wing it? Fake it till you make it? Get really lucky? 

DC: I have never been to business school, so essentially I have always been winging it. I believe in showing up and working hard and that’s all I have ever done. I observe and experiment a lot and I read a lot. I don’t believe in luck. Mostly it’s about working yourself into a position to take advantage of an opportunity. In the beginning, there are not many, but as you go you start to see more. From the outside that looks like luck!

HA: How big is your team? And where are your team members located? 

DC: I am the team!

HA: Do you have a favorite motivational quote? 

DC: “The difficulty lies not so much in developing new ideas as in escaping from old ones.” - John Maynard Keynes. 

HA: What 3 tips would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs? What do you wish you had known before you started? 

DC:  

1. Ask lots of questions.

2. Understand that failing is not what it seems. You learn more when you fail than when you succeed.

3. Have a longer timeline in mind. Forget all this 12-month and five-year plan rubbish. When you’re dead, who would you like people to say you were? Work towards THAT!

HA: How would you describe your working style? 

DC: Informal, rebellious.

HA: When you’re not working on The Writing Word — where can we find you? 

DC: I am a poet, so you can find me performing at spoken word events or publishing on Patreon.

HA: How do you find work-life balance while being an entrepreneur? 

DC: You have to be conscious; that it is necessary. 

I have pretty strict rules:

• No work after 5 pm (unless I am performing).

• No work on the weekends. 

I also always plan exercise and creative time to keep me sane.

HA: What is your passion? 

DC: Creativity

HA: What inspires you most about Amsterdam? Do you have any favorite spots to work or hangout? 

DC: I love the fall-about lawlessness of Amsterdam. It’s not wild, people just don’t really give a shit. I mean, look at how they cycle; there are no rules apparently. Until a tourist breaks them. Hilarious! 

I love the way that it is actually a village, not a city. That its size and density hasn’t made it grey, dull or boring. Every corner is different, so I have no favourites!

HA: Anything else you’d like to add?

DC: I give regular (online) seminars, offer coaching to creatives or people who need to be creative, give workshops and Keynote speeches. 

The best way to keep up to date it to connect with me on LinkedIn or subscribe to my newsletter from my site.

Follow David on Instagram @patreon.poet, and connect with him on LinkedIn here.