354 - Jesse Ekkerd

Jesse Ekkerd is a commercial pilot turned business owner and the founder of Drang Digital, a content marketing agency for aviation training institutes.

Twitter (X) → twitter.com/JesseEkkerd

Inside Jesse's Workspace

Workspace Items

• MacBook Air M1 8GB
• Twelve South BookArc Vertical MacBook Stand
  
• Magic Keyboard
• Logitech MX Master 3S
• Shure MV7 Mounted on a RØDE PSA1 Boom Arm
• Dell 27” U2723QE 4K USB-C Monitor
• Elgato Key Light Air x 2
• Belkin iPhone Mount with MagSafe for Mac Desktops and Displays
• iPhone XS as a Webcam via Camo
• Herman Miller Aeron
• AirPods Pro (1st Generation)

What is the most useful item in your workspace?

While many things come to mind, my MacBook Air M1 takes the crown.

It felt expensive when I was a broke pilot, but I had a hunch that the new M1 chip was great value. I was right.

My MacBook has paid for itself hundreds of times over and can handle anything I throw at it. I could not have built my business without it.

How do you spark creativity?

I like sparking creativity through constraints.

This applies to many scenarios.

In business, I like creating creative solutions through financial and time constraints.

In writing, I spark creativity by niching down on my reader. Writing for the whole world is complicated; writing for a 19-year-old student pilot in the US dealing with a specific problem is easier.

How do you manage work-life balance?

I often receive judgment from people who believe that I have no "work-life balance."

I like my work. I like business.

I don't have hobbies outside of work. I spend time with my girlfriend if I'm not working or working out. I love my life, and my work is a significant part of it!

What is there to balance?

What do you think is the main benefit of remote work?

Freedom! Location freedom allows me to decide where I want to live (and for how long).

The ability to live in a low cost of living area is a significant advantage when running a bootstrapped business.

With a fully remote team, I can utilize talent in the US and Europe while keeping my personal expenses low - a nice "profit hack," so to speak.