How I Succeeded: Invoice2go’s Chris Strode

How I Succeeded is a regular series on Lifehacker where we ask business owners for the secrets and tactics behind their success. Today: Chris Strode from Invoice2go.

Current gig: Founder and chief product officer, Invoice2go
Location: Sydney, Australia
Current mobile device: iPhone 6
Current computer: MacBook Pro
One word that best describes how you work: Scrappy

What apps/software/tools can’t you live without?

At work, we couldn’t live without Skype and Slack. Personally I use Remote at home, and just started using Waze. I also use all the stock standards, and find it pretty hard to live without iMessage.

What social network do you find the most useful?

Facebook, Instragram, Linkedin, and I recently started using Twitter.

What were the most important lessons you learned while growing your business?

I’ve learned that the more transparency you have with people you’re working with, the better your relationship will be. Transparency and honesty in the workplace is powerful – I find you can really inspire people by telling them what it is you’re trying to achieve, and by encouraging them to be honest with you.

What has been the most surprising part of your business journey?

The most surprising part of the journey has been the milestones we’ve been able to reach, and the speed at which we’ve reached them. Milestones that you think you can only dream of suddenly become reality when you visualise them. If you have a number in your mind that you want to reach, write it down somewhere. It almost forces it to come true. Visualisation works if you put it into practice.

What everyday thing are you better at than anyone else?

Finding value. I’ve always been good at finding things for free or great value. From the software choices we make, to the tools we use, being bootstrapped for 12 years taught me to find the free way of doing things wherever I could.

What’s your sleep routine like?

A good night is 8 hours, but I get about 6 hours on average. There’s usually an hour in there though where I’m awake making mental notes for the next workday.

What advice would you offer to other businesses on how to succeed?

Pure persistence pays off. Every year your business gets stronger if you keep going. You don’t lose until you give up.


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