Don’t be afraid to take risks. At some point, you have to set aside your fears and just go for it or you’ll never accomplish anything truly special.
Dillon Payne is the Director of Production for The Slumber Yard, which operates a leading reviews website and YouTube channel in the bedding and sleep industry. Dillon attended California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and graduated in June 2016 with a B.S. in Broadcast Journalism with minors in History and Film. He grew up in Rocklin, California and has had an interest in broadcast media since middle school.
Where did the idea for your company come from?
When we first started to review mattresses and sleep products, there were several names being thrown around. Ultimately, The Slumber Yard had a nice ring to it so it stuck.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
I wake up at 4:45AM everyday in order to get my workout in and out of the way. I then arrive at the office around 8AM. To make the day run smoothly, I create a daily schedule for the Production Team to follow. This way there is a daily schedule of what needs to be filmed and who is in charge of specific projects. I also have a To-Do List that I abide by and make sure to check off tasks that are accomplished – while adding to the list if there are more important tasks that need to be done sooner rather than later. Keeping a list helps me stay on track and it is a visual marker of my accomplishments throughout the day.
How do you bring ideas to life?
Collaboration. I believe two heads are better than one. If you work in a group, one person could have a vision of the idea while another knows how to physically carry it out. Without bouncing around ideas with others, your own ideas can grow stagnant.
What’s one trend that excites you?
Minimalism.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
Waking up at 4:45AM everyday makes me more productive. When you wake up at an earlier time, I believe you are able to accomplish more tasks since there are less distractions at that time in the morning. People are asleep, no one is trying to text/chat with you which means you can focus on completing more important tasks. I workout and finish some personal tasks all before I step into the office. It just sets the precedent of how successful your day will be.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Don’t be afraid to take risks. At some point, you have to set aside your fears and just go for it or you’ll never accomplish anything truly special.
Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.
Jason Todd is an underrated Robin and has one of the best story arcs out of the all the sidekicks that Batman has had.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
I keep an observation journal on me at all times and write in it at least three times a day. If I see something that peaks my interest – whether it be visual or verbal – I write it down. It keeps my mind constantly thinking. You never know when those thoughts can be used to improve something in your work or lifestyle.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?
Hiring people around me that have certain talents that exceed mine. You’re only as good as the people around you. If I am able to learn skill sets from them as they can from me, then the business will flourish in more ways than one.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
When we started The Slumber Yard, we transitioned over to new equipment that I had never used before. The content of the videos weren’t the best they could have been at the start. This gave me opportunity to learn the new gear and created the quality content that we have today.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Drive-Thru Sushi.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
A Tiffen ND Filter because I am able to keep the aperture on the camera as low as possible to create the most amount of bokeh without overexposing my outdoor shots.
What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?
The Adobe Creative Cloud. Without the Cloud, we wouldn’t be able to produce high quality videos. It’s as simple as that.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson. It provides life advice by an author that I regard highly as an intellectual figure.
What is your favorite quote?
“Without hard work, nothing grows but weeds.” – Gordon B Hinckley
Key Learnings:
- Collaboration and communication brings ideas to fruition
- Work with people who can help improve your skills
- To improve productivity create To-Do Lists
- Waking up early allows you to accomplish more throughout the day
- Have a game plan, work hard, and success will follow
Connect:
Carlyn runs the day-to-day publishing operation here at ideamensch and interacts with our awesome customers and entrepreneurs. She is likely editing this with a cat on her lap.