Today we’d like to introduce you to Raven Josiah and Jonathyn Lopez.
Hi Raven and Jonathyn, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Before The WAYWO Project was considered an entrepreneurial entity, it was simply a structured way to effectively finish projects. Early on, we realized the benefits of collaborating with individuals on different career paths. Every Tuesday morning, we had a set time to go to a coffee shop to complete our work (Jonathyn was working on growing his marketing agency and Raven was completing his Master’s Thesis).
Though we worked in entirely different fields, we were able to create a structure around the way we did work which made it collaborative by using the expertise and skills of the other to enhance each other’s work. These sessions began with a simple question, “What are you working on today?”, then we would go one step further and ask “What are you working on in the first five minutes?”. We found that the answer to the latter propelled us to identify and organize exactly what we wanted to get done during that work session. We would then split up and vigorously work on what we identified as a priority based on the responses and immediately afterward hold each other accountable by asking the final question, “What did you get done today?”.
Our strategy for completing work provided us with three insights: (1) Collaborating with diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds is truly beneficial; (2) surrounding yourself with a collective of people who will keep you accountable is essential to progress and (3) it raised the question, “What if we broadened this process to include a variety of entrepreneurs, creatives and project pursuers?”
For two years, we developed this structure and completed our projects, and ultimately made the decision to share and document the process with like-minded people. And with this decision, WAYWO was born.
The WAYWO Project began to host a series of events where a collective of diverse people (no matter the profession/field, level of expertise, or background) were invited to connect, learn, and teach one another to move forward in their respective endeavors.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
We are firm believers that roadblocks and challenging circumstances are inevitable in life. We like to have an embracing attitude whenever we experience struggles along the way because they are opportunities for improvement. These moments may not be the most glamorous aspects of having entrepreneurial aspirations but we understand that some things can only be learned through experiencing these roadblocks. Some ways we have been able to combat these situations are listed in one of the core values that WAYWO operates on and that’s to be a lifelong learner. We thrive in situations where we need to think outside of the box to remedy a situation – whether it is for ourselves or one of our WAYWO members.
All that being said, one struggle that stands out in terms of The WAYWO Project (and I’m sure all aspiring entrepreneurs or project pursuers can resonate with this) is just getting started. It took us months to host our first event because we wanted it to be perfect. We wanted the right people, the right venue, and the exact structure. And then we would hear little critiques on our ideas and our vision and we would go back to the drawing board and change based on whatever comment was made. We were consumed by everything being perfect but no monumental changes were being made. And so one day we just decided to do the thing and announced the first WAYWO event and even though we were not sure how or what exactly we were going to do. Taking the first step was one of the best decisions we ever made.
It was then we realized that times of struggle were to be approached head-on. We’re not saying to ignore the critiques of others because they can be valid and worth looking into, but do not let them be crippling to your mission. The truth of the matter is you will only truly fail when you stop working on your goals.
We’ve been impressed with The WAYWO Project, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The WAYWO Project hosts a series of events where a diverse collective of entrepreneurs, creatives, and project pursuers are invited to work on their business/personal endeavors. Fundamentally, we create environments so that attendees/members can connect, learn, teach, and vibe with the WAYWO network. We have developed three tiers of events that vary based on the needs of our members and attendees.
Level one-tier event: WAYWO Wednesday! The first three Wednesdays of every month we host WAYWO Wednesday at our HQ venue space in the heart of downtown Kansas City, The Remedy. Depending on the needs of the attendees, the structure of WAYWO Wednesday can vary. Typically what takes place is socializing with a variety of local project managers (whether it is rising local artists, publicists, real estate agents, data analysts, and much more). We have Firestarters (A dynamic guest speaker who ignites a spark in the community), Marketing/Brand Exposure workshops, War Rooms (a session where the attendees collectively work on a roadblock that one of the guests may be experiencing), ITMs (stands for In The Moment; a place where you can handle any identified room for improvement right away), and Creation Corner (a solo workspace personalized for individuals needs).
Level two-tier event: These are collaborative-inspired events. These events can have a variety of outcomes (i.e., Crowdfunding, Brand Exposure, and Community Enhancement). Based on the collaboration, the events can range anywhere from partnering with local coffee shops to create brand exposure outlets for local small businesses, co-organizing a Kansas City Artist’s first concert, or working with a local brewery to start “Pitches and Pints”. Pitches and Pints will be a Kansas City Brewery-sponsored event where participants will be proposing their business model/idea to a panel of judges and the percentage of the ticket sales will go to the participant with the best pitch!
Level three-tier events: Our bread and butter! The WAYWO WorkParty. Think WAYWO Wednesday but much more! This is an exclusive event where people from the WAYWO network are invited to take part in a series of workshops/activities organized by leaders in the WAYWO network. A half-day event were depending on the theme of the WorkParty you can leave with a LinkedIn Optimization, Professional Headshots, a podcast for brand exposure, improvement in marketing material (logo, website, whitepaper, and/or pitch deck development), and/or a focus group to evaluate a product/process you have been testing. The deliverables vary based on the event and those invited to lead the sessions but everyone will leave with tangibles that will enhance your personal/business endeavors.
We have been compared to co-working spaces and incubators but comparably we take a more hands-on approach with those we work with when it comes to completing one step towards personal/business goals or connecting our network with people that can, through our events.
When creating WAYWO, we set out to create an outlet where collaboration, learning, and teaching can take place – resulting in progress for everyone’s individual endeavors.
We’d love to hear what you think about risk-taking.
At the stage we are at within our company, we can say we take a lot of risks. It has been a part of the journey to do so.
We have many ideas and goals regarding our vision for the WAYWO Project and with that comes trial and error.
Whenever we brainstorm the different types of sessions that we can do at our events, we run the risk of it not being effective for our attendees but it is a learning experience. Whenever we brainstorm different types of events to host or certain collaborations to have, we run the risk of it not aligning with our goals or the goals of our members and so there are many instances that we take chances.
But when taking a risk, we stay true to our previously mentioned core value, being lifelong learners. If we stray away from the risk-taking decision then we will never learn what to stay away from and so in that case, the good outweighs the bad. And so at WAYWO, we certainly recommend taking a calculated risk because it’s either you end up wildly successful or learn what not to do moving forward.
Pricing:
- WAYWO WEDNESDAY: Free
- Collaborative Events: $5-$25
- WAYWO WorkParty: $100-$400
- The Remedy Basic Co-Working Membership: $125/Month
- The Remedy Premium Office Space: $500/Month
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @thewaywoproject
