Boris is the wise ol’ CEO of TNW who writes a weekly column on everything about being an entrepreneur in tech — from managing stress to embracing awkwardness. You can get his musings straight to your inbox by signing up for his newsletter!

One of my favorite cocktail bars in Amsterdam is The Flying Dutchman. Great atmosphere, young and ambitious bartenders, and some of the most original and amazing cocktails you can find. Now obviously, I haven’t been there for a while, or to any cocktail bar really, and I truly miss it.

Now loads of companies are pivoting online during the pandemic, but if you would’ve asked me whether the Dutchman had a shot at it, I would’ve said “no.” There simply isn’t a way to recreate the experience online! But… then I heard about their new subscription model.

At first, I was cynical, but then I read their offer: You communicate with them via Whatsapp, and they send their payment requests through that too. Every other Wednesday, they send you a big envelope containing ingredients for three different cocktails. All you have to do is refrigerate the contents, and once you’re ready for your cocktail, you pour them over ice and add the suggested garnish if you’d like. Six cocktails for €35 a month delivered every other week! I signed up right away.

Then today, I stumbled upon this story about a drive-through striptease club in Oregon . They even have takeaway service for the food they make. Their kitchen is open, so apparently, you can watch a striptease show while you wait for your burger.

My turn to adapt

Then we have conferences. My business .

I used to say you couldn’t replicate an offline experience into an online experience. The whole point was to meet people offline that you already were connected to online or to meet new people. But, the coronavirus crisis changed our world, and forced everybody — including cocktail waiters, strippers, and us — to innovate.

People still want to get together, do business, and share knowledge. Even though we’re stuck at home and at the mercy of a virus, we always want to stay busy and make progress.

What our team came up with is a whole new event concept we branded TNW Couch Conferences , and the first one we’re organizing is Re:Brand . These events are the digital version of our in-person flagship conference . There’s no travel involved as you only need an internet connection, a mug, and a comfy couch to enjoy world-class speakers and connect to your peers.

This is our version of the DIY cocktail at home: An online place where technology prosumers find inspiration, actionable knowledge, and insightful demos for new tools they can implement in their organization.

Now I’m not going to say it was easy launching this offering, but as I’ve mentioned before in my posts, there is a silver lining in our current crisis. We’re all forced to completely rethink our businesses and innovate our way out of this misery — an exhilarating challenge.

Don’t shy away from a transformation

Truth be told, we should’ve all been further ahead already. For years, or even decades, a lot of companies got away with a slow crawl towards being more digital. A few businesses were on the forefront, a majority was taking small steps, and a large segment was simply dragging their heels.

I vividly remember speaking in front of a group of media companies some years ago, about the future of digital. I thought I’d been invited to give them some good news and maybe some insight and inspiration. But as I received questions from the audience, I realized I was only there so they could blame me for their declining revenue.

They didn’t see digital as an opportunity, but rather as an annoying novelty that was complicating their lives. At one point I asked them: If there was a button you could push, that would make the whole internet disappear, would you press it?

It was the first time I got a positive response from the audience, as almost everybody put their hand up and cheered at the prospect. These media giants hated having to innovate and held out as long as they could — nobody can afford that luxury now.

There’s no way to turn back the clock, so you better get up to speed. We went through a transformation where print is now just no longer viable. As physical sales have declined, every newspaper in the world has come to depend on their digital editions.

And now we’re going through another transformation. Netflix used to be a cute little alternative to going to the movies, but now it is our only option. Conferences and events are going online. Cocktails are arriving by mail, and even strippers are changing their business models.

Back in 2000, we used to think ‘everything is going digital!’ And we would fantasize what the next thing would be that turned to digital. Software was eating the world. But then we got stuck in a midway station where too much money was made with old fashioned media and technology. The transition to digital turned out to be slow and gradual.

It is no longer gradual. It is immediate, and your audience is waiting for you to surprise and delight them with your signature cocktail… or striptease?

Can’t get enough of Boris? Check out his older stories here , and sign up for TNW’s newsletters here .

How designers can boost their creativity when work is slow

No work in the pipeline? It’s a dreadful scenario that freelancers face from time to time. Contracts aren’t guaranteed. Often, they come in waves. Feast or famine is an apt description, even if it is a bit discouraging.

Still, it’s not as if freelancers are without options. When paying jobs dry up, there’s work to be done. Positivity in the midst of uncertainty is a byproduct of staying active and striving toward goals.

For freelancers struggling to find work, there remain ample opportunities to improve professionally and inspire others.

1. Launch a passion project

It’s difficult to design anything from scratch. When it comes to personal design projects, knowing where to start is the hardest part. First, define a purpose and ask questions:

What’s the ultimate goal of the project? New clients? Creative industry notoriety? Both?

Where will inspiration come from? Other creatives? Different cultures?

How can the project be tied to a cause or a community?

Is the project meant to demonstrate expertise, or is it a chance to explore an unfamiliar design discipline?

How far can experimentation and self-expression be pushed?

Such questions bring clarity and focus. When projects have a purpose, they have value and are more likely to be finished.

With purpose defined, begin research. Read books. Watch videos. Arrange informal interviews. It’s a personal project, so don’t spend countless hours accumulating information. The point is to glean context and fuel ideas.

It’s also wise to establish a realistic timeframe. Surprising results can be accomplished over the course of a weekend. For longer projects, create milestones, seek out peer accountability, and share progress shots online.

Not convinced that personal projects are worth the effort? Consider an experience I had.

I’m a huge fan of the fake UIs that appear in blockbusters like Minority Report and Iron Man. The intricate details and futuristic features are fascinating–even if the functionality is far-fetched.

Not long ago, I decided to design my own fictitious interface. After three days, I finished and shared my work online. Less than a week later, I received a message from a sound designer. He asked to complement my work with a track he recorded. The final result far exceeded my expectations. It’s my most watched Vimeo video , and it’s led to real job opportunities. A personal interest plus a few days of work opened one door after another.

2. Showcase stunning portfolio pieces online

A light workload is a perfect opportunity to assemble a portfolio and showcase it online. Where possible, use contextual mockups. Place UI designs on smartphones, landing pages on laptops, and logos on the packaging. There are many free device templates available for download.

When work is ready to be seen, don’t hurry to build a website. Instead, find a portfolio platform. Many are free, but not all receive the same amount of traffic. Choose platforms that are proven to provide maximum exposure. Behance is the go-to for top-notch creative talent around the world.

Only share high-caliber work. Choosing what to show can be a challenge, so it’s helpful to ask more questions:

Should the portfolio attract job opportunities in a specific discipline?

Is the work meant to convey a distinct style?

What technical skills ought to be on display?

Is there a company or an industry that projects should be tailored to?

Multidisciplinary designers with eclectic portfolios ought to highlight common threads and unique characteristics in their work. These could easily become trademarks that lead to more job opportunities down the road.

3. Reinvent derailed projects

Sometimes, clients cancel projects midway or steer things in unfavorable directions. It’s gut-wrenching, but derailed projects can be fertile ground for new creative possibilities. By revisiting projects that didn’t turn out as intended, designers may explore alternative approaches and pursue improved outcomes.

For example, I’ve revived canceled video projects by combining existing voice-overs with updated visuals. Every time I try this exercise, I’m forced to use my creative muscles in unfamiliar ways, and I grow as a designer.

(Note: Seek client permission before repurposing past projects.)

4. Reach out to old clients and long-lost friends

When work is slow, one of the best things designers can do is reconnect with friends, former clients, and old colleagues. Schedule video calls. Send personal updates. Share words of encouragement. Most of all, make exchanges mutually beneficial.

If a cash-strapped client needs design help, it’s possible to offer services at a reduced rate, but trades, cross-promotions, and referrals can also be highly valuable. Just make sure that everything is clearly spelled out in a contract.

Don’t hesitate to send links to recent projects, especially when they include process shots. It’s easy to forget, but design is a unique profession. People who aren’t in the industry enjoy seeing the work it takes to create something out of nothing. Plus, sending projects demonstrates proactiveness and job-readiness.

5. Say farewell to the comfort zone

The comfort zone is a pleasant place to be. Everything outside of it? Not so much.

We humans don’t like stress or unfamiliar situations, but a strange thing happens under increased pressure. Our capacity for the extraordinary expands. During times of uncertainty, designers can break negative thought patterns by leaving the comfort zone and engaging the unknown.

Likewise, designers can challenge themselves to learn new skills, even those that aren’t design-related. It’s a big world. There’s much to be discovered.

That said, it’s not easy to be creative when paying work slows, but it’s not impossible either. For all we can’t control, we do have the ability to maintain a positive outlook, seek growth opportunities, and stay connected with the people that matter most.

The Toptal Design Blog is a hub for advanced design studies by professional designers in the Toptal network on all facets of digital design, ranging from detailed design tutorials to in-depth coverage of new design trends, tools, and techniques. You can read the original piece written by Danny Rubyono here . Follow the Toptal Design Blog on Twitter , Dribbble , Behance , LinkedIn , Facebook , and Instagram .

The Clubhouse hype proves smart marketing isn’t all about spending

After launching in April 2020, Clubhouse has already been downloaded 10 million times and has around two million weekly active users. In the grand scheme of things, this might sound like a small amount — especially if you consider that Facebook has 2.7 billion active users on its platform, Instagram 1 billion, Twitter 330 million, and Snapchat 301 million.

But the amount of hype that Clubhouse has generated in its relatively short lifetime is oddly disproportionate to the number of users it had acquired. I’ve heard and seen Clubhouse references every single day for the last few weeks, which would usually be expected for an app that just hit 100 million downloads… not 10 million! What gives?

Although Clubhouse is a social network where all members can do is talk (and listen), a remarkable amount of the conversation (and attention) is actually happening beyond the app itself.

While this could be down to the fact that it has several high-profile members — I’m talking about Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Oprah Winfrey, Kanye West, and Drake, for example — its clout is being driven by the fact that it’s so hard to get into.

The FOMO is real!

Clubhouse might have opened its doors around a year ago, but there’s always been a burly bouncer standing outside. A digital queue that feels like it never ends. And if your name’s not down – you’re not coming in. Even now, if you download the app, the best you’re going to do is be put on the waiting list… unless you are directly invited.

Clubhouse has got everyone wanting to get inside, without blowing a fortune on marketing. This kind of hype usually costs millions of marketing dollars to achieve.