# 24: Everybody Was on Probation

- Show: [Thoroughly Considered](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered)
- Published: 2017-02-16
- Length: 41m
- Episode: 24
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2017-02-16-24-everybody-was-on-probation
- Listen: http://relay.fm/tc/24

## Summary

Tom Gerhardt and Dan Provost of Studio Neat discuss the operational challenges of being a two-person remote company, specifically how they manage production delays for their Glyph keyboard while Gerhardt takes paternity leave. They also detail the success of their third Pen Addict Kickstarter, which funded in 24 hours and expanded to include pen shows in Atlanta, DC, and Chicago. The conversation covers their hiring process for an administrative assistant, the cultural differences in probationary periods between the UK and US, and the logistics of shipping directly from the factory to backers.

## Chapters

- [0:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2017-02-16-24-everybody-was-on-probation#t=4) Introduction and Paternity Leave Impact
- [1:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2017-02-16-24-everybody-was-on-probation#t=85) Managing Remote Work During Life Events
- [7:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2017-02-16-24-everybody-was-on-probation#t=440) Hiring an Assistant and Emergency Preparedness
- [16:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2017-02-16-24-everybody-was-on-probation#t=974) Probationary Periods and Hiring Culture
- [18:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2017-02-16-24-everybody-was-on-probation#t=1098) Pen Addict Kickstarter Success and Pen Shows
- [28:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2017-02-16-24-everybody-was-on-probation#t=1730) Glyph Production Delays and Shipping Logistics
- [32:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2017-02-16-24-everybody-was-on-probation#t=1925) Fidget Cube Delivery and Targeted Advertising

## Topics

- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Logistics & fulfilment](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/logistics-and-fulfillment)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Studio Neat (company)
- Glyph (product)
- Premier Source (company)
- Relay FM (company)
- The Pen Addict (product)
- Noc (company)
- Field Notes (company)
- Cosmonaut (product)
- Fidget Cube (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Afterschool Podcast, Episode 5 - StudioNeat (9/16)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-11-04-afterschool-podcast-episode-5-studioneat-9-16) (Core77 Podcast)
- [Episode 068: Love Handles and Bald Spots](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2016-04-22-episode-068-love-handles-and-bald-spots) (Making It)
- [An Interview with Josh Lifton](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-09-09-an-interview-with-josh-lifton) (The Amp Hour)
- [Chris Becomes Self Employed - Quixotic Quitting Quaere](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-02-12-chris-becomes-self-employed-quixotic-quitting-quaere) (The Amp Hour)
- [Vellicate Videogame Vocation](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-04-23-vellicate-videogame-vocation) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2017-02-16-24-everybody-was-on-probation. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Thoroughly Considered.