September 24, 2012

DAY 1, Monday

7:42

Unplugged 480. An experiment in survival. No Internet. No Devices. I just woke up. This is going to be interesting.

8:45

Work day just started. So far so good. Karsten, my partner at Footstep Ventures, says “it’s like a doctor working without seeing any patients”. We catch up on the meetings each of us had during the weekend and write our goals for this week like for any other… only this time we write them on the whiteboard.

9:42

I’m getting a bit anxious with no computer in front of me.

17:30

I’ve gotten along surprisingly well. I have been catching up on many offline tasks. I had a long and productive meeting with Karsten to refine our strategy for the next 6 months. Luckily I had paper, color pens, scissors and tape handy. I’m happy with the results. We’re very aligned. I then cleaned and organized my stack of documents. It’s the first time I do this since moving into the Spreedach floffice (flat & office). I do feel a little antsy though… I would now like some Internet. My 5pm dose is overdue. I hope my colleagues in Russia are holding up well. I haven’t talked to them in all day.

17:32

My colleagues here are laughing at me and my determination to surviving this challenge.

20:00

The doorbell rings.

DAY 2, Tuesday

2:30 (am)

Earlier, I answered the door. “wtf man?! we can’t get a hold of you!” was the first thing I heard. “Are you in the cave-days now?!” says another. “1994” I reply ominously. Ben, Pablo and Balach come into my apartment. They speak of some party somewhere. They insist we head over. We do. Turns out it’s the opening party for an event here. The event is titled “Social Media Week”. Shit! – I think to myself. I don’t give in. Although there are huge flat screens all around me with “social” stats and everyone around me is constantly on Twitter (the use of certain hash tags decides which alcoholic drink will be free for the next 15 minutes at the bar) I just ask for another Moscow Mule and party like it’s 1994!

8:00

arhwghaaaaaa. Too early.

8:39

I feel so… ignorant of what is happening in the world right now. I’m confined to the reality I can see from my balcony today. People walking by and across the river are smiling. I guess things are still ok. It just hit me now how used to I am to up-to-the-minute worldwide information.

10:20

Need a computer… need a computer… where did I hide my smartphone? Before I give in I ask someone to print some design mockups for me and go over them in detail. Enough! I’m heading out to the street – it’s customer research time.

15:00

Interviewed quite a few people (mostly tourists) by the Brandenburg Gate. That was very useful. Now drawing a few mockups “offline” and having people at the office “play” with them.

18:00

I manage to go two full days at the office being productive. I could never do three. Now it’s time for a bit of offline afternoon time, oh yeah.

19:00

Aww mann! … it’s raining outside!

19:30

Found three old guitar song magazines and took out my guitar. Playing is soothing and fun. I’ll be able to survive! This was close.

23:00

Ready for bed. I made it! I do miss Internet – terribly! – but mostly as an item to satisfy my curiousity (news, fun) and to be productive. It’s not easy to run a web startup without gadgets or Internet. Luckily, there’s plenty to do in a startup and it wasn’t extremely hard to find something productive and offline. I’m off to bed now. Early. Really looking forward to tomorrow!

DAY 3, Wednesday.

6:30

I’m up a bit earlier than usual. Gadget and Internet time!

Note: Unplugged 480 is our experiment to see how tech addicts can survive without the Internet or their devices for two working days. There are clear rules of engagement but a lot of course depends on the honesty and integrity of our willing participants. We will be sharing their stories at the WIT Conference, Oct 15-17, at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. This experiment is a joint initiative by WIT and Discovery Channel Magazine.