Hi - I’m Kieran Parker. Creative, designer and explorer of things.

Previously, this website existed as my freelance portfolio with one objective -land clients.

A shame really, as the work that normally goes on an individual's portfolio, is only half of the story, and every creative person knows a lot of the magic happens behind the scenes when no one is looking (or even paying).

Well, last year I launched my own Micro-Design-Studio MONOLIF, which takes over the role my portfolio used to do, and I figured it was finally time to turn my portfolio site, into a personal site. One that doesn't just show the best work, but shows the experiments, random explorations and behind-the-scenes thoughts.

There were a few parameters for this site, though:

Be beautifully simple, and subtlely elegant.

And so, after multiple iterations, I landed on a design I loved, felt checked all the boxes, and gave me hope that it will let me better express myself online, in a single place.

How long will it last before I redesign it? Who knows.

But, that is the beauty of designing a site focused on me and my content, rather than visual trends. The next version won't be a ground-up overhaul, but instead an evolution, building on what was before, and adapting to where I am going.

For now, though, it is a place to share work, thoughts, experiments & personal projects.

Changing from a typical portfolio to a personal site. How I plan to use it, and where we go from here.

New site, who dis?

Welcome to Part Three of this journey. This post may feel like a summary, the end of the series. But i imagine it is only the beginning.

Before we dive in, let's have a quick recap.

In Part One, I highlighted my desire to have a single "thing" a mission, a direction, a grand goal. A way to measure progress and something to reduce the noise of everyday distractions.

In Part Two, I noted a glimmer of something that felt right. By looking back at the dots, i discovered a pattern of what im naturally drawn to, and good at. And that offered a glimpse of what my thing may be.

You may also remember, I set a list of things this "thing" must abide to:

It should play off my strengths and interests.

By day, I work with clients to help build their startups.
By night, I work on my own side projects.

The hope was, (or is) that one of my startups, will become my full-time thing.

The problem, however, is that each startup felt scattered. No common theme to build upon. One month a 

I enjoy them both and love the idea of them equally. But with no common thread tying them together, my time was split between them both with no compounding effect or momentum.

It also left me feeling scattered on a personal level. Sharing one startup one month, and another next. No one thing or area to call my own and take ownership of.

Which, when looking back on, had an answer for me all along.
The act of creating startups at a quick rate, to a high standard, is my "thing.

Being able to talk about the lessons I have learnt from over a decade working with startups. The journey i have taken to build my own. The processes, challenges, journey, wins, losses. Everything I do for each of my projects is the thing that unites them.

The question then, is "Who would be interested in that type of "thing". And, again, it's me. I would love the sh*t out of an account that shared the journey from freelancer to founder. Self-funded, making purposeful multiple small bets through MVPs and startups whilst enjoying the ride.

So, that leads me to my announcement - I started a studio that acts as a place to capture these products, and share the journeys of each, wins, losses, processes and resources. A place to capture what happens and share it back as one single entity. Not many scattered ones.

 And is going to be my "thing" for the foreseeable future.

My previous two posts highlighted my desire to find my "thing". In this update, I think I may have the answer. A direction. Let's unravel why it feels right. And what it is...

Finding my "One Thing" - Part Three: My Thing - Found(?)

In the first part of this series, I delved into my quest to discover my "Thing" (also referred to as a purpose, goal, or direction) - believing that doing so would bring a sense of order and clarity to my life, aligning everything towards a common focal point.

Here are several advantages I anticipate from pinpointing this direction:

It will consolidate my efforts into a singular focus.

It will alleviate analysis paralysis and streamline decision-making.

I'll awaken with a clear sense of purpose.

Side Note: Initially, this post was meant to reflect on my past decade, detailing what I found enjoyable and why, in what I termed "uncovering the patterns." However, it veered into a lengthy, disorganized monologue. Therefore, I'll forgo that process and share the outcomes instead.

I find fulfilment in collaborating with startups.

The vitality and zeal within these environments are unparalleled.

Brainstorming ideas and entertaining possibilities is invigorating.

The rapid testing and iteration keep things dynamic and thrilling.

Flexibility reigns supreme, allowing for living in the present while maintaining a long-term vision.

I've initiated various side projects and startups (some of which I've sold), spanning from a clothing brand, UI kit, and design systems to SaaS products and even a tattoo studio.

I devote my spare time to creative endeavours (self-initiated designs, 3D printing, etc.).

I actively engage with several startup-oriented communities (MFM, Indie Hackers, ProductHunt, etc.).

I'm averse to the notion of exchanging time for money linearly.

In essence, I'm a creative and serial entrepreneur who thrives in the fast-paced realm of startups. Conceptualizing, theorizing, testing, iterating, and scaling represent my greatest joys. Moreover, the allure of compounding and passive income surpasses that of a regular paycheck.

But how do I transform this inclination into a definitive "Thing"? A singular mission that furnishes me with direction and purpose.

A mission that guides my every morning, setting the agenda for the day.

That's the exploration I'm embarking upon next.

Part two of my journey into finding/figuring out my "One Thing". This time finding the patterns and connecting the dots.

Finding my "One Thing" - Part Two: Finding the patterns.

Over the last year or so, I have spoken to a few founders and all of them shared a common trait. They all had their "one thing". A purpose. A major goal. A direction.

Their one thing acted as a single source of truth to guide every decision they made each day. And with that, it gave them an unwavering sense of purpose and absolute focus.

When they woke up in the morning, they knew exactly what they were working towards.

When they engaged on Twitter, they knew what they wanted to learn or share.

When they had an idea, they knew if it was a good one by how well I served their grand purpose.

When people reached out or opportunities arose, they had a better idea of whether it was worth their time.

Of course, they still struggled with decisions and ideas. But they knew their overall direction.

Imagine sailing a ship, and not knowing where to go. You could end up going in circles endlessly and without reason. But, if you pulled out a compass and chose to travel north, you know have your purpose. Sure, you may get pulled off course to resupply, or due to bad weather, or for a rest. But you know aslong as the needle is pointing in that direction more than it is not, you are moving towards your goal.

So, that is exactly what I am looking to do. Find my "one thing" my "direction. I want to wake up every morning knowing exactly what I am working towards. And be able to measure if I am moving towards it or not.

Before wrapping up and sharing my commitment to the next month. I just wanted to take a moment to highlight a book called "

". It has also helped me understand and approach this task. I highly recommend checking it out!

During March of this year, I plan to do some soul-searching and try to understand what my "One Thing" is. And here are a few rules I need to hit to consider it a good fit:

If I hit those 4 things, I believe it will help define my direction. The step after will be figuring out how I can start moving my ship toward it.

Finally, if anyone out there is feeling the same desire, or has already found their one thing, reach out to me on 

Part one of my journey into finding/figuring out my "One Thing". My "Purpose". I want to wake up every day, and know exactly what I am working towards. 