Jesse Ekkerd is a commercial pilot turned business owner and the founder of Drang Digital, a content marketing agency for aviation training institutes.
Twitter (X) → twitter.com/JesseEkkerd




Workspace Setup
MacBook Air M1 8GB
Magic Keyboard
Shure MV7 Mounted on a RØDE PSA1 Boom Arm
Dell 27” U2723QE 4K USB-C Monitor
Belkin iPhone Mount with MagSafe for Mac Desktops and Displays
iPhone XS as a Webcam via Camo
AirPods Pro (1st Generation)
What is the most useful item in your workspace?
While many things come to mind, my MacBook Air M1 takes the crown.
It felt expensive when I was a broke pilot, but I had a hunch that the new M1 chip was great value. I was right.
My MacBook has paid for itself hundreds of times over and can handle anything I throw at it. I could not have built my business without it.
How do you spark creativity?
I like sparking creativity through constraints.
This applies to many scenarios.
In business, I like creating creative solutions through financial and time constraints.
In writing, I spark creativity by niching down on my reader. Writing for the whole world is complicated; writing for a 19-year-old student pilot in the US dealing with a specific problem is easier.
How do you manage work-life balance?
I often receive judgment from people who believe that I have no "work-life balance."
I like my work. I like business.
I don't have hobbies outside of work. I spend time with my girlfriend if I'm not working or working out. I love my life, and my work is a significant part of it!
What is there to balance?
What do you think is the main benefit of remote work?
Freedom! Location freedom allows me to decide where I want to live (and for how long).
The ability to live in a low cost of living area is a significant advantage when running a bootstrapped business.
With a fully remote team, I can utilize talent in the US and Europe while keeping my personal expenses low - a nice "profit hack," so to speak.
If you enjoyed this edition of Workspaces, please consider sending it to someone that you think would love it just as much! ❤️
-Ryan (@rjgilbert)