Q & A with James Tibbett (CEO & Co-founder of SeePilot)
What is SeePilot?
SeePilot is a Sydney-based software company on a mission to make worksite communication more visual. Our latest product, SeePilot Snap, helps construction teams to quickly organise site photos, giving context to images and making them easily searchable.
What drove you to develop and create SeePilot?
The SeePilot team are all very visual people (it was actually a common interest in virtual reality (VR) that brought us together) and we love applying technology to solve real-world problems. Our first SeePilot product was a 360° virtual worksite communication tool across VR, mobile and web platforms. Throughout our journey we got to know construction teams and property developers who explained the importance of site photos and the chaotic way that many of them were organised/managed. These people wanted a better solution and it aligned with our mission to make worksite communication more visual. We started building prototypes of SeePilot Snap and iterated them to the product we have today.
How will SeePilot change the way construction industries function?
SeePilot Snap will make it easier to create and maintain complete visual records of how projects were built. This improves problem solving and quality control, as well as reducing disputes. Visual information is quick to record and easy to understand, perfectly suited to the busy demands of a construction team. We aim to be the go-to solution whenever someone needs to take a photo on a construction site - making everything from record keeping to defects management easier and more effective.
What does your everyday schedule look like?
The day-to-day life of an early-stage start-up founder is often varied, you have to wear a lot of hats and adapt to whatever work needs to be done. I currently juggle project management, product design, customer-facing communications, marketing, finances and product testing. This often involves lots of meetings, email, and WhatsApp to ensure the rest of the team is aligned. Personally, I like to start the day with some exercise, to build energy for the rest of the day and feel like I start the day with a win. Then surfing and bike rides on weekends.
What is the most rewarding thing about being your own boss?
The most rewarding and scary thing about being your own boss is the freedom. I really like being able to work on what I’m excited about, when I want to work on it, and how I want to do it. However, no one is telling you what the right thing to work on is, you are being pulled in so many directions that it’s easy to go off track. I find freedom in my work and the ability to be creative very rewarding, but I often need to “zoom out”, look at the big picture and prioritise on the most important work before getting stuck in again.
What is the single biggest challenge you have faced to date, and how did you overcome it?
Personally, the biggest challenge I have faced was completing my PhD. Tackling a seemingly insurmountable project with very little guidance can be a daunting and isolating experience. Having a glaring point on my to-do list of “Finish PhD” wasn’t much help as it’s very hard to see progress toward that. I had to learn that any task can be broken down into smaller chunks. It’s important to create manageable pieces that you can see progress toward completing and build momentum to carry you into the next task. I like to break goals down into what I can control (input rather than outcome) and divide tasks until progress seems achievable.
What advice would you give yourself if you could go back in time and speak to your 18-year-old self?
I would tell my 18-year-old self to play the long game, to start investing for the future and to value your creativity. I think it’s important to practice being creative as that’s what makes you (and your work) unique, leading to your secret sauce and ways to really elevate yourself. If you follow what others do, you will get to where they got, but that might not be where you want to go. Take some time early on to find out where you want to go. Then go be you.
What’s your secret to yourself?
“Play the long game”. I don’t believe that good things come to those who wait, I believe that good things come to those who follow good processes. You can’t sit back; you need to take action. Results don’t happen overnight, and good things don’t come easy. I think a bit of struggle is good, it teaches you a lot.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Building something that customers love. Producing a solution that helps people (even just making their day easier) and having them get excited about your product is really rewarding!
What is a critical trait/characteristic of being a leader?
Empathy. A leader must put themselves in the shoes of others and see problems/blockages from multiple perspectives to help remove roadblocks. A big part of my job is helping the team to work better. If I can understand what they are going through, where they are coming from, I can better support them to succeed. I am also a big fan of leading by doing, setting good examples that I want others to follow.
What is the first thing that comes to mind and drives you to strive for your goals every morning?
A little better every day. There is always a long to-do list, I will never get it all done. But if I focus on getting a little better every day, I will help my future self and the small wins will start to scale. Everyone has good days and bad days, but it’s not a failure if you learn something. I think that mindset helps me attack my goals as I am not afraid of failure.
