As we sit down with this no-code wizard, we’re peeling back the layers of a journey marked by curiosity, innovation, and a genuine passion for empowering others. So grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and get ready for an insightful dialogue that might just change the way you interact with your daily to-dos and long-term aspirations.

This isn’t just an interview; it’s a peek into the future of personal productivity, led by someone who’s already there, mapping it out one template at a time. Join us as we explore the world through Ziki’s eyes, understanding what drives them, the challenges they’ve overcome, and the exciting horizon they’re headed toward.

Q: How did you first discover Notion, and what drew you to it?

A: Since I started my career, I was always on the lookout for the next best thing to optimize my workflows and increase productivity. But I stumbled upon Notion by mistake – I was looking into an app called “Motion” which is an automated scheduling app, and mistyped the word. 😀 And Notion popped up. I was hooked immediately. Whatever app I used to organize myself before offered limited flexibility. Notion on the other hand – you start with a blank page. The sky’s the limit.

Q: What inspired you to become a creator?

A: In one of my previous jobs, I was Head of Support and led a department of 27 people. During that time, my primary role was to lead by example, optimize processes, and inspire, mentor, and coach my teams. It wasn’t an easy job, but I loved every minute of it. I loved it so much that I wanted to take it on a higher scale – I want to empower businesses, entrepreneurs, and creators, help them scale their business with Notion and no-code automation, and teach them how they can use Notion to set themselves up for success.

Q: What does a typical day in your life look like?

A: Right now, besides my Notion business, I still have a 9-5 and a non-Notion-related freelance business so my days are all over the place. After I finish my 9-5 for the day, I typically get at least some work done for my Notion business, prioritizing client projects, and activities that allow me to educate and empower my Notion community. I also try to take time daily for my family and my pup, but considering the workload, it’s really hard to manage all of it sometimes. In 2024, I’d like to focus on reducing my workload and increasing the time I spend with my loved ones.

Q: What is your process for developing a new Notion template? Could you walk us through how you went from idea to execution for one of your popular templates?

A: My process is lengthy and it takes me quite some time to build a template, to be honest. Longer than I would have liked. I invest a lot of time into designing templates only of the highest quality and honestly, I’d rather sacrifice time, than quality.

Regarding my process, I keep a notebook on me at all times because you never know when an idea might spark. When it does, I write down my thoughts, and then when I have time to build, I draw inspiration from that notebook.

At that point, I validate my initial idea, either through some conversations or research, and if the idea is valid, I create a technical blueprint (flowcharts or docs) to understand the structure of the template and a list of features and benefits for the user.

Then, I revise both to identify if everything I planned makes sense, and if it brings value, and typically clean the plan up a bit. When the planning phase is done, I create the backend (databases), and my custom icons and configure everything needed before I move on to the next phase.

At this point, I focus on UX and UI design. I spend a lot of time planning this part to make sure my templates are simple, intuitive, and easy to use without sacrificing powerful functionalities. I like to quickly draw a quick mockup of the home dashboard and list the pages.

Lastly, I implement everything, test it, and most often, I will also use the template for a few days to make sure it’s working as expected in real life. Lots of times this exact process uncovers things that I never would have noticed if I weren’t using it.

I often also first build products for myself, and then when I deem them ready, offer them to my clients.

Q: You’re known as a Notion Formula maestro. Can you explain what makes formulas in Notion so powerful and maybe share your favorite formula trick?

A: Notion Formulas leverage powerful coding principles while keeping the coding process relatively simple through the Notion Editor UI. I know it might not seem simple when you write your first formula, but compared to actual coding, the learning curve is a lot less steep and the process is a lot more user-friendly for non-technical Notioneers.

My favorite formula trick is using variables for practically everything because they allow you to break your formula into smaller chunks, and write cleaner and more easily maintainable code.

Q: Do you see an educational component in your work, perhaps in helping others understand Notion better?

A: Absolutely. I always loved sharing my knowledge. Community and empowerment are two of my personal and brand core values. I invest a lot of time in educating the community and my clients and thoroughly enjoy it. My 30-day Notion Formulas Challenge on Twitter is one example of that.

I have also gotten great feedback on my content, and especially my newsletter where I dive deep into different Notion functionalities and use practical examples to make them easier to understand.

Q: Using your own templates, how have you personally improved your productivity or habits, and could you share a specific instance?

A: While I do not have that many templates publicly available, I lead my entire Notion consulting business in Notion. My workspace is still in the works, but once it’s done, I will start publishing different parts of it and make it available to a broader audience.

The two most prominent examples that I can bring forward in terms of improved productivity are my freelancing workspace and my content creator workspace. My ultimate goal is always to automate everything I possibly can in my Notion workspace for maximized productivity. That’s why I always build the different parts of it in a way that I can automate my processes later.

My freelancing workspace is powerful but highly intuitive and allows me to focus on my client’s work and everything related to it (meetings, documentation, proposals, invoicing, etc.). I like to use the “Personal Assistant” feature which is practically a high-level overview that keeps me on track. I also invested time into smart UI and UX design, dedicated focus pages, and an automation-ready database setup. I have my entire invoicing process automated, for example.

My content creator workspace on the other hand is AI powered and also automation-ready. It’s not done yet, and there’s still a lot of work to do before I make it available to the public, but my ultimate goal is to have an all-in-one system that allows me to schedule all my content from Notion, as well as have the AI component to help me generate and repurpose content.

Q: Looking back at where you started and where you are now, what’s the one thing you wish you had known when you began your journey with Notion?

A: That it’s not as easy as the gurus tell you it is.

If you grow slowly, the biggest challenge is the disappointment of not meeting your unrealistic expectations that are a consequence of the content the gurus have been feeding you.

On the other hand, I have grown relatively fast and the mental stress that came with it was high. I started as a Notion creator in August of 2023, and shifted to Notion Consulting in October of 2023, all while working my 9-5. That’s a huge change, and if I was better prepared for my growth, it would have saved me a lot of stress in the process.

Q: What’s your favorite way to relax or destress?

A: Typically, to relax I’ll do something that allows me to fully turn off my brain, like watching a Netflix show with my family, or going for a walk with noise-cancellation headphones and a good Spotify playlist. I don’t have as much time for sports as I used to, but when I did, running and cycling helped a lot. I remember going out with my bike in the morning and returning in late afternoons, just taking in all the nature and the views. I miss those times. I have to pick it up again next summer.

Q: Can you share a goal or dream that you’re currently pursuing?

A: My dream is to replace my full-time job with my Notion consulting and no-code automation business in 2024. And from the looks of it… it might happen sooner than I expected.

As we conclude our enlightening journey through the mind and creations of Ziki, it’s clear that we’ve traversed more than just an interview; we’ve experienced a voyage into the heart of innovation and personal empowerment. Ziki’s story is a testament to the transformative power of passion, dedication, and a relentless pursuit of improvement. From the accidental discovery of Notion to becoming a beacon for structured creativity and efficiency, Ziki reminds us that the tools for change are often closer than we think—they’re in the strategies we devise, the templates we create, and the communities we nurture.