EPISODE 7
Where Practice Meets Practicality
Recorded live at the Ann Arbor District Library!
Featuring Donald Harrison and Hien Lam.
In this live recording, Yen and Hafsah are joined by CadencePod alums Donald Harrison, filmmaker and owner of 7 Cylinders Studio, and Hien Lam, co-owner and designer at Huck Finch, to explore how creative practice can be effectively integrated into real-world applications and careers.
"So much in life is knowing what you want but also knowing what you don't want...I never want to go to a workplace that requires me to wear a suit so I don't want customers like that."
-Hien
Key takeaways from this episode
Define success on your own terms. Growth doesn’t have to mean scaling up—Hien and his co-founder built a thriving business by staying intentionally small.
Strategy comes first. A strong brand or website isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about aligning with business goals and making things easier for both the company and its users.
Know what to say no to. Saying no to the wrong projects, clients, or approaches is just as important as saying yes to the right ones.
Price with intention. Instead of arbitrary pricing, Hien reverse-engineers his rates based on profit margins and time tracking.
Client experience matters. Inspiration can come from unexpected places—like Michelin-star restaurants—where every detail is carefully crafted to create a seamless, memorable experience.
Iteration is key. Learning by doing, testing, and refining along the way will get you further than waiting for the perfect plan.
Show Notes & Resources
Chill Pill (Hien’s personal development blog)
Books & Thinkers Mentioned: James Clear (Atomic Habits), the Zingerman’s business model
Tools Used in Hien’s Workflow: Webflow, Figma, Google Sheets, Toggl
French Laundry (The high-end dining experience that inspired Huck Finch’s client approach)