🔥 We are the (R)emotes #23

Welcome to (R) emote brief your monthly dose of insights, tools and stories from the heart of your (R)emote community 💌

This month, we’re exploring how to turn ambition into action—without burning out. From the Harada Method’s structured approach to long-term growth, to Ricardo Luiz’s AI-powered prototyping insights, discover tools to help you and your team thrive in fast-paced environments.

📌 HEADLINES PREVIEW

• 🔥 Dave Westgarth on developing self-reliant, high-performing teams with the Harada Method.

• 🤖 A prompt a day - The "Find What You Let Go Of" Prompt (courtesy of Mostly Human).

• 🎧 Ricardo Luiz’s From Brief to App Prototype in Under an Hour—key takeaways and templates.

This edition is about stepping off the treadmill and into the playground.
Let's build cultures that feel alive.

Dave Westgarth helps individuals and teams master sustainable performance using the Harada Method—a Lean-inspired framework for clarity, focus, and ownership. With 15+ years in Agile and tech environments, he bridges the gap between daily actions and long-term growth.

Dave started his career in software delivery, where he saw firsthand how even high-performing teams could lose sight of their purpose in the rush to deliver. After discovering the Harada Method during a stint in Japan, he adapted its principles for modern workplaces, helping teams from startups to Fortune 500s align their habits with their goals.

His workshops combine visual tools (like Miro templates) with Lean thinking to create systems that stick. When he’s not coaching, Dave writes about intentional leadership and hosts a podcast on habit design.

🏅 Developing Champions with the Harada Method

🗓 Thursday, December 18th
🕒 11 AM CDT | 5 PM GMT | 10:30 PM IST

​Discover the Harada Method — a powerful yet underused system for developing self-reliant, high-performing individuals and teams. Rooted in Lean thinking and adapted for today’s delivery and tech environments, this session introduces a practical, human-centered approach to long-term goal setting, habit formation, and reflection. You'll learn how to apply the method using Miro and visual tools that enhance both personal focus and team alignment.

What You'll Walk Away With:

🎯 The Harada Framework : Understand the 3 pillars of the method (goal-setting, habit formation, reflection).

🛠 Miro Templates : Ready-to-use tools to apply the method with your team.

🔄 Agile Alignment : How to connect daily actions with long-term purpose—without the overhead.

🎟️ Join the Session, spots are limited, so save yours now!

Find What You Let Go Of (Before You Got "Practical")

You know that part of you that went quiet when adulthood got loud? The one who had interests, hobbies, ways of being that didn't "make sense" to keep doing?

This prompt helps you remember her.

Not so you can turn it into a business. Not so you can monetize your hobby. Just so you can see what you misplaced when you decided to be sensible.

🧠 The Prompt

Role 

You are a thoughtful guide who helps people reconnect with parts of themselves they've set aside.

Objective 

Help me remember activities, interests, or ways of being that I used to love but stopped doing when life got busy or I decided to be "practical."

Context 

I'm in midlife/midcareer and I've spent years being responsible, sensible, doing what I "should" do. But there's a part of me that feels lost or dimmed. I want to remember what I used to do or love before I convinced myself it didn't matter or wasn't productive enough.

Ask me these questions ONE AT A TIME (wait for my answer before asking the next):

What did you used to do in your free time that you don't do anymore?

What activity made you lose track of time before you had to be "on" all the time?

What did people compliment you on or ask you about that you brushed off as "just a hobby"?

What did you stop doing because someone said it was impractical, silly, or wouldn't lead anywhere?

If you had a completely free Saturday with no obligations and no one watching - what would younger-you have done?

Output 

After I answer all 5 questions, show me:

The pattern of what I let go of (what type of activities/interests)

What these activities gave me that I might be missing now (creativity? flow? joy? connection?)

One small, low-pressure way I could try ONE of these things again - not as a project, just to see if it still fits

Make it feel like permission, not homework.

Last Month with Ricardo Luiz: From Zero to Prototype in under an hour

In November, Ricardo Luiz demonstrated how AI can accelerate product design— without sacrificing user empathy. Here’s what happened when 75+ professionals prototyped an app in 60 minutes using Perplexity, ChatGPT, and Lovable.

Ricardo started by debunking a myth: "AI won’t replace designers—it’ll make them faster." The session kicked off with a live demo of how to use AI for user research, generating insights from raw data in minutes. Participants then split into breakout rooms to prototype solutions for real-world challenges (like onboarding flows for remote teams). The energy was palpable as teams iterated on wireframes, debated trade-offs, and refined their prototypes with Ricardo’s guidance.

One of the most discussed topics was how to balance AI efficiency with human creativity. Ricardo shared his rule of thumb: "Use AI for the heavy lifting—data analysis, layout options, even microcopy—but always refine with human judgment." This sparked conversations about ethical AI use and how to avoid "over-automating" the creative process. By the end, attendees didn’t just have prototypes—they had a shared vocabulary for integrating AI into their workflows.

One attendee shared: "I finally see how AI can augment creativity—not replace it. The key is knowing where to draw the line."

Key highlights included

💡 AI as a Co-Pilot : AI excels at speeding up repetitive tasks (e.g., generating wireframe variations), but human designers must curate and refine the outputs to ensure user-centricity.

🔄 Workflow Clarity : The most successful teams combined AI tools in a structured sequence—Perplexity for research, ChatGPT for content, Lovable for layouts—then validated with user feedback.

⚠️ Pitfalls to Avoid : Over-reliance on AI can lead to generic solutions. Ricardo emphasized the importance of human-led refinement to add uniqueness and emotional resonance.

Missed the webinar? All replays are available in our community hub, where you can catch up on sessions, download templates, and connect with fellow remote professionals. Every session is designed to give you practical tools you can implement immediately—no matter when you watch.

🎧 NO TIME FOR THE REPLAY ?

No problem. Our AI hosts Maeva & Quinn condensed the session into a crisp 15-minute episode of Talks About The (R)emotes—now live on Spotify.

📱 From Zero to Prototype

We’re going from zero to prototype in under 60 minutes, using a blend of AI platforms to simulate 
a real-world product design workflow. From early market research to UX conception and clickable prototypes, this experience will guide you through each step with clear, actionable prompts.

> Get your free copy for Miro <

🌎 Nature: online activity

⭐️ Difficulty: easy

⏰ Duration: 60 minutes

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