Latest / #WisdomOfWomen Show / Scaling with Soul: How Sharon Gillenwater Built and Sold a $25M Tech Company Without Losing Herself
Transcript
- 0:00Welcome
- 0:00to
- 0:00the
- 0:01Wisdom
- 0:01of
- 0:01Women
- 0:02Show.
- 0:02We
- 0:03are
- 0:03dedicated
- 0:04to
- 0:04amplifying
- 0:05the
- 0:05voice
- 0:06of
- 0:06women
- 0:07in
- 0:07business.
- 0:08A
- 0:09new
- 0:09model
- 0:09of
- 0:10leadership
- 0:10is
- 0:10emerging
- 0:11and
- 0:11we
- 0:11are
- 0:11here
- 0:11to
- 0:12amplify
- 0:13the
- 0:13voices
- 0:14of
- 0:14women
- 0:15leading
- 0:15the
- 0:16way.
- 0:16I
- 0:17am
- 0:17your
- 0:17host
- 0:17Coco
- 0:18Selman,
- 0:18five
- 0:19time
- 0:19founder,
- 0:19impact
- 0:20investor
- 0:21and
- 0:21creator
- 0:22of
- 0:22the
- 0:22Force
- 0:22for
- 0:23Good
- 0:23System.
- 0:24Thank
- 0:25you
- 0:25for
- 0:25joining
- 0:25us
- 0:26today
- 0:26as
- 0:27we
- 0:27illuminate
- 0:28the
- 0:28path
- 0:29to
- 0:29unlocking
- 0:30opportunities
- 0:30and
- 0:31prosperity
- 0:32for
- 0:32women
- 0:32led
- 0:33enterprises
- 0:34by
- 0:34amplifying
- 0:35the
- 0:36voice
- 0:36and
- 0:37wisdom
- 0:37of
- 0:38women.
- 0:40Today
- 0:41we
- 0:41have
- 0:42a
- 0:42glass
- 0:43breaking
- 0:43trailblazer
- 0:45in
- 0:45our
- 0:46midst.
- 0:47Sharon
- 0:48Gillenwater
- 0:49is
- 0:49the
- 0:49co
- 0:49founder
- 0:50and
- 0:50former
- 0:51CEO
- 0:52of
- 0:52Boardroom
- 0:53Insiders,
- 0:54a
- 0:54SaaS
- 0:55business
- 0:55intelligence
- 0:56company.
- 0:57She
- 0:57bootstrapped,
- 0:59scaled
- 0:59and
- 1:00sold
- 1:00for
- 1:0025
- 1:01million
- 1:01without
- 1:02outside
- 1:03funding
- 1:03providing,
- 1:05proving
- 1:05that
- 1:06profitability
- 1:07and
- 1:07values
- 1:08can
- 1:08grow
- 1:09together.
- 1:10Under
- 1:10her
- 1:11leadership,
- 1:11the
- 1:11company
- 1:12landed
- 1:12in
- 1:13the
- 1:13Inc.
- 1:135000
- 1:14list
- 1:15and
- 1:15launched
- 1:16award
- 1:16winning
- 1:17products
- 1:18used
- 1:18by
- 1:18enterprise
- 1:19sales
- 1:19and
- 1:20marketing
- 1:20teams
- 1:21worldwide.
- 1:22Today
- 1:22she
- 1:23is
- 1:23the
- 1:23author
- 1:23of
- 1:24Scaling
- 1:25with
- 1:25Soul,
- 1:27How
- 1:27I
- 1:27Built
- 1:28and
- 1:28sold
- 1:28a
- 1:29$25
- 1:29million
- 1:30tech
- 1:30company
- 1:31without
- 1:32Being
- 1:32an
- 1:32a
- 1:33Hole
- 1:33where
- 1:34she
- 1:34shares
- 1:35her
- 1:35journey
- 1:36from
- 1:36waitress
- 1:37to
- 1:38exited
- 1:38tech
- 1:39entrepreneur.
- 1:40Offering
- 1:40both
- 1:41practical
- 1:41strategy
- 1:42and
- 1:43raw
- 1:43lessons
- 1:44in
- 1:44resilience.
- 1:45Through
- 1:46her
- 1:46company
- 1:47Scaling
- 1:47With
- 1:48Soul,
- 1:48her
- 1:49book
- 1:49and
- 1:50fast
- 1:50growing
- 1:51TikTok
- 1:51platform,
- 1:52Sharon
- 1:53is
- 1:53on
- 1:53a
- 1:53mission
- 1:54to
- 1:54make
- 1:54entrepreneurship
- 1:56more
- 1:57accessible,
- 1:58humane
- 1:59and
- 1:59wildly
- 2:00successful
- 2:01for
- 2:02founders
- 2:03everywhere.
- 2:04Welcome
- 2:05Sharon.
- 2:07Thank
- 2:07you
- 2:07for
- 2:07having
- 2:08me
- 2:08Coco.
- 2:09It's
- 2:10such
- 2:10a
- 2:10pleasure
- 2:11to
- 2:11have
- 2:11you
- 2:11and
- 2:11be
- 2:11with
- 2:12you.
- 2:12I
- 2:12know
- 2:12we're
- 2:13together
- 2:13in
- 2:14the
- 2:15whisper
- 2:15group,
- 2:16right,
- 2:16which
- 2:16Carrie
- 2:17Kirpin
- 2:18has
- 2:18founded
- 2:19and
- 2:20I've
- 2:20gotten
- 2:20to
- 2:21know
- 2:21you
- 2:21through
- 2:21that
- 2:21community
- 2:22and
- 2:22it's
- 2:22been
- 2:23such
- 2:23a
- 2:23pleasure.
- 2:24So
- 2:24what
- 2:25was
- 2:25a
- 2:25book
- 2:26written
- 2:26by
- 2:26a
- 2:27woman
- 2:27that
- 2:27has
- 2:28significantly
- 2:28influenced
- 2:29your
- 2:29life?
- 2:32Now
- 2:32this
- 2:32is
- 2:32a
- 2:32little
- 2:33book
- 2:33that
- 2:33no
- 2:34one
- 2:34will
- 2:34probably
- 2:34have
- 2:35heard
- 2:35of,
- 2:35but
- 2:36if
- 2:36you
- 2:36are
- 2:37an
- 2:37entrepreneur,
- 2:39particularly
- 2:40a
- 2:40woman
- 2:40entrepreneur
- 2:41who
- 2:42was
- 2:42never
- 2:42part
- 2:43of
- 2:43the
- 2:44club
- 2:45in
- 2:45terms
- 2:45of
- 2:45being
- 2:45able
- 2:46to
- 2:46raise
- 2:46venture
- 2:47and
- 2:47you
- 2:47know,
- 2:47going
- 2:47to
- 2:47the
- 2:48right
- 2:48schools,
- 2:49I
- 2:49would
- 2:49highly
- 2:49recommend
- 2:50it.
- 2:50It's
- 2:50called
- 2:50Lunch
- 2:50with
- 2:51Lucy
- 2:52by
- 2:52Sherry
- 2:53Stuart
- 2:54Deutschman.
- 2:55I
- 2:55believe
- 2:56she
- 2:56self
- 2:56published
- 2:57this
- 2:57book.
- 2:58Not
- 2:59only
- 2:59did
- 2:59the
- 2:59book
- 2:59have
- 3:00an
- 3:00impact
- 3:00on
- 3:00me,
- 3:00but
- 3:01Sherry
- 3:01was
- 3:01one
- 3:01of
- 3:02the
- 3:02first
- 3:03people
- 3:04I
- 3:04spoke
- 3:04with
- 3:05after
- 3:06I
- 3:06exited
- 3:06my
- 3:07company.
- 3:08When
- 3:08I
- 3:09sold
- 3:09my
- 3:09company,
- 3:10I
- 3:10had
- 3:10no
- 3:11idea
- 3:12that
- 3:13it
- 3:13was
- 3:13a
- 3:13big
- 3:14deal
- 3:14what
- 3:14I
- 3:15did.
- 3:16I
- 3:16thought,
- 3:16you
- 3:16know,
- 3:16because
- 3:17I
- 3:17live
- 3:17in
- 3:17the
- 3:17Bay
- 3:18Area
- 3:18and
- 3:18it
- 3:18just
- 3:18seems
- 3:19like
- 3:19everyone's
- 3:19doing
- 3:20this.
- 3:20A
- 3:21friend
- 3:21introduced
- 3:21me
- 3:21to
- 3:22Sheri
- 3:22and
- 3:23we
- 3:23talked
- 3:23on
- 3:23the
- 3:23phone.
- 3:24She
- 3:24said,
- 3:24you
- 3:24have
- 3:25no
- 3:25idea
- 3:26how
- 3:27rare
- 3:28your
- 3:29accomplishment
- 3:29is
- 3:30and
- 3:30you
- 3:30need
- 3:31to
- 3:31get
- 3:31out
- 3:31there
- 3:31and
- 3:32talk
- 3:32about
- 3:32it
- 3:33to
- 3:33help
- 3:33other
- 3:34people
- 3:34do
- 3:34the
- 3:34same
- 3:35Thing,
- 3:35it
- 3:36stunned
- 3:36me
- 3:36and
- 3:37I
- 3:37started
- 3:37looking
- 3:37into
- 3:37the
- 3:38statistics
- 3:38of
- 3:39exited
- 3:39entrepreneurs,
- 3:40particularly
- 3:40women
- 3:40exited
- 3:41entrepreneurs,
- 3:41particularly
- 3:42bootstrapped
- 3:43women.
- 3:44I
- 3:44discovered
- 3:45she
- 3:45was
- 3:45right.
- 3:46I
- 3:46bought
- 3:46her
- 3:47book
- 3:47and
- 3:48I
- 3:48read
- 3:49it
- 3:49in
- 3:49about
- 3:51eight
- 3:51hours
- 3:52or
- 3:52less.
- 3:54I
- 3:54laughed,
- 3:55I
- 3:55cried.
- 3:56There
- 3:56were
- 3:56a
- 3:57couple
- 3:57of
- 3:57takeaways
- 3:58from
- 3:58it.
- 3:59The
- 3:59first
- 3:59was
- 3:59that
- 4:01she
- 4:01said,
- 4:01you
- 4:01know,
- 4:02everyone
- 4:02says
- 4:02put
- 4:03the
- 4:03customer
- 4:03first,
- 4:04but
- 4:04she
- 4:04said,
- 4:04that's
- 4:05not
- 4:05right.
- 4:06What
- 4:06you
- 4:06do
- 4:06is
- 4:06you
- 4:06put
- 4:07the
- 4:07employees
- 4:08first
- 4:08because
- 4:09if
- 4:09you
- 4:09put
- 4:09the
- 4:09employees
- 4:10first,
- 4:11they
- 4:11are
- 4:11going
- 4:11to
- 4:11take
- 4:12care
- 4:12of
- 4:12your
- 4:12customers.
- 4:13And
- 4:13I
- 4:13loved
- 4:13that
- 4:14and
- 4:14I
- 4:14think
- 4:14about
- 4:15that
- 4:15all
- 4:15the
- 4:15time.
- 4:16And
- 4:16the
- 4:16second
- 4:17thing
- 4:17that
- 4:17she
- 4:17did,
- 4:18the
- 4:18title
- 4:18Lunch
- 4:19with
- 4:19Lucy
- 4:20comes
- 4:21from
- 4:21a
- 4:22thing
- 4:22that
- 4:22she
- 4:22did
- 4:23at
- 4:23her
- 4:23company.
- 4:24She
- 4:25comes
- 4:25from
- 4:25nothing.
- 4:26She
- 4:26was
- 4:26married
- 4:26off
- 4:27at
- 4:2717
- 4:28or
- 4:28something
- 4:28and
- 4:29had
- 4:29to
- 4:29leave
- 4:29her
- 4:29husband
- 4:30and
- 4:31had
- 4:31two
- 4:32kids
- 4:32on
- 4:32her
- 4:32own.
- 4:32And
- 4:32she's
- 4:33a
- 4:33self
- 4:33made
- 4:33woman.
- 4:33When
- 4:34she
- 4:34was
- 4:34running
- 4:34her
- 4:35company,
- 4:36she
- 4:36realized
- 4:37that
- 4:38as
- 4:38the
- 4:38CEO
- 4:40that
- 4:41people
- 4:41might
- 4:42not
- 4:43tell
- 4:44her
- 4:44the
- 4:44truth
- 4:44about
- 4:45certain
- 4:45things
- 4:45or
- 4:46she
- 4:47might
- 4:47become
- 4:47more
- 4:48removed
- 4:48about
- 4:48what's
- 4:49really
- 4:49going
- 4:49on
- 4:49and
- 4:50their
- 4:50problems
- 4:50might
- 4:51develop
- 4:51in
- 4:51the
- 4:51company
- 4:52that
- 4:52she
- 4:53doesn't
- 4:53know
- 4:53about.
- 4:53And
- 4:53if
- 4:54she
- 4:54doesn't
- 4:54know
- 4:54about
- 4:54it,
- 4:54she
- 4:55can't
- 4:55address
- 4:55it.
- 4:55And
- 4:56so
- 4:57she
- 4:57would
- 4:57pick
- 4:58one
- 4:58employee
- 4:59every
- 5:00week
- 5:01and
- 5:01take
- 5:01them
- 5:01to
- 5:02lunch.
- 5:02She
- 5:02would
- 5:02explain
- 5:03to
- 5:03them,
- 5:04I'm
- 5:04not
- 5:04Sherry,
- 5:05the
- 5:05CEO
- 5:06while
- 5:06we're
- 5:06at
- 5:06lunch.
- 5:07I'm
- 5:07your
- 5:07coworker,
- 5:08Lucy,
- 5:09and
- 5:09I
- 5:09want
- 5:10you
- 5:10to
- 5:10talk
- 5:10to
- 5:10me
- 5:11just
- 5:12like
- 5:12you
- 5:12talk
- 5:12to
- 5:12a
- 5:13coworker.
- 5:13And
- 5:13I
- 5:14want
- 5:14to
- 5:14really
- 5:14hear
- 5:14what
- 5:15your
- 5:15experience
- 5:16is
- 5:16like.
- 5:17And
- 5:18so
- 5:18that's
- 5:18where
- 5:18the
- 5:18title
- 5:19comes
- 5:19from.
- 5:19And
- 5:20it's
- 5:20a
- 5:20wonderful
- 5:20book.
- 5:21It
- 5:21has
- 5:21so
- 5:21much
- 5:22heart
- 5:22and
- 5:22shows
- 5:24as
- 5:24a
- 5:24CEO
- 5:24and
- 5:25a
- 5:25founder,
- 5:25what
- 5:26heart
- 5:26and
- 5:26integrity
- 5:27she
- 5:27had.
- 5:27I
- 5:28found
- 5:28it
- 5:28very
- 5:28inspiring
- 5:29and
- 5:29I
- 5:29would
- 5:29recommend
- 5:29it
- 5:30to
- 5:30any
- 5:31entrepreneurs.
- 5:33Oh
- 5:33my
- 5:33goodness,
- 5:34I
- 5:34can't
- 5:35wait
- 5:35to
- 5:35read
- 5:35it.
- 5:35It
- 5:36sounds,
- 5:36you
- 5:36know,
- 5:36I
- 5:37fully
- 5:37agree
- 5:38with
- 5:38the
- 5:38idea,
- 5:39the
- 5:39notion
- 5:39of
- 5:40an
- 5:40employee
- 5:40first
- 5:41approach,
- 5:42right.
- 5:42Like
- 5:43that's
- 5:43your
- 5:43first
- 5:43customer
- 5:44in
- 5:44my
- 5:44mind.
- 5:44It's
- 5:45always
- 5:45been
- 5:46in
- 5:46my
- 5:46mind.
- 5:46Thank
- 5:47you
- 5:47for
- 5:47that.
- 5:48That's
- 5:48a
- 5:48wonderful
- 5:49recommendation
- 5:49and
- 5:50I'm
- 5:50sure
- 5:50we'll
- 5:51all
- 5:51go
- 5:51pick
- 5:51it
- 5:52up.
- 5:52Some
- 5:52of
- 5:52the
- 5:53wisdom
- 5:53from
- 5:54Sherry
- 5:55in
- 5:55Lunch
- 5:56with
- 5:56Lucy.
- 5:56I
- 5:57love
- 5:57that.
- 5:59So,
- 5:59you
- 5:59know,
- 6:00I.
- 6:00One
- 6:00of
- 6:00the,
- 6:01what
- 6:01I
- 6:01like
- 6:01to
- 6:01do
- 6:02at
- 6:02the
- 6:02beginning
- 6:03of
- 6:03every
- 6:03interview
- 6:04is
- 6:05hear
- 6:05about
- 6:05you
- 6:06and
- 6:06your
- 6:06life
- 6:07so
- 6:08that
- 6:08we
- 6:08understand
- 6:08you
- 6:09as
- 6:09a
- 6:09human.
- 6:10First,
- 6:11I
- 6:11invite
- 6:11you
- 6:11to
- 6:12consider
- 6:12three
- 6:13moments
- 6:14in
- 6:14your
- 6:14life
- 6:15that
- 6:15create
- 6:15the
- 6:15arc
- 6:16of
- 6:16your
- 6:16story.
- 6:17Three
- 6:17moments
- 6:17that
- 6:18have
- 6:18shaped
- 6:18who
- 6:18you
- 6:19are.
- 6:19They
- 6:19can
- 6:20be
- 6:20personal
- 6:20moments,
- 6:21they
- 6:21can
- 6:21be
- 6:21family
- 6:21moments,
- 6:22they
- 6:22can
- 6:22be
- 6:23moments
- 6:24in
- 6:24in
- 6:25your
- 6:25business
- 6:26or
- 6:26your
- 6:27your
- 6:27development
- 6:28professionally.
- 6:29But
- 6:29three
- 6:30bold
- 6:30moments
- 6:31that
- 6:31shaped
- 6:31your
- 6:32life.
- 6:33What
- 6:33would
- 6:33those
- 6:33be?
- 6:35Well,
- 6:36early
- 6:36on,
- 6:36in
- 6:37my
- 6:37first
- 6:38real
- 6:38job,
- 6:40I
- 6:40worked
- 6:41at
- 6:41a
- 6:41magazine,
- 6:42San
- 6:42Diego
- 6:42Magazine.
- 6:43I
- 6:44worked
- 6:44there,
- 6:44and
- 6:44there
- 6:45were
- 6:45two
- 6:46women
- 6:46who
- 6:47were
- 6:47my
- 6:47mentors.
- 6:48They
- 6:48were
- 6:48the
- 6:48two
- 6:49leading
- 6:49editors
- 6:50there,
- 6:50and
- 6:51they
- 6:51were
- 6:52fantastic
- 6:53and
- 6:53I
- 6:53respected
- 6:54them
- 6:54so
- 6:54much.
- 6:55One
- 6:56of
- 6:56them,
- 6:57Ginny
- 6:57Butterfield,
- 6:58one
- 6:59day
- 6:59said,
- 6:59I'd
- 7:00like
- 7:00you
- 7:00to
- 7:00go
- 7:01to
- 7:01the
- 7:01local
- 7:01bookstore
- 7:02and
- 7:02buy
- 7:04a
- 7:04couple
- 7:04of
- 7:04books
- 7:04for
- 7:05our
- 7:05interns
- 7:05as
- 7:05departing
- 7:06gifts.
- 7:07Just
- 7:07buy
- 7:07two
- 7:07of
- 7:08the
- 7:08same
- 7:08book,
- 7:08but
- 7:09find
- 7:09a
- 7:09good
- 7:09book
- 7:09about
- 7:10writing
- 7:10or
- 7:11editing.
- 7:11So
- 7:13I
- 7:14went
- 7:14to
- 7:14the
- 7:14bookstore.
- 7:15I
- 7:15got
- 7:15these
- 7:16books
- 7:16that
- 7:16looked
- 7:16interesting
- 7:17to
- 7:17me.
- 7:18I
- 7:18came
- 7:18back
- 7:19and
- 7:19I
- 7:19put
- 7:19them
- 7:19on
- 7:19her
- 7:20desk
- 7:20so
- 7:20she
- 7:20could
- 7:20sign
- 7:21them
- 7:21for
- 7:21the
- 7:21interns.
- 7:22She
- 7:23came
- 7:23into
- 7:23my
- 7:23office
- 7:25looking
- 7:25down
- 7:25at
- 7:26me
- 7:26over
- 7:26her
- 7:26glasses.
- 7:27She
- 7:27said,
- 7:27did
- 7:28you
- 7:28happen
- 7:28to
- 7:28peruse
- 7:29these
- 7:29books
- 7:29at
- 7:29all?
- 7:30I
- 7:30said,
- 7:30I
- 7:30looked
- 7:31at
- 7:31the
- 7:31dust
- 7:31jacket
- 7:32and
- 7:33she
- 7:33opens
- 7:34one
- 7:34of
- 7:35the
- 7:35chapters
- 7:36and
- 7:36it
- 7:36says,
- 7:36why
- 7:37your
- 7:37editor
- 7:37is
- 7:37an
- 7:38idiot.
- 7:41It
- 7:41was
- 7:41just
- 7:41a
- 7:41little
- 7:42moment.
- 7:42But
- 7:43one
- 7:43of
- 7:43the
- 7:43things
- 7:44that
- 7:45taught
- 7:45me
- 7:46is
- 7:46for
- 7:47every
- 7:47decision
- 7:48you
- 7:48make
- 7:48at
- 7:48work,
- 7:49it
- 7:50has
- 7:50to
- 7:50be
- 7:50defensible.
- 7:51You
- 7:51have
- 7:52to
- 7:52be
- 7:52able
- 7:52to
- 7:53defend
- 7:53it
- 7:53and
- 7:53explain
- 7:54why
- 7:55you
- 7:55did
- 7:56that
- 7:56thing.
- 7:56And
- 7:56I've
- 7:56learned
- 7:57that
- 7:57lesson
- 7:57a
- 7:58few
- 7:58times,
- 7:59but
- 7:59that's
- 7:59the
- 7:59first
- 7:59time
- 8:00I
- 8:00can
- 8:00remember
- 8:00doing
- 8:01it.
- 8:01The
- 8:02principle
- 8:02of
- 8:02defensibility
- 8:04has
- 8:05been
- 8:05a
- 8:05common
- 8:06thread
- 8:06through
- 8:06all
- 8:06of
- 8:07the
- 8:07work
- 8:07that
- 8:07I've
- 8:07done
- 8:07since.
- 8:08And
- 8:09at
- 8:09Boardroom
- 8:09Insiders,
- 8:10it
- 8:10was
- 8:10something
- 8:11that
- 8:11I
- 8:12preached
- 8:13to
- 8:13our
- 8:14editorial
- 8:15team
- 8:16because
- 8:16what
- 8:16we
- 8:16were
- 8:16doing
- 8:17was
- 8:17quite
- 8:17subjective
- 8:18and
- 8:19it
- 8:19was
- 8:19very
- 8:19high
- 8:20value
- 8:20for
- 8:20our
- 8:20customers,
- 8:21telling
- 8:21our
- 8:22customers
- 8:23what
- 8:23was
- 8:23most
- 8:24important
- 8:24to
- 8:24their
- 8:26C
- 8:26suite
- 8:27customers.
- 8:28And
- 8:30I
- 8:30said,
- 8:30look,
- 8:30we're
- 8:31making
- 8:31choices.
- 8:31We're
- 8:32curating
- 8:32content
- 8:33here.
- 8:33And
- 8:33if
- 8:33we
- 8:34ever
- 8:34get
- 8:34a
- 8:34question
- 8:34from
- 8:35a
- 8:35customer,
- 8:35we
- 8:36have
- 8:36to
- 8:36be
- 8:36able
- 8:36to
- 8:36defend
- 8:37what
- 8:37why
- 8:37something
- 8:37is
- 8:38or
- 8:38is
- 8:38not
- 8:39in
- 8:39our
- 8:39profile.
- 8:41And
- 8:41so
- 8:42that
- 8:42became
- 8:42a
- 8:43hallmark
- 8:43of
- 8:44Boardroom
- 8:44Insiders
- 8:45too.
- 8:45Whatever
- 8:46I'm
- 8:46working
- 8:46on,
- 8:46I
- 8:47want
- 8:47to
- 8:47be
- 8:47able
- 8:47to
- 8:48go
- 8:49to
- 8:49the
- 8:49mat
- 8:49to
- 8:50defend
- 8:50it
- 8:50with
- 8:51my
- 8:51own
- 8:51experience,
- 8:53regarded
- 8:54incredible
- 8:55sources
- 8:57and
- 8:57all
- 8:57of
- 8:58the
- 8:58things.
- 8:59So
- 8:59that
- 8:59was
- 8:59a
- 8:59big
- 8:59moment
- 9:00for
- 9:00me.
- 9:00I
- 9:00think
- 9:00the
- 9:01second
- 9:01moment
- 9:01was
- 9:02I
- 9:03was
- 9:03floundering
- 9:04around
- 9:05in
- 9:05San
- 9:05Diego,
- 9:06not
- 9:06after
- 9:07that
- 9:07job.
- 9:07I
- 9:08was
- 9:08freelance
- 9:08writing.
- 9:09I
- 9:09wasn't
- 9:09making
- 9:09any
- 9:10money.
- 9:10I
- 9:11went
- 9:11to
- 9:11grad
- 9:11school
- 9:12because
- 9:12I
- 9:12didn't
- 9:12know
- 9:12what
- 9:13else
- 9:13to
- 9:13do.
- 9:13I
- 9:13came
- 9:13from
- 9:14a
- 9:14blue
- 9:14collar
- 9:14family
- 9:15and
- 9:15my
- 9:15parents
- 9:15didn't
- 9:16go
- 9:16to
- 9:16college,
- 9:16so
- 9:17I
- 9:17didn't
- 9:17understand
- 9:17how
- 9:18to
- 9:18navigate
- 9:19looking
- 9:19for
- 9:20an
- 9:20office
- 9:21type
- 9:21job.
- 9:22I
- 9:22got
- 9:22married
- 9:22and
- 9:22I
- 9:23moved
- 9:23to
- 9:23San
- 9:23Francisco,
- 9:24which
- 9:24is
- 9:24a
- 9:24place
- 9:24I
- 9:25had
- 9:25always
- 9:25wanted
- 9:25to
- 9:25live.
- 9:26When
- 9:27I
- 9:27went
- 9:27to
- 9:27San
- 9:27Francisco,
- 9:29I
- 9:29immediately
- 9:30started
- 9:30applying
- 9:30at
- 9:31all
- 9:31the
- 9:31big
- 9:31corporations
- 9:32there.
- 9:32Gap,
- 9:32Levi's,
- 9:33Williams,
- 9:33Sonoma.
- 9:34And
- 9:35they
- 9:35just
- 9:35were
- 9:36not
- 9:36interested
- 9:37in
- 9:37me.
- 9:37I
- 9:37could
- 9:37not
- 9:37get
- 9:38past
- 9:39the
- 9:39first
- 9:39interview.
- 9:40For
- 9:40whatever
- 9:40reason.
- 9:41I
- 9:43was
- 9:43referred
- 9:44to
- 9:44a
- 9:44friend
- 9:44of
- 9:44a
- 9:45friend
- 9:45who
- 9:45had
- 9:45a
- 9:46startup,
- 9:46and
- 9:46she
- 9:47hired
- 9:47me
- 9:47on
- 9:47the
- 9:47spot
- 9:48to
- 9:48be
- 9:49in
- 9:49sales,
- 9:49which
- 9:49I
- 9:49had
- 9:50no
- 9:50experience
- 9:50doing.
- 9:51But
- 9:52I
- 9:52think
- 9:53she
- 9:53could
- 9:53see
- 9:53that
- 9:54I
- 9:54was
- 9:54eager
- 9:55to
- 9:55learn
- 9:56and
- 9:56excited
- 9:57about
- 9:57their
- 9:58business.
- 9:58And
- 9:58I
- 9:59was
- 9:59a
- 9:59Swiss
- 9:59army
- 10:00knife.
- 10:01I
- 10:01could
- 10:01do
- 10:01a
- 10:02lot
- 10:02of
- 10:02different
- 10:02things.
- 10:04Maybe
- 10:04that's
- 10:04why
- 10:04the
- 10:04corporates
- 10:05wouldn't
- 10:05want
- 10:05to
- 10:05hire
- 10:06me,
- 10:06because
- 10:06I
- 10:06wasn't
- 10:06focused
- 10:07enough
- 10:07in
- 10:07my
- 10:07experience.
- 10:09And
- 10:09she
- 10:09saw
- 10:09me
- 10:09as
- 10:10somebody
- 10:10who
- 10:10could
- 10:10just
- 10:10get
- 10:11in
- 10:11there
- 10:11and
- 10:11do
- 10:11lots
- 10:12of
- 10:12different
- 10:12things.
- 10:13It
- 10:13was
- 10:13a
- 10:14revelation
- 10:14to
- 10:14me.
- 10:14And
- 10:15I
- 10:15got
- 10:16into
- 10:16the
- 10:16startup
- 10:17world
- 10:17and
- 10:17I
- 10:17never
- 10:17left.
- 10:18That's
- 10:18what
- 10:19I
- 10:19love
- 10:19about
- 10:19startups,
- 10:20is
- 10:20it
- 10:20doesn't
- 10:21matter.
- 10:22Given
- 10:22my
- 10:22background,
- 10:23I
- 10:23don't
- 10:23have
- 10:24the
- 10:24pedigree
- 10:24that
- 10:25a
- 10:25lot
- 10:25of
- 10:25people
- 10:25in
- 10:25business
- 10:26do,
- 10:26from
- 10:27neither
- 10:27the
- 10:27family
- 10:28pedigree
- 10:28nor
- 10:28the
- 10:29educational
- 10:29pedigree
- 10:30or
- 10:31the
- 10:31connections.
- 10:32But
- 10:33if
- 10:33you
- 10:33go
- 10:33into
- 10:33a
- 10:34startup,
- 10:34they
- 10:34don't
- 10:35care.
- 10:35They
- 10:35don't
- 10:36care
- 10:36where
- 10:37you
- 10:37came
- 10:37from,
- 10:38who
- 10:38you
- 10:39know,
- 10:39or
- 10:39where
- 10:40you
- 10:40went
- 10:40to
- 10:40school.
- 10:40It's
- 10:41like,
- 10:41how
- 10:41can
- 10:42you
- 10:42get
- 10:42stuff
- 10:42done
- 10:42well
- 10:43and
- 10:43can
- 10:43you
- 10:43get
- 10:43it
- 10:43done
- 10:43fast?
- 10:44And
- 10:45if
- 10:45you
- 10:45can
- 10:45do
- 10:45that,
- 10:45you
- 10:46will
- 10:46become
- 10:46a
- 10:46leader
- 10:46in
- 10:47the
- 10:47company
- 10:48in
- 10:48no
- 10:48time
- 10:48and
- 10:48you
- 10:48will
- 10:49just
- 10:49learn
- 10:50a
- 10:50ton.
- 10:50And
- 10:50so
- 10:51that
- 10:51was
- 10:51probably
- 10:52the
- 10:52second
- 10:53major
- 10:54milestone
- 10:55for
- 10:55me,
- 10:55career
- 10:56wise.
- 10:57And
- 10:58then
- 10:58I
- 10:58think
- 10:58the
- 10:58third
- 10:59one
- 11:00was
- 11:00a
- 11:00big
- 11:01failure
- 11:01that
- 11:01I
- 11:02had.
- 11:02When
- 11:02I
- 11:02my
- 11:03first
- 11:03startup,
- 11:04I
- 11:06was
- 11:06in
- 11:07San
- 11:07Francisco
- 11:07in
- 11:08the
- 11:08middle
- 11:08of
- 11:08the
- 11:08whole
- 11:08dot
- 11:09com
- 11:09thing.
- 11:10In
- 11:10the
- 11:10late
- 11:1090s,
- 11:11I
- 11:11started
- 11:11a
- 11:12company
- 11:13and
- 11:14I
- 11:14listened
- 11:15to
- 11:15what,
- 11:16you
- 11:17know,
- 11:17conventional
- 11:18wisdom
- 11:19and
- 11:20experts
- 11:20said.
- 11:21And
- 11:21the
- 11:22things
- 11:22they
- 11:22said
- 11:22is,
- 11:22you
- 11:23are
- 11:24not
- 11:24bona
- 11:25fide
- 11:25if
- 11:25you
- 11:25don't
- 11:26raise
- 11:26venture
- 11:26capital,
- 11:27so
- 11:27you
- 11:27have
- 11:27to
- 11:27raise
- 11:28venture
- 11:28capital.
- 11:29I
- 11:29raised
- 11:29venture
- 11:30capital
- 11:31and
- 11:32it
- 11:32killed
- 11:32the
- 11:33company.
- 11:34It
- 11:35literally
- 11:35killed
- 11:36the
- 11:36company.
- 11:36Because
- 11:36when
- 11:37the
- 11:37NASDAQ
- 11:37crashed
- 11:38and
- 11:40everybody
- 11:40was
- 11:41panicking,
- 11:41including
- 11:42my
- 11:42investors,
- 11:44they
- 11:44fired
- 11:44their
- 11:45CEO,
- 11:45the
- 11:46firm
- 11:46that
- 11:47funded
- 11:47us,
- 11:48and
- 11:49they
- 11:49had
- 11:50all
- 11:50these
- 11:50content
- 11:51companies
- 11:51in
- 11:51their
- 11:51portfolio
- 11:52and
- 11:52they
- 11:52decided
- 11:53they
- 11:53were
- 11:53going
- 11:53to
- 11:53pivot
- 11:53to
- 11:54biotech.
- 11:55And
- 11:55so
- 11:55they
- 11:55wanted
- 11:56out
- 11:56of
- 11:56our
- 11:56deal.
- 11:57They
- 11:58couldn't
- 11:58legally
- 11:58get
- 11:59out
- 11:59of
- 11:59the
- 11:59deal
- 11:59because
- 12:00we
- 12:00had
- 12:00a
- 12:00deal.
- 12:01But
- 12:01I
- 12:02always
- 12:02tell
- 12:02this
- 12:02to
- 12:03people,
- 12:04if
- 12:04they
- 12:04want
- 12:05out,
- 12:06they
- 12:06will
- 12:06get
- 12:07out.
- 12:08And
- 12:08in
- 12:08our
- 12:08case,
- 12:08they
- 12:09filed
- 12:09a
- 12:10sham
- 12:10lawsuit.
- 12:11They
- 12:11accused
- 12:12us
- 12:12of
- 12:12fraud,
- 12:13which
- 12:13we
- 12:13were
- 12:13not
- 12:14committing
- 12:14fraud.
- 12:15But
- 12:15they
- 12:15had
- 12:15all
- 12:16the
- 12:16lawyers
- 12:16and
- 12:16all
- 12:16the
- 12:17money.
- 12:17And
- 12:18so
- 12:18it
- 12:18forced
- 12:18us
- 12:19into
- 12:19a
- 12:19settlement
- 12:20and
- 12:20they
- 12:21got
- 12:21the
- 12:22majority
- 12:22of
- 12:22their
- 12:22money
- 12:23back.
- 12:26And
- 12:26so
- 12:29that
- 12:29was
- 12:29the
- 12:30beginning.
- 12:31For
- 12:31the
- 12:32rest
- 12:32of
- 12:32my
- 12:32life,
- 12:33I
- 12:33don't
- 12:33trust
- 12:34conventional
- 12:35wisdom.
- 12:35I
- 12:36don't
- 12:36trust
- 12:37what
- 12:37the
- 12:37insiders
- 12:38say.
- 12:38I
- 12:38think
- 12:38it's
- 12:39all
- 12:39bullshit.
- 12:41It
- 12:41works
- 12:42for
- 12:42the
- 12:42people
- 12:42who
- 12:43are
- 12:43in
- 12:43the
- 12:44club,
- 12:45but
- 12:45it
- 12:45doesn't
- 12:46work
- 12:46for
- 12:46the
- 12:46rest
- 12:46of
- 12:47us.
- 12:47For
- 12:47the
- 12:47most
- 12:47part,
- 12:48there's
- 12:48a
- 12:48lot
- 12:48of
- 12:49posturing
- 12:50and
- 12:52people
- 12:52not
- 12:52really
- 12:53being
- 12:53honest
- 12:53about
- 12:54what
- 12:54these
- 12:55funding
- 12:57situations
- 12:58look
- 12:58like
- 12:58and
- 12:58how
- 12:59it
- 12:59impacts
- 12:59your
- 12:59exit.
- 13:01I'm
- 13:01trying
- 13:01to
- 13:01blow
- 13:02the
- 13:02whistle
- 13:02on
- 13:03all
- 13:03of
- 13:03that
- 13:04because
- 13:04the
- 13:05reality
- 13:05is
- 13:06most
- 13:07venture
- 13:07backed
- 13:08founders
- 13:08who
- 13:08exit
- 13:09walk
- 13:09away
- 13:09with
- 13:10an
- 13:10embarrassingly
- 13:11low
- 13:11amount
- 13:12of
- 13:12money,
- 13:13way
- 13:13less
- 13:13than
- 13:13I
- 13:14did,
- 13:14in
- 13:14fact,
- 13:15on
- 13:15a
- 13:16$25
- 13:16million
- 13:17exit.
- 13:18And
- 13:18I
- 13:18found
- 13:18this
- 13:19out
- 13:19when
- 13:19I
- 13:20started
- 13:20sharing
- 13:20my
- 13:20own
- 13:21numbers.
- 13:21It
- 13:22has
- 13:22instilled
- 13:23in
- 13:23me
- 13:23a
- 13:23distrust
- 13:24of
- 13:25conventional
- 13:25wisdom
- 13:26of
- 13:26all
- 13:26kinds
- 13:27of.
- 13:28And
- 13:28it
- 13:28has
- 13:29made
- 13:29me
- 13:30really
- 13:30value
- 13:31the
- 13:31perspective
- 13:32of
- 13:32outsiders.
- 13:33It's
- 13:33given
- 13:34me
- 13:34the
- 13:34confidence
- 13:36to
- 13:36do
- 13:36things
- 13:36differently
- 13:37and
- 13:38follow
- 13:38my
- 13:38instincts
- 13:39and
- 13:39most
- 13:39importantly,
- 13:41always
- 13:41put
- 13:41my
- 13:42customers
- 13:42first
- 13:42and
- 13:43listen
- 13:43to
- 13:43them
- 13:43and
- 13:44not
- 13:44listen
- 13:44to
- 13:44all
- 13:45these
- 13:47so
- 13:47called
- 13:47Silicon
- 13:48Valley
- 13:48experts
- 13:49because
- 13:49they
- 13:49can
- 13:50really
- 13:50steer
- 13:50you
- 13:50in
- 13:51the
- 13:51wrong
- 13:51direction.
- 13:53Wow,
- 13:54those
- 13:54are
- 13:54three
- 13:54really
- 13:55powerful
- 13:55moments.
- 13:56This
- 13:56last
- 13:56one
- 13:57here,
- 13:57we'll
- 13:57get
- 13:58into
- 13:58more
- 13:58because
- 13:58I
- 13:58want
- 13:59to
- 13:59hear
- 13:59what
- 13:59happened
- 13:59next.
- 13:59You
- 14:00decided
- 14:00to
- 14:00keep
- 14:01going.
- 14:01What
- 14:02I
- 14:02find
- 14:02remarkable,
- 14:04and
- 14:04I'm
- 14:04sure
- 14:04our
- 14:05listeners
- 14:05are
- 14:05thinking
- 14:06the
- 14:06same
- 14:06thing,
- 14:06you
- 14:07could
- 14:07go
- 14:07through
- 14:07that
- 14:08and
- 14:08not
- 14:08just
- 14:09be
- 14:09like,
- 14:09I'm
- 14:10done,
- 14:11right?
- 14:11You
- 14:12decided
- 14:13to
- 14:13keep
- 14:13going,
- 14:14which
- 14:14I
- 14:14think
- 14:15is
- 14:15the
- 14:15mark
- 14:15of
- 14:16a
- 14:16true
- 14:16entrepreneur.
- 14:17You
- 14:18just,
- 14:19you
- 14:19just
- 14:19keep
- 14:20going.
- 14:20Like
- 14:20you
- 14:20can't
- 14:21almost
- 14:21help
- 14:21yourself.
- 14:23And
- 14:24so
- 14:24how
- 14:24did
- 14:24you
- 14:25move
- 14:25from
- 14:25that
- 14:26failure
- 14:28to
- 14:29continue
- 14:29on
- 14:29and
- 14:30eventually
- 14:32create
- 14:33this
- 14:33incredible
- 14:34tech
- 14:34company,
- 14:34Boardroom
- 14:35Insiders?
- 14:37Well,
- 14:37there
- 14:37were
- 14:37a
- 14:38few
- 14:38more
- 14:38important
- 14:39events
- 14:40that
- 14:40happened.
- 14:40I
- 14:41was
- 14:41right.
- 14:41When
- 14:42fidget.com
- 14:43failed,
- 14:43that's
- 14:44the
- 14:44first
- 14:44company.
- 14:44I
- 14:44was
- 14:45in
- 14:45the
- 14:45middle
- 14:45of
- 14:45that
- 14:45crazy
- 14:46period
- 14:46where
- 14:46you're
- 14:47starting
- 14:47to
- 14:47have
- 14:48babies.
- 14:49I
- 14:49had
- 14:49a
- 14:50baby
- 14:50when
- 14:50I
- 14:50created
- 14:51Fidget
- 14:51and
- 14:52then
- 14:52I
- 14:52had
- 14:52another
- 14:52baby
- 14:53after
- 14:53it
- 14:54failed.
- 14:54That's
- 14:55all
- 14:55kind
- 14:55of
- 14:55a
- 14:55blur
- 14:56that
- 14:56whole
- 14:56period.
- 14:57And
- 14:57then
- 14:57911
- 14:58happened
- 14:59after
- 14:59the
- 14:59dot
- 15:00bomb
- 15:00happened,
- 15:01you
- 15:01know,
- 15:01a
- 15:01year,
- 15:02a
- 15:03year
- 15:03and
- 15:03a
- 15:03half
- 15:03apart.
- 15:04And
- 15:05in
- 15:05San
- 15:05Francisco,
- 15:06things
- 15:06just
- 15:07weren't
- 15:07coming
- 15:08back.
- 15:08And
- 15:10so
- 15:10I
- 15:10had
- 15:11to
- 15:11take
- 15:12a
- 15:13job.
- 15:13That
- 15:13was
- 15:14the
- 15:14worst
- 15:14job
- 15:14I
- 15:15ever
- 15:15had.
- 15:16It
- 15:16was
- 15:16just
- 15:17horrendous.
- 15:17And
- 15:18I
- 15:18write
- 15:18about
- 15:18it
- 15:18in
- 15:18the
- 15:19book,
- 15:19like
- 15:19unbelievably
- 15:20so.
- 15:21And
- 15:23I
- 15:23worked
- 15:24there
- 15:24for
- 15:24six
- 15:24months
- 15:24and
- 15:25then
- 15:25I
- 15:25decided
- 15:26I
- 15:26am
- 15:26never
- 15:27going
- 15:27to
- 15:27work
- 15:27for
- 15:27anyone
- 15:28again.
- 15:28And
- 15:28that
- 15:29pushed
- 15:29me
- 15:31back
- 15:31into
- 15:31entrepreneurship.
- 15:33When
- 15:34you
- 15:34make
- 15:34a
- 15:34decision
- 15:35like
- 15:35that,
- 15:35the
- 15:35first
- 15:36thing
- 15:36that
- 15:36you
- 15:36do
- 15:36is
- 15:37you
- 15:37contact
- 15:38everyone
- 15:38you
- 15:38know
- 15:39and
- 15:39say,
- 15:41I'm
- 15:41going
- 15:41out
- 15:41on
- 15:41my
- 15:41own
- 15:42to
- 15:42do
- 15:42what.
- 15:43Here
- 15:43are
- 15:43the
- 15:43things
- 15:43that
- 15:43I
- 15:44can
- 15:44do
- 15:44that
- 15:44I'm
- 15:44good
- 15:44at.
- 15:44If
- 15:45there's
- 15:45any
- 15:45way
- 15:45I
- 15:45can
- 15:46help
- 15:46you
- 15:46with
- 15:46any
- 15:46projects
- 15:47in
- 15:48the
- 15:48short
- 15:48term,
- 15:49let
- 15:49me
- 15:49know.
- 15:50I
- 15:50made
- 15:50private
- 15:51label
- 15:51pasta
- 15:52sauce
- 15:52in
- 15:52my
- 15:52kitchen.
- 15:53I
- 15:54did
- 15:55PR
- 15:55for
- 15:55an
- 15:56aircraft
- 15:56carrier
- 15:57museum.
- 15:58I
- 15:58did
- 15:58all
- 15:58kinds
- 15:59of
- 15:59crazy
- 15:59things.
- 15:59A
- 16:00friend
- 16:00of
- 16:00mine
- 16:00who
- 16:01I
- 16:01had
- 16:01worked
- 16:01with
- 16:01before,
- 16:02he
- 16:02actually
- 16:02was
- 16:03my
- 16:03assistant
- 16:04when
- 16:04I
- 16:05was
- 16:05at
- 16:05that
- 16:05first
- 16:05startup.
- 16:06And
- 16:06while
- 16:07I
- 16:07was
- 16:07having
- 16:07babies,
- 16:08he
- 16:08was
- 16:08climbing
- 16:09the
- 16:09ladder
- 16:09in
- 16:10tech
- 16:10marketing.
- 16:12He
- 16:12called
- 16:12me
- 16:13and
- 16:13he
- 16:13said,
- 16:13you
- 16:13got
- 16:13to
- 16:14come
- 16:14work
- 16:14with
- 16:14me
- 16:14on
- 16:15this
- 16:15project
- 16:15for
- 16:16Intel.
- 16:16I
- 16:16said,
- 16:16I
- 16:17don't
- 16:17know
- 16:17anything
- 16:18about
- 16:18intel
- 16:19or
- 16:19tech.
- 16:20He
- 16:20said,
- 16:20no,
- 16:20you're
- 16:21going
- 16:21to
- 16:21be
- 16:21great.
- 16:21I
- 16:21know
- 16:22you
- 16:22can
- 16:22do
- 16:22it.
- 16:22That
- 16:23kicked
- 16:23off
- 16:24nearly
- 16:24a
- 16:25decade
- 16:25of
- 16:26consulting
- 16:28with
- 16:28tech
- 16:29marketers.
- 16:30The
- 16:30more
- 16:31I
- 16:32saw
- 16:32of
- 16:32tech
- 16:33marketing,
- 16:33the
- 16:33more
- 16:34I
- 16:34realized
- 16:34they
- 16:34had
- 16:35in
- 16:35big
- 16:35tech
- 16:36the
- 16:36same
- 16:36problem,
- 16:36which
- 16:37was
- 16:38these
- 16:38deals
- 16:38were
- 16:38getting
- 16:39bigger
- 16:39and
- 16:39bigger.
- 16:40Eight
- 16:40figures,
- 16:40nine
- 16:41figures.
- 16:41And
- 16:42pretty
- 16:42soon
- 16:42the
- 16:42CEOs
- 16:43of
- 16:43big
- 16:43enterprises
- 16:44are
- 16:44saying,
- 16:44what
- 16:45the
- 16:45heck
- 16:45is
- 16:46this
- 16:46technology
- 16:47we're
- 16:47buying
- 16:47and
- 16:47what
- 16:48is
- 16:48it
- 16:48going
- 16:48to
- 16:49do
- 16:49for
- 16:49us?
- 16:49Because
- 16:49it's
- 16:50very
- 16:50expensive
- 16:51and
- 16:51it's
- 16:51going
- 16:52to
- 16:52be
- 16:52touching
- 16:53every
- 16:53corner
- 16:54of
- 16:54our
- 16:54organization,
- 16:55and
- 16:55we
- 16:55want
- 16:55to
- 16:55understand
- 16:56what
- 16:56it
- 16:56is.
- 16:57So
- 16:58the
- 16:58big
- 16:58tech
- 16:58sales
- 16:59reps
- 16:59were
- 16:59being
- 16:59called
- 16:59into
- 17:00C
- 17:00suites
- 17:01at
- 17:01their
- 17:02customers,
- 17:02and
- 17:02they
- 17:02were
- 17:03shaking
- 17:03in
- 17:03their
- 17:03boots.
- 17:04I
- 17:04didn't
- 17:04know
- 17:04how
- 17:04to
- 17:05shift
- 17:05from
- 17:05talking
- 17:06about
- 17:07hardware
- 17:07and
- 17:07software
- 17:08and
- 17:08features
- 17:09to
- 17:09business
- 17:10impact.
- 17:11So
- 17:11I
- 17:12created
- 17:12these
- 17:13dossiers
- 17:13on
- 17:14these
- 17:14Fortune
- 17:14500
- 17:15execs
- 17:15for
- 17:16sales
- 17:16prep.
- 17:17And
- 17:18I
- 17:18did
- 17:18them
- 17:18bespoke
- 17:19for
- 17:19a
- 17:19long
- 17:19time
- 17:19for
- 17:20a
- 17:20lot
- 17:20of
- 17:20my
- 17:20customers,
- 17:21and
- 17:21they
- 17:21would
- 17:21pay
- 17:21a
- 17:21lot
- 17:22for
- 17:22them.
- 17:22They
- 17:22had
- 17:22relationship
- 17:23maps
- 17:23like,
- 17:24how
- 17:24are
- 17:24we
- 17:25as
- 17:25a
- 17:25company
- 17:26connected
- 17:26to
- 17:26this
- 17:27executive?
- 17:28Then
- 17:28I
- 17:28thought,
- 17:29I
- 17:29should
- 17:29just
- 17:29put
- 17:29all
- 17:29these
- 17:29in
- 17:30a
- 17:30database
- 17:30and
- 17:30create
- 17:31a
- 17:31subscription
- 17:31database
- 17:32product.
- 17:33And
- 17:33so
- 17:33that
- 17:33was
- 17:34the
- 17:34genesis
- 17:35of
- 17:35boardroom
- 17:35insiders.
- 17:36I
- 17:36spent
- 17:36a
- 17:36number
- 17:37of
- 17:37years
- 17:37weaning
- 17:38my
- 17:38clients
- 17:39off
- 17:39of
- 17:39my
- 17:39consulting
- 17:40services
- 17:41and
- 17:41moving
- 17:42them
- 17:42over
- 17:42to
- 17:42a
- 17:43SaaS
- 17:44product.
- 17:45And
- 17:46so
- 17:46that
- 17:46took
- 17:47quite
- 17:47a
- 17:47while,
- 17:48but
- 17:48it
- 17:48worked.
- 17:49It
- 17:49worked.
- 17:49It
- 17:49was
- 17:50a
- 17:50slow
- 17:50ramp.
- 17:50We
- 17:51were
- 17:51ahead
- 17:52of
- 17:52the
- 17:52market
- 17:53because
- 17:54just
- 17:54because
- 17:54Cisco,
- 17:55VMware,
- 17:56sun
- 17:57and
- 17:58Oracle
- 17:59are
- 17:59doing
- 17:59this
- 17:59kind
- 18:00of
- 18:00approach,
- 18:00it
- 18:00doesn't
- 18:01mean
- 18:01that
- 18:01the
- 18:01next
- 18:02level
- 18:02of
- 18:03companies
- 18:03down
- 18:04are
- 18:05clued
- 18:05into
- 18:05it
- 18:06yet.
- 18:07So
- 18:07it
- 18:07really
- 18:07wasn't
- 18:08until
- 18:08about
- 18:092014,
- 18:102015,
- 18:11that
- 18:11it
- 18:11started
- 18:12taking
- 18:12off.
- 18:13I
- 18:13founded
- 18:13the
- 18:14company
- 18:14in
- 18:142008,
- 18:15so
- 18:15it
- 18:15took
- 18:15a
- 18:16very
- 18:16long
- 18:16time.
- 18:18And
- 18:18so
- 18:18you
- 18:19built
- 18:19us,
- 18:20as
- 18:20you
- 18:20said
- 18:20before,
- 18:21and
- 18:21you
- 18:21talk
- 18:22about
- 18:22in
- 18:22your
- 18:23book,
- 18:23you
- 18:24built
- 18:24this
- 18:24bootstrapped,
- 18:26right?
- 18:26So
- 18:27you
- 18:27did
- 18:27the
- 18:27consulting
- 18:28and
- 18:29used
- 18:29that
- 18:29revenue.
- 18:30Tell
- 18:31us
- 18:31about
- 18:31how
- 18:32you
- 18:32funded
- 18:32it
- 18:32and
- 18:33when
- 18:33you
- 18:33got
- 18:34advice
- 18:34from
- 18:35others
- 18:35and
- 18:36how
- 18:36you
- 18:36got
- 18:37tech
- 18:38people,
- 18:39how.
- 18:39You
- 18:40learned
- 18:40about
- 18:40that.
- 18:41I
- 18:42wasn't
- 18:42very
- 18:43disciplined
- 18:44in
- 18:44the
- 18:44beginning
- 18:44about
- 18:45keeping
- 18:45track
- 18:46of
- 18:47what
- 18:47money
- 18:47I
- 18:47was
- 18:47putting
- 18:48into
- 18:48the
- 18:48product.
- 18:50I
- 18:50kind
- 18:50of
- 18:51thought
- 18:51of
- 18:51it
- 18:52as
- 18:53one
- 18:53big
- 18:53thing.
- 18:54I
- 18:55operated
- 18:56the
- 18:56two
- 18:56of
- 18:56them
- 18:57side
- 18:57by
- 18:57side,
- 18:58and
- 19:00everything
- 19:00was
- 19:00bespoke
- 19:01for
- 19:01a
- 19:02number
- 19:02of
- 19:02years,
- 19:03even
- 19:03though
- 19:03I
- 19:03was
- 19:03putting
- 19:04everything
- 19:04in
- 19:04a
- 19:04database.
- 19:05But
- 19:06the
- 19:06customers
- 19:06weren't
- 19:07really
- 19:07using
- 19:07the
- 19:07database
- 19:08that
- 19:08much
- 19:08at
- 19:09all.
- 19:09They
- 19:09would
- 19:09come
- 19:09to
- 19:09me.
- 19:10The
- 19:11first
- 19:11customer,
- 19:11essentially,
- 19:12you
- 19:12were
- 19:12using.
- 19:14I
- 19:14was
- 19:14using
- 19:15it
- 19:15for
- 19:15my
- 19:15own
- 19:15consulting,
- 19:17and
- 19:17it
- 19:17was
- 19:18clunky
- 19:18and
- 19:18ugly,
- 19:19but
- 19:19I
- 19:19eventually
- 19:20got
- 19:20a
- 19:20few
- 19:21customers
- 19:21in
- 19:21there
- 19:22using
- 19:22it.
- 19:23They
- 19:23would
- 19:23ask,
- 19:23do
- 19:24you
- 19:24have
- 19:24this
- 19:24profile?
- 19:25No,
- 19:25but
- 19:26I'll
- 19:26create
- 19:26it
- 19:26for
- 19:26you.
- 19:27I
- 19:27was
- 19:27populating
- 19:28the
- 19:28database
- 19:28almost
- 19:29like
- 19:29if
- 19:29you
- 19:29think
- 19:30of
- 19:30a
- 19:30staircase
- 19:31and
- 19:31you're
- 19:31putting
- 19:32each
- 19:32stair
- 19:32down
- 19:33as
- 19:33the
- 19:33customer's
- 19:34going
- 19:34up.
- 19:34There
- 19:34were
- 19:34times
- 19:34when
- 19:35I
- 19:35was
- 19:35very
- 19:35transparent
- 19:36about
- 19:36that,
- 19:36and
- 19:36then
- 19:37there
- 19:37were
- 19:37times
- 19:37that
- 19:37I
- 19:37just
- 19:38completely
- 19:40lied.
- 19:40Somebody
- 19:40would
- 19:41call
- 19:41me,
- 19:41a
- 19:42net
- 19:42new
- 19:42person
- 19:42who
- 19:43I
- 19:43didn't
- 19:43know,
- 19:43and
- 19:43they'd
- 19:44say,
- 19:44oh,
- 19:44I
- 19:44found
- 19:45your
- 19:45product
- 19:45on
- 19:45the
- 19:45Internet
- 19:46and
- 19:46this
- 19:46looks
- 19:47amazing.
- 19:47Do
- 19:48you
- 19:48have
- 19:48a
- 19:48profile
- 19:48of
- 19:49X
- 19:50person?
- 19:50And
- 19:50I'd
- 19:50be
- 19:51like,
- 19:51yeah,
- 19:51we
- 19:52do
- 19:52have
- 19:52that.
- 19:52It
- 19:53hasn't
- 19:53been
- 19:53refreshed
- 19:53in
- 19:54a
- 19:54couple
- 19:54of
- 19:54months,
- 19:54so
- 19:55if
- 19:56you
- 19:56wouldn't
- 19:56mind,
- 19:56give
- 19:57my
- 19:57team
- 19:57just
- 19:57overnight
- 19:58and
- 19:58I'll
- 19:58get
- 19:58it
- 19:59to
- 19:59you
- 19:59in
- 19:59the
- 19:59morning.
- 19:59And
- 19:59then
- 20:00I
- 20:00would
- 20:00create
- 20:00it
- 20:00from
- 20:01scratch
- 20:01overnight.
- 20:02My
- 20:02husband
- 20:02and
- 20:02I
- 20:03would
- 20:03stay
- 20:03up
- 20:03all
- 20:03night
- 20:04creating
- 20:04these
- 20:04profiles
- 20:06and
- 20:06then
- 20:06they
- 20:06would
- 20:07love
- 20:07them.
- 20:07And
- 20:08so
- 20:08it
- 20:08gave
- 20:08me
- 20:09a
- 20:09way
- 20:09to
- 20:09test
- 20:09the
- 20:10market
- 20:10and
- 20:10see
- 20:11do
- 20:11people
- 20:12find
- 20:12these
- 20:12useful?
- 20:13What
- 20:13are
- 20:13they
- 20:13using
- 20:13it
- 20:14for?
- 20:14There
- 20:14were
- 20:14use
- 20:14cases
- 20:15that
- 20:15had
- 20:15never
- 20:15occurred
- 20:16to
- 20:16me.
- 20:17Kind
- 20:17of
- 20:17ancient,
- 20:18outside
- 20:18of
- 20:18my
- 20:19ideal
- 20:19customer
- 20:20profile.
- 20:20But
- 20:20I
- 20:21learned
- 20:21a
- 20:21lot,
- 20:22and
- 20:23that's
- 20:24with.
- 20:24With
- 20:25the
- 20:25funding.
- 20:26So
- 20:27I
- 20:27would
- 20:27use
- 20:27that
- 20:27funding
- 20:28to
- 20:28keep
- 20:28enhancing
- 20:29the
- 20:29product.
- 20:31But
- 20:31at
- 20:31a
- 20:31certain
- 20:31point,
- 20:32I
- 20:32knew
- 20:32I've
- 20:33got
- 20:33to
- 20:33separate
- 20:34these
- 20:34two
- 20:34things.
- 20:35And
- 20:37I
- 20:37really
- 20:37hadn't
- 20:38kept
- 20:38track
- 20:39of
- 20:39how
- 20:39much
- 20:40money
- 20:40I
- 20:40put
- 20:40in,
- 20:40but
- 20:41I
- 20:41put
- 20:41down
- 20:41on
- 20:41the.
- 20:42On
- 20:42the
- 20:42financials.
- 20:43It
- 20:43was
- 20:43like
- 20:4342k
- 20:44I
- 20:44put
- 20:45in,
- 20:45and
- 20:46guess
- 20:46what?
- 20:46That
- 20:4642k
- 20:47was
- 20:48still
- 20:50on
- 20:50our
- 20:50financials
- 20:51when
- 20:51we
- 20:52sold.
- 20:52And
- 20:52the
- 20:53buyer
- 20:53Was
- 20:53like,
- 20:53what
- 20:54is
- 20:54this?
- 20:55And
- 20:55it's
- 20:56really
- 20:56the
- 20:56only
- 20:56thing
- 20:56on
- 20:57there
- 20:57that
- 20:57wasn't
- 20:57completely
- 20:58buttoned
- 20:58up.
- 20:59And
- 20:59I
- 20:59had
- 20:59to
- 20:59explain,
- 21:00well,
- 21:00you
- 21:00know,
- 21:00I
- 21:01just
- 21:01kind
- 21:01of
- 21:01paid
- 21:01for
- 21:02stuff
- 21:02in
- 21:02the
- 21:02beginning.
- 21:02Beginning.
- 21:03And
- 21:03so
- 21:03this
- 21:04was
- 21:04on
- 21:04our.
- 21:05What
- 21:06is
- 21:06it?
- 21:06A
- 21:07balance
- 21:07sheet.
- 21:08My
- 21:08balance
- 21:08sheet.
- 21:09What
- 21:09the
- 21:09buyer
- 21:09did
- 21:10is
- 21:10they
- 21:10wrote
- 21:10me
- 21:10a
- 21:11separate
- 21:11check
- 21:11for
- 21:11that
- 21:12amount.
- 21:12That's
- 21:12amazing,
- 21:13right?
- 21:14I
- 21:14did.
- 21:15To
- 21:15your
- 21:15point,
- 21:15we
- 21:16were
- 21:16bootstrapped.
- 21:17However,
- 21:17I
- 21:17think
- 21:18technically
- 21:18the
- 21:18term
- 21:18that
- 21:19we
- 21:19would
- 21:19use
- 21:19now
- 21:19is
- 21:20seed
- 21:20strapped.
- 21:20Because
- 21:21between
- 21:222008
- 21:23and
- 21:232011
- 21:24we
- 21:24raised
- 21:24200,000
- 21:26from
- 21:26three
- 21:26angels
- 21:27who
- 21:27were
- 21:27friendly
- 21:28people,
- 21:29like
- 21:29personal
- 21:29contact
- 21:30and
- 21:31very
- 21:31different.
- 21:31Very
- 21:32different.
- 21:32Yeah,
- 21:33yeah.
- 21:33And
- 21:33it
- 21:33was
- 21:33just
- 21:34convertible
- 21:34notes.
- 21:35They
- 21:35converted
- 21:36after
- 21:3710
- 21:37years
- 21:38right
- 21:38before
- 21:38we
- 21:39sold.
- 21:39It
- 21:39was
- 21:40very
- 21:40clean.
- 21:41They
- 21:41were
- 21:42hands
- 21:42off
- 21:43angels.
- 21:43But
- 21:44they
- 21:44all
- 21:44are
- 21:45seasoned
- 21:45entrepreneurs
- 21:46themselves.
- 21:46So
- 21:46they
- 21:47offered
- 21:47advice
- 21:47from
- 21:48time
- 21:48to
- 21:48time,
- 21:49became
- 21:49personal
- 21:50friends
- 21:51and
- 21:51respected
- 21:52colleagues.
- 21:53So
- 21:53that's
- 21:54what
- 21:54I
- 21:54always
- 21:54recommend.
- 21:55Bootstrapping.
- 21:57Unless
- 21:57you
- 21:57can
- 21:57get
- 21:57to
- 21:57profitability
- 21:58very,
- 21:59very
- 21:59quickly
- 21:59and
- 22:00you
- 22:00have
- 22:00a
- 22:00high
- 22:01margin,
- 22:01low
- 22:01cost,
- 22:02it's
- 22:03difficult.
- 22:04Or
- 22:04you
- 22:05have
- 22:05a
- 22:05spouse
- 22:06who's
- 22:06supporting
- 22:07the
- 22:07family.
- 22:07I
- 22:08didn't
- 22:08have
- 22:08that.
- 22:08My
- 22:09husband
- 22:09was
- 22:10the
- 22:11stay
- 22:12at
- 22:12home
- 22:12parent.
- 22:12He
- 22:13worked
- 22:13a
- 22:13little
- 22:13bit,
- 22:14but
- 22:14I
- 22:14needed
- 22:15to
- 22:16bring
- 22:16in
- 22:17income.
- 22:17We
- 22:17did
- 22:17get
- 22:18to
- 22:18profitability
- 22:19quickly,
- 22:19but
- 22:19I
- 22:19didn't
- 22:20pay
- 22:20myself
- 22:20from
- 22:20that
- 22:21business
- 22:21for
- 22:21four
- 22:21years.
- 22:21I
- 22:22kept
- 22:22consulting
- 22:23on
- 22:23the
- 22:23side
- 22:24to
- 22:24support
- 22:24my
- 22:25family,
- 22:25you
- 22:25know,
- 22:25whatever
- 22:26it
- 22:26takes.
- 22:26And
- 22:27given
- 22:27the
- 22:28experience
- 22:28I
- 22:29had,
- 22:30not
- 22:30only
- 22:30with
- 22:30my
- 22:30first
- 22:31startup
- 22:32and
- 22:32venture
- 22:32capital
- 22:33kind
- 22:34of
- 22:34putting
- 22:34the
- 22:34kibosh
- 22:35on
- 22:35it,
- 22:36plus
- 22:36that
- 22:36terrible
- 22:37job
- 22:37I
- 22:37had
- 22:37that
- 22:38I
- 22:38never
- 22:38wanted
- 22:38to
- 22:38work
- 22:38for
- 22:38anyone
- 22:39again,
- 22:39I
- 22:39was
- 22:39very
- 22:40determined
- 22:40to
- 22:41make
- 22:41it
- 22:41work.
- 22:42It
- 22:42all
- 22:43worked
- 22:43out.
- 22:44We
- 22:44kept
- 22:44everything
- 22:44very
- 22:45lean.
- 22:45So
- 22:45we
- 22:45did
- 22:45get
- 22:46to
- 22:46the
- 22:46point
- 22:46where
- 22:46we
- 22:46could
- 22:47start
- 22:47paying
- 22:48ourselves,
- 22:48you
- 22:49know,
- 22:492000
- 22:49and
- 22:49a
- 22:49month,
- 22:50month,
- 22:50then
- 22:503000amonth,
- 22:51then
- 22:514000amonth
- 22:52and.
- 22:53And
- 22:54then
- 22:54at
- 22:54a
- 22:55certain
- 22:55point
- 22:55we
- 22:56were
- 22:56paying
- 22:56ourselves
- 22:56quite
- 22:57well
- 22:58and
- 22:58we
- 22:58could
- 22:58have
- 22:59just
- 22:59kept
- 22:59going
- 22:59like
- 22:59that,
- 23:00but
- 23:01we
- 23:01decided
- 23:01to
- 23:02sell
- 23:02for
- 23:02a
- 23:02number
- 23:03of
- 23:03different
- 23:03reasons.
- 23:05So
- 23:05it
- 23:05was
- 23:06a
- 23:06tech
- 23:06company
- 23:07you
- 23:07worked
- 23:07with,
- 23:08you
- 23:08found
- 23:08some
- 23:09developers
- 23:09and
- 23:10kind
- 23:10of
- 23:10figured
- 23:11it
- 23:11out
- 23:11that
- 23:12way.
- 23:12Just
- 23:13as
- 23:13the
- 23:13jack
- 23:13of
- 23:14all
- 23:14trades.
- 23:14What
- 23:14was
- 23:15the
- 23:15term
- 23:15you
- 23:15used
- 23:16before
- 23:16the
- 23:17utility
- 23:17knife.
- 23:18You
- 23:18were
- 23:18able
- 23:19to
- 23:19sort
- 23:19of
- 23:20figure
- 23:20this
- 23:20out,
- 23:20right?
- 23:22Well,
- 23:22I'm
- 23:22a
- 23:23non
- 23:23technical
- 23:23founder
- 23:24and
- 23:24my
- 23:25partner
- 23:26was
- 23:27also
- 23:27a
- 23:27non
- 23:27technical
- 23:28founder.
- 23:28I
- 23:29guess
- 23:29a
- 23:29risky
- 23:29decision
- 23:30to
- 23:30bring
- 23:30on
- 23:31another
- 23:31non
- 23:31technical
- 23:32founder,
- 23:32but
- 23:32he
- 23:33was
- 23:34very
- 23:34strong
- 23:34in
- 23:35sales,
- 23:35customer
- 23:36relationships
- 23:37and
- 23:38finance
- 23:39and
- 23:40I
- 23:40needed
- 23:40all
- 23:41of
- 23:41those
- 23:41things.
- 23:42And
- 23:43so
- 23:43we
- 23:43limped
- 23:44along
- 23:45for
- 23:45quite
- 23:46a
- 23:46few
- 23:46years
- 23:46with
- 23:47a
- 23:47series
- 23:47of
- 23:49Developers.
- 23:50The
- 23:50original
- 23:51site
- 23:51was
- 23:51built
- 23:51in
- 23:522008
- 23:53in
- 23:53PHP
- 23:54and
- 23:55I
- 23:55paid
- 23:55$25,000,
- 23:57which
- 23:57sounds
- 23:57like
- 23:58a
- 23:58huge
- 23:58amount
- 23:58today,
- 23:59to
- 23:59have
- 23:59a
- 24:00database
- 24:02product
- 24:02built.
- 24:02I
- 24:03mean,
- 24:03it
- 24:03was
- 24:03very
- 24:03basic.
- 24:04It
- 24:04didn't
- 24:04even
- 24:04have
- 24:04a
- 24:05good
- 24:05admin
- 24:05where
- 24:06you
- 24:06could
- 24:06manage
- 24:06customers
- 24:07and
- 24:07see
- 24:07what
- 24:07customers
- 24:08were
- 24:08doing.
- 24:08None
- 24:08of
- 24:08that.
- 24:09It
- 24:09was
- 24:09just
- 24:09the
- 24:09database
- 24:10and
- 24:11logins
- 24:11and
- 24:12the
- 24:12ability
- 24:13to
- 24:13input
- 24:14new
- 24:15content.
- 24:16And
- 24:16that
- 24:17was
- 24:17developed
- 24:17in
- 24:17India
- 24:18and
- 24:18that
- 24:18was
- 24:18a
- 24:19terrible
- 24:19experience.
- 24:21One
- 24:21of
- 24:21my
- 24:22content
- 24:22vendors
- 24:23found
- 24:23me
- 24:24a
- 24:24guy
- 24:24in
- 24:24Texas
- 24:26who
- 24:26did
- 24:26new
- 24:27php.
- 24:28Really
- 24:29cool
- 24:29guy.
- 24:30He
- 24:30had
- 24:30a
- 24:31full
- 24:31time
- 24:31job,
- 24:31so
- 24:32he
- 24:32moonlighted
- 24:33on
- 24:33the
- 24:33side
- 24:33for
- 24:34years.
- 24:34That's
- 24:35all
- 24:35we
- 24:35needed.
- 24:36But
- 24:36then
- 24:37when
- 24:37we
- 24:38had
- 24:38some
- 24:39real
- 24:39users,
- 24:40we
- 24:40outgrew
- 24:41him.
- 24:41I
- 24:41tell
- 24:41founders
- 24:42this
- 24:42is
- 24:42a
- 24:42normal
- 24:43thing
- 24:43to
- 24:43happen
- 24:45when
- 24:45you're
- 24:45bootstrapping.
- 24:46You
- 24:46don't
- 24:47want
- 24:47to
- 24:47over
- 24:48lawyer
- 24:48yourself.
- 24:49You
- 24:49don't
- 24:49want
- 24:49to
- 24:50over
- 24:51index
- 24:51on
- 24:52C
- 24:52level
- 24:52people
- 24:53in
- 24:53your
- 24:53own
- 24:53company.
- 24:54You
- 24:54don't
- 24:55want
- 24:55to
- 24:55overspend
- 24:56on
- 24:57a
- 24:57big
- 24:58web
- 24:58development
- 24:59firm.
- 25:00You
- 25:00can't
- 25:01do
- 25:01that.
- 25:01You
- 25:01just,
- 25:02you're
- 25:02going
- 25:02to
- 25:02waste
- 25:03too
- 25:03much
- 25:03money
- 25:03too
- 25:04early
- 25:04before
- 25:04you
- 25:05even
- 25:05really
- 25:05know
- 25:07who
- 25:07your
- 25:07ICP
- 25:08is,
- 25:09what
- 25:10customers
- 25:10really
- 25:11are
- 25:11looking
- 25:11for.
- 25:12You
- 25:12have
- 25:12to
- 25:13hold
- 25:13back
- 25:13and
- 25:14be
- 25:14shitty,
- 25:15have
- 25:15your
- 25:15product
- 25:16be
- 25:16shitty
- 25:17while
- 25:17you
- 25:18learn.
- 25:19And
- 25:19then
- 25:20at
- 25:20a
- 25:20certain
- 25:21point
- 25:21we
- 25:21outgrow
- 25:22the
- 25:22single
- 25:23guy
- 25:23in
- 25:23Austin,
- 25:24right?
- 25:24And
- 25:24then
- 25:24we
- 25:25went
- 25:25looking
- 25:25for.
- 25:26I
- 25:27remember
- 25:27we
- 25:27were
- 25:28going
- 25:28to
- 25:28redo
- 25:28a
- 25:29filtered
- 25:29search.
- 25:30We
- 25:30had
- 25:30all
- 25:31these
- 25:31ideas
- 25:31for
- 25:31new
- 25:32filters
- 25:32and
- 25:32customers
- 25:33were
- 25:33requesting.
- 25:34So
- 25:34we
- 25:35found
- 25:35a
- 25:35firm
- 25:35in
- 25:36Charlotte
- 25:37that
- 25:39redid
- 25:39our
- 25:39filtered
- 25:40search
- 25:40and
- 25:40it
- 25:41was
- 25:41a
- 25:42nightmare.
- 25:43They
- 25:43sold
- 25:44us
- 25:44the
- 25:44A
- 25:44team
- 25:45and
- 25:45gave
- 25:45us
- 25:45the
- 25:46D
- 25:46team.
- 25:46Like
- 25:47people
- 25:47who
- 25:47were
- 25:47literally
- 25:48learning
- 25:48on
- 25:48the
- 25:48job.
- 25:49My
- 25:50partner
- 25:50and
- 25:50I
- 25:50had
- 25:51to
- 25:51test
- 25:52every
- 25:52round.
- 25:53Every
- 25:53time
- 25:54they
- 25:54pushed
- 25:54out
- 25:54a
- 25:54new
- 25:55version,
- 25:55we
- 25:55had
- 25:55to
- 25:55do
- 25:56the
- 25:56testing
- 25:56and
- 25:57there
- 25:57would
- 25:57be
- 25:58bugs
- 25:58everywhere.
- 26:00And
- 26:00I
- 26:01mean,
- 26:01I'm
- 26:01not
- 26:01that,
- 26:03I'm
- 26:03not
- 26:04a
- 26:04detail
- 26:04person
- 26:05like
- 26:05that
- 26:05to
- 26:05sit
- 26:06and
- 26:06comb
- 26:06through
- 26:06a
- 26:07piece
- 26:07of
- 26:07software,
- 26:07test
- 26:08every
- 26:08feature
- 26:08and
- 26:09write
- 26:09down
- 26:09what's
- 26:09happening.
- 26:10It
- 26:10was
- 26:10a
- 26:10nightmare
- 26:11for
- 26:11me.
- 26:12In
- 26:12the
- 26:12end
- 26:12it
- 26:12worked
- 26:13out.
- 26:13We
- 26:13got
- 26:13a
- 26:13vastly
- 26:14improved
- 26:14filtered
- 26:15search
- 26:15and
- 26:15they
- 26:15only
- 26:16charged
- 26:16us
- 26:16$13,000
- 26:17because
- 26:18they
- 26:18screwed
- 26:18it
- 26:18up
- 26:19so
- 26:19bad.
- 26:21And
- 26:21then
- 26:22we
- 26:22finally
- 26:23found
- 26:23our
- 26:23development
- 26:24firm
- 26:25that
- 26:28we
- 26:28stayed
- 26:28with
- 26:28for
- 26:29years
- 26:29and
- 26:29we
- 26:29just
- 26:30loved.
- 26:30They're
- 26:30called
- 26:31Dual
- 26:31Boot
- 26:31Partners
- 26:32and
- 26:33we
- 26:33were
- 26:33their
- 26:33first
- 26:34customer.
- 26:35I
- 26:36realized
- 26:37when
- 26:37I
- 26:37was
- 26:37writing
- 26:37my
- 26:38book
- 26:38and
- 26:39starting
- 26:39to
- 26:40tell
- 26:40my
- 26:40story,
- 26:40I
- 26:40realized
- 26:41that
- 26:43twice
- 26:44I
- 26:44was
- 26:44the
- 26:45first
- 26:45customer
- 26:46of
- 26:46two
- 26:46different
- 26:47firms.
- 26:48And
- 26:48not
- 26:48only
- 26:49did
- 26:49it
- 26:49work
- 26:49out
- 26:50amazing
- 26:51because
- 26:51you
- 26:52get
- 26:52all
- 26:52kinds
- 26:52of
- 26:52special
- 26:53attention
- 26:53from
- 26:54the
- 26:54founders,
- 26:54they
- 26:54are
- 26:55determined
- 26:56that
- 26:56you
- 26:56are
- 26:56going
- 26:56to
- 26:57have
- 26:57a
- 26:57killer
- 26:58experience
- 26:58and
- 26:58you
- 26:59grow
- 27:00as
- 27:00they
- 27:01grow
- 27:02and
- 27:03you
- 27:03grow
- 27:04as
- 27:04founders
- 27:05together
- 27:05and
- 27:06you
- 27:06have
- 27:06this
- 27:06special
- 27:07relationship.
- 27:08The
- 27:08other
- 27:08firm
- 27:09was
- 27:09our
- 27:10research
- 27:10firm
- 27:10out
- 27:11of
- 27:11India
- 27:12and
- 27:12they
- 27:12were
- 27:12amazing.
- 27:13We
- 27:13were
- 27:13their
- 27:13first
- 27:14customer
- 27:14too.
- 27:14I
- 27:15always
- 27:15tell
- 27:15people,
- 27:15don't
- 27:16be
- 27:16afraid
- 27:16to
- 27:16be
- 27:17someone's
- 27:17first
- 27:17customer.
- 27:18There
- 27:18are
- 27:18a
- 27:18lot
- 27:18of
- 27:18advantages
- 27:19to
- 27:19it.
- 27:20You're
- 27:20going
- 27:20to
- 27:20get
- 27:21a
- 27:21lot
- 27:21of
- 27:21extra
- 27:22stuff
- 27:22for
- 27:23free
- 27:24because
- 27:24they
- 27:24are
- 27:24going
- 27:25to
- 27:25work
- 27:26like
- 27:26hell
- 27:26to
- 27:26make
- 27:27sure
- 27:27that
- 27:27you
- 27:27have
- 27:28a
- 27:28good
- 27:28experience
- 27:29and
- 27:29a
- 27:29good
- 27:30outcome.
- 27:30They
- 27:30need
- 27:31that
- 27:31to
- 27:31succeed.
- 27:33That's
- 27:33amazing.
- 27:34I
- 27:34agree
- 27:34with
- 27:34you.
- 27:35There's
- 27:35a
- 27:35lot
- 27:35of
- 27:36value
- 27:36in
- 27:37finding
- 27:37those
- 27:37right
- 27:38people.
- 27:39I
- 27:39found
- 27:40that
- 27:41when
- 27:41picking
- 27:42different
- 27:42partners,
- 27:43a
- 27:43lot
- 27:44of
- 27:44times
- 27:44the
- 27:44bigger,
- 27:45more
- 27:45reputable
- 27:46ones
- 27:47just
- 27:48don't
- 27:48care
- 27:48about
- 27:48you
- 27:49as
- 27:49a
- 27:50tiny
- 27:51entity
- 27:51getting
- 27:52started.
- 27:53And
- 27:53I
- 27:53found
- 27:54so
- 27:54much
- 27:54more
- 27:56positive
- 27:56experience
- 27:57or
- 27:58it
- 27:58was
- 27:58just
- 27:58so
- 27:59out
- 27:59of
- 27:59touch
- 28:00expensive
- 28:01that
- 28:02I
- 28:02couldn't
- 28:03get
- 28:03really
- 28:03what
- 28:03I
- 28:04needed.
- 28:04I
- 28:04would
- 28:04take
- 28:04the
- 28:05tiniest
- 28:06option
- 28:06available
- 28:07and
- 28:07I
- 28:08really
- 28:08needed
- 28:09more,
- 28:09but
- 28:09I
- 28:09couldn't
- 28:10afford
- 28:10it.
- 28:10So
- 28:11I
- 28:11love
- 28:11this.
- 28:12So
- 28:13tell
- 28:13us
- 28:13about
- 28:14your
- 28:14so
- 28:15you
- 28:15exited
- 28:16and
- 28:16what
- 28:17was
- 28:17that
- 28:17like?
- 28:19It
- 28:20was
- 28:20a
- 28:20lot
- 28:21of
- 28:21fun.
- 28:21It
- 28:22was
- 28:22exciting.
- 28:23It
- 28:23was
- 28:23new.
- 28:24I've
- 28:24never
- 28:24done
- 28:25anything
- 28:25like
- 28:25that
- 28:25before
- 28:26and
- 28:26I
- 28:26had
- 28:26to
- 28:26learn
- 28:27it
- 28:27as
- 28:27I
- 28:27was
- 28:27doing
- 28:29was
- 28:30stressful,
- 28:31but
- 28:31I
- 28:31thought
- 28:32it
- 28:32was
- 28:32very
- 28:32exciting
- 28:33and
- 28:33I
- 28:33learned
- 28:34so
- 28:34much.
- 28:35I
- 28:35thought,
- 28:36well,
- 28:36it's
- 28:36too
- 28:37bad
- 28:37I'm
- 28:37not
- 28:37going
- 28:38to
- 28:38do
- 28:38this
- 28:38again
- 28:38because
- 28:39there
- 28:39are
- 28:39some
- 28:40things
- 28:40that
- 28:40I
- 28:40would
- 28:40do
- 28:40differently.
- 28:41There's
- 28:42some
- 28:42things
- 28:42that
- 28:43I
- 28:43know
- 28:43and
- 28:44I'm
- 28:44a
- 28:44lot
- 28:44more
- 28:45confident
- 28:45around
- 28:46now
- 28:46that
- 28:46I've
- 28:47done
- 28:47it
- 28:47once.
- 28:48That's
- 28:48why
- 28:49I
- 28:49like
- 28:50to
- 28:50talk
- 28:50about
- 28:50it.
- 28:51I
- 28:51was
- 28:51on
- 28:51a
- 28:51webinar
- 28:52yesterday.
- 28:53In
- 28:53fact,
- 28:53I'm
- 28:53doing
- 28:55two
- 28:55webinars
- 28:56within
- 28:56a
- 28:56week
- 28:56about
- 28:57how
- 28:57to
- 28:58exit
- 28:58and
- 28:58what
- 28:59my
- 28:59experience
- 28:59was
- 29:00like.
- 29:00I
- 29:00wrote
- 29:00a
- 29:01substack
- 29:01newsletter
- 29:02yesterday
- 29:02which
- 29:02was
- 29:03published
- 29:03last
- 29:03night
- 29:04about
- 29:05exiting
- 29:06and
- 29:06the
- 29:06things
- 29:07you
- 29:07need
- 29:07to
- 29:07think
- 29:08about,
- 29:08what
- 29:08buyers
- 29:09care
- 29:09about.
- 29:11There's
- 29:11just
- 29:11so
- 29:12much
- 29:13that
- 29:13I
- 29:13learned
- 29:14that
- 29:15founders
- 29:15need
- 29:15to
- 29:16know.
- 29:17Yes.
- 29:17I
- 29:17felt
- 29:18the
- 29:18same
- 29:18way
- 29:18going
- 29:19through
- 29:19my
- 29:19exit.
- 29:20Things
- 29:20that
- 29:21I
- 29:21wish
- 29:21I'd
- 29:22known
- 29:22from
- 29:22the
- 29:23beginning
- 29:23I
- 29:23would
- 29:23have
- 29:24established
- 29:25earlier
- 29:26on.
- 29:26They
- 29:27don't
- 29:27want
- 29:27to
- 29:27hear
- 29:27that
- 29:28you're
- 29:28the
- 29:28most
- 29:28important
- 29:28thing
- 29:29in
- 29:29the
- 29:29business.
- 29:30That's
- 29:30not
- 29:30what
- 29:30they
- 29:30want
- 29:31to
- 29:31hear.
- 29:31They
- 29:31don't
- 29:31want
- 29:31to
- 29:32hear
- 29:32that
- 29:32you
- 29:32work
- 29:32so
- 29:32hard
- 29:33and
- 29:33everything
- 29:34revolves
- 29:34around
- 29:34you.
- 29:35They
- 29:35don't,
- 29:35you
- 29:35know,
- 29:36they
- 29:36do
- 29:37not.
- 29:37Right.
- 29:38They
- 29:38want
- 29:39to
- 29:39know
- 29:39that
- 29:39the
- 29:40business
- 29:40can
- 29:40function
- 29:41beautifully
- 29:41without
- 29:42you.
- 29:43And
- 29:43you
- 29:43know,
- 29:43and
- 29:44then
- 29:44that
- 29:44due
- 29:44diligence
- 29:45I
- 29:45know
- 29:45you
- 29:45went
- 29:45through
- 29:46a
- 29:46lot
- 29:46with
- 29:46the
- 29:46due
- 29:46diligence
- 29:47process.
- 29:47How
- 29:47long
- 29:48did
- 29:48that
- 29:48take
- 29:48you?
- 29:50The
- 29:50whole
- 29:50deal
- 29:51from
- 29:51start
- 29:51to
- 29:51finish
- 29:52was
- 29:52about
- 29:53four
- 29:53months,
- 29:53which
- 29:54is
- 29:54very
- 29:54quick.
- 29:55That's
- 29:55fast.
- 29:57I
- 29:57think
- 29:57the
- 29:57fact
- 29:57that
- 29:58our
- 29:58cap
- 29:58table
- 29:58was
- 29:59just
- 29:59so
- 29:59simple
- 29:59and
- 30:00that
- 30:01felt
- 30:01great.
- 30:02Also.
- 30:02We
- 30:02didn't
- 30:02have
- 30:02any
- 30:03skeletons
- 30:03in
- 30:03the
- 30:04closet.
- 30:04No
- 30:04lawsuits,
- 30:05security
- 30:06breaches
- 30:07or
- 30:08privacy
- 30:09problems.
- 30:10Everything
- 30:10was
- 30:10very
- 30:11clean.
- 30:12The
- 30:12due
- 30:13diligence
- 30:13started
- 30:14Thanksgiving
- 30:15weekend
- 30:17of
- 30:172021.
- 30:18I
- 30:18remember
- 30:18that
- 30:19because
- 30:19I.
- 30:19I
- 30:19was
- 30:20like,
- 30:20okay,
- 30:20they're.
- 30:21I
- 30:22thought
- 30:22the
- 30:22lawyers
- 30:22would
- 30:23start
- 30:24after
- 30:25Thanksgiving.
- 30:25They
- 30:26literally
- 30:26started
- 30:27like
- 30:27Thanksgiving
- 30:27Day.
- 30:29I
- 30:29was
- 30:29getting
- 30:29emails
- 30:29from
- 30:29employers.
- 30:31And
- 30:31then
- 30:32we
- 30:32closed
- 30:33Due
- 30:33diligence
- 30:34right
- 30:34up
- 30:34until
- 30:34the
- 30:34very
- 30:35last
- 30:35day.
- 30:36We
- 30:36were
- 30:36still
- 30:36providing
- 30:37documents
- 30:37and
- 30:37things.
- 30:38And
- 30:38we
- 30:38closed,
- 30:38I
- 30:39think
- 30:39January
- 30:4020th
- 30:40or
- 30:4121st
- 30:42of
- 30:42the
- 30:42following
- 30:43year.
- 30:43So
- 30:43due
- 30:43diligence
- 30:44was
- 30:44about
- 30:44two
- 30:45months.
- 30:46That's
- 30:46actually
- 30:46amazing.
- 30:47It
- 30:47sounds
- 30:47like
- 30:48you
- 30:48came
- 30:48through
- 30:48it
- 30:49pretty
- 30:49unscathed.
- 30:50Did
- 30:50you
- 30:50sell
- 30:51everything
- 30:51all
- 30:51at
- 30:52once
- 30:52or
- 30:52did
- 30:52you
- 30:52stay
- 30:53involved
- 30:53with
- 30:53the
- 30:53company
- 30:54or
- 30:54did
- 30:54you
- 30:54sell
- 30:55and
- 30:55you
- 30:55were
- 30:55done?
- 30:57We
- 30:58sold
- 30:58and
- 30:58then
- 30:59did
- 31:00some
- 31:01consulting
- 31:02for
- 31:02like
- 31:02three
- 31:03weeks.
- 31:03They
- 31:04gave
- 31:04me
- 31:04and
- 31:04my
- 31:04partner
- 31:05three
- 31:05month
- 31:05consulting
- 31:06agreements,
- 31:07but
- 31:07we
- 31:07were
- 31:08done
- 31:08in
- 31:08three
- 31:08weeks.
- 31:09They
- 31:09weren't
- 31:09asking
- 31:10us
- 31:10for
- 31:10anything
- 31:10more.
- 31:11I
- 31:11remember
- 31:11because
- 31:12it
- 31:12was
- 31:12my
- 31:14birthday,
- 31:15February
- 31:1525th.
- 31:16That
- 31:16was
- 31:16kind
- 31:17of
- 31:17the
- 31:17last
- 31:18time
- 31:18I
- 31:19went
- 31:19on
- 31:19a
- 31:19meeting.
- 31:21And
- 31:22that
- 31:23was
- 31:23it.
- 31:24Right.
- 31:24How
- 31:24do
- 31:25you
- 31:25feel
- 31:25now,
- 31:25now
- 31:26that
- 31:26it's
- 31:26passed?
- 31:29I'm
- 31:29glad
- 31:30that
- 31:30I
- 31:31did
- 31:31it.
- 31:31I'm
- 31:32astonished
- 31:33at
- 31:33how
- 31:33well
- 31:34it
- 31:34went
- 31:35and
- 31:35how
- 31:36well
- 31:36we
- 31:36did
- 31:37with
- 31:37the
- 31:37terms
- 31:38of
- 31:38the
- 31:38deal.
- 31:39Based
- 31:39on
- 31:39what
- 31:39I
- 31:39know
- 31:40now,
- 31:41we
- 31:42were
- 31:42lucky.
- 31:43And
- 31:43we
- 31:44also
- 31:44had
- 31:45an
- 31:45amazing
- 31:46team
- 31:47helping
- 31:47us
- 31:48on
- 31:48due
- 31:48diligence.
- 31:48Dual
- 31:49Boots
- 31:49supported
- 31:50us
- 31:50throughout
- 31:50due
- 31:51diligence,
- 31:51as
- 31:51did
- 31:52our
- 31:53fractional
- 31:53cfo.
- 31:54They
- 31:54were
- 31:54on
- 31:54our
- 31:55due
- 31:55diligence
- 31:56team
- 31:57and
- 31:57leading
- 31:58those
- 31:58conversations
- 31:59about
- 31:59infosecurity,
- 32:00our
- 32:00tech
- 32:01stack,
- 32:01or
- 32:02our
- 32:02financial
- 32:02model.
- 32:03They
- 32:04talked
- 32:04the
- 32:04buyer
- 32:05through
- 32:05those
- 32:05things,
- 32:06so
- 32:06I
- 32:07would
- 32:07definitely
- 32:08do
- 32:08it
- 32:08that
- 32:08way
- 32:09again.
- 32:09I
- 32:10shared
- 32:10with
- 32:10you
- 32:11before
- 32:11we
- 32:11started
- 32:11recording
- 32:12that
- 32:12there's
- 32:13been
- 32:13a
- 32:13new
- 32:13development
- 32:14in
- 32:14the
- 32:14last
- 32:15few
- 32:15weeks.
- 32:15A
- 32:16few
- 32:16weeks
- 32:16ago,
- 32:17I
- 32:18learned
- 32:18from
- 32:19people
- 32:19who
- 32:19used
- 32:19to
- 32:19work
- 32:20for
- 32:20me
- 32:21that
- 32:21the
- 32:22private
- 32:22equity
- 32:23firm
- 32:23that
- 32:23owns
- 32:23the
- 32:23company
- 32:24now,
- 32:24the
- 32:24first
- 32:25company
- 32:25that
- 32:25bought
- 32:25it,
- 32:26packaged
- 32:27it
- 32:27up
- 32:27with
- 32:27some
- 32:27other
- 32:28products
- 32:28and
- 32:28sold
- 32:29it
- 32:29to
- 32:29private
- 32:29equity.
- 32:30A
- 32:30few
- 32:30weeks
- 32:30ago,
- 32:31they
- 32:31just
- 32:31without
- 32:32any
- 32:32warning,
- 32:33announced
- 32:33they
- 32:33were
- 32:34shutting
- 32:34down
- 32:34Boardroom
- 32:35Insiders,
- 32:36the
- 32:36product
- 32:36and
- 32:37the
- 32:37company,
- 32:38and
- 32:38they
- 32:38laid
- 32:39off
- 32:39more
- 32:40than
- 32:40half
- 32:40the
- 32:40team
- 32:41that
- 32:41day.
- 32:42They've
- 32:43kept
- 32:43on
- 32:43a
- 32:43skeleton
- 32:44crew
- 32:44to
- 32:44keep
- 32:44servicing
- 32:45customers
- 32:46and
- 32:46they
- 32:46did
- 32:46not
- 32:47tell
- 32:48any
- 32:48customers.
- 32:49So
- 32:50I
- 32:50offered
- 32:50to
- 32:50buy
- 32:50the
- 32:51company
- 32:51back.
- 32:52I
- 32:52made
- 32:53a
- 32:53couple
- 32:53of
- 32:53different
- 32:53offers
- 32:54and
- 32:54I
- 32:55met
- 32:55with
- 32:55the
- 32:55private
- 32:56equity
- 32:56firm
- 32:57and
- 32:58they
- 32:59do
- 32:59not
- 32:59seem
- 33:00interested
- 33:00in
- 33:00selling
- 33:01it
- 33:01to
- 33:01me
- 33:01or
- 33:01anybody
- 33:02else.
- 33:02That
- 33:03tells
- 33:03me
- 33:04there's
- 33:04something
- 33:04going
- 33:05on
- 33:05that.
- 33:05More
- 33:05missing
- 33:06some
- 33:06information.
- 33:07They
- 33:07might
- 33:07be
- 33:08in
- 33:08the
- 33:08process
- 33:09of
- 33:10divesting
- 33:11assets
- 33:12themselves
- 33:12and
- 33:12they
- 33:13might
- 33:13want
- 33:13to
- 33:13write
- 33:13this
- 33:13off.
- 33:14I
- 33:14don't
- 33:14really
- 33:15understand
- 33:15how
- 33:15private
- 33:15equity
- 33:16works,
- 33:17but
- 33:17now
- 33:18I
- 33:19am
- 33:19considering
- 33:20whether
- 33:20I
- 33:20should
- 33:21rebuild
- 33:21the
- 33:21product
- 33:22as
- 33:22a
- 33:22native
- 33:22AI
- 33:24product.
- 33:24The
- 33:25product,
- 33:25as
- 33:25good
- 33:25as
- 33:25it
- 33:26was,
- 33:26had
- 33:26some
- 33:27scalability
- 33:28issues.
- 33:29Something
- 33:29that
- 33:30deep
- 33:30and
- 33:30with
- 33:31that
- 33:31much
- 33:31information
- 33:32per
- 33:32record
- 33:32is
- 33:33hard
- 33:33to
- 33:33scale,
- 33:33and
- 33:34it
- 33:34was
- 33:34highly
- 33:34curated
- 33:35by
- 33:36experienced
- 33:36business
- 33:37analysts.
- 33:38But
- 33:38now
- 33:38with
- 33:39AI,
- 33:40that
- 33:40scalability
- 33:41problem
- 33:41could
- 33:42go
- 33:42away.
- 33:42It
- 33:43could
- 33:43be
- 33:43a
- 33:43product
- 33:43for
- 33:43a
- 33:44much
- 33:44broader
- 33:44audience,
- 33:44not
- 33:45just
- 33:45enterprise.
- 33:46And
- 33:47it
- 33:48could
- 33:48run
- 33:48with
- 33:49a
- 33:49much
- 33:49smaller
- 33:50team
- 33:51and
- 33:52have
- 33:52enhanced
- 33:52features
- 33:53like
- 33:54AI
- 33:55agents
- 33:55that
- 33:57help
- 33:57the
- 33:57customer
- 33:58configure
- 34:00their
- 34:00data
- 34:01exports
- 34:01in
- 34:01a
- 34:01way
- 34:02that
- 34:02matches
- 34:02up
- 34:03with
- 34:03a
- 34:03piece
- 34:04of
- 34:04data
- 34:04they
- 34:04have
- 34:04internally.
- 34:05That's
- 34:06one
- 34:06of
- 34:06the
- 34:06things
- 34:06I've
- 34:06talked
- 34:07to
- 34:07customers
- 34:07about.
- 34:08I've
- 34:08made
- 34:08a
- 34:09TikTok
- 34:09about
- 34:09this,
- 34:10and
- 34:11I've
- 34:11gotten
- 34:11incredible
- 34:12feedback
- 34:14from
- 34:14people
- 34:15who
- 34:15have
- 34:15ideas
- 34:16for
- 34:16how
- 34:16I
- 34:16could
- 34:16do
- 34:17this.
- 34:18I'm
- 34:18considering
- 34:19it,
- 34:19but
- 34:19I'm
- 34:2060
- 34:20years
- 34:20old
- 34:20and
- 34:21I'm
- 34:21like,
- 34:21man,
- 34:21you
- 34:22know,
- 34:23is
- 34:23this.
- 34:24Do
- 34:24I
- 34:24want
- 34:25to
- 34:25do
- 34:25this?
- 34:26Why
- 34:26am
- 34:27I
- 34:27doing
- 34:27this?
- 34:27Am
- 34:28I
- 34:28doing
- 34:28this
- 34:29because
- 34:29someone's
- 34:29trying
- 34:30to
- 34:30kill
- 34:30my
- 34:30baby?
- 34:31Am
- 34:31I
- 34:31doing
- 34:32this
- 34:32because
- 34:32I
- 34:33like
- 34:33making
- 34:33TikTok
- 34:34videos
- 34:34and
- 34:34sharing
- 34:35what
- 34:35I'm
- 34:35doing?
- 34:36Am
- 34:36I
- 34:36doing
- 34:36it
- 34:37for
- 34:37the
- 34:37content?
- 34:37Am
- 34:38I
- 34:38doing
- 34:38it
- 34:38to
- 34:38rescue
- 34:39the
- 34:39team
- 34:39that
- 34:40I
- 34:40love
- 34:40so
- 34:40much
- 34:41that
- 34:41used
- 34:41to
- 34:41work
- 34:41for
- 34:41me?
- 34:42You
- 34:43have
- 34:43to
- 34:43think
- 34:43of
- 34:43all
- 34:43these
- 34:44things,
- 34:44and
- 34:45what
- 34:45I've
- 34:46learned
- 34:46from
- 34:47writing
- 34:47a
- 34:47book
- 34:49is
- 34:49you
- 34:49don't
- 34:50know
- 34:50what's
- 34:50happening
- 34:51when
- 34:51you're
- 34:52in
- 34:52it.
- 34:53You
- 34:53don't
- 34:53realize
- 34:55why
- 34:56you're
- 34:56doing
- 34:56what
- 34:56you're
- 34:57doing
- 34:58until
- 34:58later,
- 34:59until
- 34:59you
- 34:59can
- 34:59reflect
- 35:00back?
- 35:01So
- 35:01I'm
- 35:01under
- 35:02no
- 35:02illusions
- 35:03that
- 35:03I
- 35:03have
- 35:04clarity
- 35:05about
- 35:05where
- 35:06my
- 35:06head
- 35:06is
- 35:06at
- 35:07right
- 35:07now.
- 35:08I'm
- 35:08proceeding
- 35:08with
- 35:09caution
- 35:09and
- 35:09talking
- 35:10to
- 35:10a
- 35:11lot
- 35:11of
- 35:11people.
- 35:11I'm
- 35:12talking
- 35:12to
- 35:12customers,
- 35:13industry
- 35:13experts,
- 35:14AI
- 35:15experts
- 35:15and
- 35:16product
- 35:16experts.
- 35:17I
- 35:17have
- 35:17a
- 35:18quote
- 35:19from
- 35:19Dual
- 35:19Boot,
- 35:20who
- 35:20built
- 35:20the
- 35:20first
- 35:21product.
- 35:22And
- 35:23the
- 35:23world
- 35:23has
- 35:23changed
- 35:24so
- 35:24much.
- 35:24One
- 35:24of
- 35:24the
- 35:24things
- 35:25that
- 35:25I've
- 35:25proposed
- 35:26to
- 35:26them
- 35:26is
- 35:27I've
- 35:28built
- 35:28this
- 35:28huge
- 35:28following
- 35:28on
- 35:29TikTok.
- 35:29Now
- 35:30let's
- 35:30do
- 35:30a
- 35:30building
- 35:30in
- 35:31public.
- 35:31Let's
- 35:31talk
- 35:31about.
- 35:32We're
- 35:32getting
- 35:32the
- 35:32band
- 35:32back
- 35:33together.
- 35:33We're
- 35:33rebuilding
- 35:34the
- 35:34same
- 35:34product
- 35:35with
- 35:35AI.
- 35:35And,
- 35:36you
- 35:36know,
- 35:36and.
- 35:37And
- 35:37one
- 35:37thing
- 35:37I
- 35:37want
- 35:37to
- 35:38talk
- 35:38about
- 35:39is
- 35:39I
- 35:40was
- 35:40the
- 35:40first
- 35:40customer
- 35:41of
- 35:41Dual
- 35:41Boot.
- 35:41Now
- 35:42they're
- 35:42like
- 35:42a
- 35:4216,
- 35:4320
- 35:43million
- 35:43dollars
- 35:44company.
- 35:45And
- 35:45is
- 35:46it
- 35:46going
- 35:46to
- 35:46be
- 35:46the
- 35:46same
- 35:47experience
- 35:48working
- 35:48with
- 35:48them
- 35:48as
- 35:49it
- 35:49was
- 35:49the
- 35:49first
- 35:49time
- 35:50I'm
- 35:50getting
- 35:50the
- 35:51same
- 35:51team?
- 35:52I
- 35:52mean,
- 35:52it's
- 35:53like
- 35:54so
- 35:55real
- 35:55synergy.
- 35:56And
- 35:56fun
- 35:57in
- 35:58that.
- 35:58And
- 35:59I
- 35:59think
- 35:59also
- 36:00I've
- 36:00watched
- 36:00you,
- 36:01right,
- 36:01since
- 36:01I've
- 36:02gotten
- 36:02to
- 36:03know
- 36:03you.
- 36:03I've
- 36:03been
- 36:03watching
- 36:04you
- 36:04on
- 36:04your
- 36:05socials
- 36:05and
- 36:05on
- 36:06your
- 36:06Substack
- 36:07channel.
- 36:07I
- 36:08would
- 36:08say
- 36:09you
- 36:09are
- 36:10embracing
- 36:11your
- 36:11journey
- 36:11and
- 36:11sharing
- 36:12your
- 36:12wisdom.
- 36:13And
- 36:13from
- 36:13what
- 36:14I
- 36:14can
- 36:14see,
- 36:14you're
- 36:14having
- 36:15fun.
- 36:16Oh,
- 36:16yeah.
- 36:17I
- 36:17love
- 36:17being
- 36:17you.
- 36:18Other
- 36:19people,
- 36:19to
- 36:19me,
- 36:20it's
- 36:20so
- 36:20satisfying
- 36:21that
- 36:21you
- 36:21can
- 36:21help
- 36:21other
- 36:22people.
- 36:22That's
- 36:22why
- 36:23I
- 36:23mentioned
- 36:23Sherry
- 36:24Deutschman
- 36:24in
- 36:25the
- 36:25beginning,
- 36:25because
- 36:26she's
- 36:27the
- 36:27first
- 36:27one
- 36:27who
- 36:28told
- 36:28me.
- 36:28She's
- 36:28like,
- 36:28girl,
- 36:29this
- 36:29is
- 36:29a
- 36:29big
- 36:29deal.
- 36:30You
- 36:30have
- 36:31stuff
- 36:31that
- 36:31people
- 36:32need
- 36:32to
- 36:33know
- 36:33and
- 36:33they
- 36:34don't
- 36:34know.
- 36:34And
- 36:34I
- 36:34said,
- 36:34are
- 36:34you
- 36:35sure?
- 36:35Doesn't
- 36:35everybody
- 36:36know
- 36:36all
- 36:36this
- 36:36stuff?
- 36:36And
- 36:36she's
- 36:37like,
- 36:37no,
- 36:37you
- 36:38need
- 36:38to
- 36:38get
- 36:38out
- 36:38and
- 36:38talk
- 36:38about
- 36:39it.
- 36:39It's
- 36:39going
- 36:39to
- 36:40help
- 36:40so
- 36:40many
- 36:40people.
- 36:41And
- 36:41it
- 36:41wasn't
- 36:42until
- 36:42I
- 36:42started
- 36:42talking
- 36:43to
- 36:43other
- 36:43entrepreneurs
- 36:44that
- 36:45I
- 36:45realized,
- 36:46oh,
- 36:46this
- 36:46does
- 36:47seem
- 36:47to
- 36:47be
- 36:47helping
- 36:48people.
- 36:48Yeah.
- 36:50Well,
- 36:50I'm
- 36:50excited
- 36:50to
- 36:51see
- 36:51how
- 36:52this
- 36:52all
- 36:52unfolds
- 36:53and
- 36:54tell
- 36:54us
- 36:54a
- 36:55little
- 36:55bit
- 36:55more
- 36:55about
- 36:57your
- 36:57current
- 36:57business.
- 36:58You
- 36:58have
- 36:59your
- 36:59book
- 37:00and.
- 37:03Tell
- 37:03us.
- 37:03About
- 37:04that
- 37:04endeavor,
- 37:05that
- 37:05business,
- 37:06and
- 37:06how
- 37:06can
- 37:06people
- 37:07learn
- 37:07more
- 37:07about
- 37:08that?
- 37:09Well,
- 37:09the
- 37:09book,
- 37:10it
- 37:10all
- 37:10started
- 37:11with
- 37:11the
- 37:11book
- 37:11and
- 37:12telling
- 37:12that
- 37:12story.
- 37:13I
- 37:13enjoy
- 37:14writing.
- 37:14I
- 37:15started
- 37:15my
- 37:15career
- 37:15at
- 37:15magazine
- 37:16writing
- 37:17and
- 37:17have
- 37:18expanded
- 37:19the
- 37:19Scaling
- 37:19with
- 37:20Soul
- 37:20brand
- 37:20into
- 37:20a
- 37:21Scaling
- 37:21with
- 37:21Soul
- 37:21substack
- 37:22newsletter.
- 37:23It's
- 37:23more
- 37:24of
- 37:24a
- 37:24how
- 37:25to
- 37:25for
- 37:26entrepreneurs,
- 37:27supported
- 37:28by
- 37:28stories
- 37:29from
- 37:29my
- 37:29own
- 37:30experience
- 37:30or
- 37:30the
- 37:30experiences
- 37:31of
- 37:31people
- 37:31I
- 37:31know.
- 37:32For
- 37:32example,
- 37:33this
- 37:33week
- 37:33the
- 37:34article
- 37:34is
- 37:34all
- 37:35about
- 37:35how
- 37:35to
- 37:35exit
- 37:36like
- 37:36a
- 37:36boss
- 37:37and
- 37:38all
- 37:38the
- 37:38things
- 37:38you
- 37:38need
- 37:39to
- 37:39think
- 37:39about
- 37:40from
- 37:40the
- 37:40start
- 37:41when
- 37:41you
- 37:41start
- 37:41your
- 37:41business
- 37:42to
- 37:42have
- 37:43a
- 37:43smoother
- 37:43exit.
- 37:45One
- 37:45of
- 37:45the
- 37:45things
- 37:45I
- 37:46write
- 37:46about
- 37:46in
- 37:46this
- 37:46article
- 37:47is
- 37:49a
- 37:49simple
- 37:49thing
- 37:50you
- 37:50can
- 37:50do.
- 37:50Just
- 37:51listen
- 37:51to
- 37:52the
- 37:52side
- 37:52conversations
- 37:53that
- 37:53are
- 37:53happening.
- 37:54When
- 37:55you're
- 37:55in
- 37:55a
- 37:55due
- 37:56diligence
- 37:56meeting
- 37:56or
- 37:56a
- 37:57meeting
- 37:57with
- 37:57your
- 37:57banker
- 37:58or
- 37:58buyer,
- 38:00people
- 38:00are
- 38:00talking
- 38:00and
- 38:01having
- 38:01side
- 38:01conversations
- 38:02and
- 38:02you
- 38:03can
- 38:03get
- 38:03a
- 38:03lot
- 38:04out
- 38:04of
- 38:04those
- 38:05side
- 38:05conversations.
- 38:07Stuff
- 38:07that
- 38:07I
- 38:07heard
- 38:08inside
- 38:08conversations
- 38:09allowed
- 38:09me
- 38:10to
- 38:10go
- 38:10back
- 38:10and
- 38:10ask
- 38:11for
- 38:1150%
- 38:12more
- 38:12money.
- 38:12I
- 38:13didn't
- 38:13get
- 38:13the
- 38:1350%,
- 38:13but
- 38:14I
- 38:14got
- 38:1433%
- 38:15more
- 38:16than
- 38:16the
- 38:16original
- 38:16offer.
- 38:16And
- 38:17it
- 38:17was
- 38:17all
- 38:17because
- 38:18my
- 38:19wheels
- 38:19started
- 38:19turning
- 38:20based
- 38:20on
- 38:20what
- 38:20I
- 38:21heard
- 38:21when
- 38:21people
- 38:21Were
- 38:22just
- 38:23talking
- 38:23on
- 38:23a
- 38:23zoom
- 38:24before
- 38:24the
- 38:24meeting
- 38:24started.
- 38:25So
- 38:26the
- 38:26substack
- 38:27is
- 38:27supported
- 38:27by
- 38:28other
- 38:28Stories
- 38:29and
- 38:30it's
- 38:30a
- 38:30free
- 38:31newsletter.
- 38:32If
- 38:32you
- 38:33subscribe
- 38:33and
- 38:34pay
- 38:3410
- 38:34bucks
- 38:34a
- 38:35month,
- 38:35you
- 38:36can
- 38:36come
- 38:36to
- 38:36my
- 38:36office
- 38:37hours,
- 38:37which
- 38:38happen
- 38:38two
- 38:39to
- 38:39four
- 38:39times
- 38:39a
- 38:39month.
- 38:40And
- 38:42that
- 38:42is
- 38:42a
- 38:42great
- 38:43little
- 38:43community
- 38:44that
- 38:45the
- 38:45same
- 38:45people,
- 38:46core
- 38:46people,
- 38:47tend
- 38:47to
- 38:47show
- 38:47up.
- 38:48And
- 38:49there
- 38:49are
- 38:49some
- 38:49very
- 38:50smart
- 38:51entrepreneurs
- 38:52who
- 38:52show
- 38:52up.
- 38:54And
- 38:54so
- 38:54it's
- 38:54become
- 38:55more
- 38:55of
- 38:55a
- 38:55peer
- 38:56coaching
- 38:57kind
- 38:57of
- 38:57situation.
- 38:58It's
- 38:58not
- 38:59just
- 38:59me
- 38:59because
- 38:59I
- 39:00don't
- 39:00know
- 39:00everything.
- 39:01And
- 39:02so
- 39:02there
- 39:02are
- 39:03other
- 39:03people
- 39:04on
- 39:04there
- 39:04who
- 39:06everybody's
- 39:07helping
- 39:07each
- 39:07other,
- 39:08and
- 39:08so
- 39:09I
- 39:09enjoy
- 39:09that
- 39:09a
- 39:09lot.
- 39:10The
- 39:10other
- 39:10thing
- 39:10I'm
- 39:11working
- 39:11on
- 39:11is
- 39:12developing
- 39:12a
- 39:12keynote.
- 39:13I
- 39:13do
- 39:13a
- 39:13lot
- 39:13of
- 39:14speaking.
- 39:14I
- 39:14do
- 39:14fireside
- 39:15chats
- 39:15and
- 39:15everything.
- 39:16I'm
- 39:16developing
- 39:17a
- 39:17keynote
- 39:18with
- 39:18a
- 39:19training
- 39:19organization
- 39:20called
- 39:20Heroic
- 39:21Public
- 39:21Speaking.
- 39:22I'm
- 39:23seeing
- 39:23if
- 39:23I
- 39:23can
- 39:24turn
- 39:24myself
- 39:25into
- 39:26a
- 39:27keynote
- 39:27speaker
- 39:28and
- 39:29make
- 39:29money
- 39:30doing
- 39:30that.
- 39:30Everything
- 39:31I'm
- 39:31doing
- 39:31now,
- 39:32you
- 39:32know,
- 39:32it's.
- 39:32It's.
- 39:33I
- 39:33have
- 39:33little
- 39:33revenue.
- 39:34I
- 39:34have.
- 39:34It's.
- 39:34It's
- 39:35really
- 39:35funny.
- 39:35People
- 39:36who
- 39:36do
- 39:36what
- 39:36I
- 39:36do
- 39:37have
- 39:37seven
- 39:37or
- 39:37eight
- 39:38different
- 39:38revenue
- 39:38streams.
- 39:41And
- 39:41at
- 39:41any
- 39:41given
- 39:42time,
- 39:42you
- 39:42may
- 39:42not
- 39:43be
- 39:43sure
- 39:43exactly
- 39:43what
- 39:43they
- 39:44are,
- 39:44but
- 39:44you
- 39:44just
- 39:44see
- 39:44these
- 39:45checks
- 39:45come
- 39:45in
- 39:45through
- 39:46your
- 39:46bank
- 39:46account.
- 39:46You're
- 39:47like,
- 39:48is
- 39:48that
- 39:48my
- 39:48book
- 39:48revenue
- 39:49or
- 39:49is
- 39:49that
- 39:49my
- 39:49substack
- 39:50revenue,
- 39:51or
- 39:51is
- 39:51that
- 39:51my
- 39:51TikTok
- 39:52revenue
- 39:52or
- 39:52my
- 39:53YouTube
- 39:53revenue?
- 39:54It
- 39:54doesn't
- 39:54add
- 39:55up
- 39:55to
- 39:55a
- 39:55lot,
- 39:56but
- 39:57I'm
- 39:57having
- 39:57fun
- 39:58doing
- 39:58what
- 39:58I'm
- 39:59doing
- 39:59and
- 39:59I'm
- 39:59learning.
- 40:00I
- 40:01would
- 40:01love
- 40:01to
- 40:01build
- 40:01a
- 40:02bigger
- 40:02business
- 40:02out
- 40:03of
- 40:03what
- 40:03I'm
- 40:03doing,
- 40:05but
- 40:05if
- 40:05I
- 40:05don't,
- 40:05that's
- 40:06okay
- 40:06too.
- 40:06I'm
- 40:07just
- 40:07enjoying
- 40:07it.
- 40:07I'm
- 40:08trying
- 40:08to
- 40:08crack
- 40:08that
- 40:09code.
- 40:10I
- 40:10understand
- 40:11standing
- 40:12at
- 40:12the
- 40:1250,000
- 40:12foot
- 40:13level
- 40:13and
- 40:13seeing
- 40:14your
- 40:14whole
- 40:14story
- 40:15as
- 40:15you've
- 40:15just
- 40:15sort
- 40:16of
- 40:16peppered
- 40:17your
- 40:17life
- 40:17and
- 40:18told
- 40:18us
- 40:18about
- 40:19you.
- 40:20There
- 40:20could
- 40:20be
- 40:20this
- 40:21wonderful
- 40:21alignment
- 40:22where
- 40:22you
- 40:23continue
- 40:23to
- 40:24serve
- 40:24the
- 40:24same
- 40:25audience
- 40:25that
- 40:26you're
- 40:26serving
- 40:26right
- 40:27now
- 40:28and
- 40:29build
- 40:30another
- 40:30tech
- 40:30platform,
- 40:31do
- 40:31it
- 40:32publicly
- 40:32and
- 40:33allow
- 40:33people
- 40:33to
- 40:35see
- 40:35you
- 40:35make
- 40:35those
- 40:36decisions.
- 40:36And,
- 40:37you
- 40:37know,
- 40:37because
- 40:37it's.
- 40:38It's
- 40:38hard.
- 40:38I
- 40:39always
- 40:39say
- 40:39to
- 40:39everybody,
- 40:40like,
- 40:40you
- 40:40know,
- 40:41that
- 40:42I.
- 40:42All
- 40:42the
- 40:42founders
- 40:42I
- 40:43talk
- 40:43to.
- 40:43Every
- 40:43time
- 40:44you
- 40:44build
- 40:44a
- 40:44new
- 40:44company,
- 40:45yes,
- 40:45you
- 40:45get
- 40:45better
- 40:46at
- 40:46understanding
- 40:47the
- 40:47mechanics
- 40:47of
- 40:47what
- 40:48makes
- 40:48the
- 40:48flywheel
- 40:49spin.
- 40:49But
- 40:50you
- 40:50still
- 40:50have
- 40:50to
- 40:51crack
- 40:51the
- 40:51code.
- 40:52You
- 40:52still
- 40:52have
- 40:53to
- 40:54understand
- 40:54your
- 40:55market.
- 40:55You
- 40:55still
- 40:56have
- 40:56to
- 40:56understand
- 40:56the
- 40:56product.
- 40:57You
- 40:57have
- 40:57to
- 40:57still
- 40:58understand
- 40:58what
- 40:58the
- 40:58problem
- 40:59is
- 40:59you're
- 40:59solving.
- 41:00And
- 41:01it's
- 41:01a
- 41:01unique
- 41:02experience
- 41:03every
- 41:03time.
- 41:03Starting
- 41:04A
- 41:04new
- 41:04business
- 41:04every
- 41:05time.
- 41:05Now
- 41:05it's
- 41:05different
- 41:06than
- 41:06it
- 41:06was
- 41:06in
- 41:062008.
- 41:07Very
- 41:08different.
- 41:08That's
- 41:09what
- 41:09I
- 41:09think
- 41:09about
- 41:09when
- 41:10I
- 41:10think
- 41:10about
- 41:11counseling
- 41:11entrepreneurs.
- 41:13I
- 41:13remember
- 41:13talking
- 41:14to
- 41:14my
- 41:14husband,
- 41:14and
- 41:14I
- 41:14said,
- 41:15this
- 41:15whole
- 41:15thing
- 41:16I'm
- 41:16doing,
- 41:16I
- 41:17figure
- 41:17it
- 41:17has
- 41:17a
- 41:17shelf
- 41:18life
- 41:19of
- 41:19about
- 41:19three
- 41:20years.
- 41:20If
- 41:21I'm
- 41:21not
- 41:21building
- 41:21anything,
- 41:23my
- 41:23advice
- 41:24is
- 41:24going
- 41:25to
- 41:25lose
- 41:25relevance.
- 41:26I
- 41:26had
- 41:27a
- 41:27boss
- 41:28at
- 41:29that
- 41:29first
- 41:29startup.
- 41:30She
- 41:31left
- 41:31the
- 41:31company
- 41:32when
- 41:32I
- 41:32started
- 41:33my
- 41:33company.
- 41:34I
- 41:34would
- 41:34go
- 41:35to
- 41:35her
- 41:35for
- 41:35advice
- 41:36about
- 41:36three
- 41:37to
- 41:37four
- 41:37years
- 41:38in
- 41:39from
- 41:39when
- 41:40she
- 41:40left.
- 41:41I
- 41:41was
- 41:41talking
- 41:41to
- 41:41her,
- 41:42and
- 41:42I
- 41:42realized
- 41:43she
- 41:44doesn't
- 41:44really
- 41:44know
- 41:45how
- 41:45things
- 41:46are
- 41:46working
- 41:46now,
- 41:46what's
- 41:47going
- 41:47on.
- 41:48And
- 41:49I
- 41:49thought,
- 41:49that's
- 41:50gonna
- 41:50happen
- 41:50to
- 41:50me.
- 41:51If
- 41:52I
- 41:52dive
- 41:52back
- 41:53in,
- 41:54I'll
- 41:54have
- 41:54that
- 41:55going
- 41:55for
- 41:55me.
- 41:56But
- 41:56there's
- 41:56a
- 41:56lot
- 41:56of
- 41:57fear
- 41:57with
- 41:57doing
- 41:57this.
- 41:58First
- 41:58of
- 41:58all,
- 41:58I'm
- 41:58not
- 41:58as
- 41:59hungry
- 41:59as
- 41:59I
- 41:59was,
- 42:00so
- 42:00I'm
- 42:00like,
- 42:01will
- 42:01I
- 42:01work
- 42:01as
- 42:01hard?
- 42:02Will
- 42:02I
- 42:02push
- 42:03myself
- 42:04as
- 42:04hard?
- 42:05Maybe
- 42:05I
- 42:05don't
- 42:06need
- 42:06to,
- 42:06because
- 42:07I
- 42:07was
- 42:07doing
- 42:08it
- 42:08on
- 42:08my
- 42:08own
- 42:08before,
- 42:09and
- 42:09now
- 42:09I
- 42:09would
- 42:09have
- 42:10a
- 42:10team.
- 42:11And
- 42:11then
- 42:11the
- 42:11other
- 42:11fear
- 42:12is
- 42:12like,
- 42:12well,
- 42:12I'm
- 42:13gonna
- 42:13be
- 42:13doing
- 42:13this
- 42:13in
- 42:14public.
- 42:14What
- 42:14if
- 42:14I
- 42:15fail
- 42:15spectacularly?
- 42:16And
- 42:16then
- 42:16everyone's
- 42:17gonna
- 42:17know
- 42:17and
- 42:17see
- 42:18it.
- 42:19I'm
- 42:1960
- 42:19years
- 42:19old.
- 42:20Like,
- 42:20I'm
- 42:20kind
- 42:20of
- 42:20beyond.
- 42:21I'm
- 42:21too
- 42:21old
- 42:21to
- 42:21care
- 42:22really
- 42:22that
- 42:22much
- 42:23about
- 42:23it.
- 42:24I
- 42:25care,
- 42:25but
- 42:25I'm
- 42:26not
- 42:26as
- 42:27prideful
- 42:28as
- 42:28I
- 42:28was
- 42:28earlier.
- 42:29I'm
- 42:29more
- 42:29humble
- 42:30because
- 42:30I've
- 42:31failed
- 42:31and
- 42:31I've
- 42:32succeeded,
- 42:33and
- 42:33I'll
- 42:33fail
- 42:33and
- 42:34succeed
- 42:34again
- 42:35with
- 42:35what
- 42:35I'm
- 42:35doing
- 42:36over
- 42:36the
- 42:36past
- 42:37three
- 42:37years.
- 42:37I
- 42:37was
- 42:38going
- 42:38to
- 42:38launch
- 42:38this
- 42:38course,
- 42:39and
- 42:39then
- 42:39halfway
- 42:40through
- 42:40it,
- 42:40I'm
- 42:40like,
- 42:40I
- 42:41don't
- 42:41enjoy
- 42:42this
- 42:42at
- 42:42all.
- 42:43I
- 42:43like
- 42:43the
- 42:43exchange
- 42:44with
- 42:44people.
- 42:45I
- 42:45don't
- 42:46like
- 42:46sitting,
- 42:47talking
- 42:47to
- 42:47a
- 42:47camera.
- 42:49And
- 42:50so
- 42:50I
- 42:50just
- 42:50scrapped
- 42:51it.
- 42:51Just
- 42:51because
- 42:52you've
- 42:52succeeded
- 42:53with
- 42:53your
- 42:54startup
- 42:54doesn't
- 42:55mean
- 42:55that
- 42:55you
- 42:55know
- 42:55exactly
- 42:56what
- 42:56to
- 42:56do
- 42:56with
- 42:56the
- 42:57next
- 42:57one,
- 42:57which
- 42:57you
- 42:57were
- 42:57talking
- 42:58about
- 42:58earlier.
- 42:58You
- 42:59have
- 42:59to
- 42:59crack
- 42:59the
- 42:59code,
- 43:00as
- 43:00you
- 43:00said.
- 43:01And
- 43:02it's
- 43:02a
- 43:02process
- 43:02of
- 43:03trial
- 43:03and
- 43:03error
- 43:03and
- 43:04talking
- 43:04to
- 43:04a
- 43:04lot
- 43:05of
- 43:05people
- 43:05and
- 43:05figuring
- 43:06out
- 43:06what.
- 43:06What
- 43:07do
- 43:07they.
- 43:08What
- 43:08do
- 43:08they
- 43:08respond
- 43:09to
- 43:09and
- 43:09what
- 43:09do
- 43:09they
- 43:10need?
- 43:10And
- 43:11what
- 43:11kind
- 43:11of
- 43:11problems
- 43:12can
- 43:12you
- 43:12solve
- 43:12that
- 43:13are
- 43:13so
- 43:13big
- 43:13for
- 43:13them
- 43:13that
- 43:14they're
- 43:14willing
- 43:14to
- 43:14pay
- 43:14you
- 43:14to
- 43:15do
- 43:15it?
- 43:16Exactly.
- 43:17Exactly.
- 43:19All
- 43:19right,
- 43:19Sharon.
- 43:20Fast
- 43:20fire
- 43:20Round
- 43:21Five
- 43:22questions
- 43:22in
- 43:22five
- 43:23words
- 43:23or
- 43:24less.
- 43:24One
- 43:25word
- 43:26that
- 43:26describes
- 43:27your
- 43:27leadership
- 43:28style.
- 43:30Empathetic.
- 43:32Biggest
- 43:33myth
- 43:34about
- 43:35entrepreneurship
- 43:36you
- 43:36want
- 43:37to
- 43:37bust
- 43:38once
- 43:38and
- 43:38for
- 43:39all.
- 43:42You
- 43:42don't
- 43:43need
- 43:43venture
- 43:43capital.
- 43:46Exit
- 43:47Day
- 43:48one
- 43:49word
- 43:49to
- 43:49capture
- 43:50the
- 43:50feeling.
- 43:55Disbelief.
- 43:59If
- 43:59founders
- 44:00only
- 44:01focused
- 44:01on
- 44:02one
- 44:02thing
- 44:03in
- 44:03their
- 44:03first
- 44:04year,
- 44:05what
- 44:05would
- 44:05it
- 44:06be?
- 44:07Customers.
- 44:09Most
- 44:10underrated
- 44:11skill
- 44:12a
- 44:12founder
- 44:13can
- 44:13cultivate.
- 44:17Oh,
- 44:17that's
- 44:17the
- 44:17hardest
- 44:18one.
- 44:19Most
- 44:19underrated
- 44:20skill
- 44:21a
- 44:21founder
- 44:22can
- 44:22cultivate.
- 44:24Is
- 44:25this
- 44:25a
- 44:25skill?
- 44:26Resilience.
- 44:28Resilience.
- 44:30I
- 44:30agree
- 44:31with
- 44:31you.
- 44:32It's
- 44:32hard
- 44:33being
- 44:33a
- 44:33founder.
- 44:34It's
- 44:34harder
- 44:34than
- 44:34most
- 44:35things.
- 44:35Right.
- 44:36It's
- 44:36not
- 44:36for
- 44:36most
- 44:37people,
- 44:37but
- 44:37for
- 44:38those
- 44:38who
- 44:39are
- 44:39signed
- 44:39up
- 44:40for
- 44:40it
- 44:40and
- 44:40who
- 44:40have
- 44:40it
- 44:41as
- 44:41a
- 44:41calling,
- 44:41like
- 44:41you
- 44:41and
- 44:42me,
- 44:42it's
- 44:42just
- 44:43what
- 44:44we
- 44:44do.
- 44:44So
- 44:45how
- 44:45can
- 44:45our
- 44:45listeners
- 44:47find
- 44:47you?
- 44:48I
- 44:49know
- 44:49you
- 44:49have
- 44:49Sharon
- 44:50K.
- 44:50Gillenwater.com.
- 44:53You
- 44:53have
- 44:53a
- 44:53substack
- 44:54called
- 44:54Scaling
- 44:55Soul.
- 44:56Yep.
- 44:57And
- 44:57you
- 44:57have
- 44:58a
- 44:58dealing
- 44:58with
- 44:59Joel.
- 45:00And
- 45:01my
- 45:01main
- 45:03platform
- 45:04is
- 45:04TikTok.
- 45:05And
- 45:05that's
- 45:06where
- 45:06I'm
- 45:06pretty
- 45:06unfiltered
- 45:08about
- 45:09entrepreneurship,
- 45:11managing
- 45:11a
- 45:12team
- 45:12and
- 45:12what's
- 45:13going
- 45:13on
- 45:13with
- 45:13me
- 45:14with
- 45:14this
- 45:14crazy
- 45:15new
- 45:15ride
- 45:15of
- 45:16figuring
- 45:17out
- 45:17if
- 45:17I'm
- 45:17going
- 45:18to
- 45:18build
- 45:18this
- 45:18company
- 45:19back.
- 45:21I
- 45:21love
- 45:21it
- 45:21when
- 45:22you
- 45:22have
- 45:22a
- 45:22huge
- 45:22following
- 45:23on
- 45:23TikTok.
- 45:23How
- 45:23did
- 45:24you
- 45:24do
- 45:24that?
- 45:25You
- 45:25don't
- 45:26just
- 45:26mind
- 45:26my
- 45:26asking?
- 45:28There
- 45:28were
- 45:28three
- 45:29entrepreneur
- 45:29to
- 45:30another
- 45:30right
- 45:31re
- 45:32inflection
- 45:32points
- 45:33and
- 45:33I'll
- 45:33tell
- 45:33you
- 45:34what
- 45:34I
- 45:34learned.
- 45:34The
- 45:34first
- 45:34inflection
- 45:35point
- 45:35was
- 45:36I
- 45:36went
- 45:36on
- 45:36there
- 45:37and
- 45:37I
- 45:37shared
- 45:38all
- 45:38of
- 45:38my
- 45:39numbers
- 45:39for
- 45:39my
- 45:39exit.
- 45:40I
- 45:40shared
- 45:42what
- 45:42we
- 45:42sold
- 45:42for,
- 45:43what
- 45:43I
- 45:44paid
- 45:44the
- 45:44lawyers,
- 45:44bankers
- 45:45and
- 45:45accountants,
- 45:46what
- 45:46we
- 45:47paid
- 45:47out
- 45:47to
- 45:47employees,
- 45:48how
- 45:48much
- 45:48I
- 45:49got,
- 45:49how
- 45:49much
- 45:49I
- 45:49paid
- 45:50in
- 45:50taxes
- 45:50and
- 45:50what
- 45:51I
- 45:51walked
- 45:51away
- 45:51with.
- 45:53And
- 45:53that
- 45:53was
- 45:54my
- 45:54first
- 45:55real
- 45:55spike
- 45:56on
- 45:56TikTok.
- 45:57The
- 45:58second
- 45:58big
- 45:58spike
- 45:59was
- 46:00this
- 46:00past
- 46:01July.
- 46:03I
- 46:03went
- 46:04to
- 46:05a
- 46:05place
- 46:05in
- 46:06New
- 46:06York
- 46:06called
- 46:06Chautauqua
- 46:08and
- 46:08I
- 46:08had
- 46:08the
- 46:09craziest
- 46:09experience
- 46:10there,
- 46:11the
- 46:11rantiest
- 46:12TikTok
- 46:12about
- 46:13it.
- 46:13And
- 46:14it
- 46:14is
- 46:15up
- 46:15to
- 46:15about
- 46:158.4
- 46:16million
- 46:17views
- 46:19right
- 46:19now.
- 46:20People
- 46:20are
- 46:20still
- 46:21watching
- 46:21it.
- 46:21And
- 46:21it
- 46:22turned
- 46:22into
- 46:22a
- 46:22little
- 46:22series.
- 46:23Has
- 46:23nothing
- 46:24to
- 46:24do
- 46:24with
- 46:24entrepreneurship
- 46:25and
- 46:25what
- 46:25I
- 46:25normally
- 46:25talk
- 46:26about,
- 46:27but
- 46:27what
- 46:28it
- 46:28taught
- 46:28me
- 46:28is
- 46:29people
- 46:29want
- 46:30the
- 46:31unfiltered
- 46:32me.
- 46:32People
- 46:33like
- 46:33the
- 46:33unfiltered
- 46:34me.
- 46:34I
- 46:34got
- 46:35some
- 46:35haters,
- 46:35but
- 46:35I
- 46:35got
- 46:36way
- 46:36more.
- 46:36People
- 46:36are
- 46:37like,
- 46:37I
- 46:37love
- 46:38the
- 46:38way
- 46:38you
- 46:38tell
- 46:39stories.
- 46:40So
- 46:40I
- 46:41realized
- 46:42I
- 46:42need
- 46:42to
- 46:43merge
- 46:44that
- 46:44Sharon
- 46:45that
- 46:45ranted
- 46:45on
- 46:46that
- 46:46TikTok
- 46:46and
- 46:46it
- 46:46was
- 46:47a
- 46:47nine
- 46:47minute
- 46:47video
- 46:48and
- 46:48people
- 46:48watched
- 46:48it
- 46:49all
- 46:49the
- 46:49way
- 46:49through.
- 46:50I
- 46:50need
- 46:50to
- 46:50merge
- 46:51that
- 46:51style
- 46:52of
- 46:52delivery
- 46:52and
- 46:53storytelling
- 46:54with
- 46:55my
- 46:55entrepreneurial
- 46:56stuff.
- 46:57So
- 46:57I've
- 46:57stopped
- 46:58scripting
- 46:59my
- 46:59videos.
- 47:00I
- 47:00just
- 47:00talk.
- 47:01And
- 47:02so
- 47:02that
- 47:02was
- 47:02the
- 47:03second
- 47:03inflection
- 47:04and
- 47:04then
- 47:04the
- 47:05third
- 47:05has
- 47:05been
- 47:06my
- 47:07story
- 47:07about
- 47:07Boardroom
- 47:08insiders
- 47:09being
- 47:09shut
- 47:09down
- 47:10and
- 47:10that's
- 47:10up
- 47:10to
- 47:12over
- 47:12700,000
- 47:13views
- 47:14and
- 47:14it's
- 47:14only
- 47:14been
- 47:14up
- 47:14for
- 47:15about
- 47:15a
- 47:15week.
- 47:16And
- 47:16so
- 47:20yeah,
- 47:20I'm
- 47:21just,
- 47:21I'm
- 47:21still
- 47:21learning,
- 47:22I'm
- 47:22still
- 47:23learning
- 47:23how
- 47:23to
- 47:23do
- 47:23TikTok.
- 47:24But
- 47:24people
- 47:26don't
- 47:26want
- 47:27shiny,
- 47:28polished,
- 47:29scripted.
- 47:30They
- 47:30want
- 47:31unfiltered
- 47:32truth.
- 47:32And
- 47:32I've
- 47:33also
- 47:33picked
- 47:33up
- 47:34quite
- 47:34a
- 47:34few
- 47:34editing
- 47:35hacks
- 47:36that
- 47:36I
- 47:36think
- 47:36make
- 47:36my
- 47:37videos
- 47:38more
- 47:38appealing.
- 47:39The
- 47:40first
- 47:40is
- 47:40just
- 47:41really
- 47:42edit
- 47:43it
- 47:43down
- 47:43to
- 47:43the
- 47:43core
- 47:44of
- 47:44the
- 47:44story
- 47:44and
- 47:44speed
- 47:45up
- 47:45your
- 47:45audio
- 47:47just
- 47:47a
- 47:47little
- 47:47bit.
- 47:48You
- 47:48speed
- 47:48it
- 47:48up
- 47:48a
- 47:49little
- 47:49bit.
- 47:49Sometimes
- 47:50I
- 47:50speed
- 47:50it
- 47:50up
- 47:50to
- 47:501.3,
- 47:52sometimes
- 47:52that's
- 47:52a
- 47:52little
- 47:53fast.
- 47:53But
- 47:53people
- 47:55say
- 47:55that
- 47:55they
- 47:55really
- 47:56like
- 47:56that.
- 47:56They
- 47:57actually
- 47:57usually
- 47:58listen
- 47:58at
- 47:58a
- 47:59higher
- 47:59speed.
- 48:00Speeding
- 48:00it
- 48:00up
- 48:00was
- 48:01appreciated.
- 48:01It
- 48:02allows
- 48:02me
- 48:02to
- 48:02get
- 48:02more
- 48:03content
- 48:03in
- 48:03that
- 48:0310
- 48:04minute
- 48:04limit
- 48:04because
- 48:05both
- 48:05of
- 48:05those,
- 48:06and
- 48:06here's
- 48:06what
- 48:06I
- 48:06learned
- 48:07too
- 48:07is
- 48:07everyone's
- 48:07like,
- 48:08it
- 48:08has
- 48:08to
- 48:08be
- 48:08three
- 48:08minutes.
- 48:08Surrender.
- 48:11Those
- 48:12conventions
- 48:13and
- 48:13rules
- 48:13about
- 48:14TikTok
- 48:16are
- 48:16not
- 48:17altogether
- 48:18true.
- 48:19What
- 48:19I've
- 48:19learned
- 48:19about
- 48:20social
- 48:20is
- 48:20if
- 48:21you
- 48:22chase
- 48:23what's
- 48:24working,
- 48:24the
- 48:25hooks
- 48:25or
- 48:25formats,
- 48:26by
- 48:26the
- 48:26time
- 48:26you
- 48:27do
- 48:27it,
- 48:27it's
- 48:28past.
- 48:29So
- 48:30stop
- 48:30chasing
- 48:30and
- 48:31just
- 48:31do
- 48:31what's
- 48:31authentic
- 48:32to
- 48:32you.
- 48:32Once
- 48:32I
- 48:33started
- 48:33doing
- 48:33that,
- 48:35it
- 48:35really
- 48:35took
- 48:36off.
- 48:36The
- 48:37other
- 48:37thing
- 48:37is
- 48:37to
- 48:37engage
- 48:38with
- 48:38the
- 48:38people
- 48:38who
- 48:39comment.
- 48:40Sometimes
- 48:41it's
- 48:41overwhelming.
- 48:42On
- 48:42my
- 48:42Spencer
- 48:43Hotel
- 48:43and
- 48:43Spa
- 48:44video
- 48:44about
- 48:44the
- 48:44vacation,
- 48:45I
- 48:45think
- 48:45I'm
- 48:46up
- 48:46to
- 48:46over
- 48:4610,000
- 48:47comments,
- 48:47but
- 48:47I
- 48:47read
- 48:48every
- 48:48single
- 48:48one.
- 48:50So
- 48:50there
- 48:50you
- 48:51have
- 48:51a
- 48:51real
- 48:51following,
- 48:52people
- 48:52listening
- 48:53who
- 48:53want
- 48:53to
- 48:53learn
- 48:54from
- 48:54you
- 48:54and
- 48:54that
- 48:55says
- 48:55something.
- 48:56The
- 48:57path
- 48:57for
- 48:57you
- 48:58is
- 48:58reaching
- 48:58out
- 48:59to
- 48:59you
- 48:59and
- 49:00I
- 49:00am
- 49:00excited
- 49:01to
- 49:01have
- 49:02you
- 49:02back
- 49:02on
- 49:03the
- 49:03show
- 49:03and
- 49:04hear
- 49:04how
- 49:04things
- 49:04are
- 49:05in
- 49:05a
- 49:05year
- 49:05or
- 49:05two
- 49:06and
- 49:06watch
- 49:06as
- 49:06your
- 49:07story
- 49:07continues
- 49:08to
- 49:09unfold.
- 49:10Thank
- 49:10you
- 49:11so
- 49:11much
- 49:11for
- 49:11being
- 49:12here
- 49:12today
- 49:12on
- 49:13the
- 49:13Wisdom
- 49:13of
- 49:13Women
- 49:14Show.
- 49:14You
- 49:14have
- 49:14given
- 49:15us
- 49:15a
- 49:16lot
- 49:16to
- 49:16digest
- 49:17and
- 49:17such
- 49:18good
- 49:18stuff
- 49:18for
- 49:19all
- 49:19of
- 49:19the
- 49:20founders
- 49:21to
- 49:21all
- 49:21of
- 49:21our
- 49:21listeners.
- 49:22Be
- 49:22sure
- 49:22to
- 49:23follow
- 49:23like
- 49:24and
- 49:24share
- 49:24the
- 49:24Wisdom
- 49:25of
- 49:25Women
- 49:25show
- 49:25on
- 49:26whatever
- 49:26your
- 49:26favorite
- 49:26listening
- 49:27platform
- 49:28and
- 49:28be
- 49:28sure
- 49:28to
- 49:28infuse
- 49:29more
- 49:29of
- 49:29your
- 49:30wisdom
- 49:30into
- 49:30your
- 49:31business.
- 49:31Take
- 49:32the
- 49:32Growth
- 49:32Readiness
- 49:33quiz
- 49:33at
- 49:33a
- 49:34ForceForGood
- 49:34biz
- 49:36quiz
- 49:37and
- 49:37uncover
- 49:38where
- 49:38your
- 49:39wisdom
- 49:39is
- 49:40most
- 49:40needed
- 49:40in
- 49:40your
- 49:41company.
- 49:42The
- 49:42world
- 49:43is
- 49:43made
- 49:44better
- 49:44by
- 49:45women
- 49:45led
- 49:45business.
- 49:46Let's
- 49:47all
- 49:47go
- 49:48make
- 49:48the
- 49:48world
- 49:49a
- 49:49better
- 49:49place.