Its my birthday this week and as I get older I become more comfortable with my inner geek...maybe its the force working inside me? Lately I've been drawn back to the original Star Wars movies. It seems every day I either see (like the little Darth Vadar in the picture to the right) or hear (a Yoda ringtone a friend sent me on Monday) something that reminds of the trilogy. Not to mention my totally RAD (ya, I said Rad...Red14) Darth Vader t-shirt that I picked up last time I was in California. I'm also tempted to pull out my old Star Wars blanket and plush toys but that would just be a little weird.
An average of two ta'three times per week, I either sit down with startups over a drink or speak with them on the phone to help them move forward. Most of these entrepreneurs think that because I've had some "success" in the tech industry that I have some sorta Yoda powers to catapult them to the next level or they think for some stupid reason I'm gonna do the work for them. The truth? Well you all know that answer to that....of course I have Yoda like tendencies...hahaha... but I sure as heck ain't doing the work for them. Seriously though, there are no secrets to building a tech company (or any company for that matter), you just have to use the force and do the freaking work. So out of frustration...I've started to quote Darth Vadar to them, just to throw them off. Plus I need some humor considering some of the crazy stuff I hear. One of my favorite lines by my buddy Darth is "I find your lack of faith disturbing." Most (not all) of the people I talk with don't have true faith in what they are doing will work. They just don't!! They need to go ALL IN and bet the farm (I'd bet it all on Red14 - roulette..thats just me). You can not have one foot in and expect people too put both feet in and believe what you are doing will work....or at least that you're the one to make it work. You have to be willing to risk more then ANYBODY in your own business. If you take little risk so will others that participate in it. Weather thats an investor, a strategic partner or an employee. When I push back at them on certain things they always have an answer why they haven't done or can't do something. My new reply to them - "Asteroids do not concern me, Admiral. I want that ship, not excuses." They look at me sideways and think I'm on some sorta exotic drug. But really...come on...excuses, excuses.... I've heard them all...heck I made some of them up! When i finally decided to stop giving excuses and actually listen to people that could help propel the business and do stuff it all changed. Really...it all changed! Stop making excuses why you haven't grown your business, listen and get it done.
Look, I suck at most things. I can't spell. My grammer and writing sucks. I'm not educated ( thats not hard to tell). Most days I'd prefer not to talk to people. I'll do it tomorrow. I'm waiting for xyz. Classic my dog ate it crap! Here's news for you! Nobody cares.... people just care if you get it done or at least your truly trying hard to get it done. Harsh? Ya...but this isn't Kansas, its freaking Star Wars...serious stuff.
"Perhaps I can find new ways to motivate them?" - Darth Vadar
1 comments:
Good read Steve, thanks... there's no doubt you are VERY comfortable with your inner geek!
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