Making of a Billionaire

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I find it amazing, as I take a minute to reflect, on how fast wealth can be created through the focused efforts of a few diverse yet singularly directed, technology savvy and energetic team members. The last few weeks have been a roller coaster of highs and lows. We have had issues that I thought would push me to the brink and we have had successes that are greater than any from my past. That said, the key to this phase, I feel, is to stay persistent. Our analysis of the market need, the initial product plan, the development and initial marketing plan are solid. We have had hicups and setbacks but if, and it is, the opportunity is worthwhile, the end result will overshadow the challenges faced getting there.

I don’t mean to be vague regarding what we are doing. I simply feel that the approach and process is able to be projected to any team endeavor. In our case, the product is a line of wireless technology products for the commercial marketplace. Of course there are some industry, timing and economical dynamics working to our advantage. I would say that is part of the result of our research. We were looking for the rising tide.

On another note, I find myself questioning, at times, spending the amount of time I am on yet another “big deal”.  The reason I am questioning this is because my Dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer last Fall. He had the prostate removed through surgery but the surgeon wasn’t able to get all the cancer and it had spread outside of the prostate. My Dad is having a tough time and I am sure he would appreciate me spending more time with him and my Mom. Timing for the surge of activity at the new venture couldn’t be worse. They do, however, encourage me and even rejoice in the incremental successes with me.

How much should one question the decisions from one’s journey? A friend of mine likes to say, “It isn’t what you do in life that you regret, it’s what you don’t do.” I agree with that as it pertains to entrepreneurial ventures but does that ring true with one’s life as it is affected by the choice (and it’s resulting workload) to be an entrepreneur and the result of less time with one’s family, friends and other personal interests? Ahhhh, balance, where does it hide.

From the front seat of the coaster, with my arms up, screaming at the top of my lungs,

The Journeyman

Okay, so as a Western Man, my vernacular will tend to be slightly Western. Bits, spurs, saddles, etc. As it is, I have a strong personal interest in all things Western and as a hobby raise and train quarter horses. It should come as no surprise then that as I take the conscious step from “early retirement” to running another fast growth, innovative tech company, I say that I am getting “back in the saddle”. From that you can imply that I feel like I got bucked off. Sure I was paid a bundle of money to leave the rodeo but at such a time as I was really comfortable with the skills and the level of my game. It really stinks to sit back and look at the trophy on the mantel rather than actually be playing in the game. So there I go, switching metaphors from horses to sports. Someone once told me both of those metaphors are type A things.

The details: after selling our company and working for the acquirer for almost a year and cashing out, I rode off into the sunset. It wasn’t fun. Even my kids’ weren’t sure what I was doing. Staying up late and sleeping in… I recall one my kids saying in their morning prayer, “… and please bless Daddy at, umm, whatever it is he does…” . That didn’t sit well. So I jumped head first into “angel investing”. I looked at over 1000 business plans and only invested in a few. The bottom line is that you can buy into other people’s dreams but you can’t really affect the outcome. So for me the decision was obvious. Time to get back to the grind of building a world-class technology company. Be involved. Breathe it. Sweat it. But this time, I want to go bigger. Expand the skills. Take the past experiences, the prowess, and the garnered funds and target a bigger success – a larger trophy. Why? I often ask myself that. The answer is really simple. It is, “Because I can. I am hard wired to compete. To win. To succeed. It is what I do.” This time is different though. I have this blog. I hope to analyze and appreciate the journey more. I also hope that the proceeds are beneficial to many, many more people. For, to me, that is what I think happiness is. Helping others to live better – and that doesn’t really mean financially. So the challenge is before me. I know the market. I know the game plan – although most of it really is by gut instinct. I know I have to bootstrap it (it usually costs 2-3 times as much as you think) because that makes it more worthwhile and it has to be a better, a more difficult success than those from the past. I know I have to get a better team than I had with the prior success. And I know I have to be patient.

All of those epiphanies started about a year ago and here we are, about ready to launch the new venture.

The next few posts will recap the past year. After that, they will be from the heat of the battle.

Until next time, The Journeyman

Well here it is. The next step. The next wave. The next crazy cliche that implies we are on our way to the next big thing. Well by damn, let’s do it.
So the story is this. Mediocre high school academics – bored and concerned more with the opposite sex and sports. Mediocre college – same as above. Then something happened. Having the wherewithall to do what I wanted, when I wanted became an obsession. So I looked around and saw that technology guys were “making millions” and I wanted in. Through a family friend, I landed at IBM, rose quickly and made a place. The limited wealth creation bothered me so when the first chance to jump into a tech start up came, I took it. That was the first of 8 start ups before I “exited” with more wherewithall than I could have imagined. So why did I not feel like it was that exciting to get what I had coming to me? Why have I decided that millions isn’t enough and that billions are going to make a difference? What lessons have I learned? What lessons would I pass on?
This blog is to chronicle the journey, the making, and not the destination. This is for you, the reader, the entrepreneur, the believer that entrepreneurism is the cure all to everything. For I am an entrepreneur – a successful one at that. I choose to make a difference in my community and to create jobs. I invite you to read,observe, learn and hopefully create your own unique entrepreneurial vision.