Joe Stump on Bringing Entrepreneurial Optimism to Cynical Cultures

In Chapter 10 of 14 in his 2012 interview, Internet entrepreneur Joe Stump answers "What Has Working Internationally Taught You About Communicating Across Cultures?"  By advising a British company, Stump learns how a culture of optimism contrasts with a culture of cynicism and doubt.  He compares general country cultures - American, British, Indian, Chinese - and how an entrepreneurship mindset is influenced by the national mindset.  He details what he did to transform the mindset inside that British company to be more opportunistic and confident.  Joe Stump is a serial entrepreneur based in Portland, OR. He is CEO and co-founder of Sprint.ly, a product management software company.  Previously he founded SimpleGeo, which was sold to Urban Airship in October 2011.  He advises several startups - including attachments.me and ngmoco:) - as well as VC firm Freestyle Capital.  He earned a BBA in Computer Information Systems (CIS) from Eastern Michigan University.

Transcript:

Erik Michielsen: What has working internationally taught you about communicating across cultures?

Joe Stump: I'm an adviser for a company in the UK. I go over there and I spend about a week every quarter over there. And I think Americans and Brits kind of like to think that it's big brother, little brother, we're in the same family. Our cultures are drastically different in a lot of ways and I think working with them -- it was really disheartening to come from the startup world where everything’s “can do” attitude and go to an environment that -- I mean this was named, the company I work for is named one of the top 50 companies in the UK to work for.

They're a great company. I love working with these guys. But there are little things that really kind of trick you up that were kind of like a bummer. Like, in the United States, a grilled cheese company got $50 million in funding from one of the best venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. That is the very definition of like all ideas go. It's wide-open space. There are more eternal optimists bred everyday in the United States than anywhere else, right? The American dream is basically if you want to do it, it's yours for the taking, whereas in I talk with -- Alex Hunter is a buddy of mine. His wife is from California. He spent considerable time here. Actually he doesn’t even have a British accent anymore, he spent so much time here.

But he’s from Britain and he’s put it best to me, in Britain, I mean, everybody knows that they have a very cynical sense of humor right? And I think that pervades the entire society. Where he says, “You come up with a new idea,” and like British society will go, “Oh, you have a new idea? Let's see if it flies.” It is like poopoo it before it's even had a chance to even get out on the launch pad. And working with that company in the UK has taught me that when I come in and I’ll say, “Hey, guys, we need to do X, Y, and Z so that we can move on to this next phase.” They will be, “Well, we really can't do X because of A, B, and C.” And I'm like, “You can do X. What you're telling me is that you don’t want to do X because of A, B, and C. You can fix A, B, and C.”

There is no unsolvable problem, right? And I think that’s something that really comes up a lot across Europe. They're a lot more conservative I would say. Exact opposite when you go to India and Asia. Man, those guys are like, it's wide open territory. I mean, like, dude, China is growing. That is a massive economy, a billion people and it's growing at 10 to 12% a year. It's really interesting. You go to all these different places and the emphasis because of culture, like emphasis in South Africa, for instance, is on revenue, early revenue. A lot of the investment deals are all tied to revenue goals and stuff.

Europe is a little bit similar. The United States they’re like nobody thought Facebook was ever going to make money and now it's making $4 billion a year. Right? And because of our culture, we're a lot more open to risk and we’ll go ahead and take that. And I think that now that other major economies are starting to sputter to life and they're starting to get their own version of the American dream, India and China, I think are two very good examples

There are a lot programmers in India that are just like starting to realize that they don’t have to work at call center. They can go and they can raise a small amount of cash and they have a billion people there that are all ready to pay a little bit of money. If you can get a billion people to pay you 10 cents, that’s real coin, right? So, they're embracing it. And also because travel is becoming cheaper, obviously they're making more money and their economies are coming up so they're able to come here. It's been really interesting to see that the America dream is alive and well and it just happens to be in a communist country and India, which is a socialist country. It's been interesting.

I like interfacing and talking with people like that. I like spreading the dream. Like and I've been telling -- we actually had a little luncheon at the company in the UK and they were like, “What's the most frustrating thing about working with us?” I was like, “You guys are so much better than you give yourselves credit for. Quit being so cynical.” You can do it. You just got to like go do it. This isn’t like rocket science stuff here. Every time I’m like, I come up with something like, “We need to fix this,” and they're like, “Well, maybe we should probably do this other thing instead.” It’s just like…Just do that, get it over with, move on to the next thing.

It was kind of funny. There was actually some nodding in the room and then afterwards one of the guys came up to me, he's like, “I'm really glad you said that because I didn’t even realize that I was doing that. And now I realize that I'm poopooing stuff that I know I can do and I don’t even know why I'm doing it. I don’t know why I'm poopooing this. I can do it.” It was really cool that they were like, “Yeah, we can do that.” They’ve really grown as a company. I’ve seen them -- It's a 1,200 person company and I've seen them move more, and more quickly, they're getting a lot more confident that they can take on those bigger challenges. I didn’t have a whole lot to do with that other than basically saying you know, telling them that, “Look, guys, you can do this. You just got to do it.”

Why to Be Trusting When Building Relationships - Phil McKenzie

In Chapter 18 of 21 in his 2011 interview, Phil McKenzie answers "How Do You Establish Trust When Building Relationships?"  He notes trust is something you just have to give.  McKenzie notes that people's actions will prove out that trust over time, so he feels it unnecessary being suspicious entering situations.  McKenzie is the founder of Influencer Conference, an international event series bringing together tastemakers across the arts, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and technology.  He is also managing partner of influencer marketing agency FREE DMC.  Previously he worked in Domestic Equity Trading at Goldman, Sachs, & Co.  He earned his BA from Howard University and MBA from Duke University. 

Positive Psychology Impact on Environmentalist Career - Andrew Hutson

In Chapter 12 of 17 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, Andrew Hutson answers "What Do You Find Most Challenging About Working in the Environment Business?"  Hutson notes the psychological challenges working in a field focused negative trends around growing environmental problems.  Specifically, it is about staying positive and objective in the face of big problems.  Hutson is a senior project manager at the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), where he advises corporate partners such as Wal-Mart on sustainable supply chain initiatives.  Hutson holds a PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MEM from the Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment.  He earned his BA from Michigan State University. 

Why Entrepreneurs Need Great Cheerleaders - Audrey Parker

In Chapter 7 of 21 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, entrepreneur Audrey Parker answers "Why is It Important for an Entrepreneur to Have Great Cheerleaders?" Parker notes having optimistic and supportive cheerleaders are there to remind you who you are. She notes entrepreneurial business can be a roller coaster and having people around you supporting you provide the calming presence that have helped Parker get through difficult times. Parker is currently on a one-year sabbatical. Parker co-founded CLEAResult, an energy management consulting firm. In 2010, CLEAResult ranked #144 in the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies. In late 2010, CLEAResult was sold to General Catalyst Partners. Parker graduated from Wake Forest University.

What Makes a Good Business Partner - Audrey Parker

In Chapter 10 of 21 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, entrepreneur Audrey Parker answers "What Makes a Good Business Partner?" She notes a good business partner combines instinct, trustworthiness, a sense of humor, commitment to success, and an ability to be flexible. She enjoys being around a positive-minded person who is optimistic who also can inspire and unify teams across different environments. Parker is currently on a one-year sabbatical. Parker co-founded CLEAResult, an energy management consulting firm. In 2010, CLEAResult ranked #144 in the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies. In late 2010, CLEAResult was sold to General Catalyst Partners. Parker graduated from Wake Forest University.

How Innovation Can Enable Industry Leadership - Richard Moross

In Chapter 7 of 13 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, Moo.com CEO and London entrepreneur Richard Moross answers "What Does It Mean to Be a Leader in What You Do?" He shares how his company, Moo, has challenged rules to make an industry, printing, better. It was not only about process improvements such as lowering costs and increasing throughput. It was about being more relevant, responsible, accountable, useful and beautiful. The optimistic vision of continuous improvement over time shapes the Moo company and brand into one known for innovation. Moross is founder and CEO of Moo.com. Before starting Moo.com, an award-winning online print business, Moross was a senior design strategist at Imagination, the world's largest independent design company. He graduated from the University of Sussex, where he majored in philosophy and politics.

How to Make a City More Startup Friendly - Richard Moross

In Chapter 9 of 13 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, Moo.com CEO and London entrepreneur Richard Moross answers "What Do You See as the Key Enablers of Success in the London Startup Culture?" He shares how Europe in general is more pessimistic than optimistic. This fear of failure impedes startup culture development. Moross notes how startup incubators such as Seedcamp and structured entrepreneur network programs can facilitate more supportive risk taking. Moross is founder and CEO of Moo.com. Before starting Moo.com, an award-winning online print business, Moross was a senior design strategist at Imagination, the world's largest independent design company. He graduated from the University of Sussex, where he majored in philosophy and politics.

How to Cope With Losing a Job - Tricia Regan

In Chapter 2 of 10 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, filmmaker Tricia Regan shares how she has learned to manage her emotions when a potential job falls through. As a filmmaker, Regan has experienced multiple moments when a seemingly sure thing falls through. She learns from friends and experience to release her emotion when the disappointment happens so she is in a position to move on and pursue the next opportunity full steam. Regan is an Emmy-Award winning filmmaker. She directed, produced and shot "Autism: The Musical." When not shooting documentary films, Regan has worked as a director, producer, and writer at ABC, NBC, FOX, and Lifetime. She earned a bachelors from Binghamton University and masters from New York University.

How to Find Mentors and Receive Support in Difficult Times - Doug Jaeger

In Chapter 6 of 12 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, designer Doug Jaeger talks about finding support from mentors and friends in difficult times. Jaeger shares approaches he has used through low times he experienced losing a parent and also a business. He finds mentor support to understand business challenges and not resist looking at both positive and negative sides to solving a particular problem. Ultimately this helps Jaeger identify what is truly important so he may address the problem or issue with greater clarity. Jaeger is a partner at design firm JaegerSloan - http://jaegersloan.com/ - and is also president of the Art Director's Club - http://www.adcglobal.org/ . Previously he founded thehappycorp and has served in creative director leadership roles at TBWA/Chiat/Day and JWT. Jaeger holds a BFA in Computer Graphics and Art Media Studies from Syracuse University.

Simon Sinek on How Setting Unrealistic Goals Can Serve the Greater Good

In Chapter 4 of 20 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, author and leadership expert Simon Sinek learns to set big, often unrealistic goals to advance his ambition to change the world. Similar to Big Hairy Audacious Goals - BHAG - Sinek finds underachieving on large goals to be more rewarding and inspiring than overachieving on small goals. Simon Sinek is a trained ethnographer who applies his curiosity around why people do what they do to teach leaders and companies how to inspire people. He is the author of "Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action". Sinek holds a BA degree in cultural anthropology from Brandeis University.

Transcript

Erik Michielsen: Why do you prioritize serving the greater good in doing what you’re doing?

Simon Sinek:  It’s easy to pull things back; it’s very hard to ramp things up. And I’d rather start with something that’s too big and pull it back into reality, than start with something that’s so easy that you can’t really get it up. For example, you know, don’t set your goals realistically, set them entirely unrealistically. I mean, shoot for 80 and be disappointed when you hit 70. As opposed to shooting for 20 and being ecstatic when you hit 21. “We beat our goal!” Yeah, but it was a low goal. You know? I think, I think to be frustrated and achieving something, rather than ecstatic and achieving less, is a better way to live. Not to mention you achieve more. And so, I’m a great believer in the greater good –like those things, like so big, they’re ridiculous. Like, you know my goal, it’s a hundred year goal, it’s called world peace. Pshhh! You know? So daunting, you know? But that’s the idea. If I fail – and I certainly won’t achieve it in my lifetime – I like to think that what I’ll contribute towards that ridiculous idealistic nonsense goal will be more than if I say, “if I can just be happy by myself in my little house,” you know? Eh, I mean that’s nice and all, but I like the idea of contributing to your neighbor as well.

How Supporting a Friend Fighting Cancer Changes Life Priorities - Garren Katz

In Chapter 4 of 13 in his 2010 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, executive and private life coach Garren Katz rethinks his priorities after supporting a friend through a difficult battle with cancer. Katz shares how his friend's approach through battling cancer three times before the age of 35 teaches him to always put friends, family, and loved ones first and making sure to maximize the experience, time, and attention they receive each day. Katz is a graduate of Western Michigan University and coaches clients on areas such as entrepreneurship, relationships, and personal finances. Learn more about Garren at http://about.me/garrenkatz .

Courtney Spence on How U.S. Senatorial Candidate Ron Kirk Inspires After Loss

In Chapter 2 of 15 of her 2010 Capture Your Flag interview, non-profit executive and Students of the World founder Courtney Spence answers "What did working on Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk’s Senatorial Campaign teach you about remaining optimistic through failure?" Spence shares her experience joining Dallas mayor Ron Kirk's U.S. senatorial campaign. The campaign ultimately ends in defeat. Kirk inspires passion in his team that gives its all through his concession speech. In the loss, Kirk finds ways to encourage his team to remain hopeful and optimistic even in difficult times. Spence finds a positive message in Kirk's ability to recover after the loss and embrace his family. Kirk would go on to become a member of the Obama Administration as the 16th U.S. Trade Representative.

Transcript:

Erik Michielsen:  What did working on Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk’s Senatorial Campaign teach you about remaining optimistic through failure?

Courtney Spence:  I came on board to work for Mayor Kirk at the time, it was probably mid-summer, and once you get into a campaign, you are in the campaign and it is your life.  You may have a drink but it will be at 1 in the morning and it will be a quick cocktail and you’re going to bed and waking up early and doing everything over again.  My capacity within the campaign was such that I really got to know the mayor and really spend a lot of time with him and was able to witness fundraising calls and political calls and really see a side to him that I think don’t think many people got to see that were part of the campaign, especially at my young age.  So, the more I knew of him, the more I admired him and liked him and wanted it to give it my all and so, I remember election day.  We got up at 4.  I was on the corner holding up signs and we were going to win.  Because we just were.  The polls were wrong.  All these other rumors flying around, it doesn’t care because how can you now love this man? I love this man. We’re going to win.  And he gave his concession speech – I’m not sure if this is exactly it, but it was something at like 9 o’clock, it was pretty early.  I ran into a bathroom stall and cried.  And then we had the whole campaign, we all went to some bar in Dallas to sort of drink through the loss. The next day he was so optimistic and he was so encouraging and so thankful and so proud of the campaign because of all of us that had been involved.  So, I spent the next two weeks in my apartment doing a lot of reflection and lot – at first it was very devastating because I really had thought we were going to win, but then seeing Mayor Kirk after that, he was happy. He was back. He was with his daughters, he was with his wife, his life was moving on.  And I was like, “If he can get over this, I certainly can get over this.”

Courtney Spence on How Common Human Spirit Prevails Across Varied Cultures

In Chapter 11 of 15 of her 2010 Capture Your Flag interview, non-profit executive and Students of the World founder Courtney Spence answers "What have you found most rewarding about immersing yourself in foreign cultures through traveling?" Spence details her travels to developing countries and what she has learned from the people she has met. Life and death issues, including famine, poverty, lack of clean water access and HIV / AIDS do not keep the people from being hopeful, cheerful, loving, and optimistic. Spence sees not only common themes across cultures but also a triumphant spirit in developing cultures not always present at home in the United States.

Transcript:

Erik Michielsen: What have you found most rewarding about immersing yourself in foreign cultures through traveling?

Courtney Spence: You know, I will be with people who have had life experiences that I will never be able to understand, I mean they were a child soldier at the age of fourteen, they were kidnapped, they were this, I mean we have worked with people who have had incredible hardship and at the same time they find humor in their life, they find love in their life, they find, you know -- you find that people are open to you and wanting to learn from you and genuinely, parents want a better life for their sons and daughters, like there’s commonalities among us all that, without sounding cheesy, they’re very true and I think I’ve also become very inspired by – the sense that I feel like sometimes people in these situations are happier than I find my friends back at home are, I mean everybody has their own sets of worries, everybody has their own sets of challenges and they are all valid, but I think that when you go particularly in the developing world and people are facing life and death issues, I mean it’s not ‘I can’t sleep so I need to take a pill’ it’s like – it’s HIV- AIDS it’s famine, it’s poverty, it’s lack of access to clean water, I mean, it’s life and death situations… but they’re not – there’s hope and there’s humor and there’s love and there is a sense of humanity and community that I don’t always feel like I find here and I think that that to me is knowing that people are out there facing things that I would never have been able to imagine ten years ago or even every year, I mean I  meet knew people, I just can’t imagine their life but they are – somehow there is optimism and there is love and that sort of the human spirit can triumph.

How Optimism Enables Achievement and Happiness - Andrew Hutson

In Chapter 2 of 16, environmental management expert Andrew Hutson shares why he maintains a positive outlook amidst so much negative empirical data in his environmental work. The positive trends inspire and motivate Hutson to be more productive and enjoy the journey. He finds this approach syncs well with the Environmental Defense Fund (www.edf.org) culture where he works.

How to Lead Teams Using Optimism and Positive Attitude - Slava Rubin

In Chapter 8 of 16 in his 2010 Capture Your Flag interview, entrepreneur Slava Rubin answers "What Keeps You So Positive and Optimistic in Your Entrepreneurial Pursuits?" Rubin shares how childhood struggles and formative experiences have taught him to keep a balance and positive attitude.  Rubin shares how positive energy and attitude - from the lowest level to highest level of the team - lower stress levels and raise team performance.

Slava Rubin is CEO and co-founder of Indiegogo, the world's largest crowdfunding platform. Indiegogo empowers anyone, anywhere, anytime to raise funds for any idea—creative, cause-related or entrepreneurial. Prior to Indiegogo, Rubin worked as a management consultant. He earned his BSE degree from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

Transcript:

Erik Michielsen:  What keeps you so positive and optimistic in your entrepreneurial pursuits?

Slava Rubin:  I think in any of my entrepreneurial pursuits or really any other part of my life, I think that I've been through a few struggles when I was younger, but I see no reason to add additional negativity or additional stress to a situation.  I don't see the positive value in that and I think that often people react to the way people are around them and I try to maintain a balance and a positive attitude so they can feel comforted maybe or okay with the situations around them.  

I mean I sometimes see crisis right in front of me, but that doesn't mean I'm going to go off the deep end.  It`s not going to help anybody.  A lot of the situations I'm in I try to, sometime on purpose sometimes I`m forced into it, I act as the leader or act as the motivator and I think a positive attitude really helps.  Even if you're not the leader, even if you`re the lowest level person on the team, a positive attitude can really help the stress level of the group and trying to really deliver on that really important thing.

How Band Takka Takka Treats Each Performance - Conrad Doucette

In Chapter 6 of 13, musician Conrad Doucette finds inspiration in his surroundings whether that is home in New York City or touring the country. Experience comes not only through search, but also accepting each situation as its own and learning from this. Conrad shares how his band, Takka Takka, takes this perspective whether a show is nearly empty or sold out, opening opportunities in every environment, eliminating no possibilities.

Simon Sinek on Inspiring Others to Be Happier and More Optimistic

In Chapter 3 of 16 in his 2009 Capture Your Flag interview, author and public speaker Simon Sinek elaborates on his stated goal to "inspire people to do the things that inspire them." Underlying "Start With Why" author Sinek's perspective is an immense amount of positive energy geared to make people happier and more optimistic. Further, he discusses how reaching individuals' within their company environment and changing company culture for the better can make a difference. Simon Sinek teaches leaders and organizations how to inspire people. Sinek is the author of two books, "Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Come Together and Others Don't" and "Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action". He is a public speaker, an adjunct professor at Columbia University and a Brandeis University graduate.

Transcript

Erik Michielsen: Your stated goal is to Inspire People to Do the Things that Inspire Them.  Can you elaborate on that?

Simon Sinek: Absolutely.  It is the reason I wake up every day.  I'm a firm believer that if every single one of us worked on the things inspired us, if the hobbies were the things that inspired us, it makes us happier people.  If everyone did that, imagine what a great world we would live in.  When statistics are explained about unemployment for example.  We know that American unemployment is up to 9%. The way I look at that, it means that 91% of people still have a job. I see the world, with 91% people that still have a job, if you want to inspire people, get to them at their jobs.  The more companies that create cultures that inspire people to come to work.  Those people come to work happier, they come to work are more inspired, they do better work, they are more productive, they go home happier, they have happier families.  It is the way I see the world working one day, I hope.  

Simon Sinek on How to Set Life Goals to Leave a Personal Legacy to Society

In Chapter 9 of 16 of his 2009 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, "Start With Why" author and inspirational speaker Simon Sinek offers his take on age, measuring estimated time left as a platform to make a positive difference and maximize lifetime impact. Sinek argues why this is worth considering among so many life goal, legacy, and inspirational frameworks. Simon Sinek is a trained ethnographer who applies his curiosity around why people do what they do to teach leaders and companies how to inspire people. He is the author of "Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action". Sinek holds a BA degree in cultural anthropology from Brandeis University.

Transcript

Erik Michielsen: When you think about your longer term goals and how your age relates to those longer term goals, you have a very different perspective than most.

Simon Sinek: Right.  When we start counting our age, we count up.  It has this built in assumption that it is never going to end.  It just goes up, up, up.  There are statistical realities that you are going to die.  You are going to die at some statistically average age.  If I live stay in good shape and eat will I'll probably live to around 85.  I will be a productive member of society until I'm about 75 or 80.  So I don't report my age at 35, I report it as 45.  I have 45 years left to do something good in this world.  I have 45 years left to achieve what I need to get done in this world.  So I very much count down.  It might sound depressing but it is reality.  The inspiration is that it gives me a kick in the ass.