Fauxpert? What The Heck?
Several months ago, my buddy, Robert, over at Bundle Post introduced me to a new hashtag: Fauxpert. After I finished peeing my pants from laughter I read the three definitions of what a #Fauxpert is. But it’s the second definition that resonates most with me today:
2) One who is seen as an expert or guru by the media and in interviews gives advice and recommendations they clearly do not execute themselves.
I’m no expert or guru, and I assure you no one from the media is beating down my door for interviews.
I blog to share things I learn, mistakes I make, and awesomeness I encounter while launching my start-up, WeMontage. So, since I am walking my talk, based on the above definition, I am relieved to know I am not a #Fauxpert. Woo hoo! And Yay!
When Original Content Comes Full Circle
Recently, it feels like things I’ve been blogging about for the last six months have come full circle. Three posts in particular come to mind.
The first post was about the challenge of maintaining your disruptive swagger when you live in a really small town. I grew up in Brooklyn, NY, lived in Atlanta for 18 years, and eventually moved to Chicago.
I currently live in Appleton, WI, which has its positive attributes (e.g., cost of living, safety, and really nice people), but it’s brutal if you’re trying to launch a tech-related start-up; I might as well be living in the desert.
Finding mentors, connecting with like-minded people, and getting access to “smart” resources requires a high level of creativity and a willingness to network and travel 1.5 to 2 hours to nearby cities (Milwaukee and Madison) that have a better entrepreneurial ecosystem. And active engagement on social media is a must for me.
The second post, which elicited pretty passionate responses on twitter and in the comments section, was titled “Are Successful Entrepreneurs Just Lucky?” My position was and still is the answer is an emphatic YES. Of course you need hard work, focus, passion, commitment, etc. But at the end of the day, the occurrence of things that are out of your control will make a big difference in your success.
Disagree? Leave a comment.
The third and final post was around the benefit of elevator pitches for entrepreneurs and how to effectively prepare them.
The Content Connection
So how are these three posts connected?
Because of my willingness to network, I met Zach, outgoing Director of the Wisconsin Angel Network. After persistently soliciting Zach’s assistance with my seed capital raise, he invited me to participate in the Elevator Pitch Olympics at the WI Early Stage Symposium in Madison, WI.
A few days after my elevator pitch I received an email from someone from the gener8tor start-up accelerator in Madison, WI who liked what they saw and heard, and invited me to apply for the winter Discovery Program bootcamp.
So, I went to a gener8tor meetup and applied to the program, which receives over 100 start-up applications, which get cut down to 20 companies who are invited to present to the gener8tor team. The 20 companies are then cut to 10, who are invited to pitch again. And, finally, 5-7 startups are selected for the bootcamp.
Selected companies receive a small amount of seed capital in exchange for a reasonable amount of equity, and go through a 12 week boot camp. But the most important things participants receive are access to the gener8tor network, resources, start-up know-how, and the credibility to approach serious investors.
What Happened Next?
My start-up made the first cut of 20 companies and I was invited to present to 9 members of the gener8tor team. Here’s the first slide from my pitch deck:
I just love the word “Imagine.”
Based on my presentation, I made the second cut down to 10 companies and go back to Madison for a final pitch this week. I have a 50%-70% chance of making the final cut. I LIKE those odds. Wish me luck!
What’s Luck Got To Do With It?
My fellow Steam Feeder, Derrick Jones, didn’t agree with my contention that luck plays a role in the success of an entrepreneur and wrote a response piece that asked the question, “What’s Luck Got To Do With It?“
Regarding my connection with the gener8tor start-up accelerator, luck had EVERYTHING to do with it. How do I know? Because I ran into Zach and he embarrassingly admitted he thought I was someone else when I called asking for his help. Apparently he’d been talking with another James Oliver with a different middle initial, who also has a start-up company.
How lucky is that?!
Thinking I was that other guy, Zach invited me to participate in the Elevator Pitch Olympics, which led me to the gener8tor start-up accelerator, which now has me one 45 minute presentation away from a potentially life changing experience.
Other than the fact I needed to get this off my chest for some reason, I think the point of this post is: walking your talk and authenticity truly matter. Down with Fauxperts! Haha.
And I guess I still have the whole “luck doesn’t matter” thing stuck in my craw. Oh well…
What say you?
Latest posts by James Oliver, Jr. (see all)
- Entrepreneurs Must Have a Supportive Spouse if Launching a Startup - February 23, 2013
- Startups Don’t Fail. Founders Quit. - January 23, 2013
- How Not Having A Tech Co-Founder Put Me On The Bubble For A Start-Up Accelerator - January 9, 2013
Great post, James. I'm Irish, so I know that luck or lack thereof can come into play on a lot of things, including business. Sometimes it's simply about being in the right place at the right time, whether in person or digitally. Keep on courting good luck by continuing to post great content for real people, my friend!
Ooooooh, to have the luck of the Irish! Thanks for the kind words, Mallie.
Good luck with your final pitch in Madison!
I think luck definitely plays a role in our lives. But if we rely too much on it then I believe we'll never accomplish our goals.
Good luck James! What a story! I subscribe to that old adage “the harder you work the luckier you get.” But to me that means you are maximizing your positioning so you will be in that right place should you be lucky enough to have the right time occur! You saw an incredible stroke of luck when Zach “mistakenly” referred you for the program; but if you hadn’t been ever present in his existence while you walked your talk, luck’s lightning bolt would not have found you! Now go ride that light! :-)
Yee Haw! Riding the light. Haha. Thanks for commenting and reading the post, Jeanine. Appreciate it.
That's a great point. To quote Goodie Mob, "You gotta get up, get out, and get something!"
Now, if we could only convince Daniel about the role of luck. Haha.
Oh James :P Good "luck" on that one ;).
Everything can be boiled down to taking an action. Even gambling – you have to decide to gamble in order to be lucky and win :P haha. I just don't like the idea that I'm not in control of my own actions. I have a hard time attributing my success to a lucky hunch, or whatever. Nah, it's because I choose to work hard, and end up in the right place when things fall into place. :)
Hahaha! You're just as stubborn as I am, Daniel. That's why we get along so great!
James great share, I appreciate how you willingly and openly talk about all of the experiences you encounter during the start-up phase. Best of luck with your final pitch.
Thanks. Hopefully, my next post will be about preparing to enter the program!
Man you are one stubborn SOB lol! Dude, your hard work and resiliency are paying off. The consistent efforts you made to reach out to Zach is what positioned you to take advantage of an opportunity when it presented itself. My guess is the other James Oliver was not as resilient or else a subsequent conversation would have gone like this:
Zach: "Hey, James! Good to hear from you. So, are you psyched about the presentation?"
James #2: "What presentation?"
Zach: "The one I invited you to."
James #2: "Must be someone else."
Zach: "Oh wait…"
But anyway we will agree to disagree on this one. Congrats on the progress my friend. Oh and good luck!
Haha. That's hilarious!
We will agree to disagree.
I’m a huge advocate of walking the talking in social media. In fact, that is the title of one of my first Steamfeed blog posts! While, I do agree with the camp that says we make our own luck, they really are referring to seizing opportunities through hard work and diligence. There is another kind of luck, the extraordinary kind. We cannot make that type. Though personally, I call it by a different name: Blessed.
That being said, good “luck” in your competition. I wish you the best.
Blessed, indeed!! Thanks, Kim.
Kim I call it both Blessed & Favor.
Hello, James : )
During your startup career, you'll fail more than you'll succeed… 2 or 3 out every 10 is a pretty safe bet.
Although you believed in every one of those startups and put your blood sweat and tears into them, they all didn't succeed like you thought they should.
Assuming you rock and slay dragons and such; LUCK had everything to do with your success…
The right time.
The right product.
The right people.
Oh, and all the stars line up and break-dance across the sky :P
If your foolish enough to believe in a dream, continue to work your ass off in the face of adversity and non-believers, and never quit until everything you've ever imagined is in your hands – the world, with a little bit of luck, will hand it over to you on a silver platter.
You have to be willing to die for your dreams… another post for another time : )
Great post, James!
Inspirational advice right before he makes his final pitch. Good stuff Mark. :)
Inspirational for sure.
That is an awesome comment. Love it. Thanks for sharing.
Great stuff!
Thanks, man.
Thanks, Albert : )
"Now, if we could only convince Daniel about the role of luck." There you have it, it plays a role and can play a positive or negative role depending upon the Luck you are experiencing that particular day. Personally I believe luck is the product of hard work, and consistent pursuit of our goals and dreams. It appears to be luck, but in reality is the culmination of consistent, hard work. Just my humble opinion, and no, nobody is knocking down my door for advice either…LOL
Maybe we should write a post about…how to get people to knock down our door for…advice? Haha.
Thanks for dropping by, Gerry. Cheers!
This was so fun to read. Knowing you &convesating with you around your business. Seeing how you have moved forward in your dreams. Favor, blessings and luck in your next pitch. I have been on the other side of those pitches, sitting with investors, and them asking me what my thoughts are. I'd push you to the front of the vote for sure. Elizabeth Traub
That's an incredibly nice thing to say, Elizabeth. I appreciate it.
I have to get in now, otherwise it will be too embarrassing to post about how I wasn't accepted. Guess that's the risk that comes with "baring your soul" for the whole world to see.
Stay tuned…
"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity"
-Some famous person
Regardless of the classic case of mistaken identity, when the time came, you rose to the occasion.
That's why you are where you are now!
Thanks for including us in such a big moment in your career! Excited to see how the story unfolds in your part 2?
Do work James!
Oh man! I'm excited too. And nervous. This needs to happen. Stay tuned…
Thanks for stopping by, Jacob.
Congratulations. I agree with you that being lucky is important, but what's even more important is to be ready when luck comes knocking on your door. I am where I am right now, not only because I have always been In the right place at the right time, but because I always try to help luck a little bit by preparing well in advance – by constantly learning as much as possible. You attitude and progress is an inspiration. Good luck.
Hey Churchill. What's going on over in Poland? Cold yet? Haha.
Preparation IS key.
Thanks for posting a comment and stopping by. Cheers!
Your post rings a tone in this office James, wishing you the best of luck in the select down.
Thanks, Randy. Not being selected is really not an option.
A desert! That is the truth. This was great post, and like a good story teller, you tied your other posts in here as well. Awesome job, good luck tomorrow!
Thanks, Mark. I'll keep you posted on how things go.
Anyone reading this who is a cycling enthusiast, check out Mark's site, GroupRide.com, which connects cyclists to appropriate, local group rides.