Next week I'm heading to New York to attend the O'Reilly Money:Tech conference. I've never been to New York before, so this could be interesting. It would be nice to visit under the circumstance where I'd be able to see the city and enjoy myself, but there should be plenty of time for that later.
The conference is all about harnessing the web to provide insight into the financial markets, which, conveniently is what my company is all about. If you want to get on the list to find out more, go ahead and visit the site and sign up.
Times are interesting to be starting a company that focuses on the financial markets. I'm hoping that rubbing elbows with some financial types in New York will give me an idea about how they are taking the recent market activity. Luckily, not only is there market activity even during recessions, but we are building a platform that can be taken beyond just the financial vertical.
I'm a little late, but I thought I'd answer the Entrepreneur Interview from Shane & Peter.
What’s your personal mission statement?
Be the best father and husband I can be while doing something interesting for the betterment of mankind making a name for myself that will live on past my lifetime.
What’s the biggest mess you’ve dealt with this year?
(2007) I can't pin it down exactly, but with two little kids you can bet it involves puke or poop or both.
What current entrepreneurial efforts consume your time?
Along with my business partner I just started a company. We're still fairly stealth, but it has to do with Data Mining and Vertical Search.
Why do you do what you do? What inspires you? When do you get most excited?
Solving problems. I love having some sort of new challenge to figure out, or better yet build something that will figure it out for me. I get the most excited during the moment of epiphany where I go from a dead end to seeing multiple paths to my goal.
Boxers or Briefs? or as Naomi says, Bikini or Thong, duh?!?
Briefs.
What do you do when you’re not [designing | programming | managing | writing | toiling for the wo/man]?
Playing with my kids, being with my wife, playing games (board, card, or video), running, and watching football.
What one thing made the biggest difference when getting started?
Finding someone else that shares my motivation. Going it alone can be very discouraging.
What’s your exit strategy?
For life: Ideally I'd like to live forever. If not, I'd at least like to make a name for myself that will live on beyond my years.
For my company: It doesn't really matter. I want to build a successful company that helps people save a little time. We all need more time. If I make enough to retire, I'd love to spend more time with my family.
What is the last thing that made you belly laugh?
My two girls, about 3-4 times a day.
Have you ever been in business before?
Nope, I'm a first-timer.
At what point do you consider yourself successful?
In about 8 months when I'm still working for myself and I haven't had to sell my house and we're living comfortably. At that point I'll redefine success.
What was your first experience with a computer?
ATARI 800, making that Logo turtle fill up the monitor.
Steve Jobs vs Bill Gates in a jello wrestling match, where’s your money?
Hard to say, they both fight dirty. RMS could take them both at the same time.
Where do you do your best thinking?
Whenever I'm farthest away from any possibly way to record my thoughts. That way I'm sure to forget the key piece by the time I can write it down.
What does your average daily work / life balance look like? How much time do you work, play and sleep?
Since I've started working on my own company, I get about 10-12+ hours of work in, and a good 2-3 hours a day with the kids, and a couple more with the wife or playing on the Xbox.
My goal is to start shifting that closer to parity as my business becomes more successful.
If I could introduce you to anyone, who would it be?
Either someone willing to fund me right now or Steve Martin.
What stops you from giving up when you are frustrated?
I'm pretty sure I have a super-power: stubbornness. Seriously, nobody can even compete.
If Chuck Norris and Steven Hawking had a baby (hey it’s my damn interview), would you vote for her for president?
Not if she had the same political leanings as her Kung-Fu daddy.
