Entrepreneurship sucks

Keynote for the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) Summer 2013 kickoff session.

Transcript

1. Entrepreneurship sucks.
2. You should definitely NOT become an entrepreneur.
3. (how are we doing so far?)
5. Life was easy.
6. Life was easy. 3.97 GPA out of 4.00 2360 SAT out 2400 Straight As at Oxford Never studied.
7. Life was easy. 1st job: Consulting in Boston Fastest promotion to manager in 80 years 2nd job: Software in London Grew the team from 14 to 64. Profitable day 1. 3rd job: Restructuring in NYC Cracked the Madoff case
8. Then I became an “entrepreneur.”
9. Life is hard. 1st train wreck: Fundraising I barely survived 3 grueling rounds of venture capital raises. 2nd train wreck: Team My entire team quit on me, and it’s my fault. (No sarcasm.) 3rd train wreck: Our product 3.5 years in, I still haven’t managed to build something people care about at all.
10. Glorifying entrepreneurship...
11. ...is a bit like glorifying military service.
12. ...and yet...
13. Startups are awesome.
14. Startups are awesome.
15. Startups are awesome.
16. Meetings are not.
17. You should definitely NOT become an entrepreneur.
18. You should definitely be entrepreneurial.
19. Insist on an industry you absolutely love.
20. Insist on a working environment you absolutely love.
21. Insist on co-workers you absolutely love.
22. Insist on a role you absolutely love.
23. Insist on a life you absolutely love.
24. Do not insist on lots of money. (money naturally seeks out awesome people)
25. Do not insist on being the boss. (being the boss sucks)
26. Do not insist on fame. (the media exists to entertain, not inform)
27. In fact, just insist on being the most authentic you that you can be. Tirelessly.
29. “Seriously, though. Can I be an entrepreneur?” - you “Sure.” - me
30. Thanks!