300! Reflecting on How I Started
Yes, this is my 300thpost!
My very first post was back on May 3, 2012 – “To be an effective consultant”. Yes, back in the day, I started the blog as SC Ninja Skills (SC = Supply Chain). I remember it – I wrote the first post sitting in a hotel in L.A. I went there before starting my MBA program at Emory. I remember having this idea to start the blog a year or so before. However, I thought I needed more experience. What did I have to offer?
In that seemingly random moment in the hotel room, though, the question flipped: “why do I have to wait till I’m in my 40s to influence others? To teach? To be influential? Haven’t Fortune 500 companies been hiring my consulting firm or requesting MEas a subject matter expert? I do know a lot even in my short career so far!” This was a huge moment for me as I realized my own worth. Confidence just flowed from there.
I started my pivot in September 2012 towards startups and entrepreneurship. I was in the throws of building Body Boss, and was helping another entrepreneur launch his startup. The energy and action was exhilarating, so I took those experiences to fuel Entrepreneurial Ninja. In fact, I remember responding to a David Cummings post about part-timing a startup – “Bootstrappers, we don’t have it easy, but Magic Pens gives us hope!”
It’s amazing reflecting on the journey from the beginning.
- Now, I’m churning out two blog posts a week.
- Body Boss has closed up.
- I wrote a book called Postmortem of a Failed Startup: Lessons for Success.
- I started a blog about meeting 100 Strangers in 100 Days.
- I’ve become more entrenched in the Atlanta tech startup scene including joining SalesWise– “No More Consulting For Me – I’ve Joined A High-Growth Startup!”
- I’ve given a number of talks like at FuckUp Nights ATL. Heck, I’ve just applied to TEDx Peachtree.
- I’ve advised lots of startups, entrepreneurs, and wantrepreneurs. I’ve met some amazing people.
- I’ve even started reading to learn more, faster, and deeper – starting with The Lean Startup (including book reviews).
I’ve overcome a lot, and I’ve adapted perhaps even more. (Just like a startup!) I used to hate writing and reading till I shifted the context. And perhaps that’s the most important lesson from Post 1 to 300 – I’ve consistently approached my curiosity by shifting context and doing.
Looking forward to the next 100 and beyond.