From Flopped Ideas to Founding Stratus10: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Failing Upwards
Hey everyone,
Let's talk failure. Not the depressing kind, but the kind that leaves you a little bruised, a lot wiser, and ready to conquer your next venture. Today, I'm diving into the messy, (often times) hilarious, and surprisingly educational world of pre-Stratus10 entrepreneurial mishaps.
The Early Hustle: Learning the Hard Way
My journey started, like many others, with a dream and a whole lot of naive optimism. First up, Blue Lake Jewelry – a beautiful (but ultimately doomed) online store. Turns out, credit card fraud, marketing mysteries, and the sheer insanity of being a one-person show can sink even the most dazzling earrings.
Next, I took a stab at website design. Initial success was intoxicating, but client expectations proved to be a fickle beast. Scope creep became my nemesis, and the importance of clear communication became crystal clear. (Lesson learned: contracts are your friend!)
The Power of Feedback and the Almost-Company
Fast forward to LA Technologies, a consulting gig that mirrored the website design struggles. It was here that I profoundly grasped the importance of truly understanding client needs before diving headfirst.
Startup incubators became my next stop. Surrounded by mentors, advisors, and the terrifying world of pitching, my network exploded. From this crucible emerged "The Almost-Company" – a fleet deal startup with a promising concept.
Here's the thing about feedback: it can be a double-edged sword. While gathering insights from potential customers and investors was invaluable, a discouraging encounter with a big name in the car industry almost derailed the whole project. Looking back, I wish I had pushed a little harder, a testament to the power of persistence and testing your ideas (even when they sound a little crazy).
The Stratus10 Connection: How It All Fits Together
Each of these pre-Stratus10 adventures, from the near-bankruptcy of Blue Lake Jewelry to the near-launch of the fleet deal, has shaped the way we approach things here. But that's a story for another post!
In the meantime, remember: failure isn't the end, it's the messy middle. Embrace the lessons, learn from the stumbles, and keep iterating. Who knows, your next "almost" idea might just be your biggest success.
Stay tuned for more on Stratus10 and our journey into SaaS, and feel free to share your own entrepreneurial war stories in the comments below!
More About Me
Driven by a passion for tech, I studied Computer Science and AI/ML in the early 2000s and later held impactful roles at Events.com, Mirum (then, Digitaria), and FICO. Achieving the AWS Solutions Architect credential in 2016, I was among the earliest recipients at #2,663. As Technology Director at Events.com, I crafted a resilient cloud infrastructure pivotal to substantial growth. Recognizing the demand for cloud expertise, I co-founded Stratus10 in 2017.
One of 18 national partners proficient in Migration, DevOps, and the Education sector, Stratus10 boasts the most AWS designations among San Diego-based firms. Since 2019, my San Diego-based team has guided local startups and global enterprises through the complexities of cloud computing.