People give a head nod to the pioneer. Then go about their business. Because the pioneers get the arrows. Its true. And few people want to be within range when the arrows fly. Collateral damage and all. Heres what happens when you play the part of the innovator... Many moons ago, Selwyn Lissack, a pioneer in laser displays and holography, called me late one a Friday evening. Without any warmup, he said Mark, now that you own the industry, what are you going to do with it? We had won the war in this little niche through desperation (FAX broadcasting to 300 US music stores - of a conceptual product designed in 3D software - a product that didnt exist. But I knew we could build. If we could get enough presales to fund the development). It was a tiny industry. I was very lucky. I had designed a new laser scanner on a barf bag while flying to the CES show in Vegas. That scanner took what we called unobtanium - basically nosebleed-high cost technology ($100,000-$150,000 scanners) and made it for $10. Nearly as accurate. And out of ordinary, off the shelf parts. Im not an engineer. Not in the traditional sense. Im a found engineer. I can make weird, sometimes cool stuff, out of otherwise abnormally boring pieces and parts. That fax broadcast went out at midnight to 6AM (the cheap time for phone calls). I was negative $15,000 in the bank, and had just laid off all but 2 employees. It was Go-time. I awoke to incoming faxes totally $24,000 in preorders. And they kept coming. Thanks to Eric Kinney, our vendors kept shipping parts (wed always paid our bills net 10. So we were in good standing). By the time Selwyn called a few months later, we had product in every dealer that mattered. Guitar Center. Sam Ash Music. Etc... I flew down to LA and met with Selwyn. I wanted to find a way to work together. Maybe partner. We became good friends and exchanged some technology secrets. That was 24 years ago. But an important memory. Someday you may want to do something totally crazy with your life. Youll be struck by the lightningbolt of wanderlust. Or some Silly Stiks of an image will keep you up nights. You have two choices: Push it down. Or allow it to crystallize. Water and feed it obsessively. And see what happens. Its worth it. Whether it takes flight or not. Thats not the point. The point is, its yours. It came from you. You birthed it. And you nurtured it. And maybe, if youre really lucky (or really really good), it will grow wings and become this strong, independent thing. One that, in recognition of its inception, will pay you back so much more than you gave it. When I saw this, I immediately thought of Marshall Wayne, and his journey into becoming a Media Mogul. Someday the book (or better, the movie) will remind us of a basement scene from Fight Club. Beaten, bruised and bleeding, he will rise from the concrete, a Phoenix. And on to Part II of his adventures. https://vimeo/39578584
Posted on: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 07:38:06 +0000
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