I totally failed at an angel-backed clothing startup. When I was married, I was completely unsupportive of my now-ex-wife’s new business. Now I know how vital it is to make sure “startup life” and “personal life” are both healthy – and cross-supportive.
I believe in increasing the creative gravity of the planet! And I get away with it by 1) making sure personal life & startup life don’t ruin each other, 2) pushing Lean Startup, and 3) crafting Screaming Confidence™ through public speaking!
Life Coaching
My ex-wife was an entrepreneur and I had no appreciation for the brutal amount of stress she was under. I was a real jerk about her spending ALL of her energy on her business. I felt ignored. We fought a lot. And I’m sure my being an ass wasn’t very helpful for her business. It was only after my own failed startup that I understood the business and personal stress she was under.
The individual pillars of ”startup life” and “personal life” require 3rd-party oversight to protect and strengthen the outcome of each, for the good of the whole. Each is made stronger because of the health of the other!
The Lean Startup
Since I was the proud owner of a failed angel-backed startup, Eric Ries’s The Lean Startup really smacked me in the face – hard! It showed me that I had done everything backwards. Now, here was a scientific approach that I could wrap my head around. Following Lean Startup principles would have saved my business.
After seeing so many client’s and friend’s startups fail over the years, everybody gets the Lean Startup pitch now.
Public Speaking
1st-place winner – 2013 District 39 Toastmasters International Speech contest. May 18, 2013, Stockton, CA.
Public speaking is scarier than death. And after a couple of years of one-on-one life coaching for business owners, I wanted to share my coaching insights in front of a gigantic audience of strangers. Except, I was still too scared to move past one-on-one consultations. So, in January 2010, I forced myself to go to my first Toastmasters meeting.
Toastmasters is like a martial arts dojo or a dance studio: a place to practice, get mentored and get good. And just like kung-fu or ballet, public speaking is a skill that can be learned. Capital City Toastmasters is my home club in Sacramento, CA, where I’m an active member and public speaking coach.
I know what it’s like to give a butterflies-in-my-stomach, talking-too-fast, nerve-racking, fidgety-handed, dry-mouthed speech. I also know what it’s like to win 1st place at the 2013 District 39 Toastmasters “International Speech” contest.
Public speaking is the fastest way to build Screaming Confidence™. I will teach you to look and feel confident when everyone is watching you.
Hit me up: 916-416-6404; reid@reidwalley.com
Press images (ZIP file: 1. Life Coach image; 2. 1st-place winner 2013 Toastmasters District 39 International Speech contest)
