after the next 15 minutes you’ll be ready to take the first step to
ready to take the first step to
ready to take the first step to accomplishing your next big goal in life
accomplishing your next big goal in life
accomplishing your next big goal in life and that’s starting my name is Seth and
and that’s starting my name is Seth and
and that’s starting my name is Seth and I’m an entrepreneur I’ve had the
I’m an entrepreneur I’ve had the
I’m an entrepreneur I’ve had the incredible opportunity to co-found for
incredible opportunity to co-found for
incredible opportunity to co-found for startups Wow Georgia Tech have helped
startups Wow Georgia Tech have helped
startups Wow Georgia Tech have helped clients raised over two million dollars
clients raised over two million dollars
clients raised over two million dollars in funding and even got the opportunity
in funding and even got the opportunity
in funding and even got the opportunity to audition to pitch on shark tank but I
to audition to pitch on shark tank but I
to audition to pitch on shark tank but I was this close to giving up because I
was this close to giving up because I
was this close to giving up because I really didn’t think I have what it takes
really didn’t think I have what it takes
really didn’t think I have what it takes to be an entrepreneur three years ago I
to be an entrepreneur three years ago I
to be an entrepreneur three years ago I was working as a stress engineer my coop
was working as a stress engineer my coop
was working as a stress engineer my coop and I really didn’t love what I was
and I really didn’t love what I was
and I really didn’t love what I was doing but and I’m sure you haven’t heard
doing but and I’m sure you haven’t heard
doing but and I’m sure you haven’t heard this before i had a revolutionary app
this before i had a revolutionary app
this before i had a revolutionary app idea that was going to change the world
idea that was going to change the world
idea that was going to change the world that’s right my app was going to send
that’s right my app was going to send
that’s right my app was going to send people sounds just like snapchat except
people sounds just like snapchat except
people sounds just like snapchat except instead of pictures we’re going to send
instead of pictures we’re going to send
instead of pictures we’re going to send sounds what could possibly go wrong with
sounds what could possibly go wrong with
sounds what could possibly go wrong with that well it turns about turns out
that well it turns about turns out
that well it turns about turns out literally everything you see I had no
literally everything you see I had no
literally everything you see I had no idea how to code didn’t how to start my
idea how to code didn’t how to start my
idea how to code didn’t how to start my own company I knew nothing so I started
own company I knew nothing so I started
own company I knew nothing so I started planning I started reading Forbes
planning I started reading Forbes
planning I started reading Forbes articles and it turns out they’re all
articles and it turns out they’re all
articles and it turns out they’re all extremely generic and really don’t help
extremely generic and really don’t help
extremely generic and really don’t help you I started reading books and I had
you I started reading books and I had
you I started reading books and I had this massive 200-page microsoft word
this massive 200-page microsoft word
this massive 200-page microsoft word document outlining exactly how my plan
document outlining exactly how my plan
document outlining exactly how my plan would look how people would interact
would look how people would interact
would look how people would interact with it how we’re going to market it
with it how we’re going to market it
with it how we’re going to market it after six months of planning finally
after six months of planning finally
after six months of planning finally started coding I brought together a team
started coding I brought together a team
started coding I brought together a team within the first week we made zero
within the first week we made zero
within the first week we made zero progress just nothing where we were
progress just nothing where we were
progress just nothing where we were thinking know there’s a setback everyone
thinking know there’s a setback everyone
thinking know there’s a setback everyone has setbacks went another week after the
has setbacks went another week after the
has setbacks went another week after the second week we just didn’t have the
second week we just didn’t have the
second week we just didn’t have the technical knowledge but the third week
technical knowledge but the third week
technical knowledge but the third week when I asked some friends it turns out
when I asked some friends it turns out
when I asked some friends it turns out that you actually have to have a mac in
that you actually have to have a mac in
that you actually have to have a mac in order to code iphone apps and I still
order to code iphone apps and I still
order to code iphone apps and I still had a windows laptop so when I was told
had a windows laptop so when I was told
had a windows laptop so when I was told that I knew that I definitely did not
that I knew that I definitely did not
that I knew that I definitely did not have what it takes to make my own app
have what it takes to make my own app
have what it takes to make my own app and that was really tough because if
and that was really tough because if
and that was really tough because if you’ve ever spent half a year planning
you’ve ever spent half a year planning
you’ve ever spent half a year planning something you want it to be incredible
something you want it to be incredible
something you want it to be incredible right and it just kind of
right and it just kind of
right and it just kind of tore me apart but I learned a really
tore me apart but I learned a really
tore me apart but I learned a really important lesson and that’s that the
important lesson and that’s that the
important lesson and that’s that the quickest way to learn is by failing
quickest way to learn is by failing
quickest way to learn is by failing you’ll never get to the next level if
you’ll never get to the next level if
you’ll never get to the next level if you’re always sitting on the sidelines
you’re always sitting on the sidelines
you’re always sitting on the sidelines reading the playbook imagine LeBron
reading the playbook imagine LeBron
reading the playbook imagine LeBron James squatting down watching basketball
James squatting down watching basketball
James squatting down watching basketball on TV all day do you think that’s how he
on TV all day do you think that’s how he
on TV all day do you think that’s how he got to be such a legend no he got out
got to be such a legend no he got out
got to be such a legend no he got out there and he started playing you see you
there and he started playing you see you
there and he started playing you see you have to start and you have to start
have to start and you have to start
have to start and you have to start before you’re ready the reason it’s so
before you’re ready the reason it’s so
before you’re ready the reason it’s so important you start before you ready is
important you start before you ready is
important you start before you ready is because a plan can’t fail a plan is just
because a plan can’t fail a plan is just
because a plan can’t fail a plan is just a piece of paper it can’t fail you see
a piece of paper it can’t fail you see
a piece of paper it can’t fail you see during this honeymoon idea phase that I
during this honeymoon idea phase that I
during this honeymoon idea phase that I had my plan looked amazing according to
had my plan looked amazing according to
had my plan looked amazing according to my plan I should be a millionaire right
my plan I should be a millionaire right
my plan I should be a millionaire right now according my plan you’re going to
now according my plan you’re going to
now according my plan you’re going to get tens of billions of users by 2020
get tens of billions of users by 2020
get tens of billions of users by 2020 even though there are only seven billion
even though there are only seven billion
even though there are only seven billion people on earth we were going to do it
people on earth we were going to do it
people on earth we were going to do it because our plan said so but in many
because our plan said so but in many
because our plan said so but in many regards planning is procrastinating
regards planning is procrastinating
regards planning is procrastinating sometimes for me planning was this
sometimes for me planning was this
sometimes for me planning was this shield from the inevitable failure that
shield from the inevitable failure that
shield from the inevitable failure that happens to all of us when you try
happens to all of us when you try
happens to all of us when you try something new for the first time but the
something new for the first time but the
something new for the first time but the only thing worse than starting with a
only thing worse than starting with a
only thing worse than starting with a failure is failing to start now luckily
failure is failing to start now luckily
failure is failing to start now luckily for months later I had a new opportunity
for months later I had a new opportunity
for months later I had a new opportunity I got a phone call from a professor who
I got a phone call from a professor who
I got a phone call from a professor who taught a journalism and marketing class
taught a journalism and marketing class
taught a journalism and marketing class and thank goodness she didn’t look at
and thank goodness she didn’t look at
and thank goodness she didn’t look at the app that I was trying to build cuz
the app that I was trying to build cuz
the app that I was trying to build cuz she’d see that it wasn’t anywhere but
she’d see that it wasn’t anywhere but
she’d see that it wasn’t anywhere but she told me that she had this app ID and
she told me that she had this app ID and
she told me that she had this app ID and she wanted me to help her make it now I
she wanted me to help her make it now I
she wanted me to help her make it now I really wanted to tell her yes I did I
really wanted to tell her yes I did I
really wanted to tell her yes I did I wanted to say yes I’ll make your dreams
wanted to say yes I’ll make your dreams
wanted to say yes I’ll make your dreams come true but let’s take a setback in
come true but let’s take a setback in
come true but let’s take a setback in review I try to form a company didn’t I
review I try to form a company didn’t I
review I try to form a company didn’t I work try the former team they all left I
work try the former team they all left I
work try the former team they all left I don’t know how to code I don’t know what
don’t know how to code I don’t know what
don’t know how to code I don’t know what the server thing that you speak of is
the server thing that you speak of is
the server thing that you speak of is and her app is about marketing and I’m
and her app is about marketing and I’m
and her app is about marketing and I’m studying mechanical engineering so yeah
studying mechanical engineering so yeah
studying mechanical engineering so yeah I say this doesn’t look so great on
I say this doesn’t look so great on
I say this doesn’t look so great on paper but then again my first idea
paper but then again my first idea
paper but then again my first idea looked amazing on paper and it was a
looked amazing on paper and it was a
looked amazing on paper and it was a complete flop
complete flop
complete flop now the only thing harder than starting
now the only thing harder than starting
now the only thing harder than starting is restarting because when you restart
is restarting because when you restart
is restarting because when you restart you already hit rock bottom you know you
you already hit rock bottom you know you
you already hit rock bottom you know you failed and you have to get the courage
failed and you have to get the courage
failed and you have to get the courage to get back up there and try again
to get back up there and try again
to get back up there and try again knowing you’ll probably fail again but I
knowing you’ll probably fail again but I
knowing you’ll probably fail again but I had this deep drive inside this burning
had this deep drive inside this burning
had this deep drive inside this burning desire to actually do something
desire to actually do something
desire to actually do something meaningful with my life I wanted to make
meaningful with my life I wanted to make
meaningful with my life I wanted to make a dent in the world somewhere and I knew
a dent in the world somewhere and I knew
a dent in the world somewhere and I knew that with new challenges would come new
that with new challenges would come new
that with new challenges would come new opportunities so I told her yes and
opportunities so I told her yes and
opportunities so I told her yes and unlike last time I spent one day
unlike last time I spent one day
unlike last time I spent one day planning instead of six months and I
planning instead of six months and I
planning instead of six months and I started coding right away I spent up
started coding right away I spent up
started coding right away I spent up long nights coding stack overflow became
long nights coding stack overflow became
long nights coding stack overflow became my best friend Google became my best
my best friend Google became my best
my best friend Google became my best friend and in just four weeks I’d
friend and in just four weeks I’d
friend and in just four weeks I’d actually coded my first iphone app now
actually coded my first iphone app now
actually coded my first iphone app now if you know anything about Apple there’s
if you know anything about Apple there’s
if you know anything about Apple there’s a pretty thorough process of submitting
a pretty thorough process of submitting
a pretty thorough process of submitting to the App Store I see some of you not
to the App Store I see some of you not
to the App Store I see some of you not in your heads it’s a painful process so
in your heads it’s a painful process so
in your heads it’s a painful process so I submitted the app not once it got
I submitted the app not once it got
I submitted the app not once it got rejected not twice what seven times it
rejected not twice what seven times it
rejected not twice what seven times it got rejected from Apple but finally on
got rejected from Apple but finally on
got rejected from Apple but finally on the eighth time this beautiful blue
the eighth time this beautiful blue
the eighth time this beautiful blue button lit up on the screen that said
button lit up on the screen that said
button lit up on the screen that said released app store and I clicked it and
released app store and I clicked it and
released app store and I clicked it and it was the greatest moment ever within
it was the greatest moment ever within
it was the greatest moment ever within the first three days we had 400
the first three days we had 400
the first three days we had 400 downloads now yes all the students in
downloads now yes all the students in
downloads now yes all the students in her classes were required to download it
her classes were required to download it
her classes were required to download it but still this was an incredible
but still this was an incredible
but still this was an incredible accomplishment because now I knew that I
accomplishment because now I knew that I
accomplishment because now I knew that I could do this so I know how this new
could do this so I know how this new
could do this so I know how this new product and I wanted to share it with
product and I wanted to share it with
product and I wanted to share it with others so I applied to pitch
others so I applied to pitch
others so I applied to pitch competitions all over and this is
competitions all over and this is
competitions all over and this is probably where that saying comes in
probably where that saying comes in
probably where that saying comes in where you better be careful what you
where you better be careful what you
where you better be careful what you wish for because it just might come true
wish for because it just might come true
wish for because it just might come true because the next day I got a call from a
because the next day I got a call from a
because the next day I got a call from a man named jamie turner he’s an
man named jamie turner he’s an
man named jamie turner he’s an internationally recognized marketing
internationally recognized marketing
internationally recognized marketing expert and speaker and he said Seth I
expert and speaker and he said Seth I
expert and speaker and he said Seth I got your application I’d love to have
got your application I’d love to have
got your application I’d love to have you come pitch as one of the five teams
you come pitch as one of the five teams
you come pitch as one of the five teams at our mobile x festival it’s a
at our mobile x festival it’s a
at our mobile x festival it’s a conference focused on mobile marketing
conference focused on mobile marketing
conference focused on mobile marketing innovation Atlanta I was like here I
innovation Atlanta I was like here I
innovation Atlanta I was like here I have my lunch break during my coop and
have my lunch break during my coop and
have my lunch break during my coop and I’m like great when is it he’s like next
I’m like great when is it he’s like next
I’m like great when is it he’s like next week so here I am I’m like okay you know
week so here I am I’m like okay you know
week so here I am I’m like okay you know start before you ready it was like yeah
start before you ready it was like yeah
start before you ready it was like yeah sure we’ll do it so I go back after work
sure we’ll do it so I go back after work
sure we’ll do it so I go back after work to my team and I said told about the
to my team and I said told about the
to my team and I said told about the opportunity there like you told them no
opportunity there like you told them no
opportunity there like you told them no right
right
right I said no guys we got to get out there
I said no guys we got to get out there
I said no guys we got to get out there we got to try I told him yes because
we got to try I told him yes because
we got to try I told him yes because just like the Georgia Tech football team
just like the Georgia Tech football team
just like the Georgia Tech football team on fourth down you got to go for it so
on fourth down you got to go for it so
on fourth down you got to go for it so here we are the day of the event mobile
here we are the day of the event mobile
here we are the day of the event mobile x festival am I walk into the room and
x festival am I walk into the room and
x festival am I walk into the room and there’s like a hundred people and not
there’s like a hundred people and not
there’s like a hundred people and not just everyday people these are business
just everyday people these are business
just everyday people these are business executives from big companies Microsoft
executives from big companies Microsoft
executives from big companies Microsoft coca-cola right in front of me is the VP
coca-cola right in front of me is the VP
coca-cola right in front of me is the VP of Marketing from coca-cola that’s
of Marketing from coca-cola that’s
of Marketing from coca-cola that’s pretty intimidating so I’m sitting here
pretty intimidating so I’m sitting here
pretty intimidating so I’m sitting here and each pitch is strictly limited to
and each pitch is strictly limited to
and each pitch is strictly limited to exactly three minutes there’s a big
exactly three minutes there’s a big
exactly three minutes there’s a big timer and James starts yelling at you if
timer and James starts yelling at you if
timer and James starts yelling at you if you go over so you don’t want to go over
you go over so you don’t want to go over
you go over so you don’t want to go over so i’m waiting and we’re randomly
so i’m waiting and we’re randomly
so i’m waiting and we’re randomly selected to be the fifth team to pitch
selected to be the fifth team to pitch
selected to be the fifth team to pitch so the first thing goes by three minutes
so the first thing goes by three minutes
so the first thing goes by three minutes second team by the time it’s like at the
second team by the time it’s like at the
second team by the time it’s like at the third or fourth it seems like I’ve been
third or fourth it seems like I’ve been
third or fourth it seems like I’ve been sitting there for hours my palms are all
sitting there for hours my palms are all
sitting there for hours my palms are all sweaty and now these thoughts are racing
sweaty and now these thoughts are racing
sweaty and now these thoughts are racing through my head like am I just going to
through my head like am I just going to
through my head like am I just going to go there and bears myself in front of
go there and bears myself in front of
go there and bears myself in front of all these people am I gonna make a fool
all these people am I gonna make a fool
all these people am I gonna make a fool of myself and ruin my dreams of becoming
of myself and ruin my dreams of becoming
of myself and ruin my dreams of becoming an entrepreneur so before I had a chance
an entrepreneur so before I had a chance
an entrepreneur so before I had a chance to like duck out or make any excuse
to like duck out or make any excuse
to like duck out or make any excuse Jamie’s like all right your turn so here
Jamie’s like all right your turn so here
Jamie’s like all right your turn so here I go come up and those three minutes
I go come up and those three minutes
I go come up and those three minutes went by like that it was the fastest
went by like that it was the fastest
went by like that it was the fastest thing ever and right after the three
thing ever and right after the three
thing ever and right after the three minutes we’re done i was saying great
minutes we’re done i was saying great
minutes we’re done i was saying great i’m done but nope right after those
i’m done but nope right after those
i’m done but nope right after those three minutes I starting getting slammed
three minutes I starting getting slammed
three minutes I starting getting slammed with questions for investors the S
with questions for investors the S
with questions for investors the S things like do you have a recurring
things like do you have a recurring
things like do you have a recurring revenue model and what’s your unique
revenue model and what’s your unique
revenue model and what’s your unique selling value proposition what’s your
selling value proposition what’s your
selling value proposition what’s your cost effect all these things that I have
cost effect all these things that I have
cost effect all these things that I have no idea what they mean and you know that
no idea what they mean and you know that
no idea what they mean and you know that feeling where you give a presentation in
feeling where you give a presentation in
feeling where you give a presentation in class and right after you’re done the
class and right after you’re done the
class and right after you’re done the professor starts asking you these
professor starts asking you these
professor starts asking you these questions and you have no idea the
questions and you have no idea the
questions and you have no idea the answers but you’re just kind of smiling
answers but you’re just kind of smiling
answers but you’re just kind of smiling and trying to pretend to fake it yeah I
and trying to pretend to fake it yeah I
and trying to pretend to fake it yeah I felt like that the whole time but
felt like that the whole time but
felt like that the whole time but finally was done and the questions ended
finally was done and the questions ended
finally was done and the questions ended and I knew it didn’t go so well I kind
and I knew it didn’t go so well I kind
and I knew it didn’t go so well I kind of trudge back to my seat I was thinking
of trudge back to my seat I was thinking
of trudge back to my seat I was thinking oh you know start before you ready maybe
oh you know start before you ready maybe
oh you know start before you ready maybe next year so I started packing up I was
next year so I started packing up I was
next year so I started packing up I was thinking about where i was going to go
thinking about where i was going to go
thinking about where i was going to go for lunch and all of a sudden Jamie
for lunch and all of a sudden Jamie
for lunch and all of a sudden Jamie looks over to me he says sethi you’re
looks over to me he says sethi you’re
looks over to me he says sethi you’re going to come up it’s very confused I’m
going to come up it’s very confused I’m
going to come up it’s very confused I’m thinking what is it like a participation
thinking what is it like a participation
thinking what is it like a participation picture or something
picture or something
picture or something he says come on Georgia Tech students
he says come on Georgia Tech students
he says come on Georgia Tech students you guys won like we won so here we are
you guys won like we won so here we are
you guys won like we won so here we are completely confused or rushed up there
completely confused or rushed up there
completely confused or rushed up there shoving us like random t-shirts and
shoving us like random t-shirts and
shoving us like random t-shirts and rewards and all these things taking
rewards and all these things taking
rewards and all these things taking pictures our faces hurt so much from
pictures our faces hurt so much from
pictures our faces hurt so much from smiling the whole time and Jamie came up
smiling the whole time and Jamie came up
smiling the whole time and Jamie came up to me said sets you do you know why you
to me said sets you do you know why you
to me said sets you do you know why you won it’s like no please please do tell
won it’s like no please please do tell
won it’s like no please please do tell he said you won the audience because of
he said you won the audience because of
he said you won the audience because of your passion enthusiasm because you have
your passion enthusiasm because you have
your passion enthusiasm because you have so much energy and it’s so obvious you
so much energy and it’s so obvious you
so much energy and it’s so obvious you care about what you’re doing no amount
care about what you’re doing no amount
care about what you’re doing no amount of planning or reading would tell you
of planning or reading would tell you
of planning or reading would tell you that passion enthusiasm would win a
that passion enthusiasm would win a
that passion enthusiasm would win a pitch competition no books would say
pitch competition no books would say
pitch competition no books would say that investors choose a team that has
that investors choose a team that has
that investors choose a team that has proven ability to execute or you know
proven ability to execute or you know
proven ability to execute or you know big and bold an innovative ideas but not
big and bold an innovative ideas but not
big and bold an innovative ideas but not energy when do you tell you good out
energy when do you tell you good out
energy when do you tell you good out there and try you don’t know what you
there and try you don’t know what you
there and try you don’t know what you don’t know as college students we often
don’t know as college students we often
don’t know as college students we often gravitate towards comfortable familiar
gravitate towards comfortable familiar
gravitate towards comfortable familiar easy paths right we don’t want to end up
easy paths right we don’t want to end up
easy paths right we don’t want to end up an awkward situation or something and so
an awkward situation or something and so
an awkward situation or something and so we stick to the things that we know
we stick to the things that we know
we stick to the things that we know we’re already good at instead of maybe
we’re already good at instead of maybe
we’re already good at instead of maybe exploring new opportunities we have to
exploring new opportunities we have to
exploring new opportunities we have to reverse this perspective this mindset
reverse this perspective this mindset
reverse this perspective this mindset that failure is such a bad thing and
that failure is such a bad thing and
that failure is such a bad thing and embrace the beauty that the more ways
embrace the beauty that the more ways
embrace the beauty that the more ways you can fail the more ways you can learn
my theory is that we spend so much time
my theory is that we spend so much time trying to craft this perfect plan
trying to craft this perfect plan
trying to craft this perfect plan because we want to nail it the first
because we want to nail it the first
because we want to nail it the first time we want to be successful in our
time we want to be successful in our
time we want to be successful in our first attempt and look like we are
first attempt and look like we are
first attempt and look like we are always meant to do this but success
always meant to do this but success
always meant to do this but success doesn’t work like that success is not a
doesn’t work like that success is not a
doesn’t work like that success is not a one-time event single occurrence where
one-time event single occurrence where
one-time event single occurrence where it just happens and it’s done success is
it just happens and it’s done success is
it just happens and it’s done success is taking small steps outside of your
taking small steps outside of your
taking small steps outside of your comfort zone learning from these
comfort zone learning from these
comfort zone learning from these experiences to reach a bigger challenge
experiences to reach a bigger challenge
experiences to reach a bigger challenge and conquer a bigger goal I want you to
and conquer a bigger goal I want you to
and conquer a bigger goal I want you to think about your big goal in life maybe
think about your big goal in life maybe
think about your big goal in life maybe it’s becoming a photographer perhaps
it’s becoming a photographer perhaps
it’s becoming a photographer perhaps it’s mastering the new language or maybe
it’s mastering the new language or maybe
it’s mastering the new language or maybe you want to launch your own startup now
you want to launch your own startup now
you want to launch your own startup now imagine yourself 30 years in the future
imagine yourself 30 years in the future
imagine yourself 30 years in the future looking back at that goal you had think
looking back at that goal you had think
looking back at that goal you had think about why that goal is so important to
about why that goal is so important to
about why that goal is so important to you and imagine how incredible achieving
you and imagine how incredible achieving
you and imagine how incredible achieving that will feel I want you to ask
that will feel I want you to ask
that will feel I want you to ask yourself would you rather live a life
yourself would you rather live a life
yourself would you rather live a life that’s happy and easy one where you’re
that’s happy and easy one where you’re
that’s happy and easy one where you’re always emotionally comfortable where you
always emotionally comfortable where you
always emotionally comfortable where you always know what’s going to happen next
always know what’s going to happen next
always know what’s going to happen next or do you seek a different kind of
or do you seek a different kind of
or do you seek a different kind of challenge one that constantly is pushing
challenge one that constantly is pushing
challenge one that constantly is pushing your limits pushing you to the edge of
your limits pushing you to the edge of
your limits pushing you to the edge of your comfort zone your life’s greatest
your comfort zone your life’s greatest
your comfort zone your life’s greatest adventures are waiting for you right
adventures are waiting for you right
adventures are waiting for you right outside that door and I know you’re
outside that door and I know you’re
outside that door and I know you’re going to do incredible things so do
going to do incredible things so do
going to do incredible things so do yourself a favor and get out there get
yourself a favor and get out there get
yourself a favor and get out there get excited and start before you’re ready
excited and start before you’re ready
excited and start before you’re ready thank
thank
thank [Applause]
”
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