3 Ways Sex & Startups Are The Same
"Sex without love is a meaningless experience, but as far as meaningless experiences go its pretty damn good"--Woody Allen
So as mentioned in the previous post, I'm going to be taking you on an (hopefully) exciting journey with me in the start-up process of my tech business, Everywhere Technologies. You'll see what I'm seeing, and learn what I'm learning....get it? got it? good!
SEX... (I'm just going to leave this here)
As one who has spent a lot of time in sales and marketing, I have learned quite a bit about methods of getting people's attention, and like anyone who has been alive during any time in modern history, I have learned that SEX is by far one of the best captivators of all time.....So I will now attempt to leverage its power.
How are sex (ooooooh), start-ups and sales related?
As a young man who dabbled in the singles arena for a good portion of time, I was always intrigued by the concept of "The One Night Stand". The idea that you can go to a club or a bar, meet someone you found attractive at some level, convince them to go somewhere less public (home, hotel), then have sex till one or both of you fell asleep and departed. It was such a CRAZY notion, but according to TV, movies and some of my great story telling friends, it ACTUALLY happened!
Now, such opportunities never crossed my path, but as I started this company and thought about my previous career in both inside and outside sales, it dawned on me that being able to connect with another person rather quickly is crucial in this business. Some dating hackers will tell you that there are physical ques that can be read and specific conversations that can be had to significantly heighten your chances of "scoring". I haven't spent a lot of time researching these hacks, but I don't completely disagree that an almost scientific knowledge of your audience is key in getting to the next level. In the start-up world, I have 30 seconds to convince an investor that what I am doing is viable. Without a lot of explaining, I have to get a potential technical co-founder, or customer to buy in to what I am building. It is on me to know the cues; to understand what "turns them on". If I fail to be intentional about doing this for the folks I talk to, I'll probably end up with a Cosmo thrown in my face and going home alone.
2) No One Likes the '2-Minute Man'
"Make it Last Forever" by Kieth Sweat immediately came to mind as I started this section! Now, to be fair, the song isn't talking about endurance in-between the sheets, its talking about love...but anyway...there's that.
Everyone loves to make a good feeling last as long as possible right? Now even though "as long as possible" is very subjective, I think that we can all agree that longer than a VERY short amount of time is the general consensus. (Hit me up if this confused you)
Now, just like any decent man wouldn't want to be done when his lady is just getting warmed up, as a start-up co-founder, I want to make sure that what I am building continues to add value over time. I don't want to make a one-hit-wonder. My customers, employees and investors don't want something that will fizzle out before they have fully benefited. Therefore, I have to continually revisit my value proposition and make sure this has continuity built in. Otherwise, I am sure to get the infamous unimpressed eye-roll.
Everyone is happy when everyone is happy. But everyone won't be happy if you don't know what makes them happy. (The previous two sentences are code for THAT moment...*wink*).
The human body is SUCH an amazing specimen! Miles and miles of nerves each with a variety or triggers and stimulants...different with every human being. As a newly married man, I have to make it my priority to navigate this maze of nerves and be a selfless student of what makes her "happy". The Bible says "It is better to give than to receive". But not only because giving makes the other person happy, no; the person doing the giving also feels a washing over of joy to see the receiver experience happiness.
In this start-up journey, I am learning that it is ALL about others. Fulfilling THEIR needs and delivering what makes THEM happy. Investors, partners, employees and customers. Once I make this my priority and I am able to execute successfully, inevitably, I will reap rewards and get that tingling, toe-curling feeling!