Defining Success in an age of materialism
Witnessing mega valuations (Uber, Lyft, Evernote etc) often makes one wonder if the purpose of launching a startup is a hefty exit. While we celebrate the tenacity and persistence of fellow founders who have built immensely successful companies, we should be careful to stay true to the purpose upon which we set out to change the world. I ask the question…why? Why are we starting a company? What does our application do? What is the tangible contribution to the world, to humanity, to the environment, and to us? Is it just another attempt at making money or is it a contribution to humanity? Haven been on both sides of success and failure, I admit the incentives that come with success is a motivator, however the loneliness of failure disincentivizes’ going into any venture or taking any risks. After all, launching a startup is a very risky adventure.
So what is the draw? I have launched at least 4 startups in the last 15 years, one success, one broke even, and the rest failed. Yet here we are at it again. What’s the draw? The sense of danger? the sense of adventure? The sense of contribution to our ever evolving and complicated world? What is the draw, what is it that draws people to do this? My answer is simple……fear of the unknown and the possibility that you might just crack the code to success. However, success only matters when it benefits mankind. My belief system is this; “There is no greater sense of accomplishment than service to Humanity”….feel free to quote me on this.
If the re-democratization of commerce and the economy via collaborative consumption that enables individuals turn idle capital into revenue sources is an accomplishment, then we will march towards that goal with intensity and a sense of purpose. Technology has enabled humanity to make strides at an encyclopedic pace. This is a sign that our world in not changing…it has changed! The New Economy, the Sharing Economy, and Collaborative Consumption are evident in our everyday lives. Uber is the worlds largest taxi company yet it owns no cars. Ebay, Facebook, Google are just prominent examples of a myriad of companies thriving within the new, sharing economy based on collaborative consumption. Technology has in a way reminded us of what it is….what it means to be human. Taking into account the ability for someone in Mumbai to collaborate with another in New York to Amsterdam in real time. We strive for connections, whether it’s within the transactional realm of commerce, or the relational realm of interpersonal exchanges with one another. The success factor lies in the enablement technology has delivered, not without challenges.
This has not only carried over into commerce but is also disrupting our fundamental definition of commerce in itself. Take a look at bitcoin, online banking, PayPal (which indirectly benefited the Financial sector by making people get bank accounts), Google wallet, are just a few examples as well. Those in denial of this change will have a difficult time in the new world. This is just a tip of the iceberg. Consider Roku, Hulu and what streaming media has done to traditional cable television.
Imagine a person who can use his car as a part time Uber driver and maybe make a few hundred quid. Or if he owns a pickup truck he can complete 5 moving jobs a week making $100 per job. That’s $500 per week working 10 hours assuming two hours per job which equates to $50/hr. for 10 hours! This leaves more time for school and other activities that give him or her a quality of life comparable to Denmark or other advanced societies. We already work our adults to death, we shouldn’t to the same with the generations after us. This is the value proposition from us at pHlatbed to you. That idle pickup truck or van can be turned into a revenue source, off hours, weekends, when you’re not working, young or old, there are opportunities to get involved in the new economy. It’s news worth sharing and propagating.
So how do we define success? From a founders perspective, it’s the level of engagement, utilization and quantifiable contribution to the world we live in. Every human being should be an engaged productive contributor, and beneficiary of the new sharing economy. This is akin to a fundamental human right. It’s the “We” economy that goes beyond the purely materialistic approach from a point of singularity that places one persons view above all others.
For example, I personally do not write checks to charities because I believe the fundamentals of charitable giving lies in the tangible contribution in terms of time and immediate benefits. I refuse to attend a $5000 per plate dinner at the Waldorf Astoria to discuss hunger in Darfur because 1. it’s expensive and indulgent, and 2. It’s an oxymoron at best.
I’d rather buy 100 bags of food, medicine, seeds to be planted, and books for children & adults and then ship them off to where they are needed if I cannot physically be there myself. That’s the value in ones time, founders view time as their most valuable asset. I’m no exception.
So, success though is seen by society in high dollar valuations and epic mergers and acquisitions, to most founders it’s a deeper need to contribute to the world we live in as tangibly as time and resources allow. Again I say….“There is no greater sense of accomplishment than service to Humanity.”
As founders launch new startups in an effort to contribute to our ever evolving and complex world, the fundamentals remain the driver of change…..let’s change the world, or at least contribute to it.
Cheers!