The first pitch

I have recently gone through the throes of pitching twice.  The first was at the Banff Venture Forums BootCamp (hosted by Innovate Calgary and sponsored primarily by PwC).  It was a real elevator pitch... no powerpoints, and a short, strict time limit.

Boy, did I choke.  I wasn't the only one, but it was a good lesson:  You will choke on your first pitch.
More importantly, it was the best environment for a good lesson: I pitched in front of those who had forged ahead and had both failed and succeeded, as well as peers at all stages of their venture.  None were critical, but all had good advice to incorporate into my pitch.  For example: mine has an excellent story that many Canadians can associate with.

The second was at the University in my Intro to Entrepreneurship course, with Patrick Lor as the guest panelist.  This time I nailed it.  I had my powerpoint this time to help me along, plus the advice from BVF Bootcamp.  I nailed it in terms of presentation, though had some content lacking.  This time, I got loads of good feedback to incorporate into my pitch as I gear up for a real pitch situation.

The point is, your first pitch should never be in front of your actual target audience.  Use all the tactics of mirror-pitching, family-pitching and friends-pitching... and then pitch to a room of strangers that are amicable to your situation.  This puts you in a constructive yet uncomfortable situation.  Get comfortable in that space, and you're ready to hit your targets (or at least, light-years ahead of where you would have been otherwise).

An Entrepreneur's Ode to his Family

Or rather, since I'm no good at odeling, a perspective on being a husband and new father when embarking on my first venture.
It's tough.  I can't jump at the computer whenever I have an inspiration.  Nor can I always plan to be productive during my power hours.  The risk of failure is much higher, since it's not just my future I threaten.  The weight of necessary success is crushing, debilitating.  Sudden events beyond my control are constant time vampires.  The house is a perpetual mess, ergo a distraction.

But my familial responsibilities are more than just responsibilities.  They are a treasure.  I love spending time with my daughter especially, but my whole family as well.  It truly is what comes first in my life.  Before all else. Does that make me a bad entrepreneur?  Possibly, in the eyes of some mentors.  Probably, in the eyes of some fellow entrepreneurs.  Definitely, in the eyes of investors.

Yet there are times that it is my family inspires me.  Sometimes it's a laugh or pleasantry that provides a burst of energy which I can harness.  At other times it's an observation that I somehow relate to my venture.
But most of the time, it's not so implicit.  It's the confidence that comes when my wife tells me that I can do it.  When she sends me articles that relate to the business.  When I pendulum an idea and she supports me no matter which side, nor how far, I swing.  When she emails me quotes from other successful entrepreneurs that she has stumbled upon which she knows will inspire me.  When she recognizes that my confidence is waning and throws a small token my way... just right so it's not intrusive but enough to pump me up again.  When she earns enough money to keep the house stable so I can pursue my venture.  When she's patient with my temper tantrums that come from lack of sleep or stress.

My experience thus far is that having a supportive family is, more than not, the best thing an entrepreneur can have.  It makes me a better person.  Which makes me a better entrepreneur.

Got android apps on the PlayBook!

For the longest time I was unable to load android apps using DDPB (google it).
Finally figured out why DDPB wasn't loading the files:  I had a space in my password.  I finally used a two-letter password, and shazam!  she loaded with android apps.

Steps (all google-able):
- register for the OS2 beta <-- currently 2.0.0.4869
- download DDPB (look it up on crackberry, there are good guides there)
- get some bar files (do apks work too?  unsure, i'll tinker)
- put playbook into development mode
- set password WITHOUT SPACES
- connect playbook to desktop (i used the original cable, in case it makes a difference)
- turn off playbook screen (not sure if this made a difference)
- close all blackberry software, including the one tucked away in the taskbar
- launch ddpb
- I used the 169.254 IP address
- choose bar files
- click install

On not having a partner

For all the pitfalls I hear of having a partner, I have discovered as many for not having one, just as severe.

Ideation
A new venture always involves a series of innovative ideas.  There might be one critical one, underlying all else, on which the venture is based.  This is one that is innovative in the realm of the business.  But there are personal innovations along the way... realizing / discovering new ways of doing old things and such.
This area, for me, is severely stunted by not having a partner with whom I can take walks and discuss random notions which invariably combine to form an actionable idea.

Strategic Discussions
It's nice to have advisors and mentors with whom I can discuss strategic ideas, but these happen infrequently... less than once a month.  The early phases of a business are so tumultuous around strategy, no matter how clear
"Business Plan v15.docx" is.  Between the continuous pivots and shifting of strategic tasks because of a potential client issue or change in environment, I find myself adjusting minor details on a regular basis, and major details more often than I would prefer.
Having a partner to share this with would really help to make sure that I am not deluding myself on my perceived changes, and the alternative idea stream helps drive up the probability of a good decision.

Work Split
Who has the time to do it all?  Nuff said.

Motivation
I find that when my motivation wanes, in previous team environments, it is easily uplifted with a session of venting, cheering, or otherwise having an emotional trade-off with my peers.  I don't have that whilst working out of my basement.  My family helps, but they're not involved in a detailed level of the business.  It's lonely.

Procrastination
I procrastinate.  Even after attending Dr. Piers Steel's discussion on procrastination, and finding myself more enlightened about the topic, and furthermore taking action to dissuade my habits, I still procrastinate on the items that carry a negative connotation.
I shouldn't.  I can't afford to.  I need someone there to push me, as I would push them.

Accountability
Being accountable to myself does me no justice.  I give myself too much leeway.  I require others to whom I must be accountable.