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Toby Lucich
learning cool things with smart people

What I hope I’ve Learned

I’ve tried many things, failed at several, and have found success in a few. Failing is fun, just not terribly profitable.

Some things I’ve been more committed to seeing through, and others just weren’t for me. Most you can change your mind and simply walk away from.

I know a guy - for a long while now, like since before facial hair was an option - and we’ve taken a few runs at things along the way.

Here’s a short list of things I recently shared with him about what I’ve learned, heading into my next adventure. Hopefully I’ve learned a thing or two.
 
Kumquat (RIP 2006–07) A very elegant, on-demand self-driven 360 feedback tool.

  1. You must tell people about it, even when you are bored telling them about it.
  2. You must have a revenue plan for it to become a business that replaces your normal income.
  3. Ease of use and beauty don’t have to be the MVP (but it was sure nice that we could launch like this).
  4. “Build it and they will come” only happens to Kevin Costner.
     
    Responsible Coffee (RIP 2010–11) Subscription-based, mail-order coffee from the most responsible plantations (oxymoron?) on earth.
  5. You must have a soul-level connection with the idea and mission, or this is a “red-headed stepchild at a private school” kind of headache.
  6. You are well-served to offer something you own expertise around, or are willing to become expert in.
  7. Own your own supply chain if you want to be able to negotiate.
  8. Sell, sell, sell. Like your life (livelihood) depended on it.
     
    About Myself (1970 - ?) An impatient business person with a creative soul. I don’t yet know what my legacy will be, but have an amazing wife and two little-ish people with my last name roaming around my house, which seems like a good start.
  9. I love ideas - quickly, intensely, and shortly.
  10. I need to build buy-in rapidly, and gather quick (even small) wins to stay motivated.
  11. I am not as financially motivated as I once thought, but I still like the things that having money can make possible.
  12. I am better off focusing on services, and finding partners that do technology.