I didn’t write this series to teach you how to make money. There are libraries full of books on how to make money and Lord knows there are countless websites and Instagram business coaches ready to sell you a program to make you a millionaire. I wrote this series to enable you to improve your life and change our world.

Regardless of what profession, education, culture, religion, or life experience you come to Ideas Suck! with you have most likely come here because you have entrepreneurial aspirations. If so, welcome. If not, welcome. Glad you’re here.

I define “entrepreneur” as:

“Somebody who envisions and creates that which does not exist so that it might provide value to humanity.”

Generating revenue is not part of my definition because, frankly, I reject the capitalistic stranglehold on innovation and value creation. The focus on money breeds entrepreneurs whose sole motivation is to make money and that’s a solid path toward vapidness. As Guy Kawasaki says:

“Make meaning, not money.”

Revenue is a byproduct of good innovation and problem solving. It should not be the goal. Therefore, the measure of success for an entrepreneur should not be limited by his/her ability to generate revenue and sky-high valuations. A better measure of success is in the benefit the entrepreneur provides humanity, even if only for a small segment.

Imagine the entrepreneur who develops something that solves a VERY serious problem for a VERY small number of people. He/she may not make much (or any) money, but the value provided by their innovation was life-changing for a select few and that’s to be celebrated and encouraged. Sometimes, the entrepreneur solves a problem for a LOT of people and makes a LOT of money. That too is to be celebrated and encouraged so long as the focus is not taken from the benefit provided and placed on the reward gained.

In other words, I believe that entrepreneurs can see what our world needs and find a way to provide it, which makes entrepreneurs visionaries. I believe visionaries, if properly educated and supported, can and will change our world for the better. That’s what a hero does and our world definitely needs more heroes. Fortunately for our world, there is a hero inside each of us.

I began teaching the Ideas Suck! workshop as a way to enable aspiring entrepreneurs to better execute their business goals and realize their inner hero. What started as a simple workshop for aspiring entrepreneurs has grown into a nationwide conversation on health, readiness, altruism, and empowerment for entrepreneurs who are changing our world with their ventures. You see, your idea is just a starting point, not a destination or achievement.

It’s your ability to execute your idea that will let you achieve your goals and it takes a prepared mind and heart to properly execute an idea.

I’ve come to realize that ideas suck because no matter how good they are, they rely on us having our sh*t together in order to be realized. Ideas die without us. Ideas die because of us. Our ideas need us to have our heads on straight so they can thrive… so too does humanity.

I’m creating the Ideas Suck! series from my own experiences in business, in life, and in pursuit of my purpose. What Simon Sinek would call my “Why.” What I teach in my workshops and what you’ll read in this series comes from the mistakes I’ve made, lessons I’ve learned, and education I’ve received. It also comes from countless conversations with fellow entrepreneurs around the world who have been kind enough to give me insight into their experiences, mistakes, and innovations. I bare my soul in these pages and offer them to you so that you might find a more efficient path toward achieving your goals and improving our world…

Our world needs visionaries. Our world needs heroes.