Who’s Line is it Anyway?

I have come to the realization that at this early stage of my entrepreneurial journey, the improvisational theatre classes I took are just as helpful as the skills I acquired during my MBA. I am at the earliest phase of entrepreneurship – finding the next big idea. This exploration is about inventing, creating, and imagining dreams. At this phase of the journey the beginnings of an idea are nothing but a house of cards that are easy to criticize and pull apart.  

 

In improvisational theatre you learn the art of invention and imagination since there is no predefined script or crops on stage. In order for an improvised scene to be successful, the actors involved must work together responsively to define the parameters and action of the scene, in a process of co-creation.  During a scene each actor makes an “offer”, meaning that he or she defines some element of the scene. It is the responsibility of the other actors to accept the “offer” that their fellow performers make and then build upon them. The technique is known as “Yes, And…”. It is considered the cornerstone of improvisational technique. In this manner the scene develops into a funny story that no one could have predicted.

 

As my entrepreneurial buddies pitch their ideas or as we spark and improvise on new ideas, I try my best to wear my improvisational hat. The entrepreneurs I connect with each have the ability to “yes, and” one another’s ideas which often evolves into a direction that we did not originally intend.  My MBA skills will have plenty of opportunity to apply the economic riggor needed to filter and refine the ideas. But for now I prefer a stage on which everything is possible.

 

[Some people know improvisational theatre from the TV show called “Who’s Line is it Anyway?”.  I found the clip below worthy of a good laugh so I decided to share it]

Intellect vs. Emotion

I am lucky to have a Father who is both wise and knows me well. He enlightened me with some insight that I think is worth spreading. Last night, as we were sharing some quality time over a delicious meal, I expressed my concern about finding an idea for a start-up that could truly get me passionate. I am talking about the kind of passion that turns work into a mission, sets your adrenaline on fire, and makes you jump out of bed in the morning with a vengeance.

 

Over the past few months I have been exposed to many entrepreneurial ideas and have developed some of my own. However, I have not yet found an idea that got me emotionally excited and passionate. I have no intention of landing from my cliff jump until I find a direction that brings all my energy to the surface. But finding the idea that will result in professional happiness and fulfillment is a daunting job.

 

Here comes my Father’s insight. For the past 15 years of my life, I have been conditioned by my work environment to think rationally. Didactical reasoning has become my source of income. Building products based on data collection, analysis, synthesis, and extrapolation has been my basis for finding and delivering new innovative products designed to meet customer needs. BUT that same methodical process does not work when you soul search for what gets you passionate. The heart and mind work on two very different spectrums. It doesn’t help to use your head in order to figure out what your heart wants to do. All those pros and cons lists go right out the door. It’s about tapping into that inner source that defines your personal meaning.

 

So where does that leave me? Great question.  I asked it myself.

 

This is the part where the Father gives the son one of those “you need some time” answers. After 15 years of intellectual conditioning it looks like I need to spend some time freeing my mind and letting the emotional side grow stronger until one day as I am researching a new idea it will send a clear signal that “bingo” we have lift off.

Cliff Jumping

The best events in my life happen when I embrace radical change. I am talking about the decisions where I gave up extremely comfortable positions with little insight about my next adventure. Don’t get me wrong, each time it is scary as hell. But experience is showing me that betting on extreme change pays back in spades.

I know this sounds like dime store psychology (are dimes even worth something in today’s weak dollar?). But I have numerous examples. Each time I jumped off a cliff where I couldn’t even see the bottom, I landed at a higher point. In early 2000, I left my job at Microsoft with the hopes of starting a company but I was clueless as to the direction I would take. My Microsoft unvested stock options were worth close to a million dollars. Everyone (including my parents) thought I was absolutely nuts for leaving. But by the end of 2000, I had started a company that would have a dramatic effect on my life. Had I kept my Microsoft stock options they would have been worthless (Microsoft’s stock dropped in half during the dot com implosion).

Today, I am leaving SAP, a great company that has been extremely good to me. I have a very interesting job and excellent conditions. A recession is looming and some say it is already here. So by most rational accounts this is NOT the right time to go anywhere. You should be taking cover under your desk and not leaving the building. To make matters worse, I have limited insight regarding the next company I will start.

Before I turn my head completely forward to embrace the jump I want to say a few words about the ground I am standing on. I would recommend working at SAP any day of the week. The company is full of talented people and will continue to influence the hi-tech economy for years to come. It is one of the best places in the world to learn about management and how to build complex software that runs the businesses of the world. I will always be a fan of the company and realize that my quilted parachute is made up of many patches that I collected while at SAP.

See you at the top… [jump]