Uncharted

Nicole Maffeo, co-founder of Gambit Robotics, Inc., does not claim to be a naturally good problem solver. She worked at it, starting from a young age with the greatest teacher a young entrepreneur could ask for: Chess. “I think you lose 65% of the games,” says the former player for the USA. “And most games were around 6.5 hours long… just sitting there staring at the board. I got pretty disciplined about just trying and trying solution after solution, and seeing what panned out and what didn't.” Listen to the full episode of the Uncharted Podcast below. Spotify:https://lnkd.in/eMdrG_WN Apple:https://lnkd.in/egFKJ85y YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eCswKknT

As natural fixers, it is a strange idea for an entrepreneur to pause to think about how they actually solve a problem. How do we identify the problem to begin with? How do we outline the right solution? Is there even a good path forward, or a few mediocre paths? And, as entrepreneurs, designed to persevere through the bodyblows of failure, do we ever ask if there is a limit to just how much we can take? Or can we train ourselves to outlast it? In the latest episode of the Uncharted Podcast, Jason Feifer, Entrepreneur Magazine Editor in Chief, sits down with Nicole Maffeo, co-founder of Gambit Robotics, Inc., to discuss the art and science of problem solving, and how to build a tolerance and patience for failure. Listen to the full episode of the Uncharted Podcast below. Spotify:https://lnkd.in/eMdrG_WN Apple:https://lnkd.in/egFKJ85y YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eCswKknT

We’re told to start with the ends in mind. But who is telling us if we are aiming to the right ends? In this week’s episode of the Uncharted Podcast, Jason Feifer sits down with serial entrepreneur and exited founder Michael Louis to discuss the strategies to get you to an exit. The key take away? Forget about the exit. Instead, ask yourself: “Is this the next stage of my journey? Am I losing interest? Is it a good deal?” Listen to the full episode of the Uncharted Podcast below. Spotify: https://lnkd.in/e_hSBWJV Apple: https://lnkd.in/eU-dhGfs YouTube: https://lnkd.in/ezWcsnhP

In some interview questions, there are no wrong answers. But there absolutely are right ones. For Michael Louis, founder and CEO of Cerebrium, looks for the “right” responses from his interviewees. “They always tell us they want to compete against the best in the world and they just want that.” The formula follows: personal ambitions + company resources = the best product possible. Listen to the full episode of the Uncharted Podcast below. Spotify: https://lnkd.in/e_hSBWJV Apple: https://lnkd.in/eU-dhGfs YouTube: https://lnkd.in/ezWcsnhP

Human nature calls for us to make plans. Even as entrepreneurs we have the urge to imagine 5-10 years out (usually with an exit in there at some point). We know that control is just an illusion, but we’re still tempted by it anyway. But serial entrepreneur Michael Louis is grounded in reality. “No one knows what’s going to happen in the next 6-12 months… Let me just get through this next week!” Listen to the full episode of the Uncharted Podcast below. Spotify: https://lnkd.in/e_hSBWJV Apple: https://lnkd.in/eU-dhGfs YouTube: https://lnkd.in/ezWcsnhP

There’s an old saying that asks, How do you eat an elephant? The answer: One bite at a time. Michael Louis is a 4-time serial entrepreneur who has built business in entirely different verticals. He has seen multiple exits, and has managed thousands of people. In the latest episode of the Uncharted podcast he addresses the skills necessary to build winning businesses, including how to problem solve… one bite at a time.  “I like to think about how to get to my next problem, because it gives a way to focus on what is my next biggest issue.” He says. “It’s about getting to the next problem as quickly as possible.” Listen to the full episode of the Uncharted Podcast below. Spotify: https://lnkd.in/e_hSBWJV Apple: https://lnkd.in/eU-dhGfs YouTube: https://lnkd.in/ezWcsnhP

Validating an idea is a slippery slope. There will always be another bell or whistle to add that will make it investable, scalable and ultimately, exit-able, leaving the founder in a perpetual holding pattern. But ideas are rarely perfect, which is why serial entrepreneur Michael Louis looks for the things that invalidate an idea. “What can I do to prove that this is never going to work at scale?” He asks himself. When he comes up short, he commits. Listen to the full episode of the Uncharted Podcast below. Spotify: https://lnkd.in/e_hSBWJV Apple: https://lnkd.in/eU-dhGfs YouTube: https://lnkd.in/ezWcsnhP

In a career pivot, most people rely on transferable skills, knowing it will only take you so far. Which is why most people choose an industry, and stick to it for the rest of their lives. But trying to leverage transferable skills at the founder level, across verticals? That’s crazy. Unless you’re Michael Louis, co-founder of Cerebrium, and a serial entrepreneur across four totally different industries, with a few exits under his belt. In the latest episode of the Uncharted podcast, Jason Feifer sits down with Michael to talk about what it takes to win in spaces you’ve never worked in before, using the same lessons he learned in his first company, up to today’s current business. Listen to the full episode below. Link in the comments. 

Focus can be blinding. When in the thick of the build, other things take precedence over being present. The result? The false belief that we have more time. Resilience expert Dr. Taryn Marie Stejskal reminds us of a hard truth which is that, we don’t. “Today is your whole life.” It’s not macabre, it’s reality. And being resilient means having perspective. Finding enjoyment, even during tough times, gives us longevity. Check out the comment section for more ways to stay present and avoid burnout on the Uncharted Podcast.

Avoiding burnout can feel counter intuitive. Entrepreneurs sign up for the long haul, which plows a hole in any immediate plans. The problem? For most entrepreneurs, the goal post moves and the end gets further away. Delaying enjoyment feels like a necessary evil of entrepreneurship. But it only draws burnout closer. Short-term joy, Dr. Taryn Marie Stejskal reminds us, fuels us throughout our day. Mid-term plans, like going to a concert, gives us something to look forward to. Without short term and mid-term goals, burnout looms and our long term goals get even longer. Learn more about how to avoid burnout with Dr. Taryn Marie Stesjkal on the Uncharted Podcast. Links in the comments.