I had the pleasure of interviewing Everette Taylor Jr. the Vice President of Marketing for Skurt. Please take the time to read about this game changer leading the way in entrepreneurship.
How did you go about building your ideas for your startup businesses?
Each and every story is different but there are some underlying similarities. I always develop ideas that I can prove that there is product/market fit for that idea pretty quickly. A lot of entrepreneurs have grandiose ideas that there’s not really a need for in the market which is why a lot of tech startups fail. I’m a lot more diligent and thoughtful in my idea process. Really breaking down why there is a need for this product, would people actually purchase this product or service and for what price point and most important am I passionate about pursuing that idea. Lack of passion or wanting to start something for the wrong reasons can doom you from the start.
How do you find team members?
Well one, I look for 7 definable traits in the people I hire.
- Data and impact driven
- Emotionally intelligent thinkers
- Voracious learners
- Resiliency
- T-shaped (one transcendent skill + can wear many hats)
- Passionate and emotionally invested
- Hustler
In terms of where I find them, there’s no one singular place. I think as a CEO you have to understand the importance of diversity and that people will be discovered or discover you in a multitude of different channels.
How do you decide who is in charge of what?
Bridging passion with talent. The people are in charge of different departments or teams have a beautiful combination of passion for that particular vertical and is extremely talented in whatever that may be. Doesn’t mean they have to be the most talented on that team. The most talented does not equate to the best leader. There are a lot of intangibles that come with it.
How do you know when it’s time to scale up or sell your startup?
(laughs) Typically the success of your business and customers determine that, not you. Only a small percentage of entrepreneurs are in a position to choose between both. To have a viable option to sell or a good enough idea/business worth scaling. I think at the end of the day it really depends on the offer for your company and what you’re in it for. If you’re not in it for the money and want to build a legacy or feel that your business is worth more than what is offered – then go for it. As long as it’s really a sustainable business.
What are some of your not so successful endeavors?
I’ve been very fortunate to hit the mark pretty much every time. But there was one project I was working on in conjunction with Microsoft as a backer. It was a social app targeted towards the millennial market but was extremely flawed in its thought process and execution of building the project.
What did you learn from those experiences?
The biggest lesson I learned is that if you are leaning heavily on a company or venture capital firm for the funding of the project – it’s not your company as much as you think it may be. It also taught me that building a great project is the best form of marketing.
What advice do you have for startup entrepreneurs?
An idea doesn’t make you special. You have to cultivate that idea and reaffirm that idea by proving product/market fit and building a great product or service. Marketing and all that other stuff will fall into place. But if you don’t have that in the beginning, you’re ultimately doomed.
What do you think is the most important characteristic of a successful entrepreneur?
Emotional Intelligence. The ability to understand your users and customers beyond just data is extremely important. It helps you build better products, user experiences and marketing strategies.
What aspects of entrepreneur startups are the most difficult for you and why?
Finding life balance. Juggling personal relationships, self care and emotional health while still trying to pursue something you’re passionate about. It’s something I’ve gotten better at but still struggle with. I’m super focused and hungry still but I’m learning there’s more to life than this.
