Archive for the ‘Life’ Category

Posted on February 3, 2012 - by Wayne Sutton

Going back to Cali … NewME, Startup Dreams and To Change The World

“Going back to Cali, Cali, Cali…” Yesterday was a bitter-sweet day. I’m excited, nervous, sad, happy, out of my mind, but motivated. I’ve moved to San Francisco. It was a tough decision but with everything going on and my future plans, dreams and goals it’s the best move for life today.

I’ve been a long time geek, entrepreneur, blogger, designer and then some and my long time dream was making it big in Silicon Valley. Until last year I never thought it would be possible but then NewME Accelerator happen and that changed everything. I think back to 2009 while planning and giving my first Ignite talk at Ignite Raleigh the topic was 19 reasons why the Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill) is better than Silicon Valley. It was a fun presentation but doing it really just showed that being that I had never been to Silicon Valley at the time it was silly and also showed I was a little jealous and wanted to move. The Triangle community is great, has been great to me and the web/tech scene has come a long way in the past two years especially in Durham, NC. But being that I just attended an innovation Raleigh meeting where they are still trying to play catch up and establish Raleigh as an entrepreneur hot bed, I now agree and see why Vivek Wadhwa made some of his comments a few years ago about the community. No diss just the truth.

Today will be my first full day in San Francisco and I’m focused to work hard and succeed. A few days ago while visiting parents my dad asked me what do you do for fun in Silicon Valley. My response was there are things to do but you work. You work on your startup, your company, your dreams and when you launch or get funding you work even harder. That’s fun, it’s fun for me and what I love to do and it’s what I’m going to do. I’m not a big Drake fan as a few close friends know but in the words of Drake in “the Motto” #YOLO = “You only live once” and for me I rather try to make it and go after my dreams than look back a year or two years from now and say I wish I would have done this or that.

The projects I’m currently working on are:
NewME – Accelerator, Community
gokit – cofounder/advisor
Vouch
Advising Startups and Entrepreneurs
Designing, Learning and Networking: HTML5, CSS3, javascript, python, iOS, Android and more.
Speaking: Conference/University, Entrepreneurship

Thanks for the support to everyone over the years. I’m making a few big sacrifices now with the plans to succeed later. The quote by finical expert Dave Ramsey which has been adopted entrepreneurs “If you will live like no one else, later you can live like no one else.” … That’s my plan.

Let the “fun” begin and Change the world!

Quote: Steve Jobs
“Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith”

“You’ve got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. ”

“Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose.”

“Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

“Stay hungry and stay foolish”

---

via James Cox, shared by Mark Zuckerberg

Stay Focused & Keep Shipping!

Posted on December 31, 2011 - by Wayne Sutton

Wow, That was 2011? Happy New Year… Now Let’s Change The World In 2012 #changetheworld

So 2011 was the year that….
January: Epic life changing skype conversation
January: My son was born (first child)
March: SXSW (cofounded a startup, 2011 was special, thanks everyone!)
May: Black Enterprise Conference in ATL. (another great special event)
April: Saw Diddy Live in Concert with @iFroggy
June – August – Lived in Silicon Valley for the Summer with NewME Accelerator (Thanks Angela, startups, sponsors, mentors, and speakers)
September – Spoke at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation 2011 Annual Legislative Conference
October: Spoke at O’Reilly Web 2.0 conference in New York
October: Kanye West and Jay Z – Watch the Throne Concert with @iFroggy
November – CNN’s Black In America 4 Aired which covered the NewME Accelerator

All of 2011 = Met a lot of new amazing people, built closer relationships with internet friends and did my best to help as many people as I could.

Happy New Year Everyone!
Take a breath, pause for one second, say thank you and let’s get back to work, because we have a lot of work to do and let’s change the world!

I want to change the world
I want to change the world. I don’t want to occupy the world but change it.
When I change the world it’s not going to be how others think I should change the world or who I change the world with but my plans are to change the world.
To change the world, I have to change myself first and a lot of other things.
I have a few ideas about how I plan to change the world but they’re just ideas to change the world.
I do know that I’m not going to change the world by running for a political office or marching or rioting.
My ideas to change the world may reflect a small percent of the world and how people view a certain demographic of the world or people or view point but when I reach my goal, I will change the world.
I’m not going to change the world by myself.
I don’t know who’s going to change the world with me.
It’s not going to be easy to change the world, it never is, never have been or will be but I rather try to change the world than do nothing.
I want to change the world not for my personal gain but for those yet to live, grow up or who knows the world needs changing.
I’m not going to change the world how I am today, a lot has to change, but I’m up for the challenge to change the world.
When I do change it may happen in my life time or not but when you look back I hope you can at least say I tried to change the world.
I want to change the world for a better place for you and me… (insert “we are the world music”) I wish more people would want to change the world too.
What changing the world means to me may not mean the same to you but in my goals by you reading this means I’m already starting to change the world.
I have a lot to learn now, before and during trying to change the world but I’m up for the challenge.
Some of you are not going to like me while I’m trying to change the world.
While I’m changing the world I’ll look at how it impacts individual minds, our society, and our culture.
I don’t want to change the world just my way or your way but hopefully in a better way.
I don’t see changing the world as having a start or finish but an ongoing journey of goals, life lessons, conversations impacting individuals to become better and reach their goals even if that means one person at a time to help them change the world too.
Thank you to the people who have changed my world who have enabled me to help change the world.
I hope you change the world too.

Quote: Steve Jobs
“Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith”

“You’ve got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. ”

“Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose.”

“Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

“Stay hungry and stay foolish”

To be continued…

Posted on December 2, 2011 - by Wayne Sutton

Startup Quote: Don’t drink the poison!

startupquote:

The most dangerous poison is the feeling of achievement. The antidote is to every evening think what can be done better tomorrow.

via

- Ingvar Kamprad

 

Posted on November 12, 2011 - by Wayne Sutton

Dear Mr. President Barack Obama, see what had happen was… Explanation of my Black In America 4 comment about not putting money in my pocket

Tomorrow is the big day. CNN Black In America 4 airs about the NewME Accelerator and our experiences in Silicon Valley. If you have seen any of the preview trailers/commercials you can tell there are some very controversial, intense moments. You have the whole Michael Arrington situation and personally there my comment/rant where I mention President Barack Obama. Let me explain the “CONTEXT” of the situation.

First here is what I said,

It’s very sad, it’s 2011 and we have a black President … AND, he’s not putting no money in my pocket right now directly, so what do we got to do? Play the game to be successful

Here is what happen and what I remember, (I think) it was a long summer and that sound byte was around June 2011. Heck, I forgot I even said it until I saw the commercial. Regardless is was a warm summer night in Mountain View, CA at the NewME Accelerator startup house. One of our guest speakers was Professor Vivek Wadhwa was sharing his experiences as an entrepreneur and they were vary deep. Some of his stories were sad and shocking. Everything from his comments about getting a, quote “white boy” to be the face of our startups to his stories about his partners trying to cut him out of his company while in the hospital. It was a very, very emotional night. The CNN camera crews where on hand and I was feeling part mad, part sad and part shocked.

With that being said I believe the question and/or comment I was asked was about how do I feel right now, and/or what do I say to people why the NewME Accelerator is needed etc. I can’t remember if I was asked directly about President Barack Obama but I do know some of the blog comments and conversations I read or was told was about how some people were saying race doesn’t matter in Silicon Valley, and in 2011 we have a black President and we should fine, etc. You get the picture.

So, Mr. President Barack Obama, my comments were not anything negative directed towards you but more towards people who were/are saying we don’t need the NewME Accelerator when we know that not only do we need a program like the NewME Accelerator but we need multiple NewME Accelerators setup across the country to help not just minority entrepreneurs but entrepreneurs of all kind.

If you haven’t seen the CNN Black In America 4 commercial, watch the video below. My rant where I mention the President is at the one minute mark.

As for the playing the game to be successful part. Once you learn what the process is not matter if it’s pattern matching or referrals or living up to the Silicon Valley standards, then as an entrepreneur do what’s best for your startup that you feel is what’s right and you can live with.

Reminder
Watch CNN Black In America 4 this Sunday 8pm EST on CNN and then go to your computer to watch the official after Black In America 4 online live video panel and discussion with Mario Armstrong called “Innovation Nation:Startup Success”. Join us in the live chat, google hangout and more as we’ll talk about Black In America 4, Silicon Valley and more. We’ll also take questions from the online audience. When tweeting about the online live broadcast use the hashtag #bialive. The Black In America 4 hashtag is #blackinamerica. For more information about the live broadcast visit: http://www.marioarmstrong.com/on-air/innovation-nation-the-official-live-webcast/

One learning lesson out of all this to remember is to always and I mean always be careful what you say when media/cameras are around and when you’re upset, just be quiet… #lessonlearned

Posted on November 12, 2011 - by Wayne Sutton

Video: Black In America 4: Soledad O’Brien interview: Silicon Valley vs my real hometown Teachey, NC

While doing interviews about CNN’s upcoming Black In America 4 – Silicon Valley – The New Promised Land with Soledad O’Brien a few of the questions I’m often asked is what was it like living in the NewME Accelerator startup house, why go to Silicon Valley for the summer and what was it like living in Silicon Valley. It was also one of the questions that Soledad O’Brien ask me during one of our interviews.

One thing I don’t think many people know is that even though I currently live in Raleigh, NC that I’m originally from a small rural community called Teachey, NC. Yes, Teachey. According to Wikipedia in 2000, the census there were 245 people, 92 households, and 66 families residing in the town. Yes that’s the place I call home. It’s very country, I grew up cropping tobacco, working in the fields and the digital divide is very much a problem in that community even today much less growing up.

Although Raleigh, NC is a lot different from Teachey, NC there is nothing like the Silicon Valley community. Take a look at the video below of my interview with Soledad O’Brien as I talk about Silicon Valley vs Teachey, NC.

Reminder
Watch CNN Black In America 4 this Sunday 8pm EST on CNN and then go to your computer to watch the official after Black In America 4 online live video panel and discussion with Mario Armstrong called “Innovation Nation:Startup Success”. Join us in the live chat, google hangout and more as we’ll talk about Black In America 4, Silicon Valley and more. We’ll also take questions from the online audience. When tweeting about the online live broadcast use the hashtag #bialive. The Black In America 4 hashtag is #blackinamerica. For more information about the live broadcast visit: http://www.marioarmstrong.com/on-air/innovation-nation-the-official-live-webcast/