Archive for the ‘Life’ Category

Posted on May 2, 2012 - by Wayne Sutton

Your Time is Limited via Steve Jobs

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s 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.
via Steve Jobs

New motto:#DES = Do Epic S….#thatisall #tobecontinued

— Wayne Sutton (@waynesutton) April 30, 2012

#DES

Posted on February 24, 2012 - by Wayne Sutton

Suicide in Success, Race and Social Media

Suicide
Suicide is one of those topics that is not talked about enough like AIDS, HIV, and other serious issues that should be discussed more openly instead how to get more twitter followers or increasing your klout score. Suicide in tech and social media has been a topic more recently in the past year with the deaths of Ilya Zhitomirskiy, co-founder of at the age of 22 and Trey Pennington which both sent shock waves to their colleagues and those who they had a relationship with online.

For the black/African-American community suicide is hardly a thought for most as there’s enough black on black crime doing it’s damage. But recently with the deaths of Don Cornelius and Whitney Houston it has been in the news. Still some African-Americans are looking for someone to blame as the cause of the person to commit suicide vs looking at life, stress, pressure in general. What’s even worse is if it’s a celebrity, funerals have become big money publicity stunts for media and other parties involved. It’s a damn shame. Think about Michael Jackson’s funeral even though he didn’t kill himself and no I didn’t watch his funeral activities or Whitney Houston’s. In Don Cornelius and the other 30,000 a year suicide cases that happen a lot of people ask why? Why would someone want to commit suicide. Then there’s the religious side of things for the faith based community. That a person is going to hell or won’t’ be let in the pearly gates if they do and that starts another debate. Regardless of why people commit suicide we know that stress and/or something in their life has cause a reaction to create a need to want to end it all. One of those reactions is the goal of success.

Success
Success means something different to a lot of people. For many it’s money, or having material items or to be portrayed to have reached a status quo. For others it’s reaching a set of goals as to launching a company, completing task and/or being happy. But with the pressure of success and failures on the way to success it can create mountains of emotional turmoil that can lead for many, drinking, drugs, or other crazy activities to find an outlet to get away from everything. People are human, not robots and somewhere along the way it seems that we have forgotten about that and the line of judging others because you have a twitter, facebook, google+ or a blog gives everyone the right to judge others that can cause pressure that could lead to suicide. Just like how one status message can lead to job opportunity or a funding round it could also lead to someone’s death bed. You never know what mindset someone is in or what they’re going through.

Race
Race, race, race. It’s a never ending topic. Honestly I’m tired of talking about race but as a black man trying to make a name for myself and others in a primary white male industry it’s tough. Now it’s not just the industry but it’s my area of residence. I’m now in San Francisco and you all know it’s far from North Carolina. Some of the stories I’ve been told over the past five days have been mind blowing along with some of the reactions I’ve seen. A guy told me the other day that he used to work in Cupertino and he could go 30 days without seeing another black person. Stories like that along with being looked at like you’re about to rob a bank just cause you walking down the street or being talked to like you just saw your first computer last week. It’s insulting and sad. I’m not crying racist, it’s just the culture and if people don’t see or are not familiar with an intelligent black/brown person they’re first reaction is to think about what they know and what they see. That in San Francisco is a lot of homeless black people. It is what it is and it sucks.

I want people to look and treat me and others as humans as the same as the next person but despite how much accomplishments one or few African Americans have made we still have a long way to go. You may not think so or may think everything is ok but as the saying goes. You’ll never know what it’s like unless you ……..

Sidebar:
It’s crazy and stupid to see trending topics on twitter cause the riot police has been called because people are going crazy for a pair of shoes. Now I know everyone of those individuals are not black but majority are. What the hell are we doing people… my people? It’s 2012! If the shoes cost $250.00 and if 2,000 people take the $250 and put together that’s $500,000. That’s more than enough to fund or help get started 10 or more startups that could create jobs in the community. More on that in another rant post. I guess the same can be said for iPhone and other gadgets too.

Social Media.
Well… I don’t being like called a social media guy! But that’s my own fault. As an early adopter I used to call myself a social media strategist back in 2006 before 99% of the internet knew what twitter was and the sharks came. Guess I did a good job at marketing myself that but at the end of the day I’m an entrepreneur. Regardless what social media has done as the term has become main stream along with the platforms it has giving people a voice an outlet to say what’s on their mind at anytime. IMHO many shouldn’t say anything at all but we have the freedom of speech in America. Still as things continue to go from bad to worse kids are being bullied online, adults attacked verbally and the news media outlets covering it all just for a good story and ratings. It’s not going to change, only get worse. Like I’ve said years ago and in this post. Think before you post online and everyone is human. Put yourself in anyone shoes before you start attacking or judging. Music artist, actors, kids, family members, black, white, brown or whatever we’re all human.

Back to Suicide
Honestly, suicide is something I think about almost everyday. I’ve thought about it over the years. I think about it as an outlet to get away from life pressures from family expectations, online expectations, regrets and pain from the past or just wanting to reach goals now. I think about everything I wish I would have done different from instead of spending hours on twitter to learning how to code in 2006. From business deals and relationships. From making scarifies and moving hoping to make it big so one day my son will have a better life. From worrying about society and what other people will say. From just being tired. Despite what people may see online or I share, life is not a box of chocolate. Like I said on the CNN documentary, I won’t’ success so bad it hurts. As for me, what I consider success is not just money although that does help. It’s reaching a goal to be in a position where I can make a difference in the world to have impact to change hearts, minds and lives for the greater good of mankind. That drives me. I know it won’t come overnight and just like past years where I thought about suicide I would have a milestone saying, let’s see how this works or get to that point and go from there.

For now life continues as I deal with striving for success, breaking down racial barriers and using social media for the great good in the next chapter of my life.

Disclaimer:
Yep, I having a bad day but all will be well. Keep moving forward and if you’re thinking about suicide please find an outlet and someone to talk to immediately.

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