Savage Mindset: Defining Progress For The Long Game

Welcome to my newsletter. Each month, I’m sharing entrepreneurship lessons, new tech, and things that have inspired me recently. Lately I’ve been thinking about what progress looks like when you’re truly committed for the long haul.

At Wistia we’ve been at it for 17 years. I recently began to look back at moments that define progress for us for my speech at Turing Fest.?

The biggest learning from this particular experience? Progress isn’t always about pressing the gas pedal; sometimes, it’s about pumping the brakes. Ensuring we focus on what genuinely drives growth rather than getting sidetracked is a pivotal lesson I've absorbed over the years. Here are some other counterintuitive things I’ve learned about progress along the way.

Failure is progress

At Wistia, failure isn't a sign something went wrong, but rather, something went right. Why? A failure-less journey might spell more trouble than you think. Without encountering setbacks, perhaps you aren't diving deep enough into risks. Recognize that failure means:

• Speed: Failure indicates we're pushing boundaries.
• Creativity: It means we’re not limiting ourselves.
• Course Correction: We can hit a wall and get on the right path more quickly

As a leader, it’s crucial to build a culture where teams are empowered to take risks and innovate. The fear of things not working out might prevent you from taking the very risks that offer the most rewards.

So reassess how you view failure. Analyze it, converse about it, and maybe even applaud it. Approached correctly, failure can be an invaluable mentor.

The Patience of Passion

Not every idea immediately takes off, even when it’s fueled by relentless effort. But when it does get off the ground, it will be that much sweeter. I’ve heard this from several entrepreneurs on Talking Too Loud:

Dani Grant from Jam.dev highlighted how genuine innovation sprouts when founders relentlessly push forward, even when the horizon seems distant.

And Dave Rogenmoser ?? , the CEO of Jasper , told us about those "aha!" moments when market positioning becomes clear and the importance of relying on gut instincts.

Finding the right product-market fit? It's electrifying. And when it happens, there's no mistaking it.

Reflections from INBOUND

I opened this newsletter talking about those defining moments that you experience when you’re in it for the long haul. For me, the most recent one of those moments was last week at INBOUND .?

I’m super grateful to my Wistia team for crafting an unparalleled booth experience that left a lasting impression on attendees. Major props to our speakers who led two packed sessions that captivated attendees. Plus, we gathered rapid fire "Loud Takes" from more than 20 of the best and brightest speakers at the conference, so stay tuned as they echo across your social media and podcast channels soon.

Thanks for reading this month. Here's to embracing the long game and all its challenges!