Wow, My Life is Changing
I’ve been alluding to it for a while and here it is. The major update that probably won’t change your life, but it has changed mine.
You may or may not have seen that I became co-founder of a social app with huge potential last year. It was the dream I had been working towards for many years: launch a bunch of successful startups, gain experience, then parlay that into co-owning a company that makes tens or hundreds of millions of dollars.
Then, I quit.
You may be asking, “Are you out of your mind, Justin?” There’s a lot of merit in that question.
For the past few months/years/lifetime I’ve been trying to answer the question, “Who am I and why and I here?” Well, I finally figured it out. Or maybe it’t be more accurate to say I figured out a large piece.
Working on Stori was a lot of fun. Six of us rallying around an intese project that could change the world and make us a lot of money. But I began wondering if I was doing it for the money or if it was really fun. To get there, I began asking myself, “Would I be sad if I gave it up?” And the answer was yes.
So why, exactly, did I leave? While building the app and running the company as COO was a lot of fun, it wasn’t my mission. And when you know your mission you should drop everything that gets in the way and do that.
That for me is my position as Marketing Director at The Exodus Road.
Now don’t get me wrong. I believe the guys at Stori can build something that will change the world. They’d do that with or without me.
But giving up millions?
The potential to make millions of dollars definitely hung in the air. It would have been a long, tough road, and if I wasn’t in 100% I knew I’d begin to resent having to do the work every day.
I was on this path path before I left for SE Asia in January and a few weeks after returning I solidified the idea in my mind and then let my co-founders and team know. It was a tough week and a sad day when I left, but I have no doubt it’s the right decision for me.
For years I’ve known I like to be hands on. I like building and doing. In SE Asia I spent many nights undercover with Matt Parker, founder and Executive Director of The Exodus Road, working in brothels and places most people would find way too dirty to think about going in. And the thought in my mind the entire time? If I don’t do this, who will?
Last weekend we celebrated 24 children we rescued from prostitution. Girls and boys, the average age about 14.
These are my kids; your kids. And if we don’t do it, who will?
Not Giving Up
I’m still here at Coach Radio and I’m not going anywhere. There’s a real challenge in building a non-profit and a lot of carry over between us and a business. In fact, I’m launching a for-profit called Exodus Auctions next month to support our rescue work.
Many of these challenges and ideas will continue to be written and talked about on this blog. In April I’m speaking in Colorado Springs about major ideas that carry over into business. If you’re there, be sure to say hi.
Next week I’ll be sharing another new idea for me and talking about the internal struggle I’ve had for the past two months against doing it. I’ve been against it for some time but I’m finally coming around to making it a reality. You’ll be able to get involved in this too and I invite you to take a big part in it.
Pay close attention to how we’re growing Exodus Auctions. I believe it’s a game changer for us and it could be for you as well. Most of that business model will live on Facebook, so if you want the inside stuff, be sure to like the Exodus Auctions Facebook page.
Thanks for following along. I’m looking forward to sharing more next week.
P.S. That picture above is me consulting with one of the best organizations in the world. As we work together, rescue is coming.
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