Interview with A Founder: Conor McLaughlin (Co-founder of 99.co)
By David Wu (AppWorks Associate)
Conor McLaughlin was previously the Co-founder and CTO of 99.co, the real estate marketplace in Singapore and Indonesia. He spent six and a half years at the startup, whose backers include Sequoia Capital, 500 Startups, and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin, helping to grow it into a $100 million company. As a member of AppWorks Accelerator #21, he is currently working on his next big project, a yet-to-be-named language learning startup.
【What advice do you have for first-time founders?】
First, you need to decide: do I want to run a sprint or a marathon? For a sprint, you may be open to acquisition from the beginning, delay non-startup aspects of your life, give yourself two years where you drop everything to test an idea, choose to raise more money earlier on and thus be more diluted, or do anything else that implies a shorter time horizon. Typically 1-5 years - this can lead to a major boon in a short period of time if executed well. If you decide you are in the sprinting business, you will most likely be pushed toward binary outcomes because of how many investors and employees you have on your cap table. As a first-time founder, you need to be clear with yourself on what you are willing to put on the line. As Reid Hoffman says, it’s like jumping off a cliff and building a plane on the way down… hopefully you build a plane in time.
If you are running a marathon, you are deciding that your competitive advantage is consistency over intensity. You are in this for 10, 15 years. With this time horizon, you will realize you need ways to metabolize stress and maintain emotional, spiritual, and mental health. You need to maintain relationships with friends, family, and romantic partners. When you are looking at this 10 year period, you realize the people around you can only put up with so much. Unfortunately, while work is something people can generally bounce back from, there are many things in life where you cannot - an example is your relationship with your partner. If you’re going to run a marathon, you need to be clear with yourself about what time you have for other aspects of your life and what time you have for your company. Eventually you need to learn what the right speed is where you can run as long as possible. It’s amazing how often it is that those people that keep going, assuming you have chosen the right problem to solve, eventually find daylight. Part of that is just lasting long enough.
Second, you need to revisit and continually ask yourself: should I still be running a sprint or a marathon? Circumstances change. Maybe you sprinted for the first two years to secure interesting results and funding; now it's time to transition to a marathon and clean up the life debt a bit. Or inversely, maybe you're finally leaving the trough of sorrow and it's time to sprint for a bit. Most founders will be in a long distance race with periodic sprinting. From my observation, founders most often stop because of two reasons: They either A) run out of money or B) run out of energy. There’s plenty of advice out there for scenario A (hint: don’t). But in my experience, scenario B is far more pernicious and dangerous to would-be successful founders. If you are in a marathon but fail to pace yourself and run it like one long sprint, you are unlikely to make it to the end.
Much founder advice speaks to this: Don’t let your startup make you fat. Exercise 5-10% of the time. Pick up a hobby outside of your startup. Go home for holidays. All of it leads back to one thing: You need to take care of yourself. Because injury will be far worse for your progress than being a little slower. “Slow is smooth, smooth is fast”, as the US Navy Seals say. This is surprisingly difficult advice for intrinsically motivated founders to follow, because in the event of failure, it makes them vulnerable to the thought, “Well, you didn’t work hard enough.” But for those that already have the hustle, your job is to avoid the moment of epiphany where you look in the mirror and think, “This isn’t worth it.”
All founders will have to sacrifice some things. The point is to not sacrifice everything. It will make you more resilient. Not less. It will give you the space to see situations more objectively and make better decisions. And most importantly, it will let you love what you do because it will remind you that the work isn’t just in service of yourself, it’s in the service of others. I do not think you can judge hard work over a day, or even a year, but I do think you can judge hard work over 5-10 years. Hard work is not just about the next 1-2 months. There will be times when you need to run as fast as possible, but if that is happening all the time you are probably not being smart about the situation. So don’t hurt yourself, be consistent, keep disciplined, and keep going.
Lastly, focus on your metaskills. Public speaking, reading, writing - skills applied in every aspect of your life. Generally what they reflect is learning how to think better. As a founder you need to think about - how can I think more clearly, be more creative, rigorous, analytical? As Warren Buffett and others have said: I have never seen a successful person that did not read as often as they could. Actual books and long form scare a lot of people. That’s your competitive advantage. Read blog posts from smart people, follow smart people on Twitter, listen to podcasts. Always be focused on how you can develop yourself to think better. Fostering the habit of improving your thinking will foster discipline in yourself. And discipline will let you turn that rigorous thinking into action.
【I imagine running the “race” has been especially tough this year. How have you gotten through 2020?】
I have leaned on routine and community. I’ve spent a lot of time trying to foster discipline in myself. I make my bed every morning, meditate every morning, make sure that I go to the gym 3-4 times a week. There’s so much uncertainty in both the world and the entrepreneurial space. Keeping certain things consistent gives me a spine to my life that I can fall back on. If I’m not feeling well, my discipline takes over and I’ll go to the gym. That helps me relieve stress - falling back to routine and having some mainstays of consistency and structure.
And community - it’s been the big mental health zeitgeist of this year. Everyone is recognizing that without the people around us, our mental health diminishes. Joining AppWorks was very intentional so I could surround myself with like-minded people who could question me, hold me accountable, and inspire me. And also just forming personal connections where I felt that I was still taking care of my mental health by connecting with others. Being a founder is an incredibly lonely journey. In the early days, there’s not a lot of people around. Later, when you do hire lots of people, you need to be the boss, the leader - for certain things, you can’t tell the employees everything, and even if you do, there will always be a bit of distance. You need people to relate to - people want to be seen for who they are, and appreciated for what they give. When you are a founder, sometimes it’s hard to feel that you are seen. So I intentionally put myself in situations where I can be inspired, be held accountable, and more importantly connect with others, and feel that I’m not alone. And that me and my co-founders are part of a communal journey with those around us.
【When you talk about how to run the race, I get the sense that you’re drawing from previous experiences and, perhaps, mistakes. What are the mistakes you’ve made in your founder journey and the takeaways?】
I think you could take a calendar, point to a random week, and we could list out all the mistakes from that week (laughs). I do subscribe to Steve Jobs’ philosophy: mistakes will happen, but mistakes happening means we are making decisions. Not making decisions is perhaps the biggest mistake. It’s often the reason for frustration, loss of speed, loss of momentum - so many of the issues you encounter in startups. Not making enough mistakes is probably the #1 mistake that I’ve made.
Second, going back to my advice to first-time founders, is not understanding what game I’m playing. Not understanding that all the money in the world is not going to be worth it if your spouse or partner decides to leave you because you have relegated them to a second-class citizen in your life. I think I forgot that at points. There is more to life than just the company.
Third, be careful about who you choose to work with. At minimum, if you’re doing a standard 8-9 hours at the office five times a week, that’s a lot of time with those people. You want to like the people that you work with - you want to know they’re high integrity, you want to respect their values, and you want to have common values. Choosing the right people that give you energy rather than take it away just makes running the marathon so much easier.
【We welcome all AI, Blockchain, or Southeast Asia founders to join AppWorks Accelerator: https://bit.ly/3r4lLR8 】
同時也有11部Youtube影片,追蹤數超過329的網紅Beixin & Robin,也在其Youtube影片中提到,When we read about Beyond Expeditions' Back-to-Basics: Woodcraft & Bushcraft Experience, we knew we had to sign ourselves up! The day started with a...
「singapore short form」的推薦目錄:
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- 關於singapore short form 在 Cheekiemonkies Facebook 的精選貼文
- 關於singapore short form 在 YongKaiiii Facebook 的最佳貼文
- 關於singapore short form 在 Beixin & Robin Youtube 的最讚貼文
- 關於singapore short form 在 Beixin & Robin Youtube 的最佳貼文
- 關於singapore short form 在 Lindie Botes Youtube 的最讚貼文
- 關於singapore short form 在 Singaporeans Try: Singapore Acronyms - YouTube 的評價
- 關於singapore short form 在 YouTube Shorts Fund - Google Help 的評價
singapore short form 在 Cheekiemonkies Facebook 的精選貼文
[GIVEAWAY]
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I usually hear this from Ale every 2 or 3 days… actually, the wifey experiences the EXACT same thing too. But after taking Akesi’s probiotics products for close to a month, that frequency has dwindled! That’s because a healthy gut means a healthy overall well-being. How so?
For starters, did you know that our gut is home to more than 100 trillion bacteria? Wait, what??? But this isn’t a bad thing actually. The good bacteria play a vital role in our metabolism and health, which is why the gut is largely responsible for the critical functions of our bodies. Simply put, your gut is your second brain.
So as much as we nourish our brains, we should nourish our guts as well. And that is where Akesi Wellness comes in. Founded by two mums in Singapore, Akesi’s products supports the immune system (especially important right now!), assist with digestive health and help to maintain regular bowel movements. In short, Akesi nurtures good gut health. Even better, it is so EASY and DELICIOUS to consume them on a daily basis! And I’ve got two products to recommend.
If you are short on time, go for the Probiotic+ Elderberry Boost powder. Just one teaspoon a day contains 10 billion cfu of 10 probiotic strains, prebiotic fibre and elderberry. Since it is in powder form, it is incredibly versatile. The kids love putting it directly in the mouth where it will dissolve like a fun sherbet (it’s sweet, and totally not sour at all!). For me, I love sprinkling it over yoghurt or mixing it into my smoothies.
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singapore short form 在 YongKaiiii Facebook 的最佳貼文
I’ve been hearing tons of good reviews for @burgerandlobster and it’s a big hit and snaking queues started to form after they’ve opened a branch in Singapore!.
•
And when craving hits, It’s hard to resist not having it but to order some of their Signatures to try it out! So we’ve decided to go for —> Combo for 2 • [$115++] Where you’ll get X1 of 1.5Lb lobster coming either steamed or grilled, a choice of two mains, a choice of two sides and all served alongside with lemon garlic butter and two drinks options also included!.
•
And we went ahead with
their Signature Original Roll and & Mayfair Burger for our mains and Truffle Fries and Sautéed Mushrooms for sides!.
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Long story short, it’s just overwhelming and beyond my expectations! // @burgerandlobstersg @ Burger & Lobster Raffles Hotel
singapore short form 在 Beixin & Robin Youtube 的最讚貼文
When we read about Beyond Expeditions' Back-to-Basics: Woodcraft & Bushcraft Experience, we knew we had to sign ourselves up!
The day started with a short boat ride to Pulau Ubin, an island off eastern Singapore, where we spent a rejuvenating day away from civilisation. We picked up basic bushcraft (wilderness survival skills) from the super knowledgeable Scott, took turns to saw and chop fallen firewood, learnt some woodcraft from the talented Frederick, and made ourselves a scrumptious aglio olio lunch over open fire.
What a day it was, and what a workout too! We had such a good time we frankly didn't even stop to check our phone once.
A big thank you to Beyond Expeditions for the hospitality, and Seek Sophie for organising this experience.
Wanna try your hand at Bushcraft & Woodcraft too?
Sign up with Beyond Expeditions:
https://beyondexpeditionssg.com/events/2020/11/1/back-to-basics-chopstick-carving-amp-bushcraft-experience
Or book the experience through Seek Sophie:
https://www.seeksophie.com/options/wilderness-survival-experience
Featuring:
Shawne Koh - https://www.youtube.com/user/shawneydepp
May our videos be a form of escapism and source of zen for you, and encourage you to appreciate the little, simple things in life. Even in these turbulent times, there is still much beauty in this world if we keep our hearts and minds open.
Cheers!
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singapore short form 在 Beixin & Robin Youtube 的最佳貼文
Since travelling abroad is discouraged at the moment, we decided to do a short staycation in our own country. We spent 3D2N at Lloyd's Inn, a bright, minimal, and aesthetic boutique hotel located in Somerset. Here's what our staycation looked like.
Video shot with the Canon EOS R6, RF 15-35mm f2.8 lens, with the exception of the drone shots. Special thanks to Canon Singapore for letting us experience the Canon EOS R6.
May our videos be a form of escapism and source of zen for you, and encourage you to appreciate the little, simple things in life. Even in these turbulent times, there is still much beauty in this world if we keep our hearts and minds open.
Cheers!
---------
x Connect with Us
instagram - https://instagram.com/beixinandrobin
beixin's instagram - https://instagram.com/beixin
robin's instagram - https://instagram.com/robinlamhj
facebook - http://www.facebook.com/beixinandrobin
x Gear List:
Main Camera - Canon EOS R
Main Lens - Canon RF 28-70mm f2
Tele Lens - Canon RF 70-200mm f2.8
Mic - Rode Videomic Pro NTG
Drone - DJI Mavic 2 Pro
x Music
Artlist - https://artlist.io/Robin-58878
(Get 2 months free)
x Software
Adobe Premiere Pro
Contact us at beixinandrobin@gmail.com
singapore short form 在 Lindie Botes Youtube 的最讚貼文
Is it ever ok to be jealous of someone's language skills? What about when you feel inadequate or feel like you're not as good as anyone else? Is it alright to compare yourself to others if you use it as a form of motivation? Valeria and I discuss these things in today's video. I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:00 YouTuber pressure
02:00 Online language community
02:18 She used to hate me lol
03:47 Interacting with the community
05:04 Comparison and humility
06:29 Female representation
07:12 All communities have jealousy
08:51 Perfectionism & comparison in languages
10:51 Positive comparison
11:30 You don't see the hard work of others
12:27 Perfectionism affecting speaking
13:52 Judgement that won't come
14:28 Fearlessness
15:18 Beginners have it easier?
16:00 Underrepresenting your level
16:18 End
Sorry for the abrupt end; our cameras died oops
Valeria's channel https://www.youtube.com/c/valeriatiourina
Valeria's Twitter https://twitter.com/valeria_v_t
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Welcome to my channel! My name is Lindie and I share my love for languages through my polyglot progress and language learning tips here. South African by birth, I spent most of my life in France, Pakistan, the UAE and Japan. Now I work as a UI/UX designer in Singapore. I'm a Christian and strive to shine God’s light in all I do. May this channel inspire you to reach your language goals!
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?BOOKS I USE
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Japanese for Busy People on Amazon → https://geni.us/JapaneseForBusy1
Advanced Japanese for Busy People → https://geni.us/JapaneseForBusy3
Korean Grammar in Use Intermediate → https://geni.us/KoreanGrammarUse
Korean TOPIK exam prep → https://geni.us/TOPIK2prep
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Some links are affiliate links, and a percentage goes towards supporting my channel.
Collabs & partnerships: hello@lindiebotes.com
singapore short form 在 YouTube Shorts Fund - Google Help 的推薦與評價
Everyone can watch Shorts and create them with YouTube's short-form video ... Serbia; Singapore; Saudi Arabia; Slovakia; Slovenia; South Africa; South Korea ... ... <看更多>
singapore short form 在 Singaporeans Try: Singapore Acronyms - YouTube 的推薦與評價
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