Spotlight on Bobby

When we asked Bobby to answer these questions he asked if we wanted “clear answers,” which should show you more about him than the answers below. He had begun wondering how different the answers would be if it was around the time of his graduation, a mere decade ago. Mostly as a writing exercise he decided to write them both down. He does stuff like that.

HOW DO YOU START YOUR DAY?

2017 Bobby: All hail the brain dump. I take out my phone and start a new note in evernote and write down all of the things bouncing around in my head to get done (usually while still lying in bed). Personal, professional, etc. Everything goes on the list.

2007 Bobby: Reeses Coco Puffs.

HOW DO YOU END YOUR DAY?

2017 Bobby: Couch, A/C, TV, Wife. Not in that order.

2007 Bobby: Is this a trick question? I already said. Reeses Coco Puffs.

WHAT’S A BOOK THAT CHANGED YOUR MIND?

2017 Bobby: Confessions of a Sociopath, by M. E. Thomas. Powerful perspective switch.

2007 Bobby: Holes. The movie version, though.

WHAT’S A BOOK YOU ALWAYS RECOMMEND?

2017 Bobby: “Manage Your Day-to-Day” by Jocelyn K Glei

2007 Bobby: Any Banksy coffee table book.

WHAT’S A STRATEGY TO KEEP FOCUSED?

2017 Bobby: I’m a big fan of a “work zone” that I leave in order to take a break. Separating the physical space between work and fun is helpful for me.

2007 Bobby: I’m a big fan of a “fun zone” that I leave in order to work. Separating the physical space between fun and work is helpful for me.

WHEN YOU WERE A KID WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?

2017 Bobby: All sorts of things. I wanted to be a chef, psychologist, writer, musician, etc. That’s probably why I landed on entrepreneur, I’m interested in a lot of things.

2007 Bobby: I would like to be a chef, psychologist, writer, musician, etc.

WHAT’S A TRIP THAT CHANGED YOU?

2017 Bobby: I spent time in Kenya that was very impactful for me. For some of the more obvious reasons like seeing poverty and hunger first hand, but it also changed the way I communicate with people in general. Having to live with a language gap for a long trip, you start to realize how much more there is to communication than words.

2007 Bobby: I helped build a house in Mexico when I was in middle school. Well I didn’t actually build it, I did nail together some lumber that I’m sure didn’t pass a safety inspection and needed to be redone.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST BUSINESS IDEA AND WHAT DID YOU DO WITH IT?

2017 Bobby: This is actually a hard one for me to answer. I’ll start by saying this, I think that there are two types of entrepreneurs. First, the kind that as a kid had cool ideas that would generate income for themselves (i.e. my co-owner Liz) or people that just didn’t think it made sense to work for someone else, so they took a stab at it themselves (i.e. you guessed it. Me.)

That being said I wasn’t the kid delivering newspapers, selling gum, or anything like that. The first business idea I had I think that actually became anything was a non-profit called “The Giving Experiment”, where people posted extra items that they had for others in need to peruse and pick up- for free. It was mildly successful, but obviously a lot of work and ZERO money coming in or going out. Is that a business? Not sure. Definitely an idea though!

2007 Bobby: Starting my band, best business idea I ever made. *mediocre guitar riff*

WHAT WAS AN EARLY JOB THAT TAUGHT YOU SOMETHING IMPORTANT OR USEFUL?

2017 Bobby: Papa Murphy’s, baby! There’s nothing like a career in pizza to pound home the importance of just showing up. Even when you’re not inspired, stuff still gets done.

2007 Bobby: Same! 2007 Bobby isn’t just some dancing clown for your entertainment, I know stuff too.

WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE YOU EVER TOOK?

2017 Bobby: I’m not sure if someone specifically said this to me, or if I read it somewhere, but it’s basically “To do right by your family is to do right in the small moments.” The big stuff matters, but the small everyday decisions tend to pile up a lot higher.

2007 Bobby: Don’t go to college (advice from 2006 Bobby, so take it for what it’s worth).

WHAT’S A PRODUCTIVITY TIP YOU SWEAR BY?

2017 Bobby: I love Evernote. I use it for everything. Two lines from a song I want to remember? Evernote. The spelling of a client’s last name for a contract I’ll send them in 2 weeks? Evernote. It’s searchable, it’s on every device, why would anyone write in anything else?

2007 Bobby: If you stay up late- don’t sleep, then you don’t have to worry about waking up feeling tired.

WHAT DOES WORK-LIFE BALANCE MEAN TO YOU?

2017 Bobby: 2015 Bobby would have a different and unhealthy answer to this question. I’ve learned a lot in the last few years, as owning a business can be all-consuming. To me it means availability. Am I available at night to cook and dance with my wife? Am I available to travel? Am I available to listen, relax, and be present? However much work I can fit in and still be available for those things, that’s my goal. Some weeks thats 60 hours, some weeks it’s way less.

2007 Bobby: Not a damn thing.

HOW DO YOU PREVENT BURNOUT?

2017 Bobby: Creating for fun. Getting to do what you love as a job is a great thing, but only doing what you love for money is a terrible thing.

2007 Bobby: Burnout is my favorite racing game to play on my friend’s Xbox 360.