I was recently honored to emcee the largest entrepreneurship conference in Tennessee, “3686." More than 700 founders, ecosystem partners and investors from all over the place came together in a BIG way to meet up, learn, and hopefully turn big ideas into action.
Knoxville showed up as well, with attendees including the winners of Startup Day, John Phillips of Primeaux and Don DeRosa of Eonix. A big thanks to the Launch Tennessee team, who brought so many incredible, diverse and engaged voices to the stage in Nashville.
I’m already looking forward to soaking in all that energy again next year. In the meantime, I wanted to share my opening remarks that kicked off the conference.
Through a somewhat unconventional career as an artist, entrepreneur, storyteller and now as chief of strategy for Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, I’ve been pretty lucky. (Note ‒ I know, I know … every entrepreneur worth their salt has commas for days when we’re asked, “So what do you do?” and I’m guilty as charged.) I’ve gotten to help brands come to life, to see teams come together, to be on the side of winning ‒ and losing ‒ pitches, and to play at least a small part in seeing companies succeed to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. If there’s anything I’ve learned over the last 20 years, none of that success has come from saying no. No hero’s journey begins by NOT going on the adventure ‒ with Frodo NOT picking up the ring, Picasso NOT taking up his paintbrush or an entrepreneur NOT taking on a big idea.
At our own Maker City Summit earlier in September, my friend Jarius Bush recounted how many times he has heard the word “NO” throughout his life. (Jarius is a musician, designer, community leader and artist; there go those commas again!) No, you’re not supposed to be here. No, you can’t possibly solve this problem. No, we don’t want your ideas. To a broader audience this might sound something like: No, you can’t possibly take on something as big as climate change. No, you can’t possibly change the future of healthcare. No, you can’t share your creative vision that may change the world.
Lord help me, what a boring story that becomes. That’s a story that ends in the first chapter with all the kids going home. No journey, no big battle sequence, no romance and no adventure. And I think we’re all capable of so many more chapters.
So, I’d like to introduce a new story for all of us. A story that begins with: “Yes, AND…." It’s a tool of improvisational theater that allows for constant, glorious iteration of ideas. Yes, AND you’re supposed to be here. Yes, and you can solve this problem. Yes, and we do want your ideas. Yes, and you can take on climate change. Yes, and you can change the future of healthcare. Yes, and you can share your vision for a better world. Yes, and you can help others do it as well.