Episode 22: Eric Grafstrom on The Value of Working Hard & An Insatiable Curiosity
In this episode, I’m sitting down with Eric Grafstrom who’s career spans several years in Silicon Valley at Yahoo, culminating in the creation of his own company, Exit Guide, which helps small businesses plan for their exit. I thoroughly enjoyed this interview. I learned so much from Eric, but I also laughed a lot (I hope you guys do too). This chat is perfect for anyone working in corporate who’s dreamed of starting their own business. Eric gets real on his almost religious experience of knowing when it was time to transition to something else. He encourages new entrepreneurs to embrace humility, tenacity, and curiosity.
You guys are going to learn from Eric the value of embracing failure, making mistakes, and being solution-oriented. This has become one of my favorite conversations so far because it’s refreshingly frank. We discuss the value of seeking working relationships outside your own area of expertise to grow beyond where you are now. The value of doing the hard work without expectation, what it takes to succeed today, and being true to yourself. Also, Eric is leaving you with his top key skills that every successful entrepreneur should have, so this is an episode you are not going to want to miss.
Here are the key takeaways from the episode:
If you want the promotion, you have to be proactive
Opt no for instant gratification
Problem vs. Solution People
Get experience before you become a CEO
Don’t search for a job, search for a manager
It’s okay to make mistakes
Owning who you really are
Preparing for an exit as a small business
Building stage one
It’s better to try and fail
Challenges of building startups vs big companies
Perfectionism is a symptom of fear
Key skills: Excel, Public Speaking, Network outside of your domain expertise
Connect with Eric:
Website: https://exitguide.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/exitguide/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/exitdotguide
Chapters:
00:17 Getting To Silicon Valley
03:08 Taking Risks and Embracing Curiosity
05:28 Advancing in Your Career
10:16 Learning from Others and Building Relationships
11:30 The Intersection of Curiosity and Leadership
13:31 Being a Solution-Oriented Person
19:30 The Importance of Observation and Learning
23:27 Transitioning to Entrepreneurship
25:32 Identity Shift and Finding Purpose
36:35 Creating a Solution for Small Business Owners
40:16 Building the ExitGuide Platform
44:05 Embracing Failure and Learning from Mistakes
48:24 Key Skills for Success: Excel, Public Speaking, and Networking
