Photo credit: Nicolas Rivet Creative Commons
Summer is traditionally time for people to relax, take vacation, spend time with family and enjoy the summer weather and holidays. Here at Perry Gruber Limited, summer has offered dramatic change and opportunity. And I’m jumping in with both feet.
It’s been amazing watching life unfold since leaving Intel more than eight months ago. Looking back, with 20/20 hindsight, I can see how circumstances aligned to make this all possible. I’ll only talk about one such circumstance in this post, otherwise we could be here all day.
In early 2008 I delivered a keynote speech at Portland State University. I spoke about a new perspective on public private partnerships. After the speech, a number of people wanted to talk with me. This isn’t unusual as my speeches tend to provoke thought and people want to share their responses. At this speech though I met one person who has had an extraordinary impact on my life and career. Mark Grimes.
Mark is the founder of Ned.com, NedSpace and a co-founder of NedWater. Back in 2008, I didn’t know all this. He just seemed really cool and thought my speech was right on for the times we’re in. That meeting (some would call it chance, but I see it otherwise) turned into a deep friendship. Little did I know that my friendship with Mark would create opportunities I had been dreaming about, but didn’ t know how to create myself.
It seems to me that the more one puts out an intention of creating a certain something, the physical universe begins organizing around that intention so that it becomes one’s reality. So has been the case with Mark. You see, I put the intention of creating businesses that make the world a better place. I didn’t know how that was going to happen, but my first foray is Perry Gruber Limited. In the last six months Mark and I have collaborated on two ventures that are still nascent, but full of promise. One is Chomper.com, an entrepreneurial educational opportunity for young people, and the other is NedWater, which you can read more about at www.liquidchange.net.
The point is, I’ve learned from Mark that flexibility is the key in creating value, making the world a better place and being an entrepreneur. The first part of this year has been a post-graduate education in entrepreneurship, another thing I set the intention to learn more about so that I can start my own businesses. Summer has only just begun, and don’t get me wrong, I’m having my share of fun and relaxation. But it’s also turning out to be the setting for great change and opportunity. Stick around, something amazing is going to emerge.