A year ago, when asked how I'm going to find the people in my team. How am I going to get funding. I tell them, If this is meant to be, God will present the right people at the right time.
As tragic as my life has been, there is no way you can't believe in God if you know all the events.
And even now, my belief in God is stronger than ever. Right now, I have never been more financially unstable. I literally have no money. My sister has been supporting me for a few months, and that will come to and end. And yet, I know this is perfectly the right time, and right moment for me to be attempting this startup. My spirit is good.
At the Jane Park Startup Grind event, during networking, anytime anyone asked me who I am...my response is - "I'm a homeless person"
An Asian man with a camera around his neck literally took 3-4 steps away from me and started a conversation with someone else, after I said I am homeless. He didn't say a word and moved away. Serious. lol
So!, disappointed and feeling I wasted $20 of gas, I walked into the elevator. I held the door for a nicely dressed Asian woman.
She asked me the time. " 9:14 pm"
She asked me if I learned anything tonight : "Nope, I didnt't learn a thing. "
She asked me what brought me here:" I'm a homeless person"
.......and from there she opened up to me. Asking how I am. How do I do it. Telling me the tough time she had and how her family struggled.
We are at the lobby, I thank her for her concern but she must be in a hurry for she asked me about the time. She insisted we talk. We walked into the lobby of the orchestra entrance at Benaroyal Hall.
Some guy with a bassoon case walks by. 5-6 people with cases of instruments. Group after group of musicians and people walking buy.
She is flying out to Shanghai tomorrow morning. She also had an husband to get home to. And yet, she stood there and talked to me for an 53 minutes. We didn't talk about startups. We talked about life. She didn't start trying to educate me like Jane Park did. She shared her deepest stories. Her face showed genuine concern of one human toward another. -----She did not talk to the "Homeless" man like the scum of the earth.
I asked her what she does. "I am a Patent Attorney with a PHD"
(At that very moment, in my mind, NO FUCKING WAY. I literally said in my mind, this is GOD work )
Crucial Team Members I must find before launch.
CEO - Check
I have Erika B. I know my strength and weakness. A hermit anti social man. I may not be the best choice for CEO. I don't know if I've ever written much about Erika, but she is amazing. If this website is even slightly successful, Google or Microsoft or someone is going to steal her from me.
And the most important part, she has faith. Faith whatever this homeless person is doing...she is in.
Funding Guide - check
I ran into Mike. The organizer of Startup Grind. He didn't talk to the homeless man like he is scum. He has contacts and experience with Startups and Venture/Angel Capitalists. He is still wondering what this website idea is all about. But most importantly....
He treated a homeless man the same as any other person. He also has faith. Even if he doesn't know it.
Technology/Web developer -
That person has not been found yet. Still waiting. Have asked dozens and dozens. Not as easy as I thought.
Attorney (Preferably Patent attorney) - Check
Loree from Last night. A coincidental meeting in a elevator? What are the odds, a crucial part of your team, you meet in a elevator in Seattle, a city you haven't been to in months. And the most important part...
She genuinely talked to the homeless person like a person. Understood his pains. She also has Faith
It is now up to me to get this thing made!!!!
In the Startup event and in the past, people have told me...Edwin you need to drop the homeless introduction when you go to these events. You are going to scare away potential good people of the team who are scared of homeless people.
I am not going to lie to myself in order to please another person because of their fears. I'm a homeless person. That is who I am.
This attempting to create a website to dominate a industry is a journey. If the journey goes anywhere, I want people with me who care about other humans. Are not scared of other humans because they look different, act different or have less money. And if they are not willing to engage another human because of perceived stereotypes....I don't want them on this train!
Erika, Mike, Loree....you don't think these 3 people are extraordinary and amazing people? Do I need to post entries of the dozens and dozens of people that I have ignored me because of my introduction "I"m homeless"?
We all say, Treat people the way you want to be treated. Don't judge a book by its cover. But rarely do people act that way. But these 3 do. And I want them on my team.
That 4th member - Developer/tech person? He will show up. In God I Trust
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