INSPIRATION
WHO IS YOUR HERO AND WHY?
Mother Theresa.
She is someone that has shown that if you follow your truth, and your bliss, even if you have no idea exactly how to do it, than the universe and everything is going to provide around you. She built an 10,000 person organization that is present all over the world. It is still powerful 20 years after she passed away. That’s a beautiful inspiration for any leader, even if it’s in a different space, and I think it’s telling us profound truths about following our bliss, and what truly motivates and moves us when we wake up in the morning.
WHAT’S OUT THERE INSPIRING YOU RIGHT NOW?
I just find it very inspiring to see these entrepreneurs are not only thinking “how do I make money”, and “how do I make something big?” but “how is what I’m doing is really going to change the world around” and I think this is a great new generation that’s coming with all these new ideas that will be very powerful. (I asked for an example, and Guillame provided an example of a company that he saw as a judge on a Shark Tank style competition just the night before we spoke…) There was a team of 3 that are developing a service that allows you to share items like power tools that you might buy and use only once a year. Instead of selling it on the second hand market, you can loan it to other people, and make money out of it. You reduce consumption instead of buying stuff you just get it from those other people, and loan your own stuff to make money off the products you have, stuff that you never use that people might be able to use. I think it also connects you to people, instead of going to a big box retailer, you are discovering you neighbors, and you can build links by doing that.
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF A GOAL IS WORTH ACHIEVING?
If only we had a crystal ball and we could know what’s a good idea…
For sure, people telling you “it’s not going to work” is not a reason to stop.
From Bezos’ Amazon story to many others, there’s proof out there that you can meet 100 investors that all tell you it’s no good, and 10 years later you have one of the most valued companies on the market. I always tell people one of the main things is to determine “is it really solving a problem that’s out there.” Not just “I’m doing something nice, and fun, and you think it’s needed” but is it actually solving a problem. I think if you are attacking something that is a real problem, and it’s not only me, but there are tens of thousands of people in my case, I think you’re on the path of doing something that’s going to be potentially really big.
Guillaume Gauthereau is passionate about saving bees (Photo Credit: CNN Money)
EDUCATION
WHAT DOES YOUR MEDIA DIET LOOK LIKE RECENTLY?
I’m very interested in stories about people and their transformations- I don’t have one outlet where I find that, I think it’s all across the web. But I’m more interested in the personal story than the public “official” story, to truly understand what’s going on, because those stories are usually way richer, and I think they reveal way more about the personality; it takes to be an entrepreneur.
WHAT’S THE MOST ACTIONABLE ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?
You will never fail by being too focused. Most entrepreneurs are usually unfocussed and have too many ideas.
WHAT CAN PEOPLE EXPECT FROM YOU AT THE 2016 PROPELLER INNOVATION FESTIVAL THAT THEY WON’T GET ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD?
I think they are going to be challenged. They may feel a bit uncomfortable. But I think they are going to discover something that could be of extreme value for the rest of their life.
FUN
DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW FAVORITE APPS, HARDWARE, GADGETS OR TOYS?
Via. It’s an Uber-type of service, you share your ride with other people. It’s a fixed price, $5 no matter how far along you go it’s the same. It’s been quite fun to share a ride with other people and discover new people.
SOME PEOPLE ARE AFRAID OF CROSSING THE RIVER… WHY SHOULD PEOPLE FROM NEW YORK MAKE THE TRIP TO JERSEY FOR PROPELLER?
They always say that your best learning is when you get out of your comfort zone. So I’d say, if you are a true entrepreneur, and a true leader, you need to get out of your comfort zone, and if you don’t your not really growing or learning anything. So if you think it’s weird or bizarre to cross the river… (trails off laughing).
WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL MAKE THE 2016 PROPELLER INNOVATION FESTIVAL A GREAT EVENT?
I think the format of it… the mix between content, technology, fun stuff, inspirational talks, I think it’s never been done before. When you go to these technology conferences, it’s always the same thing, and I think for the first time it’s going to something quite original, and I really love that about it.
AN ASK FOR THE AUDIENCE?
I would love to hear what are people’s personal experience of bringing together life purpose, happiness, and success in a formula that made them feel very complete, and very achieved, and not just in one thing like finance but also at home, in their life and in their place in society- on every aspect of it.
How do you blend those three things?
Let Guillaume know @ggauthereau
Use Hashtag: #letspropel
Propeller Media and PropellerFest are not associated with Propeller Industries, LLC. PropellerFest is now Propelify.
