CM: Craig, this month’s theme is chance, rolling the dice and letting the cards fall how they may. Can you elaborate on two occasions where this might have worked out in your favour and where it might not have? 

Craig: There are 2 moments in particular I remember, that changed my life.  In fact, both were starting companies.  But the great leaps faith they took are what I have to laugh to myself a bit when I remember them.

2) Our startup culture here is all “product” (or “service”) people.  Inventors.  In order for this city to have more wins, in any domain, we (collectively) need to recognize that in a lot of cases, having a great product, service or idea isn’t going to cut it.  At least half the battle, if not more than half, is being great at selling and marketing our ideas.  We need to figure out how to cultivate those people and skills, and draw them into whatever we’re trying to build and promote.  Whether it’s a social movement, not for profit, something in the arts, or startup company trying to be the next Google, without cracking that nut, a lot of good ideas just die on the vine.