How to Create a Fully Committed Company Culture - Audrey Parker

In Chapter 11 of 21 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, entrepreneur Audrey Parker answers "Why is Risk Sharing So Important to a Successful Partnership?" She finds sharing risk and reward enables a team to be fully committed, determined, and focused on the task or initiative at hand. She notes that when going 95% of the way, she ends up there or at a lower level, whereas when she goes 100% she taps into new performance levels not yet seen. Parker is currently on a one-year sabbatical. Parker co-founded CLEAResult, an energy management consulting firm. In 2010, CLEAResult ranked #144 in the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies. In late 2010, CLEAResult was sold to General Catalyst Partners. Parker graduated from Wake Forest University.

Why Effective Management Begins With Character - Audrey Parker

In Chapter 12 of 21 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, entrepreneur Audrey Parker answers "What Has Your Business Experience Taught You About Going into Relationships with Someone You Love, Respect and Trust?" In co-founding and growing her company, CLEAResult, she finds cornerstone characteristics of the management team to be integrity and trust. Individually and collectively, knowing others would own up to making mistakes permeates across all levels of the business. This creates a company culture built upon love, trust, and respect. Parker is currently on a one-year sabbatical. Parker co-founded CLEAResult, an energy management consulting firm. In 2010, CLEAResult ranked #144 in the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies. In late 2010, CLEAResult was sold to General Catalyst Partners. Parker graduated from Wake Forest University.

How Entrepreneurial Skills Enhance Personal Wellbeing - Audrey Parker

In Chapter 13 of 21 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, entrepreneur Audrey Parker answers "Where Do You Find Business Skills Most Transferable to Life, Relationships, and Family?" Parker shares how she has learned to roll with life and its changes in her entrepreneurial business experience. She is currently on a one-year sabbatical after selling her company, CLEAResult. Looking back on what she learned, she finds her entrepreneurial experiences very transferable into her personal life. She learns her limits and how to manage actions, decisions, and relationships in high pressure, fast paced situations. Parker co-founded CLEAResult, an energy management consulting firm. In 2010, CLEAResult ranked #144 in the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies. In late 2010, CLEAResult was sold to General Catalyst Partners. Parker graduated from Wake Forest University.

How Creating a Company is Like Building a Family - Audrey Parker

In Chapter 14 of 21 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, entrepreneur Audrey Parker answers "How Creating a Company is Like Building a Family?" When starting her business, CLEAResult, she did not think there were parallels. Over time, however, she finds those parallels, from establishing trusted relationships to building and implementing learning programs. From a feminine or woman's perspective, she finds meaning knowing she was the family mother of a company that has now grown up to do good in the world. Parker is currently on a one-year sabbatical. Parker co-founded CLEAResult, an energy management consulting firm. In 2010, CLEAResult ranked #144 in the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies. In late 2010, CLEAResult was sold to General Catalyst Partners. Parker graduated from Wake Forest University.

How Feminine Leadership Style Helps Manage Teams - Audrey Parker

In Chapter 15 of 21 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, entrepreneur Audrey Parker answers "Where Can Feminine Leadership Be Most Impactful Running a Business?" She notes how a feminine leadership style can be most impactful supervising people and leading teams. She finds a feminine style built on support, nurturing, and championing others - an effective way to lead that complements more traditional masculine approaches. Parker is currently on a one-year sabbatical. Parker co-founded CLEAResult, an energy management consulting firm. In 2010, CLEAResult ranked #144 in the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies. In late 2010, CLEAResult was sold to General Catalyst Partners. Parker graduated from Wake Forest University.

How Female Leader Learns to Embrace Feminine Side - Audrey Parker

In Chapter 16 of 21 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, entrepreneur Audrey Parker answers "How Have You Learned to Embrace Your Femininity as a Business Leader?" As an adolescent and young adult, Parker sometimes wished she could be a man to be taken more seriously. Over time, she grows into her femininity and finds confidence as a woman working in business. Parker learns to relax and give herself permission to be feminine. Setting out to prove and achieve she can be successful in business, Parker does so starting, growing, and selling her company, CLEAResult. Parker is currently on a one-year sabbatical. Parker co-founded CLEAResult, an energy management consulting firm. In 2010, CLEAResult ranked #144 in the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies. In late 2010, CLEAResult was sold to General Catalyst Partners. Parker graduated from Wake Forest University.

How Woman Entrepreneur Becomes Female Role Model - Audrey Parker

In Chapter 17 of 21 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, entrepreneur Audrey Parker answers "Where Do You Think Sharing Your Experiences Will Be Most Useful Empowering Young Women?" Parker, a successful female entrepreneur, looks for ways she can share her story and inspire the next generation. She notes her near-peer status - older but from same generation as students and graduates - creates a more approachable means for her to connect. She notes how she is seeking the appropriate platform - writing a book, speaking, mentoring, etc. - to share her story and make this connection. Parker is currently on a one-year sabbatical. Parker co-founded CLEAResult, an energy management consulting firm. In 2010, CLEAResult ranked #144 in the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies. In late 2010, CLEAResult was sold to General Catalyst Partners. Parker graduated from Wake Forest University.

Finding Teaching Motivation in Light Bulb Moments - Audrey Parker

In Chapter 18 of 21 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, entrepreneur Audrey Parker answers "What Do You Enjoy Most About Helping People Have Light Bulb Moments?" She channels the thrill she gets having her own "ah hah" learning moments to work with others until they too have a light bulb moment and learn something new. Parker is currently on a one-year sabbatical. Parker co-founded CLEAResult, an energy management consulting firm. In 2010, CLEAResult ranked #144 in the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies. In late 2010, CLEAResult was sold to General Catalyst Partners. Parker graduated from Wake Forest University.

Why to Give Yourself Permission to Make a Change - Audrey Parker

In Chapter 20 of 21 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, entrepreneur Audrey Parker answers "Why is it Important to Give Yourself Permission When Going Through a Change Moment?" She learns to surrender, or relinquish, control and accept it is OK to sometimes do nothing. After co-founding, growing, and selling her company, Parker embraces the restorative idea of taking time off and begins a one-year sabbatical.

Parker co-founded CLEAResult, an energy management consulting firm. In 2010, CLEAResult ranked #144 in the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies. In late 2010, CLEAResult was sold to General Catalyst Partners. Parker graduated from Wake Forest University.

Transcription: 

Erik Michielsen:  Why is it important to give yourself permission when going through a change moment?

Audrey Parker:  Change is always uncomfortable.  That’s the nature of it.  And allowing and giving myself permission to let the change be whatever it’s gonna be without knowing how it’s gonna go, just surrendering control, surrendering the knowledge – we don’t know what we’re gonna change into.  We don’t know how it’s gonna go.  We don’t know how fast it’s gonna go.  And giving myself permission to just experience it as it comes and just trust that it will be whatever it will be, it’s not comfortable, but trying to control something that really I have no control over doesn’t make much sense.  It’s just amazing how often in my life and a lot of people try to control things like that, that they really, you know, can’t, just putting a lot of energy into something that could be better spent doing other things.  So it’s been nice to just give myself permission to just do nothing sometimes, literally, just do nothing.  And there’s this voice in my head going ‘why are you just doing nothing?  This is crazy.’  You need to be doing something.  You need to – you have to be doing something.  And there is this – the rest of me, it’s just like ‘no, actually, I don’t, I’m just gonna sit here, and I’m gonna do nothing, or I’m just gonna, you know, stare outside out the window, or I’m just gonna daydream.’  And there has been a lot of that just need to come back into balance, and I didn’t plan that.  I didn’t sit and think this is what I’m gonna need or this is what I’m – how it’s gonna go, or, you know, I’m gonna go spend time with that person, or I’m gonna go travel here or there.  I’m just letting it unfold.  And it’s a much more enjoyable process that way.  It’s still uncomfortable but it’s much more enjoyable.

Erik Michielsen:  When did you decide to give yourself permission when thinking about change?

Audrey Parker:  I gave myself permission when I exited CLEAResult.  I set a clear intention that, you know, this has been so much my identity, it has been so much my life, it has been so much my focus, I’ve been so determined and committed, and I have no idea what’s on the other side of this.  And I just allowed myself to have time and space and just whatever I need basically.  I set it up that way.  And that’s why I decided I – some people were saying ‘oh I’m sure you can’t take a full year off; I’m sure you’ll be bored after just a couple of months or a few weeks or something.’  And I just knew I need a year.  I need a year.  And I just need to give myself whatever time and space I need, really. So it was nice to give myself that permission because it’s just – it’s allowing things to just unfold, and, like I said, I like it that way.

What Gets Easier and What Gets Harder - Richard Moross

In Chapter 1 of 13 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, Moo.com CEO and London entrepreneur Richard Moross answers "What is Getting Easier and What is Getting Harder in Your Life?" He shares perspective on managing and growing his company, Moo.com. Personally, he finds the little things in life getting easier. What gets harder are making the big decisions and answering the larger questions of purpose. Additionally, Moross finds it hard to carve out time to relax and spend time with family. Moross is founder and CEO of Moo.com. Before starting Moo.com, an award-winning online print business, Moross was a senior design strategist at Imagination, the world's largest independent design company. He graduated from the University of Sussex, where he majored in philosophy and politics.

How to Define and Measure Quality of Life - Richard Moross

In Chapter 2 of 13 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, Moo.com CEO and London entrepreneur Richard Moross answers "How Do You Define and Measure Your Quality of Life?" He begins with how he starts his day, and builds upon this talking about the positive nature of facing challenges. Initial challenges, getting past early company growth phases, evolve into exciting challenges of building a team, cultivating employee growth, and managing a sustainable business. Moross is founder and CEO of Moo.com. Before starting Moo.com, an award-winning online print business, Moross was a senior design strategist at Imagination, the world's largest independent design company. He graduated from the University of Sussex, where he majored in philosophy and politics.

How Moo Cards Plots Small Business Design Revolution - Richard Moross

In Chapter 3 of 13 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, Moo.com CEO and London entrepreneur Richard Moross answers "What Makes Your Work Meaningful?" He shares how the mission of his company Moo.com is evolving from helping small businesses make an impression with customers to become a defacto standard for small business design services. He shares how IKEA revolutionized home furniture by bringing Scandinavian design to the masses. He then shares how Moo.com takes lessons from IKEA and even Mad Men to continue executing on its mission. Moross is founder and CEO of Moo.com. Before starting Moo.com, an award-winning online print business, Moross was a senior design strategist at Imagination, the world's largest independent design company. He graduated from the University of Sussex, where he majored in philosophy and politics.

How Family Provides Entrepreneur Emotional Support - Richard Moross

In Chapter 4 of 13 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, Moo.com CEO and London entrepreneur Richard Moross answers "Where Have Your Parents Been Most Supportive to Your Career Development?" He shares how the massive emotional support from parents and family helped him make the transition from a salary job to a new world as an entrepreneur. After making the transition, Moross finds additional support in his brother and sister, who both help in different ways to help the company grow. Moross is founder and CEO of Moo.com. Before starting Moo.com, an award-winning online print business, Moross was a senior design strategist at Imagination, the world's largest independent design company. He graduated from the University of Sussex, where he majored in philosophy and politics.

How Startup Chooses Seed and Series A Investors - Richard Moross

In Chapter 5 of 13 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, Moo.com CEO and London entrepreneur Richard Moross answers "What Criteria Did You Use to Evaluate Potential Investors in Your Business?" Moross notes his company Moo.com did a 2004 seed round and a Series A venture round in 2006. Running his first startup at age 26, Moross starts by asking his dad for financing advice and over time. He selects a seed investor based on commitment and understanding of vision. Moross applies these elements into his Series A venture capital round, ultimately choosing Index Ventures and Atlas Ventures. Moross is founder and CEO of Moo.com. Before starting Moo.com, an award-winning online print business, Moross was a senior design strategist at Imagination, the world's largest independent design company. He graduated from the University of Sussex, where he majored in philosophy and politics.

Where CEO Gets Advice on Running a Big Business - Richard Moross

In Chapter 6 of 13 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, Moo.com CEO and London entrepreneur Richard Moross answers "Where Do You Seek Advice from Your Board of Directors?" He finds support at four levels. At the board level, Moross receives guidance on company strategy, big hiring decisions, and communication. At a second level, Moross engages individual board members about operational matters. At a third level, Moross finds value in a business mentor. And finally, at a fourth level, he benefits from the Young Presidents Organization, or YPO, business network. Moross is founder and CEO of Moo.com. Before starting Moo.com, an award-winning online print business, Moross was a senior design strategist at Imagination, the world's largest independent design company. He graduated from the University of Sussex, where he majored in philosophy and politics.

How Innovation Can Enable Industry Leadership - Richard Moross

In Chapter 7 of 13 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, Moo.com CEO and London entrepreneur Richard Moross answers "What Does It Mean to Be a Leader in What You Do?" He shares how his company, Moo, has challenged rules to make an industry, printing, better. It was not only about process improvements such as lowering costs and increasing throughput. It was about being more relevant, responsible, accountable, useful and beautiful. The optimistic vision of continuous improvement over time shapes the Moo company and brand into one known for innovation. Moross is founder and CEO of Moo.com. Before starting Moo.com, an award-winning online print business, Moross was a senior design strategist at Imagination, the world's largest independent design company. He graduated from the University of Sussex, where he majored in philosophy and politics.

How to Improve Entrepreneur Mentor Networks - Richard Moross

In Chapter 8 of 13 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, Moo.com CEO and London entrepreneur Richard Moross answers "How Did Working on the Seedcamp Board of Directors Allow You to Give Back?" Moross notes how Seedcamp, a startup incubator started by Saul Klein and funded by venture capital firms, was designed to support entrepreneurs with advice and capital. He finds the structured mentor network a valuable way to give back and support small business owners. Moross shares his experiences and the decisions he made to support young entrepreneurs. Moross is founder and CEO of Moo.com. Before starting Moo.com, an award-winning online print business, Moross was a senior design strategist at Imagination, the world's largest independent design company. He graduated from the University of Sussex, where he majored in philosophy and politics.

How to Make a City More Startup Friendly - Richard Moross

In Chapter 9 of 13 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, Moo.com CEO and London entrepreneur Richard Moross answers "What Do You See as the Key Enablers of Success in the London Startup Culture?" He shares how Europe in general is more pessimistic than optimistic. This fear of failure impedes startup culture development. Moross notes how startup incubators such as Seedcamp and structured entrepreneur network programs can facilitate more supportive risk taking. Moross is founder and CEO of Moo.com. Before starting Moo.com, an award-winning online print business, Moross was a senior design strategist at Imagination, the world's largest independent design company. He graduated from the University of Sussex, where he majored in philosophy and politics.