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June 12, 2025 66 mins

This episode is a dynamic journey through Hampton Roads’ innovation, leadership, and community spirit. Zack and Tim kick things off with a behind-the-scenes look at Innovate Hampton Roads' latest board meeting, including a warm sendoff for longtime chairman Paul Hirschbiel and the introduction of new leadership.

 

From donut deliveries and swag debates to the Yeti vs. Stanley showdown, the episode mixes fun with serious takeaways. The hosts dive into the real challenges of live shows and event prep, highlighting the upcoming Startup World Cup and the return of Tech Night—an award show celebrating the region’s top tech and entrepreneurial talent.

 

Listeners will hear updates from local startups like SalesE and Ruben Education, explore trends in remote work and online meetings, and unpack how scarcity drives innovation. Plus, they spotlight bold moves in music marketing, like the All-American Rejects’ backyard tour strategy.

Throughout, Zack and Tim emphasize the importance of consistency, community storytelling, and just showing up—because that’s where the unexpected magic happens. 

 
 
(0:00) Introduction and Swag Discussion
(1:19) New Chairman of Innovate Hampton Roads & Board Meeting Insights
(2:04) Donut Debate and Shout Outs
(4:29) Live Show Challenges and Punctuality
(6:47) Paul Hirschbiel's Contributions to the Community
(11:19) Jim Ursay's Philanthropy and Yeti vs Stanley Debate
(17:45) Event Preparation and Community Involvement
(22:35) Team Growth at SalesE and Ruben Education
(24:29) The Importance of Sharing Success Stories
(27:50) Positive Storytelling and Media Engagement
(30:20) Real-Life Business Challenges and Opportunities
(33:06) Online Meetings and Remote Work Trends
(34:23) Downtown Norfolk and Local Veterans
(38:22) Innovative Tour Strategies in Music
(42:54) Leadership and Risk-Taking in Business
(44:24) 757 TechNight Event Overview and Importance
(54:22) The Value of Participation and Networking
(57:20) Maintaining a Positive Outlook and Podcast Evolution
(59:18) Understanding Business Metrics and Compounding Growth
(1:03:07) The Power of Consistency in Business Success
(1:04:20) Episode Conclusion and Upcoming Events
 
 
- Scarcity drives innovation, compelling businesses to think differently and adapt to new challenges.
- Celebrating local achievements with unique awards can foster a greater sense of community and recognition within the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
- Showing up to events and networking opportunities can provide unexpected benefits and connections that significantly impact personal and professional growth.
 
 
business growth, community involvement, leadership, philanthropy, remote work, positive storytelling, networking, business challenges, tech events, innovative strategies,
 
 
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Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Tim RyanScarcity creates innovation. And right now, I mean, we are our region is facing some headwinds with budget cuts and whatever, but that scarcity is what's gonna it's gonna force you to think differently.

(00:01):
Zack MillerFor the time ever, I've wanted to do this many times.
Tim RyanWhat are we what are we talking here? Are you talking about wearing a hat on the show?
Zack MillerYes. We are. Yes. I am. I'm not gonna do it the whole time.
Tim RyanI'm not
Zack Millergonna do it. Actually, it's probably a lot. I do. I probably I probably have put on someone else's hat at some point on the show, but was just gifted this marathon consulting hat. And, actually, you know, a lot of times, we talk about this all the time.
You don't want crappy swag. When you hang out crappy swag, it goes straight to the trash can. This hat?
Tim RyanWell, I mean, not not necessarily to the trash can, but it will sit on a shelf and, generally not be warm. But I, you know, I will say that that is that is a, it's a pretty pretty sweet lid, if you will.
Zack MillerAre you are you a sticker on, sticker off kinda guy?
Tim RyanI'm a sticker I'm a sticker off that one.
Zack MillerYeah. Me too. You know, this is ridiculous. I can't I can't
Tim RyanBut, shout out to Marathon Yeah. With the sweet swag.
Zack MillerGot this from mister Tom Marsden who
Tim RyanWho I would like to congratulate as the new chairman new chairman of Innovate Hamster Roads.
Zack MillerShout out. Okay. So I was delighted. I sat in a meeting with you this morning, and, I've never been to one of these before.
Tim RyanThe old annual annual board meeting.
Zack MillerYeah. What a whirlwind. And I asked you yesterday, you know, can I bring anything? Bring some food? The idea of donut dugout came up.
And like I said the other day on one of your LinkedIn posts, you had me at, hey. So I was like, let's go. So I I brought 18 donuts. I believe four. Did you count them up?
It was correct. I tell you, we walked from the garage at MacArthur Mall, R I P, to Assembly, which isn't that far, but I had two boxes of donuts. Someone should have gotten a picture of me in these things. They were heavy. Like
Tim RyanWell, the crazy thing is, Zach, is that there were a box that fits a dozen doughnuts only can hold six apple fritters.
Zack MillerNo. No. No. No. No.
It held 15 or 16 doughnuts on that other one.

(00:22):
Tim RyanOh, they throw a little extra extra in there?
Zack MillerThey did throw a little extra in there now that I counted. Hold on a Let me think about Nope. There was 14 in there. 14. There was 14 donuts and four apple fritters.
The 14 donuts were on one box. The four apple fritters were on another.
Tim RyanOh, see. I thought there was, like, six apple fritters. You took a picture, though. No?
Zack MillerYeah. There's a
Tim Ryanback check.
Zack MillerYou know what? Let's do that.
Tim RyanBut This is
Zack MillerI I can't wear this hat. It's just a notch. I but I do like this, and I think I could wear this. I've been thinking about getting a new hat. It's breathable.
It's nice. You know? Now I don't have to get one. Thank you to Aaron and Tom Marston over at the Marathon Consulting. If you haven't checked out their video disrupting the tide, I learned a lot about that Yeah.
That company from that. So cool stuff. How was your doughnut this morning?
Tim RyanIt was great. It was great. I typically, yeah. Normally, I don't hit something like something that of that size and stature so early in the morning. So
Zack MillerOkay. There's five apple fritters, and there's
Tim RyanAnd you should There's okay.
Zack MillerSo there's twenty twenty. Okay. This is oh, boy. Okay. So I thought I ordered 18.
I ordered 20, allegedly.
Tim RyanMe point. It was good stuff.
Zack MillerIt was lovely. What's on your mind, mister Ryan?
Tim RyanWell, you know, there's always a challenge when there's a live show. Well, it's not a challenge for us because we do this every we record every Thursday at eleven. Mhmm. This is part of what we do. People can expect that.
We don't do it we don't advertise that it's live at eleven because we're trying to get, like, the largest audience per se. We do this in the sense of if people want to join live, they certainly can. They can throw comments in the chat, whatever, and we can yuck it up that way. But, we choose to do it eleven. So always comes with with a little bit of risk in case there's a last minute cancellation, and, that was the case today.
So that there you have it. That's what that is what's on my mind.

(00:43):
Zack MillerOkay. But And you know what's on my mind?
Tim RyanSharing this picture?
Zack MillerMhmm. Yeah. There we go.
Tim RyanOkay. Five apple fritters.
Zack MillerFive apple fritters, and then I had five Boston creams. No. Three Boston creams. Looks like five glazed. Three crumb coconut crumb.
Six four glazed, two maples, three blueberries. Ladies and gentlemen, I just want the record to know that the man to my left, maybe to your right or vice versa, he ate the entire thing. Weight, 16 and a half pounds of one doughnut he ate this morning. Congrats, Tim.
Tim RyanWell, it was a, it was as we talked about before the meet, it was a very humid morning. Yeah. That, I came back drenched, dripping. And, yeah, I need a little something something to refuel the body, if you will.
Zack MillerI did have a little. I had about 1 of an apple fritter in the last twenty minutes.
Tim RyanSo it kicked in?
Zack MillerI mean, like, am I tired?
Tim RyanNo. Did you did you did you get a little sugar rush yet? Or
Zack MillerI'm not sure. I'm not sure. I think these things are so large that you really can't eat the whole thing. So it's absolutely mind boggling that you're able to do this.
Tim RyanYeah. Heard some I heard
Zack Millersome interesting information today. So sat in on the seven innovate seven five seven board meeting of which, this was Paul Hirschfield's, like, swan song, if you will. Right? He's, like, leaving. He's, like
Tim RyanJust stepping stepping down as chairman.
Zack MillerStepping down as chairman. And during this call, you said something interesting that I never knew before where you asked him. You you called him and said, hey, Paul. Can can I have a couple minutes? You guys met Patrick Henry Mall Yeah.
Which work. Shout out to Patrick Henry Mall. I haven't been there in forever.
Tim RyanRight.
Zack MillerAnd, you know, he really helped and guided you, and then you guys end up working together. I thought that was a cool story that not a lot of people thought about, knew about. And there were Nancy Gearedin. Shout out to her. John Paris saying some positive and nice things about him as well.
And that was cool. It's always cool to hear, like, what story someone relates back out kind of during their, like I'm gonna call it a retirement party, but, you know, during the retirement party. Like, I remember when Jim Carroll retired, they said, you know, does anyone wanna talk or say something? And I think I went up there maybe And
Tim RyanYeah. You and I were in there. There was only a couple people that went up, and you and I were

(01:04):
Zack MillerI think people get, you know, they get a little nervous talking in front of people, whatever. But I don't think I was gonna say anything. I didn't go into it thinking of this. But the thing that came to mind, I I do think this is true, and maybe we even shared this on the show before what happened, but he not not come you know, I guess I had military people in my family, but I don't really look at it like I came from a military family type of thing, I didn't grow up thinking that. But living in this town, obviously, there's a ton of sailors and a ton of, you know, servicemen and women.
And one thing I always learned from from mister Jim Carroll, who, by the way, has long locks now that he call that lettuce. Because lettuce is just like
Tim RyanIs that what the kids call it?
Zack MillerLike the wind or whatever. Yeah. Ridiculous. By the way, I said the word slaps yesterday. Oh, that slaps, and someone looked at me like I was crazy.
So he taught me this thing where it's kind the Vince Vince Lombardi rule, if you really were. If you're not five minutes early, you're ten or, you know, if if something like if you're not five minutes early, you're late type of thing.
Tim RyanYeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Zack MillerYeah. And so, like, we used to grab breakfast, I don't know, once every couple weeks, once a month, something like that. It's I used to get there five minutes early. He he's already had, like, two cups of coffee. I'm like, dude.
Tim RyanYeah. It's military man military rule is fifteen minutes early. If you're not fifteen minutes earlier, then you're late.
Zack MillerI really despise people being late.
Tim RyanYeah. I I do. I I hate being late in, like, boy, this bridge tunnel, especially construction. I mean, there's
Zack MillerI know it happens,
Tim Ryanand I try to later thirty minutes early. There there is just amazing how much it can swing. Yeah. And no it just instantly swing.
Zack MillerYeah.
Tim RyanBut yeah. Yeah. Super grateful for Paul. I mean, for a lot yeah. He is a true behind the scenes leader.
So it's this organization wouldn't be what it is without him getting getting getting everything started fourteen, fifteen years ago.
Zack MillerYeah. That was something that I thought was crazy too. Like, you know, I I I remember it being started way back when because I used to have these meetings, and I guess it was Startwheel back then and whatever. Yeah. But
Tim RyanPaul being, also cofounder of seven five seven Angels with John Paris.
Zack MillerYep. It's just crazy to, you know, you just start hearing those years, and you're like, wow. That's crazy. That was
Tim RyanYeah. I mean, that's sort of the thing. You you have to be I don't know. You have to be a special person to do assume the roles that we assume in the sense of because we're not doing it for ourselves. And but it's crazy.
Paul did it for the good of being a good human being. And when you think about the number of people that he has impacted over the course of fifteen years, it's amazing.
Zack MillerYeah. I've I've recently learned about it. You saying that is interesting. It it reminds me of this, something I heard when Jim Ursay, the former owner of the Indianapolis Colts has passed away, and how, he was very secretive in his, like, donations to people and and helping people. And, like, he'd see something on the news, and he'd immediately go fix it, but he didn't want his name attached to it in any kind of way.

(01:25):
So, like, apparently, he's, like, invested, donated donate is probably the right word. Donate, like, a $100,000,000 to people, stuff like that, and, like, really help to the need, those who are in need and stuff like that. And you hear these stories, and you don't know who it's tied to. It's just it's
Tim Ryanit's you
Zack Millerknow, you kinda got your own little Santa Claus every day of the year for something, and it's pretty cool to hear that. And then literally to hear the story about how Paul basically kept the organization alive on its own dime for a while like that. And then to see where it is now, that's pretty cool just to hear that and just be like, okay. Like, you know, this this this individual, you know, walked the talk, but also put his money where his mouth is. And, you know, I I can appreciate that.
Tim RyanYeah. Yeah. I totally agree. And, like, I know I'm the type typically, I'm the type of person like, with you and your your Kickstarter with your your bar book. What was it?
Anomaly, I believe,
Zack Millerthe name. Well, if we're talking to Lauren Crailo, shout out. I I don't know.
Tim RyanThat's right. But, yeah, I was I I I remember, you know, it was a little little game that you're you did your Kickstarter, and I wanted to be the last one to put you over the the goal.
Zack MillerOh, okay.
Tim RyanAnd That's fine. You know? I I I don't remember. We yeah. And and I don't know if it came up a conversation, but it was just like, you know, I'm the guy that's gonna think about you but I'm also gonna be the guy when everyone else moved on to something else.
I'm still thinking about you, and that's when I put my little Kickstarter bid in, if you will, just to take it over the top.
Zack MillerVery cool. Well, I appreciate that all these years later. And I haven't read that book in a long time. Maybe I'll reread it. Actually, I started reading it about this time last year, and I got through a couple chapters.
And then I did something else. I was like, I read this. I don't even read this again. I live it. Yeah.
Whatever you go. So I haven't I we we've had this cup for a long time, but I haven't used it. But I know you used it. The infamous YETI from Portsmouth Partnership. Nope.
Portsmouth Economic Development. Apologies.
Tim RyanMhmm.
Zack MillerSo shout out to them, Crystal, for for helping out. Tim lived out his childhood dream of getting a YETI can.
Tim RyanWell, you know, the thing is, though, now is that I've missed that boat. Everyone's well, every everyone says it's Stanley now. You know? I'm the guy that's just happy that I got a a Yeti. Everyone's moved on to the Stanley, so I'm still not part of the
Zack MillerI got my haircut the other day, and the place next door is called Hotworks. And at the Hotworks, there's literally a sign. I think it's like hot yoga. I'm not exactly sure, but I'm not hot. Like, I I think that's what it is.
There's a sign on the door that says absolutely no Stanleys. And so I don't know if it's because they blow up in there or something or what, but I just thought it was funny that they
Tim Ryanhad someone hating on the Stanleys. I don't know.
Zack MillerI don't know. Yesterday, I was in Virginia Beach, Virginia for, I don't know, a two month away walk through with the team at the Sandler Center. Was there with Alan Hagerman.

(01:46):
Tim RyanShout out to the vice chair of Innovate Hampton Roads.
Zack MillerShout out. And also Chris Lane, who is the photographer, videographer who did many of my videos that you've seen in the past, including the anomaly ones. And he he and his company, do live streaming. They do videos. They do tremendous work.
So we're doing a walk through there. Because the venue is so big, you have to make sure that you have the right equipment on game day. And so there were some measurements. There were some pictures being taken.
Tim RyanHow did how did you measure? Was it like a laser? Was it a tape measure?
Zack MillerI'm not sure. I was talking to the Sandler team during that, but I can see him move and scope it out here and there and over here. And so there was a lot of that. The picture I showed you from, not inside the stage, but from the actual crowd, he took that shot. Then we had a really big conversation with them about where to put the the presentation.
What do they call that thing?
Tim RyanThe screen?
Zack MillerThe screen down. Do you want this screen? How high up do you want it? You if you go too far, there could be this happening. And so there is a back and there.
You also can have this little backdrop here. It could be this.
Tim RyanTell you one thing. A confidence monitor is definitely something needed because that screen is a big screen.
Zack MillerWe
Tim RyanOh, if you if you turn your back to the people for that, you're gonna be turning your back and really looking up in an awkward way.
Zack MillerYeah. We we joked on that, and they're like, well, why do you want that? And I said, we don't want people to be like, oh, hi. My name is Zach, and this is what I'm gonna talk about today. This screen is large.
You're right. And, yeah, I'm I'm I'm excited. I'm nervous. I'm terrified at the same time because that is a I'm pulling up pictures now. But that is a big it's just a big venue.
And I've never I mean, I've been in a venue like that as a fan, you know, as an audience member, but to have to go on the stage and be like, oh, hey, guys. Look. Yeah. So the companies, you know, those that are out there, we did an info session for this a couple weeks ago. It It was like, hey.
We know you're probably gonna be nervous. I know I am. I don't know about Tim, but I I'm gonna be nervous. Yeah. You know?
Even though I'm probably gonna know, like, at least 30% of the people. It's just crazy.
Tim RyanYeah. I'm excited. I mean, we're, we're thinking about everything we can do, pull out all the stops to make it I think we
Zack Millerlearned a lot last year. I think we've really taken a lot of feedback well, from that, and I hope people that went last year come again. I hope that people that were involved in it last year apply, and I hope that people in the community and surrounding areas
Tim Ryancome Yep.
Zack MillerIt's gonna be a hell of a show. It's it's you know, we we we talked about this ad nauseam, but when you really wanna celebrate the businesses in an area, in the in the state of Virginia, you really have to incorporate a lot of them.

(02:07):
Tim RyanWell
Zack MillerAnd that means there's gonna be a lot of the you know, you're gonna learn about a lot of different businesses in a very short amount of time. And we're we're really excited. You know, we don't wanna tell all the all the little inside baseball, but it's gonna be a it's gonna be a pretty cool celebration.
Tim RyanYeah. I will tell you. Is this is as a founder, if we have people that are gonna be traveling 3,000 miles to attend this event, as a founder, yeah, that is that you must attend. I mean, it's just if it's good enough for someone to travel 3,000 multiple people traveling 3,000 plus miles to attend, then I think that it I think that it's a it's a must attend event.
Zack MillerWow. Is that San Francisco to Virginia Beach? Is that the distance? It's only 3,000 miles? It is
Tim RyanI mean, I don't know. I mean, that's a ballpark. I mean, coast to coast kind of, thing.
Zack MillerWhat do you what do you think? I mean, is that is that your final answer?
Tim RyanI mean, it's it's close enough for for government work.
Zack MillerLet's see.
Tim RyanWow. San Francisco to Virginia Beach is?
Zack Miller2,979.4 miles away. That was
Tim RyanI was off by 21 miles.
Zack Miller20.6. Wow. Now in prices rate rules, it's usually a 100 or less It's the delta. So I mean
Tim RyanBut I was over. But I did it over.
Zack MillerOh, you did. Oh, no.
Tim RyanIt's a big l. You were a big l.
Zack MillerClose. Can you imagine on prices right being that close, but over oh, shiver me timbers.
Tim RyanYeah.
Zack MillerI've said that twice in the last two days. I don't know what it means. So if it's inappropriate, I apologize. I just don't I don't I don't know much about it.
Tim RyanIt's gonna be a it's gonna be a great event. Hoping to get some some pizza pizza at the pre party. Here, there's gonna be a new place open in time.
Zack MillerThat's what I hear. I guess we'll find out that night. I
Tim Ryanalso pizza party.

(02:28):
Zack MillerOkay.
Tim RyanSome Bevies, some brewskies.
Zack MillerPeople can do whatever they desire. This is the walk through with, the team at Sandler Center. The two women, Melissa's. They're both named Melissa's. So we Mhmm.
You know, we called them Melissa's with the z's. We had Chris Lane with the backpack. You know, he brought all his gear. Mhmm. Mhmm.
You know, he's doing everything. Alan Hagerman right here in the plain white k plain white kicks. You know? Great time.
Tim RyanYeah. And that's just that's one event. Oh,
Zack MillerI just realized that I haven't finished my coffee. And if I don't do this, I'm gonna be up all night. This is gonna be terrible. I I don't wanna drink this now. I'm terrified.
Tim RyanI got my last of mine here.
Zack MillerSo some pretty interesting things. So I I've been following along watching over the last little bit about what Innovate has been doing as a storytellers of the region. But but some and some really interesting pieces that I think are are quite interesting that have happened in the region. One of the things is there's a couple companies that have really started to to do some interesting things. I saw SalesE, which was something else before when we interviewed them.
They brought on two two new team members, but the thing that's really interesting with that is Carl Hewitt, former founder I guess you're always the founder. Founder, CTO, I believe, of Decisions. He was one of the judges ever at Start Norfolk. At Start Norfolk one back in 2011, which I thought that was pretty cool. That's the only time I think I've ever met the guy.
Right? But pretty cool that he's still active in the community. I saw that Ruben Education, shout out to Danny Ruben. They a couple months ago, I think, got into Miami Dade County for his platform Yeah. Which is a top, at least, top 10 city top three.
Okay. Number Miami is the largest market in the country. Is that true? Really?
Tim Ryanyeah. The largest school district, I believe. Yeah.
Zack MillerOh, cool. So that was cool to see that. And then I I I noticed that now he's in Philadelphia as well. That's pretty cool. It's pretty cool that a guy that went to school to be on TV learned a lot about that situation and said, oh, you know what?
I feel like there's this piece missing and is now giving you know, it is providing this resource to the school system so that these individuals really just learn how to talk to each other in a in a professional kinda way. I think it's a hell of a story, and I'm really excited. I to work with him.
Tim RyanHe bootstrapped the whole and continues to bootstrap the company.
Zack MillerYeah. It's pretty it's pretty cool to see him be able to do that. I know it's really rewarding from him. Know, we used to see each other almost every day because we work together at at a TV station. And, it's just cool it's just cool to see him seeing this kind of progress.
I'm I'm very excited for him and to continue do that.
Tim RyanStand out. And we have, you know, we have very, very little to do with that success. Zero success. The founders Yeah. Their the founders are doing the things that need to be done, but, like, those two companies, Salzy and Ruben, without fail, send us updates on their progress, and we share that story across the community as well.
Danny gets it. That says Yeah. Share your story. Send us your stuff. We have
Zack MillerI accidentally I accidentally muted you there. I apologize.

(02:49):
Tim RyanI saw that. I I didn't wanna get in the the dance of mute, unmute, mute. I don't so I don't know what what I said went through or not, but send your stuff in. We'll share it out. This is better if someone else tells a story for you.
Let us let us toot your horn as opposed to you tooting your own horn. I
Zack MillerI believe you are not involved with the organization at this point. But I had a phone call or some sort of conversation with Monique Adams, who was one of the OGs at seven by seven angels. And I remember her telling me a story about her husband who worked in commercial real estate, I believe. I might butcher some of this story, but just go with the flow. She said that the organization they were trying to recruit a business.
The commercial real estate firm was trying to recruit a business to the area to be in one of these buildings that he was helping manage, sell, whatever. And they were this close to coming. It was between our area and some other area. And the reason they didn't was because they were state they went on, like, the local news, and all they saw was so much negativity. And it was like, what could happen?
Like, what we need to have more positive aspects of it because you a lot of these things are outliers. Right? They're not like I don't think we walk down the streets and actually feel like crazy. Now maybe some other people do, but, like, you know, people say, oh, Downtown Norfolk's so dangerous. I I was just there.
It was fun. Like, it just seems kinda crazy. But, anyway, like so you see these negative stories. Right? And it was it's like the opposite of that is like, okay.
Like, no one knows that there's these positive aspects of these companies. Like, I made the comment at the at the meeting this morning. It was like, you know how hard it is to get on TV these days with a positive story? I mean, it's pretty damn hard. So for us to have gotten on that to showcase the World Cup.
And then they said, can we have you back?
Tim RyanYeah.
Zack MillerYou know? Like, that's what I think the organization is from from the storytelling standpoint. It's like, this is going to be a positive thing. So if you wanna get your words out there, your thoughts out there, your your your messaging out there, it's not there's not going to be a negative spin on that. And I think that's great because I I just if I was to ever take over a news organization, I the thing I would do is eliminate all the negativity.
I think it can work. I
Tim Ryanjust don't know why
Zack Millerthey don't. But yeah. So, you know, innovate, hamper heads. From a new story, from a storytelling Storytelling. Standpoint Yeah.
Is gonna be positive. And I I really appreciate that because I think whether it was back in the day when I was doing hatch things, and it's always positive. Sure. At the state of the startup community address, we had the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Tim RyanYeah.
Zack MillerRight? And we weren't afraid to shy away from those things. But, like, usually, that wasn't company focused. That was something else.
Tim RyanYeah. I it's interesting you mentioned all that. I because I received I did receive a press release yesterday, day before, and, some organizations have picked it up. We're gonna we'll we'll I think we're it's, gonna be published tomorrow. I'll I'll finish it up and publish it tomorrow.
But, yeah, it's it's a it's a not a negative a real positive story. So I don't know. I I I've torn a little bit. I don't as you you know, we stay clear of all the hot topics. Stay away from politics.
We stay away from all that, but, it's a story based on the tariffs. And it's just like, I just wanna stay out of it, but I am gonna show my unbiasedness, and we will I am just gonna put out that press release as it was submitted to me, and we'll press. They took the time to do it. They did some studying. They did some pulling.
Take them at their word.
Zack MillerI don't recall. I've never seen you do that. You play Arsenio Hall. That was pretty funny. Okay.

(03:10):
Yes. I know who Arsenio Hall is. Okay. You know? Anyway
Tim RyanI know the guy that just muted himself for the time. That's a two sixty five.
Zack MillerNo. I just lost my train of thought. Oh, okay. You said this thing last week. I believe it was last week.
It was you got a call from some of the local media asking for your email. Yeah. And I said this last week, and I'll re I'll I'll regurgitate it and articulate it again this week. I think you took a really potentially negative real life scenario that actually is impacting, you know, a lot of people. You know?
You when things when pricing changes on and and it's more money, like, in the negative, it's that's not that's it that that's, know, it's a real deal. That Yeah. But I or or people losing positions at their jobs. You know, people you know, a lot of people went to college to do some of these things in their dreams, and then they they they lose that opportunity to, you know, in many cases, no fault to their own. And I'm very, like like, I I feel that for people.
And I you know, as a human, I think we have to do that. It's like, okay. Like, that that that really sucks. But I thought your answer was very interesting, and, it was basically something like, yes. This sucks.
Yes. This this this is very difficult. But you have a skill set, and you also have an opportunity now to take that skill set and change the world with it through your lens. Yeah. And I just thought that was beautiful.
And it's I think a lot of people are afraid to to start a business and stuff like that, but it was it was well said, and I and I appreciate it.
Tim RyanThank you. I one of the things that is has stuck with me, and it's really, really important for us to understand and pay attention to, is scarcity creates innovation. And right now, I mean, we are our region is facing some headwinds with budget cuts and whatever, but that scarcity is what's gonna it's gonna force you to think differently. And the that just like when we go back to, as Zach would say, the cocoa days, the companies that innovated, they did really, really well. These people that sat back and did nothing and watched everything fade away, that was a challenge for them.
And, you know, they suffered as a result. So scarcity creates innovation, and, this is your time to take advantage of that.
Zack MillerThe craziest thing I think of the Coco days, I think when I say that, people are like, is he talking about COVID? Is he talking about the coronavirus? You know, it became not the coronavirus very quickly. Do you think that's because of the alcohol brand?
Tim RyanI don't know.
Zack MillerI I anyway, the craziest thing about the cocoa days. I am the only person who reference refers to it that way, and I hope I am. I like to be an innovator because scarcity creates innovation. You know what I'm saying? So how many people, like, refuse to do online meetings, and now none of them wanna go back to the other way.
Like, they so instantly, people were like, I'm not doing this. I can't do this. This is against the rules. And now they're like, hallelujah. I can wear my PJs on a call instantly.
It's just crazy how, like, that moved. I don't know how well, like, Zoom and stuff like that are doing these days and all. But, I mean, the amount of time that is wasted on traveling to meet with someone is just astronomical. And Yeah. Not to mention people don't know how to manage their time well in a meeting.
But, like, can do a bunch of ten minute calls. You can do a bunch of twenty minute calls where it's harder to do that if, like, you're going to get coffee with someone. You know, you're probably gonna be there for sixty minutes
Tim RyanYeah.
Zack MillerWhether that's a good thing or not.
Tim RyanYeah. It's the same deal. I mean, like, you know, the introduction of the old outdoor seating and all that kind of stuff now. So, I mean, if the if you feel like you're
Zack MillerI'm surprised more people didn't keep the menu thing on there. I thought that was pretty pretty smart QR code to menu on the phone. That that's surprising. When you go on your trip soon, I believe that the cruise lines do that. So So you're gonna have to bring it
Tim Ryanfrom when we come to your Yeah. I'll keep you up to so that that's what I was you popped into my head when you were, talking about the area and what whatnot. So it'll be interesting. We're bringing in, you ready for this, 17 family members

(03:31):
Zack MillerHoly shit.
Tim RyanTo go on this cruise. And so, yeah, we're inviting 17 folks coming in from Michigan and Texas and other places into our backyard, you know, and we're all staying down at the waterside area the night before the cruise. And
Zack MillerOh my god. You can go to the dugout. Get your sugar high.
Tim RyanBut yeah. So the the yeah. Downtown Norfolk will be on display for people to take advantage of, and, I'm looking forward to it.
Zack MillerI don't know what these things are called. I don't know if you've ever seen it. I feel like I've asked this before. In the waterside portion, the Town Point Park portion of the Elizabeth River Trail, there's this thing called I I think it's called, like, the letters, the sailor letters or something like this.
Tim RyanYeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's pretty cool.
Zack MillerIt's and, like, it's a very small monument, if you will, but it's these letters. And they're, I don't know, coppered. And they're kind of like this where it's not like a piece of paper, but, like, it's it lifts off the ground. And but there are letters that people wrote to sailors, and the sailor never got that all these sailors had passed, and they never actually got to receive these letters is my understanding. And it's
Tim Ryanjust For some reason, was thinking it was the other way.
Zack MillerOh, they did pass?
Tim RyanThat that the the sailors sent the letters, and then they passed shortly after. I don't know. Regardless, it
Zack Millerwas very Something like that. Something like that. Yeah. And it's just it's cool to I mean, it's it's a terrible thing, actually. But it's it's a nice little monument to to those who who did a lot for us, and I appreciate that.
And, you know, it's if they get a chance, they should try to walk the waterside or the the Wisconsin because that thing is obnoxious. I don't know how I like I did that once. You know, they do, like, a ghost tour in there now too where you can spend the night or something?
Tim RyanI don't know. But I can tell you one thing. From a holiday light standpoint, Christmas light standpoint, man, the Wisconsin, chef's kiss, they do it right.
Zack MillerChef's kiss.
Tim RyanA must must attend things. Very well done. Shout out to to Steven Kirkland and his team at Nauticus and what they do there.
Zack MillerI'm not one to, like, come up with ideas that don't wanna execute on it, but I would love our area to be, like, the, like, the king of Veterans Day parades or, like I know Nauticus is a navy museum, but, like, being, like, the legit home to these things would be pretty cool if we, like, really emphasize that in a major, major, major kind of way. Because I think when you actually do see them and if you ever been in the Nauticus, I mean, it's a pretty cool place Yep. To to to see something like that. And yeah.
Tim RyanYeah. They've done a yeah. They just finished a pretty large renovation and modernized it quite a bit. And, yeah, they've they're they continue doing great things. It's a cool place.
Zack MillerAnother I'm always I'm one who loves wildness, especially in business. And I recently came across this experience that via the, YouTube that it really blew my mind. And it was a title, something on the lines of all American rejects get kicked off. Like, cops kick off all American rejects from backyard party.
Tim RyanWhat they're doing right now, man, it's ridiculous. I mean, what a super wild thing that they've done to to reemerge.
Zack MillerSo they are going into the all American rejects are going into I'm not sure if it's college towns, but it seems like it's college towns.
Tim RyanAll 50 states. Yeah.

(03:52):
Zack MillerOh, okay. I didn't know all the that load those logistics. Okay. And they are playing in the backyards of, like, someone's house.
Tim RyanDude, do you do you know neighbors. Well, do you know the neighbors are, like, renting out ladders for, like, $253,100 dollars so that they they come into my backyard, get a a wrench in my ladder so that you can wash the show?
Zack MillerSo they did this. I saw an article, a video, the lead singer, don't know his name, but he said, well, something like he had to play some corporate gig, and he was like, it was lame. I didn't wanna do it. It's like, we're not back to the roots. The ticket price is too expensive.
So let's just play
Tim Ryanthing is I think it's against this is a revolt against the Ticketmaster service charge craziness.
Zack MillerIt's hard not to. And I don't know why so many artists and, like, organizations and things partner with things that their customers hate, and maybe it's just because they know we're gonna buy the tickets. But it's crazy. And so to to see what, I think the guy's name is Tyson. To see what the all American rejects are doing, getting people excited.
Tim RyanIt's wild.
Zack MillerAnd they're just singing singing backyard parties, look it up. It is it's it's really fascinating. And I'm always just wanting to be like, okay. Like, how how planned was this? And it was planned, but, like,
Tim RyanI don't think that is be real life of its own.
Zack MillerThat's what happens with the Internet. And so you're able to find those things. And when you do something that's unique like that and you're, you know, an established band, I mean, they're not really that big anymore. I've seen them in
Tim RyanYeah. I've them on thing is because of my daughter, Madison, is following along with this because Madison grew up with the all American rejects. We would drive around in the car, and that's where we would jam to back when she was really, really small. So this is she's following along closely. And
Zack MillerI got a song I'm gonna Like, I'm not I'm not singing it.
Tim RyanDirty little secret?
Zack MillerIt wasn't that one, I don't think. But
Tim RyanYeah. It it's Maybe they'll come to school and woke up. Who knows? Play a little, pre party. Just saying.
Zack MillerIt's good to my backyard. I'm like I just always appreciate people that do things differently. Little anarchy, little wildness in there. So it's cool.
Tim RyanYeah. I think that's a big thing. You know, you and I were not afraid to take chances. And, hey.
Zack MillerI mean, most of the things I've ever think about. I mean, most of the things that we've done have been pretty wild things. I mean, state of the start up community address, like, pretty sure still the only organization ever to have done that globally, at least nationally. I remember people used to like, how are you doing that? I'm like, I don't know.
I just, like, made some slides and told some people to show up. Like, it's not that easy.
Tim RyanFull baked idea.
Zack MillerYou what?

(04:13):
Tim RyanI don't know if I've ever done anything with a full baked idea. Like, really have thought everything through. We're we seem to build this plane while it's flying many, many times.
Zack MillerI remember, like, two, three weeks before the original start Norfolk, there was very many very limited seats that have been sold. And then something happened
Tim RyanYeah.
Zack MillerWhere, like, three weeks before, get a phone call from someone and that clicked and it got in front of enough people, and then a 180 ish 175 ish people showed up. 40 ideas were pitched. I was like, oh, there is something here. You know? And so Yep.
Sometimes you just gotta
Tim Ryansee it enough. The crazy thing is, man, is this dude, it just it takes leadership, and you have really, really got to lean in. And a lot of people, they're afraid to lean in, and then and and it shows. So it's too bad. But
Zack MillerSo instead, they, like, lean back. Lean back.
Tim RyanI think that, you know, it's just, you know, one foot on the pier and one on the boat, and, you know, they have that they wanna make sure they have a safe safe landing.
Zack MillerYeah. I'm a do this a little prematurely. But, so you talked about your family coming into town. So let's say that, you know, your family is coming into town soon, and you could take them to one restaurant in town. What's that one restaurant they're gonna take them to, mister Ryan?
Is it that time of
Tim Ryanthe show already?
Zack MillerI said I'm doing it prematurely.
Tim RyanYeah. Yeah. It's well, so my family, they do they they do, like, the the white sauce from Plaza Azteca. Typically, whenever we go up
Zack Milleron premby.
Tim RyanWhen we go to, when we go up to Michigan, we'll buy buy some chips and salsa with a big container of the white sauce to bring them.
Zack MillerCool.
Tim RyanI don't know if we're gonna have time this time around, but being in Downtown Norfolk, you know, like and it's so hard to get into because it's so small. Is you know, Jack Brown's is a great great burger. We've, we we have free we we've been there a couple times together.
Zack MillerThey're entire like, they might have 17 spots in that whole thing.
Tim RyanYeah. And I think that's a, you know, that's a power play move, man. There's oh, you know, because to anyone that does not know, they may know the only thing they may know is that there is only a always a line to get in there. They may not realize that doesn't take much to create that line, but for the passerby, there is always a line to get in that place.
Zack MillerSmart. I feel like I gotten really dark on this thing all of a sudden. I don't know what happened.
Tim RyanCan't But, yeah, so we got a shift gears session. We have talk touch on tech night. We got that coming a little further on the horizon, October.

(04:34):
Zack MillerSome of the people that I had never met before, I met through that event way back when.
Tim RyanYeah. So it's like, for those who don't know what tech night is, just think about the the Grammys, if you will, for our local technology innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem, and we'll we have some awards that, nominations are are open, so you nominate somebody. Zach, do you have the, the award categories handy? No. Oh, okay.
Zack MillerBut I can. I'll read them. So I can I'm just thinking. I I almost won the main award in 2012. I didn't.
I lost to Joel Need. I remember that. Joel Need. We had his son on through with the kids.
Tim RyanHe was unhappy with your performance, if I remember correctly.
Zack MillerWell, you know, most people are. So met a lot of people there. Paul Dockery there for the time. And, gosh, maybe Kevin Daisy back then. Like, all of these people because they used to do this so this is interesting.
I don't know that people actually know that this is a thing. So it used to be the tech Hampton Roads Tech Council, and they used to run this organization. At some point, that turned into HRIC. Don't ask me what that stands for, but we're just gonna call
Tim Ryanit the new name of the Collaborative.
Zack MillerFor the purposes of my story, we're just gonna call it the old tech council. Okay? Then you and Dan Bell become close, and he sees what you're doing with Startwell. I'm saying this from an outsider's perspective, so please stop me when I'm wrong. You got what you're doing with Startwell.
Great stuff. You got what the tech council is doing. HRAC is doing. It's like, well, what would happen in a perfect world where those two powers combine and create Innovate Hampton Roads? That's exactly what happened.
But during that, even though it's been two, two and a half years since that merger, I believe, there has been some excitement, some talk, some chatter about bringing back the seven five seven Tech Night, which is a celebration from an awards perspective, you know, innovation and entrepreneurship in the region. And, I know that when I heard about some of this stuff, I was like, oh, that's really touching. So there's a couple categories. I'll just read them all out. Was that was I wrong in anything I said there about No.
Tim RyanNo. No. That was accurate. And, yeah. I will say that in in Dan combined.
In Dan Bell's memory, thought it was a very nice touch that we have the the Dan Bell Innovative Tech Builder Award. So that, I mean, he dedicated a lot to, to the region. And naming and having this name award named after him will ensure that he's remembered forever and ever.
Zack MillerAbsolutely. They're so entrepreneur of the year, the Dan Bell Innovative Tech Builder award, seven five seven CIO, CTO of the year, emerging emerging company, technical achievement in government, innovation in education, advancement in defense contracting start to watch. And then in the same kind of vein as Dan Bell, another individual, John W. Wynn Regional Innovation Champion Award. I have have you ever told you a story about W.
Wynn and I?
Tim RyanI think so.
Zack MillerOkay. So when I worked in TV, I worked with his daughter-in-law. Have I told you this story?
Tim RyanBelieve so.
Zack MillerOkay. I'm gonna tell it here.
Tim RyanI'll I'll say that you haven't.
Zack MillerSo I work I work I'm working with this lady, and we used to go on news stories a lot. I'm not gonna say her name. But she's like, I gotta go to my father in law's house this weekend, and he is so terrifying. He's so scared. I'm like, oh, why?

(04:55):
So I thought he's this big businessman. He's like, he does all his He
Tim Ryandidn't pull any punches. That's for sure.
Zack MillerHe's just he's just no nonsense whatever. I'm just like, okay. Like, sounds like a cool guy to me. Whatever. Unbeknownst to me that this is actually the dude, you know, one of the dudes behind the Weather Channel and a lot of the innovation and great things, you know, entrepreneurially in business from the Hampton Roads area.
I had no idea. Then somehow, when I get out TV, three years later, I learn about this cat. I start having a couple meetings with them. Definitely understand what she was saying in those meetings now, where the guy's like, let me just stop you right there, Sunny. We ain't doing that.
I'm like, okay. And so I I don't remember when that that came when I realized it, but I was like, oh, man. It's so funny because she used to always tell me how this guy was so terrible.
Tim RyanI'm curious. Man, he did a Going nuts. A lot, not only for this region, but for Virginia. I mean, he was the guy the catalyst behind Go Virginia. And, man, he is he he really put his money where his mouth was.
That's for sure.
Zack MillerYeah. I I that, and, appreciate both of those individuals, Debbie and Dan Bell. And, it's nice that a name after them for this award for these awards. I know I know, for those who knew him or of of them, it's, hope hopefully, they they understand what these individuals did for for the greater cause of the
Tim RyanYeah. Of of the And that was a great great episode that we with Dan Bell on the Purdue and Poor show when we had him. That was a fun time.
Zack MillerYeah.
Tim RyanBut
Zack MillerYou know, 200 episode two what is this? Two sixty six? Two two sixty five? Five. Yes.
I mean, when we talk about this, that's a lot of episodes.
Tim RyanYeah.
Zack MillerSo
Tim RyanYeah. I would like to yeah. We did not. Like to I would like to shout out to JPMorgan Chase as the presenting sponsor for TechNite. That's super appreciated to have their support.
Yeah. I mean, they, yeah, they do, they deal with big, big numbers. And for them to get behind something like seven by seven Tech Night is, I appreciate that. That means a lot.
Zack MillerThat event, October 9, the Chrysler Museum, Downtown ish Norfolk, maybe right on the outskirts again. I still call it downtown. Part of
Tim Ryanthe The awards themselves are gonna be super cool.
Zack MillerOh, are they?
Tim RyanOh, yeah. Very unique. Every every one will be a one of one. There will there will be no two awards that that are they're identical.

(05:16):
Zack MillerYou know, I got a cool I I don't know if you can see it. The turtle's sitting in it. But, like, I won an award from Lead Hampton Roads a long time ago. I believe it's the leadership award. I don't know why anyone would give me a leadership award.
Just saying I don't think I'm a leader. But I appreciate that. That award's freaking cool.
Tim RyanYeah.
Zack MillerA lot
Tim Ryanof times These awards are these awards are awesome.
Zack MillerYou know me as a guy who used to give out a championship belt to people. I am not a fan of stupid awards. I think they they just become like everything else. I just like, a stupid. I don't I don't I I know that awards can cost a lot of money, and that can be a a big budgetary limit.
But sometimes when you just hand someone a piece of paper or, like, a paperweight, it's like, come on, guys. I appreciate this, but, like, this doesn't make the impact that it should. People wanna showcase something like that. You know, all my other awards are somewhere else, but not that one because that one's cool. If I if I had ever won my own championship belt, I would have that too.
So nominations are open and ready and, tickets available as well. So a lot a lot of lot
Tim Ryanof things Yes. Sponsorship opportunities are there. This is yeah. I wanna just be really, really clear. This is not a money making thing for Inn of Bay Hampton Roads.
This is about breaking even and celebrating the region. Yeah. It's and for the startup founders yeah. We with the last thing that I ever I am a very founder friendly person. As you know, Zach, I never want there to be something in the way between a founder and getting to where they wanna be.
So we will have some scholarship type of program, if you will, that if you need a ticket, let us know, and, we will be working with yeah. So, like, to me, there there would be nothing worse than someone be someone is a sponsor. They get, say, 10 tickets with that sponsorship package. They know they only are gonna have four people going. So we're gonna take those extra tickets that and then we will donate them to founders in the honor of that sponsoring company, and it's a win win win because, this is a celebration for everybody.
So if you're a founder and you, you're interested in something like that, let us know.
Zack MillerKevin Griffin said basically this last week, and I and, like, I know it can be hard for someone to listen to an hour long conversation for one little nugget. But I read in a book once, you know, buy that book for $15. If you get one nugget out of it, you implement it. It can be very powerful. I believe he said something like this.
You never know what happens when you just show up. You never know what happens when you just start asking how you can help a little bit. And now, I mean, he I believe he called himself like the guy who is known very well in the Mid Atlantic from the developer aspect of it. Sure. He's done the conferences and stuff like that too, but it wouldn't have happened had he not driven the ninety minutes up to to Richmond all those years ago to attend something that didn't happen here.
Tim RyanYeah.
Zack MillerAnd so I think a lot of times, people will see us talking. They'll see someone else, and they'll always find a reason why they shouldn't.
Tim RyanYou can always find that reason too.
Zack MillerAnd I I I I I just would encourage individuals who maybe have that negative aspect to just maybe once or twice to start. What would happen if maybe I'm misunderstanding what this thing really is? And what happens if I just show up somewhere, whether it be the World Cup to Tech Night, to something else has not it doesn't have to do anything that associated with those two things. But what would happen if I just went in there with a little bit different of an attitude, with a smile, willing to meet and help other people? What could happen in that situation?
Tim RyanWell, if I can build onto that, Zach.
Zack MillerPlease do.
Tim RyanWhen you attend to that, the I guarantee you're gonna be leaving with more than just one nugget by attending at these events. So here's your nugget for this episode. Take that. Go to an event, and I guarantee you're gonna walk away with many, many more nuggets in addition to you never know who you're gonna run into and meet.

(05:37):
Zack MillerYour next customer. Maybe you're trying to raise money, and you just happen to sit by a guy who's got a checkbook in his hand. People still write checks, Or is it like Venmo? Don't know people do.
Tim RyanAnd then Yeah.
Zack MillerYou just you just never know, and I really just think that that's a bad attitude to live by.
Tim RyanI tell you. One thing that dude, I just listened to I was listening to a podcast yesterday, and the thing that was wild was, like, he was saying, I live my life as if paparazzi is following me everywhere or the a docu a documentary crew is following me everywhere. And, you know, that will change your perspective on how you live. You know, you think about that, you're like, man, then yeah. How would you feel if he, you know, you had a camera crew and you're just sitting on your couch, you know, watching YouTube or scrolling through whatever?
You know, it's just
Zack MillerFrom a positivity standpoint, he does this?
Tim RyanYeah. Yeah. Yeah. Who was
Zack Millerit? It
Tim Ryanwas Rogan.
Zack MillerWell, I mean, he probably does, though.
Tim RyanYeah. But in terms of he was talking about, like, when he was like, his his success and fame being a very slow drip. It wasn't like he was he became famous overnight, and it took a long time for him to get to where he is. But I need to just to stay on the right path, you know, he that's how he how he is.
Zack MillerAs someone who has quit many things, I look back and I'm like, oh, I probably should've held that on a little longer. But, also, I like to retire things while they're still at the top as well. But, I mean, he started his pocket. He's in the 2 thousands now
Tim RyanYeah.
Zack MillerI think.
Tim RyanYep.
Zack MillerRight? Fifteen years ago? I mean, do you know how difficult it was to start a podcast fifteen years ago? It's like hearing the guy from Strava talk about how difficult that thing was when they started. It's just like or or watch the yellow dog.
Yeah. Someone just talked about Tom Green the other day and how, like, he was,
Tim Ryanlike, know, stuff down because his hosting bill was, like, in the tens of thousands of dollars.
Zack MillerI people have no idea how easy this stuff is now. Like, the actual creation of something is monumentally easier than ever before. It's just it's mind blowing to me.
Tim RyanAnd thing is it's repetition. You know? It's just it's repetition. And having the passion and
Zack Millerthe thing that you're doing, The dopamine of, like, the IG give me, like, that love type of thing, we anticipate that that's it or because we'll see someone post, like, oh, in thirteen days, I did this. I called BS on most of those things. Right? Because I think they're lying. But it's like, who cares?

(05:58):
Like, that's why when everyone someone's like, well, let me see your SWAT analysis for your competitive advantage or your competitors, whatever. Like, I just don't care about these things because I can't worry about those things. I gotta worry about my customers.
Tim RyanDo you think people really know do you think people really know their numbers in terms of, like, their their reach, their web traffic? Do you think people know their numbers? Do you think they just start guessing at those numbers, or do you think they just don't they have no idea? Because I know how hard we work. You know, just not because we're trying to hit any particular number, but we just wanna make sure that what we're doing is working for the benefit of the founder.
And I just know how hard we work. There's it's hard. It's not easy.
Zack MillerAs a numbers guy, as a marketing guy, you know, numbers are everything to me.
Tim RyanOh, yeah.
Zack MillerLike, if you don't know where you are, you don't know where you are. You wouldn't drive to a place without turning on your GPS.
Tim RyanAnd I do it not because I don't know how to go get there. I'm doing it because if there's a faster way, I wanna know. If if there's an accident, if there's traffic, I wanna know.
Zack MillerIt's kinda like the mirror effect, if you will. I don't know if it's really a mirror, but, like, looking in the mirror type of thing. I think people are afraid to look in the mirror and really look. I think that's difficult from a positive and from a negative perspective. But that's something that I've always, like I guess it's just been instilled in me or maybe I learned it.
I I don't know. But, like, I remember, like, coaching the swim team many years ago. We lost the championship by three points. It was like, okay. Like, be mad for a couple moments, but what do you need to do next year to not to not lose again?
And guess what? We won the title. But it's like, if you don't know those numbers, if you don't know why this happened, could I just change one little thing and we would have won? Had this one little thing happened over here, could this not could that have been the difference? Yes.
And that's the answer. But if you don't know that data, imagine if it's something so simple as like, oh, I actually didn't actually click this toggle on, and it's and that's everything. But because you're you're so afraid to actually know the truth.
Tim RyanI mean, that's the thing, dude. That's been my whole life from a financial standpoint. You know, like, just the understanding of compounding and the compounding effects of money.
Zack MillerBut that same thing is business. Right. Removing the money aspect of it, just looking at the compounding interest. Like, imagine if you meet five new people every day or you reach out to five new people every day. At the end of the year, whatever that is, let's say you take a couple weeks off.
Right? 50 times five, that's I don't I don't wanna do the math, but that's a lot more people over a thousand people that you're gonna meet or have conversations with that you never did. All you had to do was spend five minutes doing it.
Tim RyanWell, I mean, it's just yeah. I mean, me telling my kids right now because they're a to that age. I'm like, guys, you save a $100 a month from 25 to 65, that that will turn into $1,100,000 based on historical rates. $100 a month. And it's just I always joke, man.
I'm like, dude, my my go to, peanut butter and jelly for lunch. A lot of times when I go to coffee, as we've talked about on the show, not a super big fan of Starbucks. I'll I'll take my own cup of coffee to the meeting. You know? I mean, it's just like and, you know, I mean, this is is is $100 a month, 25 to 65 over a millie.
So just trying to instill that. But, yeah, it's numbers, man. You just, you gotta measure it. And, boy, it doesn't go doesn't doesn't start growing until it starts to grow. And then you're, and it's the same thing with us, with with the the audience reach that we have.
And we talked about that in about running.
Zack MillerYou're you're running? Yeah. I mean, that's
Tim RyanYour fast day fast days today will be your slow days tomorrow. And it doesn't seem like it it would be possible, but, man, if it doesn't happen.
Zack MillerIt it all comes back to those reps. Shoot your shot. Shout out Jay Cal for saying it the way that he did. Because I feel like we always talk about reps or maybe he's the one who brought up reps. Yeah.

(06:19):
But I feel like ever since that episode episode 100, which seems like, wow. We've done a 165.
Tim RyanShots did I have to take to get that to get that show to happen? He made fun of me on the show. He's like he's like, dude, I had to say yes. So there's just to get you to stop bothering me.
Zack MillerDude, okay. So, Britney and Dave Paragoff met from Weird Wheel, met J Cal that day at And they're this accelerator right now. And they're yep. And then I was just talking to them the other day.
Tim RyanThey're on the show a couple weeks ago.
Zack MillerOh, they were? Cool. I was Yeah. I was asking him or I was asking Brittany if they were gonna be at the World Cup. She said, no.
We can't. We're actually pitching to Google that day. I was like, that's cool. But
Tim RyanAll because they showed up to start Peninsula. I meant I meant to write an article on that when they perform when they were on this week in startups because, like, the or word out of their mouth out of Britney's mouth was, yeah, we met at Star Peninsula. I'm like, how about that? Should Star Peninsula getting a shout out on this week in startups in the top 10 of
Zack MillerYou should you should do an article on that. I I I have a meeting too. Based on this last ten minutes, like and you just never like, it's the it's the Nike slogan. It's just do it. Just show up.
Tim RyanDude.
Zack MillerTim, great to see you.
Tim RyanYeah.
Zack MillerEpisode two sixty five. Looking forward to the next two sixty five. And, you know, we've only done a handful of these solos. So this is our worst one yet, but, you know, we'll get better.
Tim RyanNo. I don't I don't believe that for a I the thing that's just interesting is how much we do talk to each other now. So it's I feel like we're always talking, but just everybody could eavesdrop, hear what we're talking. We we don't talk about anything different when we're well, typically, when we do talk, we're in front of a camera because we're on the FaceTime. But Always a pleasure.
Zack MillerAlways a pleasure. Like, subscribe, download, and make sure that you show up to start up world cup. Innovate757.org backslash start up world cup. Virginia.
Tim RyanNot Get those nominations in for tech night. Happening, baby. It's happening.
Zack MillerI don't know if that's right at all.
Tim RyanTwo up and two down.
Zack MillerThat was correct. Oh, you should do that now. This will be the thumbnail. That is the funniest thing I've ever done. Oh, boy.
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