I'm an ideas guy, a creator. Way back in 2012 I had several ideas that I was working on since finishing my Masters of Entrepreneurship; one was a beer app called Closest Beer(in the app store now), one was Social Star (my current company) and one was Tribe (owned and run by Jules Lund).
I met Jules through a mutual friend and what an engaging guy! So respectful of learning from others and a sponge for my personal branding information. I gave him a manuscript for my book (now published 'Creating a Powerful Brand') and on a hunch pitched him, Tribe.
My pitch went a bit like this: "Imagine Tinder for celebrities and brand managers." He was a celebrity and I was the brand manager, a perfect fit. We worked on the idea together for 18 months and it grew and grew. I was full time in Social Star at this stage and didn't have the time or funds to devote myself to Tribe as it was required.
In late 2014 Jules wanted to take the business further, it was only an idea at this stage, so I exited the business and wished him all the best. Ideas are free, execution is where the value is created and he created the value that Tribe is today.
Friends ask me why I didn't pursue the idea further knowing that it could be a global company. My response is simple. I am more passionate about helping small business owners build their brands and live a more fulfilling life and spend more time with their family than I am about helping famous people make more money. It all comes down to being true to your own values.
Jules is the heart and soul of Tribe, and although, I had the idea first and pitched it to him. He was the man that put his time, money and significant effort into what the business is today.
I sat on this idea for over a year before pitching it to Jules. My mate, Sacha Mcmonagle-ihasz, and I built out the strategy, played around with concepts, but it never made much ground until Jules became involved. Jules made it happen because he is more passionate about the idea than I.
My advice for entrepreneurs is this. Share your ideas freely. People may try to copy your idea, but most will give it up when presented with a challenge as they are not as passionate about it as you are. Don't do it for the money or success, do it for the people you want to help the most.
If I didn't share the Tribe idea on a whim all those years ago, it would probably have been gathering dust in my ideas book and someone else would have created the business. Share and collaborate. I would rather see the idea come to life with a guy that I respect and call a friend.
I wish him all the best with the business and know he will make it a massive success.
Follow your values,
Andrew
P.S. If you want to peek inside my ideas book just shoot me a message, I have heaps!
