Casually Compromised - Book 1

Still Alive

"Parker we appreciate your time today.." the man said.

I was sitting in a semi-comfy chair, chilling in my sport coat in an nondescript warehouse on the east side of town. The man was with ShiftON a new startup magazine on the rise lately. Seems my low key radar was wearing off and I had got pinged to do an interview with the magazine on startups in the Midwest. I guess thats all good, I knew a few things, mostly dirt.

"Not a problem, love the magazine!" I said, lying I had only read two issues, full of ads telling people the lies of hustle and hard work. Few knew that gimmicks and behavior rule the business.

Bright light filled the room coming from a photographers light kit setup. It was powerful. Nothing like attempting to have a casual conversation with super nova in your face I thought to myself.

"Ok sound check, alright let's begin.." the man said clearing his throat.

He was hipster, shorts and colorful socks. The whole ShiftON magazine had a youthful it's all possible vibe. I on the other hand, sport coat, jeans, t-shirt with the Atari logo on it. Just rebel enough.

"So Parker you're known in town for being a connector, you even describe yourself as one- can you explain what that is?" the man said leaning in as if to get the scoop of the century.

"Umm sure, I basically know folks I guess and even if I don't know them I know enough to connect folks on a common point of interest." I said which was basically true, I'm a people reader of sorts.

"So you read people, it says that on your LinkedIn." the man hinted at.

"Yes., but context matters, you need to find out "why" of which why you're talking to have a meaningful conversation." I said, easing into the comfortable rant persona I have delicately crafted.

"Interesting, and you've built a business around this?" the man said.

"Yeah I find things for people, other people or solutions or I make them a solution" I said quietly, leaning back, fully confident in most of what I said.

I didn't find people as much as I just asked people- funny, people today, no one asks. We live in this implicit permission aura where by if you could ask, you'd open doors but everyones afraid of perfect and proper first expectations. I could give a shit. I mean sure i did give a shit, but in asking you actually increase your odds of netting favor in just act of asking, it like softens the approach. People wanna be heard, so ask them to tell their story.

"And your partner, Veer? Am i saying that correctly? The man said looking at a card in his hand.

I was sweating, the super nova was burning a hole in my forehead.

"Yes, Veer, he's my partner at STK, we've been working together for 15 years." I said nodding and wiping my forehead.

"Veer is the operational guy, I dream up stuff." I said.

"Awesome ok so what key pointers can you give our audience of hustlers, we have so many great people working hard to build our city these days- what advice do you give them?" the man said, clearly looking to close, this interview was enough, it was a teaser, like a half page in the magazine, next to ad for some new restaurant or food truck.

"Hmmm well first, be transparent, because people will read ya, so go with honesty. Second, save the bullshit for parties. Third build something you care about. Fourth, don't fuck anyone over to build it. Firth- work hard and faster than everyone else." I said as openly as possible. It was all true to me.

Transparency was critical, though most would play games.

Honesty was key because it was hard to live on lies. You run out of room after awhile I figured. Honesty even in delusion was important.

Tho I did have a double standard in honesty when it came to Ally.

Bullshit happens, but in the product it kills teams, morale, clients, it kills things. Bullshit is enemy number in startups. The more bullshit you have the less real you are and thus any momentum is called into question could be real or not.

Its important not fuck over people. Everyone does it. You will be tested often when building something- greed will get you, and greed is good but only with company- greed alone destroys most things.

Working faster isn't really a goal, working better is, but better is relative based on how well you're making decisions. Faster is always nice, I loved speed. SPEED in the sense of making decisions timely and not letting the fear of what you're doing stop you from doing.

The man scribbled some notes chuckling to himself and his fellow members. "Well Parker, you ummm live up to your rep. " He said closing his notebook reaching his hand out to handshake.

I shook his hand and wondered if what my rep was really. Was it transparent, honest, no bullshit? If so, mission accomplished.

Veer cracked the door open and looked at me suggesting it was time to go.

"Thanks everyone" I said getting up and out of the super nova's range of blindness.

Walking to parking lot I wondered how well I did in the interview for a second or two. Veer chatted to me as I digested the moment.

We had products to ship, clients were happy and we had more to do at the club- they wanted some new features in the suite of tools we provided them. Human engineering, thats lovely.