10 Things You Didn’t Know about Scott Voigt
Who is Scott Voigt? If you only know him as the founder and CEO of Fullstory, then you don’t know the whole story. In fact, there are a number of things that make him one of the more unique individuals in the business world that you are ever likely to meet. Below are just 10 of those things.
1. His ‘overnight success’ didn’t exactly happen overnight
The thing about overnight successes is that they rarely, if ever, actually occur overnight. Voigt’s Fullstory is certainly no exception. In fact, he worked in the corporate world for a number of years before he ever made the decision to found his own company. He also went to college and then obtained an MBA. Long before he ever attempted to start his own company, he had gained a wealth of experience operating similar companies for other people.
2. He likes the idea of creating something new in the business world
Like many people who have a creative mind, he genuinely likes the idea of doing something that is new. He says that throughout his career, one of the things that has truly inspired him is the opportunity to work on new projects or work to improve existing products in one manner or another. He’s quick to point out that nothing ever changes by doing things the same way they have always been done. By the same token, things don’t change by using the same products and services for decades. Things have to change with the times. This is something that he has always been quite keen on and it’s something that has driven his career throughout his life.
3. He is motivated by the prospect of doing something different
Because of his creative ability, he says that he is highly motivated by the prospect of doing something that no one else has ever done. Whether that involves creating an entirely new service or product online or simply working to solve problems with existing systems, he loves the challenge and the excitement that are typically involved with doing something that other people haven’t yet accomplished. He also says it’s one of the most rewarding feelings in the world to look at something that no one else has accomplished in the past, and then see the benefit of all of your hard work after you have achieved something unique.
4. He sees business from the perspective of the consumer
He says that in order to be successful, you have to look at things from the perspective of the customer. Until you’re able to put yourself in the consumer’s shoes, it’s unlikely that you will see the concerns and issues that most consumers might be facing. That means that he routinely takes himself out of his comfort zone in order to look at things from a unique perspective and ask difficult questions that many consumers might be asking themselves. It’s a way for him to keep projects relevant and stay ahead of the proverbial curve so that those products remain relevant for more than just a few months.
5. He admits that sometimes, too much growth can be a problem, too
Trying to grow a business unsuccessfully can be an issue, but so can having a business that grows too quickly. He has personally experienced some of the difficulties associated with a business that quickly outgrows its staff. He admits that this can be as difficult as having a product or service that simply doesn’t sell. Consumers need products when they need them and they don’t want to accept excuses. Voigt is quick to point out that entrepreneurs must be ready for both extremes.
6. He advocates making time for yourself to simply create
He says that it can be easy to get caught up in the times where people are always connected to other individuals all over the world. Between virtual meetings, text and emails, it can be difficult to have time to create ideas or even to get inspiration. According to him, one way to combat that is to simply turn everything off, stick a sign on the door and lock yourself away for an hour or two every day. This gives you the opportunity to gain inspiration for new ideas and to work on those ideas in greater detail. If you are a person that needs to be free from distractions in order to elevate your level of creativity, he says that you should do whatever is necessary to get to that level, even if that means refraining from responding to friends, family and co-workers for a couple of hours throughout the day.
7. He has a sense of humor
There is no doubt that he has a sense of humor. Anyone who has ever listened to him talk or read any of his social media posts knows that he uses humor to keep things in perspective. It’s something that he highly recommends, as he says that it makes living life both easier and more fun.
8. He says it’s never too late to develop new interests
Despite the fact that he is admittedly no spring chicken, he has just recently developed an interest in Lacrosse. This largely happened because he has two children that are also interested in the sport, but he is quick to point out that people should never sell themselves short when it comes to developing a new interest. According to him, a person should never refrain from exploring new interests simply because of their age.
9. He doesn’t have a problem stating his opinion
These days, it can be difficult to know what to say and what to stay quiet about, but Voigt has never been one to be bothered with things like that. While some people are virtually terrified to provide an opinion on anything, he has always been rather quick to let people know exactly where he stands.
10. He works to lift others up
He spends a lot of time on social media trying to inspire others. He says that he realized a long time ago that no one ever really makes it on their own. It is only by working together that the greatest levels of success can be achieved.
