Hi, my name is Thomas, and this is my ‘now’ page, inspired by Derek Sivers. It tells you (and reminds me) where my energy and attention are focused right now.
This page was last updated January 26th, 2025 from White Bear Lake, MN.
1. Fundraising for GetElevenApp.com and preparing for our public launch
At the end of last year, we completed Techstars Atlanta & New Orleans Powered by J.P. Morgan. If you don’t know fundraising takes a big ol’ winter break from mid-december to mid-january. So we didn’t really start rolling on our pre-seed round until about two weeks ago. Right now I am meeting every investor I can to share our team and progress. The grind of the CRM and emails and spreadsheets and research itself is very draining. Fortunately, the people part is very fun and way more than makes up for it. Meanwhile, the rest of the team gets to stay focused on our private-beta customers and the app, and are working our way up to a more public launch.
2. Evolving YourSecondCall.com
My Ikigai (whole purpose/calling/vocation) is to increase the quality and quantity of curiosity in the world, by guiding people through Self Healing Leadership – a practice designed to help leaders recognize the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that create resistance in their decisions, conversations, and actions; heal and reintegrate what holds them back or what they are holding back; and lead from their truest best Self.
Eleven is an effort to scale that calling, but I will ALWAYS hold space for my own 1:1 sessions with select private coaching clients. There are a number of ways my coaching has evolved this year, which make it stronger and more effective. And being “in the arena” has sharpened our relationships.
3. Dad-ing
The 3 year old is officially a full-on threenager. His favorite phrase the past 6 weeks has been screaming “Shut up you idiot!” at the top of his lungs. As in, “Hey bud, would you like some more mac-and-cheese?” to which he responds, “SHUT UP YOU IDIOT!” And, I keep reminding myself that I am so happy I have created a space where he feels so safe responding that way, even while it grinds my soul into powder. On the other hand, the 9 year old (guess where the 3 year old learned that phrase?) has found Jiu Jitsu and has literally fallen head over heels in love with it. Its exciting watching him bloom into that.
What Am I thinking About
This section is inspired by Zvi Band, who taught me that, “Richard Feynman had this idea of always carrying around a number of problems you’re thinking about, to help hone what you read, think about, and discuss with others.”
- I believe AI will “take” more work than jobs (e.g. AI will start doing 50-75% of the work for each job in a company – not displace more than 20% of the jobs in a company.) But I also believe it is the brands with “the most humane humans” who will win the transition. I want to help companies have better humans.
- What are the most inclusive, acceptable, and adaptable ways to talk about psychological safely in the workplace?
- Am I awake? How do I know?
- I want to increase the quality and quantity of curiosity in the world.
- Who was in that plane in DC?
If you would like to discuss anything mentioned here, please come say hi