Lars Schmidt is the Founder of Amplify, a HR executive search and consulting firm. He’s spent over 20 years in the industry working in and alongside a range of leading global companies. He’s a writer for Fast Company, author of the books, Redefining HR and Employer Branding for Dummies, and is also the Host of the Redefining HR podcast.
Entrepreneurial Role Models:
When business started difficulties overcame:
“I was really fortunate that right when I launched, I had to mark each clients with Space X and NPR and so that was great. I think the challenge I had to overcome was again kind of making that connection back to family. My wife was pregnant with our first child at that time and so I was literally travelling back-and-forth between Virginia and Los Angeles where Space X was based. And that was really difficult, me kind of figuring out what was the right rhythm of work focus and family focus. Then when my daughter was born that obviously changes everything. And so having to figure out how to become an entrepreneur while simultaneously figuring out how to be a father was a unique challenge ”…[Listen for More]
Favourite Books:
Steal Like An Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative Book by Austin KleonFavourite Quote:
“build a good name”
Recommended Online Resources:
- Fast Company is the world s leading progressive business media brand, with a unique editorial focus on innovation in technology, leadership, and design
- Harvard Business Review – Find new ideas and classic advice on strategy, innovation and leadership, for global leaders from the world’s best business and management experts
Best Advice to Other Entrepreneurs:
“really focus your early days on building your emergency fund because with that you have freedom. And when you have freedom you can really take your business to new places but you can’t do that if you are in need constant position of how am I going to make ends meet? How am I going to cover bills? I think once you get over that point and you have a sufficient emergency fund that freedom really allows you to take your business to new places”…[Listen for More]
More About Lars Schmidt:
Neil’s Quote at the Beginning:
Tim Notke “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”
Other Quotes From the Chat with Lars Schmidt:
- “there is always the long-term financial uncertainty no matter how successful your business is at any moment in time. You never know when a global pandemic is going to hit and kind of throw everything aside ways. Especially as a provider for my family I am always I wouldn’t say worried but cognisant of the financials, mindful of revenue and making sure that I am running the business in a way that we have the security that my family needs and that I need is an entrepreneur to feel good the time doing the right things for both myself and my family …”
- “I think you have to assume that change is a given and you have to create your own personal operating systems in an agile way. I don’t necessarily mean agile in the strict definition but I mean ways that you are not locked into a static state of exactly how things are. You have the ability to adjust and adapt as the situations around you adapt because you know they will…”
- “There are no original ideas everything was kind of built on something else at some point and/or inspired by something else”
- “especially in the early days be really diligent about your spend and building a savings. You want to have a backup fund for business continuity for I would say probably 18 months. When you hit that point there is a level of freedom that comes with the role…”
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