Three Things I Learned In SaaS, Sports, Tech, & Live Events
Vivid seats reports, what cops, judges, and firefighters have in common, and Standing up to Tommy Lasorda
1. Vivid Seats reported strong numbers earlier this week (even after adjusting for the "adjusted" metrics - a more common trick these days, especially with live events stocks - see AOI), but it wasn't enough to curb a dropping stock on the news of Eric Vassilatos starting GoTickets. The stock buyback didn't prompt any questions during the Q & A. International is the focus for Vivid going forward with plenty on the balance sheet to buy back stock and look to acquisitions.
2. Cops, Judges, Firefighters…and entrepreneurs? When I was a kid, my dad would tell me there are few people as fun to be around as cops, judges, and firefighters. The why was the most interesting part: They see the human race at its worst more than the rest of us. That kind of exposure, he postulated, would either lead them to be horribly jaded/cynical and difficult to be around (I've met those- avoid them) or exponentially gracious and loving to those around them. He's right.
I've found entrepreneurs to be similar. Especially those who have "made it" but not exorbitantly. They have so many haters, so many people trying to extract from them, and so few places to turn to where they can trust the person isn't in the relationship for selfish reasons.
The stories are endless of what they've had to endure from others - all the way from a friend owning a local yogurt store up to the family troubles of a self-made billionaire friend.
Some of the best people I've ever met.
We joke every time someone is trying to steal from us, hurt us, or attack us: "It's just another day on the Dutton Ranch."
3. Stand up to assholes. In 2002, I left my job to make $10/hr cold calling for the last-place Dodgers. One day, a Tommy Lasorda lackey overheard I grew up a Giants fan when I was talking to a security guard I'd made friends with.
Two days later, that same lackey loudly yelled over the entire press room of staffers eating lunch, "Hey Tommy, there's that Giants fan I told you about."
I stood there, with my tray of $6 food, expecting some light locker-room ribbing. I was a 22-year-old kid in a suit that didn't fit me making no money selling season tickets to the last-place Dodgers.
Instead, he made a scene and tried to dress me down in front of everyone. Even coming chest to chest with me, which is absurd as I'm a foot taller than he was.
He, and his buffoon lackey, were visibly shocked when I responded, chest up and chin out "You two have to have better things to do. So go do them" then turned my back on him.
We all have bad moments. I'm not judging his character. But, in that moment, He was being a bully. And I was a defenseless mark.
I was terrified. I was sure I was going to get fired.
You'll be surprised the courage you find on the other side of standing up for yourself.