Zero Equals One: Creating A Business From Nothing | Riley Csernica | TEDxCharleston

Summary

The video script narrates the inspiring journey of an aspiring bi-medical engineer, Riley, who, despite facing the reality of unemployment post-graduation, decides to take a bold step. After a disappointing job interview, she realizes the importance of pursuing a career she loves. With her classmate Chelsea, they decide to develop a shoulder brace they had started as a class project, turning their focus from job hunting to entrepreneurship. Facing numerous challenges, including lack of experience and resources, they persist, driven by their innovative idea and the support from their network. Their persistence pays off when their brace proves effective for a professional hockey player, validating their invention. The story emphasizes the power of a single good idea and the importance of support from others in turning that idea into a successful business.

Takeaways

• 💄 The protagonist chose to wear lipstick for a job interview, symbolizing stepping out of their comfort zone for a desired opportunity.
• 🎓 They were close to graduating college with a degree in biomedical engineering but faced the reality of potential unemployment.
• 🔍 The job interview revealed a mismatch between the protagonist's aspirations and the actual job requirements, emphasizing the importance of aligning career choices with personal interests.
• 🚫 A direct 'no' from an interviewer provided a pivotal moment of self-reflection and clarity about the protagonist's career path.
• 💡 The idea of becoming an inventor was a long-held dream, but practical job opportunities were scarce, leading to a shift in approach.
• 🤝 A collaborative effort with classmates to develop a shoulder brace marked the beginning of a new entrepreneurial journey.
• 🏡 The protagonist's mother provided critical support and a safe space to start the business, highlighting the role of a support system in pursuing dreams.
• 🚀 Despite having no experience, mentors, network, or money, the decision to pursue the shoulder brace project was driven by passion and a single good idea.
• 📚 The process involved learning from various sources, including hospitals and pharmacies, to gain expertise in the field.
• 🎨 The initial product development phase was filled with trial and error, likened to an 'Arts and Crafts Corner' by onlookers.
• 🏋️‍♂️ The first successful test of the shoulder brace on a professional hockey player marked a significant milestone, validating the invention and the entrepreneurial endeavor.
• 🤔 The story underscores the importance of a single good idea and support from others as key ingredients for success, rather than focusing on what one lacks.

Q & A

Why did the speaker decide to wear lipstick on March 15th, 2012?

The speaker decided to wear lipstick on March 15th, 2012, because they were going to a job interview and felt that dressing up, even in a way that was not their usual style, was necessary to make a good impression and increase their chances of landing the job.

What was the speaker's educational background?

The speaker had a degree in biomedical engineering, which they were about to complete two months prior to the interview mentioned in the script.

What was the main reason the speaker did not get the job they interviewed for?

The speaker did not get the job because the position was for a quality control engineer, which involved routine and repetitive tasks that did not align with the speaker's passion and skills for innovation and product development.

What was the turning point for the speaker in terms of their career direction?

The turning point was the realization that they needed to pursue a career they loved, which led them to go back to school and eventually team up with classmates to develop a shoulder brace, thus becoming medical brace entrepreneurs.

What was the speaker's mother's response when the speaker proposed the idea of starting their own business?

The speaker's mother was supportive, stating that the speaker had nothing to lose and everything to gain from the experience, as long as they worked hard.

How did the speaker and their partner, Chelsea, initially approach building their business?

They started by talking to anyone who would listen, visiting hospitals, pharmacies, and physical therapy offices to gather information and make valuable contacts, which helped them become experts in their field.

What was the first significant milestone for the speaker's company?

The first significant milestone was when their shoulder brace worked for a professional hockey player, validating their invention and marking the transition from students to businesswomen.

What was the initial perception of the speaker and Chelsea by people in their office?

People in their office initially thought they were engaged in a preschool art project, referring to their cubicle as the 'Arts and Crafts Corner,' not taking their work seriously.

What was the key takeaway from the speaker's journey that they want to convey to others?

The key takeaway is that having a good idea is enough to start a business, and that support from others is crucial. The speaker encourages others not to let fear hold them back and to pursue their dreams despite the challenges.

What role did the interviewer's rejection play in the speaker's life?

The rejection from the interviewer actually provided the speaker with a new outlook on life and the understanding that choosing a career they loved was important, which ultimately led them to pursue their own entrepreneurial path.

What was the speaker's strategy for overcoming the lack of experience, mentors, and resources when starting their business?

The speaker's strategy was to talk to as many people as possible, gather information, and make contacts in the industry. They also utilized free office space and worked tirelessly to develop their product, eventually gaining recognition and validation for their invention.

How did the speaker's mother's advice influence the decision to start the business?

The speaker's mother's advice was pivotal, as she encouraged the speaker to take the risk and pursue the entrepreneurial path, emphasizing the lack of commitments and the potential for gain, which gave the speaker the confidence to move forward with the business idea.

Outlines

00:00

💄 Lipstick and a Job Interview

The speaker reflects on an important decision to wear lipstick for a job interview on March 15, 2012, which was out of character for them. This was a pivotal moment as they were about to graduate with a degree in biomedical engineering and feared unemployment. Despite the effort, the interview for a quality control engineer position did not result in a job offer, but it provided a valuable insight. The interviewer acknowledged the speaker's enthusiasm and vision but explained that the position was not a good fit for their aspirations. This experience led the speaker to reevaluate their career path and ultimately, with a group of classmates, to develop a shoulder brace, sparking the entrepreneurial journey.

05:02

🚀 From Classroom to Entrepreneurship

After the realization that a traditional job as a quality control engineer was not the right fit, the speaker, along with a classmate named Chelsea, decided to pursue the development of a shoulder brace they had started as a class project. They sought advice from various professionals and gradually became recognized as experts in their field within South Carolina. Despite initial skepticism from others who viewed their efforts as an 'arts and crafts' project, they persisted. Their hard work culminated in a functional prototype that was successfully tested by a professional hockey player, validating their invention. The speaker emphasizes the importance of a single good idea and the support from others as key ingredients for success, encouraging others not to let fear or perceived lack of resources hold them back from pursuing their dreams.

Keywords

💡Lipstick

Lipstick in the video script symbolizes a departure from the protagonist's usual style, representing the lengths they were willing to go to secure a job interview. It is a metaphor for stepping out of one's comfort zone. In the script, the protagonist states, 'I hate lipstick it is just not my style,' yet they wear it for a job interview, indicating a significant effort to impress.

💡Job Interview

A job interview is a formal meeting where an employer assesses a candidate's suitability for a job. In the context of the video, it is a pivotal moment that leads to self-reflection and a change in career direction. The protagonist's interview experience triggers the realization that they do not want to be a quality control engineer, which is a key turning point in the narrative.

💡Technical Expertise

Technical expertise refers to specialized knowledge or skill in a particular area, often related to a profession or trade. In the script, the primary interviewer acknowledges the protagonist's technical expertise, indicating their qualifications in medical engineering. This forms part of the basis for the interviewer's initial interest, although it ultimately highlights a mismatch with the job role.

💡Unemployment

Unemployment is the state of being without a job and actively seeking work. The video's protagonist is two months away from graduating college and fears walking 'straight into unemployment,' which underscores the motivation behind their job-seeking efforts and the pressure to secure employment post-graduation.

💡Inventor

An inventor is a person who creates new devices, methods, or products. The protagonist's aspiration to be an inventor is a central theme in the video. It reflects a desire for creativity and innovation, contrasting with the more mundane job of a quality control engineer. The inventor's role is tied to the protagonist's passion and ultimate career path.

💡Product Development

Product development is the process of creating a new product, from initial design to market launch. The protagonist's realization that product development opportunities are scarce leads to a lowering of their job expectations. This concept is central to the story as it sets the stage for the protagonist's entrepreneurial journey.

💡Entrepreneur

An entrepreneur is an individual who creates a new business, bearing the risks and enjoying the rewards. The protagonist and their classmate Chelsea decide to become 'medical brace entrepreneurs,' which signifies a shift from seeking employment to creating their own opportunities. This keyword encapsulates the spirit of the video's message about pursuing one's passions.

💡Support

Support is the encouragement or assistance given to someone. In the video, the protagonist receives crucial support from their mother, which allows them to pursue their entrepreneurial venture. Support is highlighted as a vital ingredient for success, emphasizing the importance of having a network of individuals who believe in one's vision.

💡Ideas

Ideas in the context of the video refer to the initial concepts or plans for new businesses or products. The protagonist emphasizes that having just one good idea is sufficient to start a business, countering the common misconception that a multitude of resources is required. Ideas are portrayed as the spark that can ignite entrepreneurial endeavors.

💡Fear

Fear is an emotional response to a perceived threat or danger. The protagonist acknowledges the fear associated with starting a business from scratch, especially without prior experience or resources. However, the video encourages overcoming fear by focusing on the potential of one's ideas and the support available.

💡Validation

Validation is the confirmation or corroboration of the value or worth of something. In the script, the moment the protagonist's shoulder brace works for a professional hockey player serves as validation for their invention. This instance is a turning point that transforms the project from a perceived 'arts and crafts' endeavor into a serious business venture.

💡Zero to One

The phrase 'zero to one' is used metaphorically to describe the process of creating something from nothing. The protagonist reflects on how starting with 'zero' in terms of experience and resources can still lead to 'one' successful business. It encapsulates the video's central theme of the potential inherent in a single idea and the transformative power of entrepreneurial spirit.

Highlights

The speaker's decision to wear lipstick for a job interview symbolizes stepping out of her comfort zone.

Facing the reality of unemployment with a new degree in biomedical engineering.

Impressing interviewers with technical expertise, humor, and vision, but realizing the job was not the right fit.

The importance of choosing a career that aligns with personal passion and aspirations.

The realization that product development opportunities were scarce, leading to a shift in job search strategy.

The decision to become medical brace entrepreneurs with a classmate, Chelsea.

The unconventional interview process with the speaker's mom before starting the entrepreneurial journey.

The motivational support from the speaker's mom, encouraging her to take the entrepreneurial leap.

Starting a business with no experience, mentors, network, money, or finished product.

The strategy of talking to anyone who would listen to gain insights and contacts in the medical field.

Becoming known as the 'shoulder brace girls' in South Carolina through persistent networking.

The transformation from students to businesswomen with the successful creation of a functional shoulder brace.

Overcoming skepticism from others who viewed their work as an 'arts and crafts' project.

The pivotal moment of validation when their shoulder brace worked for a professional hockey player.

The realization that a single good idea can be enough to start a business, despite numerous obstacles.

The critical role of support from others in overcoming fear and taking the first steps towards entrepreneurship.

The message to aspiring entrepreneurs to not let the lack of resources deter them from pursuing their dreams.

The importance of making and creating despite the challenges, as one's dream job depends on it.

Transcripts

[Music]

I hate lipstick it is just not my style

so when I decided to put it on March

15th 2012 people knew I was up to

something job interview I was 2 months

away from graduating college two months

away from taking my new degree in bi

medical engineering and walking it

straight into unemployment I was going

to do whatever it took to make sure that

I landed the job I was interviewing for

that day even if it meant going so far

as to put on lipstick now I don't know

what happened when I walked into that

office something magical maybe I was

born with it maybe it was

Maybelline regardless I crushed that

interview at the end of it the primary

person I was speaking with said Riley

you really impressed us today not only

do you have the technical expertise you

are funny you are enthusiastic you have

ideas exploding out of your head you

have so much vision for our company and

we're not really looking to hire people

like

that she obviously could see the look on

my face so she felt the need to explain

herself she said Riley we are looking

for a quality control engineer we we

need someone to stand at the end of a

production line and check little boxes

to make sure that our products are

meeting FDA specification after talking

to you for 60 minutes I could tell you

would hate coming to work every day if

that was the job you had to do and she

was absolutely right no amount of

lipstick was going to cover up the fact

that I didn't want to be a quality

control engineer for the longest time I

had known I wanted to be an inventor I

wanted to take new products to Market

but when I started going out into the

real world searching for jobs very

quickly I realized product development

opportunities were few and far between

so I set my sights lower and lower and

lower and lower to the point that I

would have taken any job that would have

offered me a paycheck while I didn't

leave the interview with a new job I did

leave with a new outlook on life and an

understanding of how important it is to

choose a career that I loved I went back

to school with eyes wide open hoping I

would find an opportunity I originally

had missed and I did very quickly during

my senior year at Clemson a group of

classmates and I were developing a

shoulder brace and I thought to myself

what if instead of chasing jobs we

finished out this shoulder brace that we

had started I presented this proposition

to my classmates and immediately Chelsea

said I'm in let's do it and we decided

from that day forward we would become

medical brace entrepreneurs now most

people think when you start your own

company you just hire yourself as the

CEO and you're on your web way

absolutely not how it worked in my case

I had to interview for this position

with my

mom I distinctly remember going home

sitting my mom down in our kitchen and

saying I have a crazy idea instead of

going and getting a job getting a

paycheck would it be okay if Chelsea and

I pursued developing out this shoulder

brace and before you say no I just want

to remind you of something you have

always said you wanted me to get a job

close to

home and if I become an entrepreneur not

only will I live in your home I will

work out of your home and we'll be

together

forever and I was absolutely shocked by

her reaction to this she said Riley you

are at a point in your life where you

have

nothing you have no house you have no

husband no kids you have no car payments

you literally have nothing to

lose and only things to gain from this

experience so as long as I see you and

Chelsea working as hard as you can you

are more than welcome to stay live and

work in my house guys I got the job 21

years old I was a entrepreneur a medical

device inventor I got exactly what I

wanted and I was terrified because my

mom brought up a very excellent point I

did have nothing right forget about the

house and the car and the kids I didn't

have job experience we didn't have a

finished product I had no money no

network no mentors how in the world was

I supposed to start a business from

nothing how could zero ever equal one

the engineer in me told me that this

equation made absolutely no sense but

despite what my head said my heart said

go with it anyway so with no experience

no mentors no network no money no

product Chelsea and I set out to see

what we were made of the very first

thing we did was talk to anyone who

would listen I distinctly remember

packing up my 2003 Nissan Ultima with

shoulder braces and I would literally

drive around town and get out at any

hospital system any pharmacy any

physical therapy office and demand to

speak to someone in charge and a lot of

times they demanded I

left but every once in a while someone

gave me a clue a hint of what to do next

a piece of information a valuable

contact and slowly but surely Chelsea

and I became experts in our field before

you knew it we were known in the state

of South Carolina as the shoulder brace

girls and while that was extremely

flattering we had really exhausted

talking the talk and it was time to sit

down and walk the walk we needed to make

a shoulder brace so Chelsea and I found

free office space in town we loaded it

with elastic and velcro and plastic and

cardboard pretty much everything but

glitter

and we got to work day in and day out

week in and week out we worked on this

product people in our office thought we

were crazy they called our cubicle the

Arts and Crafts Corner they thought what

we were doing was a preschool art

project but we knew better than that we

knew we were on to something much bigger

and eventually we had a product it was

sitting on this mannequin we bought it

was red blue yellow black white and

Peach the oddest looking thing you've

ever seen however in our gut we thought

it might actually work but thinking it

works and knowing it works are two

different things so we set out to find

our first

victim and very quickly we found a

professional hockey player in town who

needed a brace to get back to play now

mind you this is no run- inth the-mill

hockey player this is a 6'4 215b

fighting machine they imported this guy

from

Canada he is the real deal Chelsea and I

put the brace on him and it worked and

this was a huge moment of validation for

our company because no longer did we

feel like students finishing a homework

assignment we were business women

starting a company our shoulder brace

wasn't an arts and crafts project it was

an

invention and in that moment I realized

something so important something I

didn't fully understand in the beginning

of this journey while we had no

experience and no mentors and no product

and no money and no network we had one

good idea and that was enough to get

started all too often I meet people with

ideas for businesses ideas for products

and they give me a laundry list of

reasons of things they don't have and

why they can't start a business I have

no time I have no money I have no

experience I have no business starting a

business what I'm here to say is forget

all the zeros because one idea is enough

to create one business and another

important ingredient to success is

support had my mom not told yes had that

interviewer not told me no I wouldn't be

standing here today because of all the

people who gave me their time their

money their resources their energy I

have been able to build a company around

this class project so when you meet

people with ideas if you yourself have

an idea don't let fear hold you back

don't be distracted by all the zeros go

make do create why bother because your

dream job depends on it

[Music]