In the very best case, nine out of React to this statement: “Failure of the way you fail. In fact, I fail My grand idea after college was I was heartbroken, I felt like I 10 times you're going to fail on is an option.” every single day. I’m a lifelong to start a coffee shop where I’d failed. But eventually came to converting that phone call. Look- learner, and I love to find new be able to sell art and partner realize “this is just not meant ing back at it now, I realize what Failure, to me, is always an hobbies: I fly quadcopters, with other artists across Indiana. for me.” It easily was the best a tremendous learning experi- option. Again, I embrace failure. I’m into 3D printing right now, I looked at a space in a suburb possible outcome that could ence that time in my career was. I really do. There's always I do race car driving on the side, of Indianapolis, put together a have happened in my career. something to be learned even if those types of things. business plan, worked to get the It got me thinking “you need to Any lessons you’ve learned you think you did the absolute idea funded, and found a coffee learn a lot more about yourself. from failing over the years? perfect job. But to learn any new skill and try shop partner. You need to start learning who Adam Becker anything new requires a learning Failing is healthy. I have two kids, If you don’t address the things process, including hobbies. Just as my wife and I were about you are, figuring out what you Chief of Staff to the CRO actually want to do.” Conga and I told my daughter recently you can do better, you're not Failure is a part of learning. to dive in, our location received I would rather see them try and being honest with yourself, and Conga helps businesses get more Ever had a moment that put an offer from a very popular global fail than not try at all. you’re not going to improve. value from their technology by you on the path you’re on coffeehouse chain. Obviously, we transforming processes through We are living in a time where Ever encountered anyone along today? lost our space. Digital Document Transformation. the pace of innovation, both your professional journey who Conga delivers Digital Document personally and professionally, is demonstrated a great approach Transformation by helping create, increasing. Part of keeping pace to overcoming failure? manage, collaborate on, nego- is you have to continue to try, Dustin Sapp, former CEO of Get tiate, and eSign business docu- and inevitably you will stumble. back ments and contracts. The Conga But if you don't try at all, then Octiv (acquired by Conga in on! Suite of products helps to simplify that's a complete failure. 2018), was an incredible mentor user experiences and increase to me. A serial entrepreneur, productivity. How do you encourage Dustin co-founded Octiv risk-taking at Conga? (originally named TinderBox) and Tell us about a time you found Within their roles — whether wrote the first lines of code for yourself failing in your career. they’re a business development the application itself. However, rep, a marketer, or an engineer there came a time where Dustin I was young and at a Midwest had to make a choice to focus his startup — a completely new — I highly encourage people to think about the things we efforts in other areas and allow space and field. I was trying new leadership to come in and to learn what it was like to be complain about every single day. grow the company. a digital marketer in 2005 or What’s keeping you from hitting 2006 while committing to your goals? What's keeping you It’s tremendous to see that he memory numerous TLAs from achieving what you want had the wherewithal and the to achieve, whether that’s today, understanding to acknowledge (three-letter acronyms). this week, this year? that this business could do things Early on, while learning how to that he was not capable of at It's easy to find problems. What’s talk the talk, be confident, and the time. To no one’s surprise, simultaneously consuming the not so easy is to find solutions he’s gone on to do great things, vast amounts of information to those problems. In our team most recently being the COO at being thrown at me on a daily meetings every Friday, there’s Formstack. basis, I was messing up and a rule that you can't talk about failing all over the place. When problems without having a Failure in many parts of the you’re a salesperson and you’re solution to accompany it. world is a stigma. Why is that? on the phone every single day, Inspiring strategic thought and I think that people everywhere the reality is that the numbers encouraging experimentation view failure as black and white. are working against you. help our organization come There are all kinds of varieties together and overcome obstacles. 16 THETHE EXCHANGE EXCHANGE SPRING 2019 SPRING 2019 THETHE EXCHANGE EXCHANGE 1717 16