Summary
In this episode of Best Fails, host Alison Beckles engages with Sean Ifill, who shares his journey from employee to entrepreneur, highlighting the mindset shifts required for success. They discuss the cultural perceptions of failure, and the lessons learned from Sean’s startup experience, including the importance of changing your perspective to match your new role, building a team, being a bit flexible with your vision. Sean emphasises the need to give yourself space to mourn the failure and to find motivation by focusing on fulfilling your immediate needs. He ends by offering valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs- “don’t be afraid to ask questions.”
Takeaways
- Transitioning from employee to entrepreneur requires a significant mindset shift.
- Cultural perceptions of failure can hinder personal growth and resilience.
- Academic pressure can shape our early experiences with failure.
- Building a supportive team is crucial for startup success.
- Understanding your value in the marketplace is essential for pricing services.
- Asking questions is vital for learning and growth in entrepreneurship.
- Failure should be viewed as a learning opportunity, not a moral failing.
- Wallowing in failure is okay, but it should not be indefinite.
- Life continues despite failures; responsibilities remain.
- Exposure to diverse experiences can shape entrepreneurial perspectives.
Sound bites
- “Growing up, failure was not necessarily seen in a positive light”
- “At some point in time there are people who you’ll need to confide in, particularly in difficult situations.”
- “You need to train other people… to replace you.”
- “I think my blind spot probably was how efficient I was as an employee”
- “I felt like I had a point to prove
- “You need to build a team.”
- “We tend to penalize failure.”
- “Life is still continuing.”
- “Once you are that invested in something and it fails, it’s going to hurt.”
- “There was still life after death.”
- “Don’t be afraid to ask questions.”
- “You need to know your value.”
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
06:07 Childhood and Family Life
11:39 Game Time: An experience that shaped who I am
16:04 Story Time: The Rollercoaster of Startup Life
38:41 Recovering from Failure: Lessons Learned
52:15 Unsung Heroes: The roles of partners and family
52:41 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Sean’s Profile
Sean Ifill brings leadership to design strategy, marketing coordination and branding with over 20 years of experience in entrepreneurship, tech startups and design education. He has a reputation for his keen insight in synergizing different design
specialisms to help build effective brands and marketing strategies.
With expertise in brand development, product packaging and design, indigenous cultural design, multi-platform publication
and social media strategy, this has made him a sought-after designer locally, regionally and internationally.
He studied graphic design at the Barbados Community College where he won the inaugural Award of Excellence and went on to further his studies at the Surrey Institute of Art & Design (now the University for the Creative Arts) in the UK where he received his Master of Arts in Design Management. As an award-winning, multi-faceted designer, his achievements include winning 2nd place in the Barbados National Innovation Awards (2006), and several logo competitions across the Caribbean.
He currently runs Barbadian design consultancy Gateway Design Four, and is a tutor and lecturer at the Centre for the Visual & Performing Arts in the Department of Fine Arts at the Barbados Community College. He also serves as head of Design and Smart Content for edtech startup Global Tutoring Hub.
Sean is also a fantastic baker, so check out his creations on Instagram.
Contact Sean
Email: gatewaydesignfour@gmail.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanifill/
Facebook: http://facebook.com/gatewaydesignfour
Instagram: http://instagram.com/therealcheesecakebb
Episode Link
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2e18zruxbiLWiMHgKBYkgx?si=4a43023e041a4293
YouTube: https://youtu.be/s37BfawII6Y
