Michael Girdley

Starting businesses is my business. Current Passion Project: explaining why 500+ great companies failed (100 videos so far).

[Michael Girdley @girdley]

NEW LONG FORM VIDEO: From 8 million viewers to irrelevant: what happened to Shark Tank

Shark Tank went from a television phenomenon that drew nearly 8 million viewers per episode and changed how many Americans thought about entrepreneurship to a show that is increasingly becoming culturally irrelevant. Along the way, it helped launch hundreds of businesses, made household names out of its investors, and turned entrepreneurship into mainstream entertainment.

But times have changed. Viewership has declined, the startup world looks very different than it did a decade ago, and Mark Cuban, arguably the show's biggest star, has announced that he’s leaving.

So what happened? How did one of the most influential business shows ever made lose its place at the center of the conversation?

As I go for a walk today, this is the rise and fall of Shark Tank.

[Michael Girdley @girdley]

@MediaKing Twice.

[Michael Girdley @girdley]

Suburban dentists can buy the stock market hype longer than you can stay solvent.

[Michael Girdley @girdley]

@resetbasis @heIpfullandlord The top is only clear in hindsight.

[Michael Girdley @girdley]

My custom cycling kit was made by @resetbasis. DM him to get one for yourself.

[Michael Girdley @girdley]

@heIpfullandlord @resetbasis Such a banger.

[Michael Girdley @girdley]

@resetbasis (seriously, this is a joke. He would never create something so beautiful. ;-)

[Michael Girdley @girdley]

One time as a young CEO:

We couldn’t get a permit issued by a neighboring state regulator.

Weeks went by with it sitting on some guy’s desk.

Phone, faxes, zoom, etc.

Nothing worked.

I told the person in charge of our project:

“Fly out there and sit in their office until you get the permit. Bring them donuts, humility, and kindness every day.”

We got that permit in 2 hours.

I learned:

Much of business happens because you get on a plane and go meet in person.

Zoom is fine but misses this core part of human nature.

Get on the damn plane.

[Michael Girdley @girdley]

Every time someone starts with all that “we’re like family” shit during a business deal -- check that your wallet is still in your pocket.

[Michael Girdley @girdley]

Lord, grant me the strength to not let other people's problems become my problems.

[Michael Girdley @girdley]

@resetbasis Real men introduce themselves with just a photo.

[Michael Girdley @girdley]

@NickatFP @tdlsawyer "Chili's Man being Chill, man..."

[Michael Girdley @girdley]

Just a middle aged CEO scheduling replies to emails to send at 8:05am on Monday during normal work hours.

[Michael Girdley @girdley]

@rev_cap @Seanfrank That is correct.

[Michael Girdley @girdley]

@Molson_Hart @PalmerLuckey @hellspatisserie @JTLonsdale Travis University

named after William B Travis of the texas revolution

fiery co-commander of the Alamo

in Austin in Travis County.

[Michael Girdley @girdley]

Just kidding.

But here's the whole book:

1) Focus is your friend.
2) If something's not a Hell Yes, make it one.
3) If you can't make it a Hell Yes, say no.

Thanks for attending my TED Talk.

[Michael Girdley @girdley]

Proud to announce I have been chose to write the sequel to THE COURAGE TO BE DISLIKED.

It'll be called:

"The Courage to Say No."

[Michael Girdley @girdley]

@Molson_Hart @AlecTorelli :-)

[Michael Girdley @girdley]

@Molson_Hart @AlecTorelli Younger Michael would have argued that. Older Michael thinks career is already so tough, why make it harder on yourself by avoiding the Mecca for your chosen industry?

Get in there and mix it up whether it be Nashville (country music), SF (tech) or finance (NYC).

[Michael Girdley @girdley]

@AlecTorelli @Molson_Hart It's a great town!