Pat Morrell

Clay's husband. Nina & Turner's dad. Also, cofounder at @AiwynAI

[Henry Shi @henrythe9ths]

Tax season is here and a connector is all it takes to make @claudeai way more useful.

Checkout what we just shipped:

Connect TurboTax or Aiwyn Tax (formerly Column Tax) to Claude to estimate your refund, see what you may owe, and get a better understanding on the forms before you file.

[Pat Morrell @pat_morrell]

Best thing I've read in a while... great find @JayPlueger

[fintechjunkie @fintechjunkie]

Grit Is Fuel
In the rollercoaster world of startups, grit isn't just a nice-to-have. It's the fuel that propels companies through the inevitable tough times that precede success. But while everyone thinks they know what grit is, most definitions aren’t precise enough to be useful. Courage? Conscientiousness? Perseverance? They all miss the mark.

What follows is a tangible and actionable definition that I’ve found to be quite useful when advising Founders:

Grit = Vision + Control

Vision: A crystal-clear image of a future state that you're willing to move mountains to make real

Control: An unshakeable belief that your actions can and will bring that vision to life

This isn't just semantics – it's a framework that can be the difference between throwing in the towel and breakthrough success.

A quick break down:

Vision is your North Star
It's not just a vague notion of "success" or "disruption." It's a vivid, almost tangible future that you can practically taste. For a startup Founder, it might be seeing their app on the home screen of millions of phones and transform how people interact with money. Or it could be a complete re-imagining of how large enterprises discover and procure critical raw materials for their businesses. This vision needs to be so compelling that it’s the first thing you think about when you wake up and the last thing that you think about when you’re heading to bed.

Control
But vision without action is just daydreaming. That's where Control comes in. It's the deep-seated conviction that your actions can bend reality towards your vision. It's not blind optimism. It's a pragmatic belief in cause and effect. It’s an unwavering belief that if you do X, Y will happen, and that will get you closer to Z. This belief in control is why so many startup Founders are optimistic and confident.

For a startup Founder, this framework of grit is invaluable. When Investors are skeptical, when a product launch flops, when a key hire backs out at the last minute --- these are examples of situations when grit becomes a secret weapon.

And as an Investor/Advisor to many startups, here's how I typically suggest Founders should leverage this framework:

1. Regularly revisit and refine your vision. Make it so vivid and exciting that it's impossible to ignore. Share it relentlessly with your Team, your Investors, your Customers. Let it infuse every decision and every action.

2. Focus on what you can control. The market might be fickle, regulations might change, competitors might emerge. But your response to these challenges is entirely within your control. Break down your vision into actionable steps and attack them with unwavering determination.

3. Celebrate small wins that align with your vision. Each step forward, no matter how small, is proof that your actions are having an impact. This reinforces your sense of control and fuels your grit.

4. Surround yourself with "grit amplifiers" – team members and Advisors who believe in your vision and reinforce your sense of control. Their belief can be contagious and invaluable during tough times.

5. Develop a "grit ritual" – a personal practice that reconnects you with your vision and sense of control when things get tough. It could be revisiting your original pitch deck, spending extra time on an Investor update or calling your most enthusiastic customer.

But here's a crucial caveat: Grit isn't about blindly sticking to a failing venture. It's not about ignoring reality or pushing forward when all signs point to "abandon ship." True grit involves being brutally honest about whether your actions can actually impact the outcome.

There's a fine line between determination and delusion. The grittiest entrepreneurs know when to pivot, when to radically change course, and even when to shut it all down and start fresh. It's about being realistic about the chances that your actions can truly bridge the gap between your current reality and your vision.

Some of the most successful entrepreneurs have multiple "failures" under their belt. But they had the grit to learn, adapt, and try again, often with a refined vision and a stronger sense of what they could control.

In the end, grit (defined as Vision + Control) is essential to success. It's what will keep you going when everyone else has written you off. It's what will help you see opportunities where others see obstacles. And it's what will ultimately separate the Startups that make headlines from those that become cautionary tales.

Grit on, and may your vision become reality!

[Jason ✨👾SaaStr.Ai✨ Lemkin @jasonlk]

The best advice I can give almost everyone in 2024 is Work Harder

Work even harder. Work is one of the few things in life that gives us meaning, and in startups, where you can actually impact the outcomes.

The second best advice I can give almost everyone in 2024 is Don’t Quit

[Aiwyn @AiwynAI]

You're spending way too many hours printing invoices and stuffing envelopes!

Anduin created Smart Mail to bring you "one-click mailing" that automates & speeds up this process - dramatically saving you time!

Check it out: https://t.co/3E92rQwD9w
#accounting #accountant #cpa

[Pat Morrell @pat_morrell]

(1) Break your data out of data jail (#datajailbreak)
(2) Go green (it's a value-driver, not a cost-center!)
(3) Focus on "client delight" (and the efficiencies will follow!)

[Aiwyn @AiwynAI]

How do you boost efficiency and grow profits in an increasingly competitive market?

CEO Justin Adams is featured in AccountingToday where he provides strategies to save time, drive productivity, & accelerate growth.

Read on: https://t.co/pZ74oCqhaW

#accountingtoday

[Aiwyn @AiwynAI]

"As today marks the 20-year anniversary of 9/11, we show our gratitude for those who have labored & sacrificed in order to protect our country & keep our nation safe. Thank you for your selfless service."

Justin Adams, CEO & cofounder

#weremember #september11 #thankyou

[Pat Morrell @pat_morrell]

I answered some questions and said some things 🙂

[Aiwyn @AiwynAI]

The mission was to unlock time and money for knowledge workers.
Mission Accomplished, Pat Morrell!

Read the full Q&A from The Tech Tribune: https://t.co/hZAKz5kzrs

#startup #tech #founder #cro

[Pat Morrell @pat_morrell]

Excited to be sponsoring this event!

[Aiwyn @AiwynAI]

Chicago, here we come! The A-Team can't wait to see you there.
#accountingtoday #winningways #accountingfirms

https://t.co/GU0qI0Rk2t

[Pat Morrell @pat_morrell]

Great team, great week! #aicpaengage

[Aiwyn @AiwynAI]

Farewell AICPA Engage 2021 - we had a great time exhibiting, networking and learning. We can't wait to be back next year! #aicpaengage #accountingfirms #saas

Did you miss us? It's not too late, we'll contact you: https://t.co/YsIgZJBs8x

[Aiwyn @AiwynAI]

Anduin is proud to be recognized for this initiative. Let's hear what Justin Adams has to say about "going green!" https://t.co/X8HKdYUuAW

#gogreen #accounting #tech

[Pat Morrell @pat_morrell]

Can’t wait, I’ll be there! Coming in Sun AM, in town all week! #AICPAEngage

[Aiwyn @AiwynAI]

Our bags are packed & we're ready to go. Las Vegas here we come!
The A-Team is ready to take on AICPA Engage 2021 @ Booth #534 - will you be there?

We can't wait to see you: https://t.co/3Cjq5rxlyv
#aicpaengage #saas #accountingfirms

[Pat Morrell @pat_morrell]

⚡️🕐 💰… the trifecta!

[Revolution @revolution]

#Accounting firms have been stuck with clunky, legacy systems but @AnduinAI's platform is purpose-built to:
⚡ Speed up the work-to-cash cycle
🕐 Save partner time
💰 Provide AI-generated actionable insights

Read more on our latest investment here: https://t.co/w5HdjoB5vA

[Pat Morrell @pat_morrell]

@CBJFranco - great talking with you today, and thanks for helping us share this exciting news!

[Ellen Choi @LNchoi]

Psyched to have @revolution as our investor and looking forward to building the next chapter of @AnduinAI #AI #Accounting #SaaS #fintech

[Pat Morrell @pat_morrell]

Love it. Exciting news for our team and customers. Stoked to work with the @revolution team. Let's go!

[Revolution @revolution]

The current work-to-cash cycle at #accounting firms is broken. Today, we’re excited to welcome @AnduinAI to the Revolution Ventures portfolio! This NC-based #startup automates the invoicing process & triples the number of invoices paid w/in 7 days: https://t.co/gCe6vSBxWG

[Pat Morrell @pat_morrell]

Let's go! 🚀

[Aiwyn @AiwynAI]

This is exciting news: a testament to the ingenuity of our team & customers, a spotlight on the value we're delivering with our Intelligence-Based Billing platform.

#accountingfirms #saas #practicemanagement #fundingnews

https://t.co/9QuXdOphgi

[Aiwyn @AiwynAI]

With a home office based in Israel, Bruce Abrams brings his accounting expertise to Anduin as our VP of Sales!

Can you guess what age Bruce ran his first marathon?

He'll also be @ AICPA Engage 2021: https://t.co/kNDDT9otlJ

#teamwork #saas #accounting #aicpaengage

[Aiwyn @AiwynAI]

Don’t forget — tomorrow at noon EST is our next open demo! If you’ve been wanting to see our Intelligence-Based Billing platform in action, here’s your chance!

https://t.co/GR0ORaxb5h

[Pat Morrell @pat_morrell]

My kind of summer school

[Aiwyn @AiwynAI]

Summer's here, so it's time to kick back and relax... AND to learn some fresh ideas on how to revolutionize your accounting firm's billing and collections processes in our "AI Work-to-Cash Summer Series."

https://t.co/4gsoHr026r

[Aiwyn @AiwynAI]

Summer's here, so it's time to kick back and relax... AND to learn some fresh ideas on how to revolutionize your accounting firm's billing and collections processes in our "AI Work-to-Cash Summer Series."

https://t.co/4gsoHr026r