A few months ago I came across an article on Rypple, a company that builds on-line collaboration tools. I was very impressed with the simplicity and elegance of their mission and interface. They identified that there was a hole in the market for a tool that could help people identify where and how they can improve their job performance. For those who are pro-active, believe in the process of continuous improvement, and dread performance review time, this tool is a godsend!
The process is simply stated on Rypple’s landing page: Ask a question to people you trust, get honest feedback, and use that feedback to improve your performance. For example, if you gave a presentation and want to know what people thought of it, you could post that question to your co-workers, get their feedback, and incorporate that feedback into your preparation and delivery of your next presentation.
Rypple has an impressive client list – HP, Target, Google, eBay, Cisco, UBS, L’Oreal. And the list goes on. Of course it’s not at all surprising – with so many people in large companies looking for continuous, constructive, and real-time feedback Rypple fills a gap that has existed in the business world for far too long. And it creates happier, more fulfilled employees – a company’s most valuable asset, particularly in an economic down-turn. Who knows – maybe Rypple can make the busted annual performance review process a thing of the past!
Given how much I admired the service that Rypple provides, I reached out to them for an interview. David Priemer, who heads up the Product & Community group, responded to my initial contact with the company in record time, and this interview about his decision to join Rypple is the result of the emails we’ve exchanged over the last few months.
Christa: What was your inspiration for starting Rypple?
David: Rypple was started for a number of reasons but perhaps the most compelling was the overall lack of timely, specific, and actionable feedback in many workplaces today. Having worked in the workforce management space for many years, we saw a number of key drivers pointing to the need for this type of service:
i) Many saw the annual performance review as a flawed process that wasn't achieving its core objective
ii) The proliferation of Gen Y's in the workforce creating a demand for frequent feedback
iii) The increased adoption of concepts such as "lean" and "agile" that promote incremental progress towards larger goals (i.e. getting constant feedback vs. once a year)
All of these factors pointed to a better solution for people to get rapid feedback on the topics that mattered most to them, hence Rypple was born!
Christa: What does success of Rypple look like to you?
David: Our ultimate goal is to drive widespread adoption of a service that delivers tremendous value to users by getting them real, honest feedback and insights they are simply not able to get by any other means. Period.
While we offer both free and paid services for corporate customers, we want to build a service that's both simple & delightful to use, delivers real value, and one that doesn't rely on a company forcing it's employees to use it in order to drive adoption.
If we can do those things and have people continuously tell us (as they do now) how much they enjoy using our service and how much it has helped them and their business, then we have been successful.
Christa: How did you decide to make the jump and start your own business?
David: The decision to start or join a new venture at a very early stage is a highly personal one. The common thread you find in those who take the plunge is what I would call the "entrepreneurial bug": that nagging sense in the back of your head that tells you that you have the chance to do something great, to do something your way, or something that's never been done before.
While in my case the urge to stay with an established company in a proven market was very strong, having been through a start-up before and experienced the excitement and entrepreneurial spirit that goes hand-in-hand with a new venture, I simply couldn't resist the bug.
That being said, desire is only part of the equation. To give yourself the best chance for success you need to be part of a truly A+ team; bright individuals that share your drive, enthusiasm, and commitment to both your success and that of the people you serve. The opportunity to be part of such a team here at Rypple made the decision that much easier.
Christa: Did you feel any fear when starting your own business? If so, how did you overcome it?
David: Absolutely! While the desire to be part of a new and exciting venture was strong, leaving a great role at a great company in the middle of a global economic meltdown with a mortgage and family to support is enough to throw anyone for a loop.
My secret formula for dealing with the decision was seeking honest answers to these three questions:
i) What's the worst thing than can happen if this venture fails? (vs. what does the upside looks like)
ii) Will taking this step help me build skills and knowledge needed to accelerate my career, regardless of the outcome?
iii) If I decide not to do it, will I regret it later?
To put it into perspective, suppose you were an elite athlete with dreams of Olympic gold. If you knew how much sacrifice and training it would take to earn a shot at that medal you might immediately question of it's worth it. However, if your desire if strong enough, you'd find a way to overcome those fears.
In the end, for me the worst case scenario was palatable and the best case scenario, primarily in terms of achieving my personal objectives, was tremendous.
Christa: Advice for people interested in starting their own businesses?
David: i) Do your homework: remember, there are lots of people out there with great ideas...some with the same one as you! Make sure you understand your product/service, market, and the conditions under which your business will flourish before you begin.
ii) Build a great team: few people can do it alone! Surround yourself with bright people who share your enthusiasm and bring the skills needed to make you business a success!
iii) Embrace uncertainty: the only certainty is change. Develop a bias for action, learn quickly from your mistakes, and be prepared to roll with the punches. You'll need to!
Christa: Who are the entrepreneurs you admire most? What about them inspires you?
David: I have a great deal of respect for entrepreneurs who do it "the right way", and in the face of both challenges and more importantly, massive success, continue to exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit. Examples that immediately come to mind are Dave Duffield and Seymour Schulich. Smart, charismatic leaders who build loyalty with their teams and achieve success through hard work and determination.
For more info:Rypple
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