Eugene Yi’s Post

Music is fundamental to our lives. It is a universal language, a painkiller, and a power tool that has been used for as long as man has lived for both good and evil.  Music is a time machine, a space shuttle, a sailing boat, a submarine, and a flying carpet that takes us places. Music gets us moving. At the beat of a baseline, we cut 3D forms, peacocks, and patterns out of thin air. It soothes our sorrows and ascends our spirits. Music connects with us to the core. It creates an accompaniment to life’s greatest moments, and we need it like we need protein—or love.  In my experience, most people would like to be able to play music and a lot of people see missed opportunities from their youth learning to play. And now, lacking time, space, money or other they feel it is too late. It is not, believe you me, no more than it is too late to start reading a book. Music is embedded in our body and soul and it is not that difficult to get going. With Moombix - our recently launched platform that connects people for music learning and all things music - you can. #startuplife #startupstory #entrepreneur #musician #icelandinnovation

A little Friday fun for everyone … especially all you “Swifties” 🎤 Inger and Calyn are on a girl’s trip in Europe to see Taylor Swift in concert. Somehow they ended up on the front row, center stage. 😳 (this is a video they sent me and Jaron) Apparently, it isn’t all that uncommon for people to travel all over to see TS perform. So, while my wife and daughter were at the concert, I decided to look into what makes TS so special that people will travel 6,000+ miles to go to one of her concerts (besides the fact she is dating a famous football player). 😃 Well, based on just the bare minimum amount of research I did, I came away thinking Taylor Swift is not only an entertaining performer, but a brilliant marketer and hard-working entrepreneur. Here are a few facts about TS that I would have probably never known: 💿 Has sold 200 million albums worldwide 💰 Her "Eras" tour is the first in history to gross over $1 billion 🥇 The "Eras" tour is the highest-grossing concert tour of all time 🎶 Holds the record for most one-day streams on Spotify 🎥 Made $200 million off the film version of the "Eras" tour 💵 Master recordings + Catalog rights are worth $400 - $500 million 🏘️ Owns $150 million worth of real estate According to recent estimates, Taylor Swift’s net worth has skyrocketed to over $1.1 billion, a figure that Digital Music News projects to surge to $1.25 billion in 2024. So, apparently TS is a unicorn. 🦄 If you want to see some hockey stick growth, check out the graph of Taylor’s net worth growth since the beginning of her career around 2006. #music #entrepreneur

People who quit tend to be "reward" or "compensation" oriented people (if that's even a thing). They're after numbers. They fixate the destination everyday. And what happens is that they get discouraged and quit. Or they get overwhelmed. 1. An alternative approach is to define the destination once and then leave that vision far back in your mind. It's best to look what's directly in front of you and take the best next step. Forget the future. It'll be built before you know it. Focus on one step at a time. 2. Don't chase money. Chasing money will have your mood swing up and down like the stocks market. You don't want your mood or energy depend on numbers. Chase building your character & a good story instead. 3. Lower your expectations. You don't want to be discouraged. And to not be discouraged, set your expectations super low. That way you get encouraged by smaller wins, and eventually, smaller wins turn to bigger wins. 4. Your motive should be beyond your selfish desires. To survive in this hyper competitive environment, you should have true solutions to real pains. Your impactful contribution to society will make sleep better at night. These are my immediate thoughts on how one could have a longer run as an entrepreneur. Thoughts?

A startup can be compared to a jazz band, rather than a classical orchestra. Much like a jazz band, where each musician contributes to the piece in their unique way, bringing in their own style and improvisation, a startup thrives on the individual skills, creativity, and innovation of its members in it’s early days. This is quite a contrast to an orchestra, where each member strictly adheres to the pre-set notes on their sheet music, much like a traditional corporation following a rigid corporate structure. I would like to introduce two key members of DATOMS: Nataraj Sahoo, our CTO, and Asish Sahoo, our CPO. We've been working together on various ideas for over 10 years now. They have been supporting me throughout my journey, despite many ups and downs and near death moments in our businesses. While we've had many disagreements, we've always prioritised our shared mission. In 2014, when I graduated, I didn't know them personally. They reached out to me after seeing the poster in their hostel. At that time, they didn't know they would join me full-time, but now they have become my co-founders at DATOMS. They have become lifelong companions. As founders, we must understand why it's crucial to form our own Jazz band. In the entrepreneurial world, do you believe in the power of a single visionary founder, or do you think a diverse team of co-founders is the key to startup success ?

"🎶 Finding the perfect rhythm isn't just about music – it's about business too! 🎵 In the fast-paced world of entrepreneurship, having a hobby like playing music can be the secret sauce to success. 🥁 As a drummer, I've learned that keeping a steady beat isn't just crucial on stage – it's essential in the boardroom too. Playing music teaches discipline, teamwork, and the importance of timing – all invaluable skills in running a business. Just like in a band, every member of a team plays a unique role, and it's the harmony between them that creates something truly special. 🎸 So, whether you're jamming with your bandmates or strategizing with your team, remember: finding your rhythm isn't just about the music – it's about building a successful business. 🚀 What’s your spare time hobby? Have a fruitful week. Check out the video to see me in action behind the drums🥁 ! #BusinessRhythm #MusicAndBusiness #EntrepreneurLife"

Reflecting on the soundtrack of 2023 🎵 These Top 5 Spotify songs have been the backdrop to many – from coding marathons to moments of inspiration. Share yours and let's celebrate the tunes that defined our 2023! 🎧✨ #YearInMusic #Top5of2023 #SpotifyRewind #ReflectAndReplay #2023 #Humor #DigitalMarketing #digitalagency

Music is the soundtrack of your life. Life is like a Guitar and the combination of chords are called moments. Playing them is called living. Every chord tells a story. Music is life itself. Your sound is in your hands. String up your life like a Guitar. #future #creativity #music #startups #motivation #personalbranding

Building Holican: A Passion Project for the Jazz, Funk, and Blues Fan Building a business from the ground up is an incredible learning experience. Full reveal, I’m passionate about Jazz, Funk, and Blues, and I’m on a mission to create a unique marketplace experience for fans of these vibrant genres. It's been a journey full of exploration, from crafting pitch decks and value propositions to gathering user feedback and iterating on our platform. Along the way, we've faced challenges and celebrated triumphs, constantly refining our approach to ensure we deliver the best possible experience for our users. So, what sets Holican apart: A Focus on the Fan: We believe in putting the fan first. Holican goes beyond just music, offering a comprehensive marketplace for products, stories, and the rich culture that surrounds Jazz, Funk, and Blues. A Unique Ecosystem: We're not just another music streaming platform. Holican fosters a dedicated community for fans to connect, discover, and celebrate their love for these genres and their derivatives. As we fine-tune our beta phase, I’m excited to share Holican and invite you to explore the platform and see for yourself why we're always looking for passionate individuals who share our love for Jazz, Funk, and Blues. #web3 #musicbusiness #startup #revolutionizejazzfunkandblues

Large gold nuggets being casually thrown out by Allen Mask and Amanda Greene at Raleigh-Durham Startup Week: •You’ve got to remind people that they’re there to support the work (and product), and not just to send emails back and forth. •Your “Who” informs your “How”. Know your Ideal Customer Profile (or persona). •At times your company needs to work like Jazz music, and other times you need to work like classical music. •Keep it clear, not clever. #startup #product #RDSW

Music is the soundtrack of your life. Life is like a Guitar and the combination of chords are called moments. Playing them is called living. Every chord tells a story. Music is life itself. Your sound is in your hands. String up your life like a Guitar. #future #creativity #music #startups #motivation #personalbranding