12. #inventyourfuture with Andy Meehan

Andy talks to us about his love for ideas, his current project for entrepreneurs, and why the ability to invent your future makes him happy

Show Notes

Andy Meehan is the founder of Development Solutions Global, founder of StartUp StorySlam and oversees peer groups for early stage entrepreneurial development at Netcito. (Wow!) We are super excited to have him on our podcast.

What makes Andy happy? He’s thought about it, long and hard, and came up with one core thing that breaks up into a bunch of different elements: The ability to invent your future. The chance to create and put new ideas into action, seeing people’s reactions to those ideas and analyzing what that idea really means is what gets Andy out of bed in the morning.

He grew up in a gloomy environment in the UK as a kid. When he moved to the US in the late 80’s, it helped him unleash, feel encouraged and become who he wanted to be. Despite America’s current buzz state, Andy explains the culture of belief makes it a positive place to be—#inventyourfuture.

For Andy, there is no set process that goes into his line of work. In Development Solutions Global making greeting cards, for example, there are no real trends. He explains it’s mostly about a group of talented designers coming up with new concepts, forecasting just a bit to see how these concepts will go, but being open to making changes once the product is in the hands of the audience. The entire process makes him happy, including when he is given negative feedback about a product … so long as that’s followed up with ideas of what could be better.

A few years ago he joined co-working space, Benjamin’s Desk, which led him to be surrounded by entrepreneurs and, consequently, new and great ideas. Because of his love for hearing the true details of a business, giving and gaining support, this led him to Netcito and, eventually, the idea to found StartUp StorySlam—a project he is particularly invested to see grow within the next few years.

When asked if he prefers coming up with his own ideas or helping others with theirs, it’s mostly about the latter. Andy has realized in some way that he has always made products that help people to communicate either emotionally or effectively. It makes him happy to create the opportunity for others to be effective in communicating an idea they want to express.

And his own ideas? He explains to us they’re not truly just his at all. “Ideas come to me in conversation and interaction with others.” he explains. “The team that works with me is essential to the creation of ideas.”

So, who inspires him? Seth Godin. (Check out his website and blog! Amazing ideas, thoughts, and advice to read.)

Next on the horizon of happiness for Andy are his two sons who are entering adult life. He is interested in watching them become who they are and not what his parents have projected onto them. He encourages them to find what makes them happy and embrace it despite all external pressures.

He doesn’t want to sound corny, but he mentions his happy moment is every time he looks at his wife. His happy place? With his wife, who has been his constant support and encouragement. (That’s not corny, Andy. That’s just sweet and awesome.)

You can find Andy by visiting a few awesome places on the web:
For StartUp StorySlam: Visit the website or Twitter. (Pssst! They’ll be launching in Chicago and DC in May!)
For Netcito: Visit the website.
For placing large stationery product orders: Email Andy at andy@developmentsolutionsglobal.com.