Contact: chris.r.mccann [at] gmail.com
Twitter: @cmccann77
Websites: http://entrepreneurialactivism.com/
Student: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Passions: “Lots of things including entrepreneurship, traveling, the capital raising process, meeting interesting people, books, writing, partying and having fun, and of course my new home San Luis Obispo.”

I met Chris at a startup event at UCLA.  Seemed like a pretty cool guy, but what really caught my attention was how quickly he followed up with me after the event.  It’s so rare to see people actually do something with the business cards that they collect.  Most business cards just get handed to people, and then when they get home, they’ll just leave it in a big pile of “things to do later.”

I checked out Chris’s blog and was very impressed with what I saw.  Though he’s young (still an undergrad), you can tell that he has started his fair share of companies and is living the startup life.

During this interview, Chris describes how he spent $4000 in one month as a first year undergrad, and then built an online company that generated $5000 a month in revenue.  He’s pitched VCs, raised capital from friends and family, and will be joining a startup company right after he graduates.  If you’re a young entrepreneur, you definitely need to reach out to Chris after you watch the interview.  Enjoy!

Conversation Breakdown:

1:12 - When did you start your first startup?

In High School, Chris started his own graffitti art home-based company.  He made shirts, hats, backpacks, and even skirts designed with his graffitti art

2:13 - Is it luck or hard work that makes a successful entrepreneur?

You have to make your own luck by creating your own opportunities.

3:25 - What made you decide to take the entrepreneurial path instead of the corporate path?

Chris spent $4000 in one month as a 1st year undergrad and needed to make the money back.  So in an act of desperation, he opened his own eBay store and started making $5000/month.

5:03 - How did you get your eBay contacts?

Chris built relationships with the people he was buying from.  From just meeting people, he got to the source/supplier

5:32 - How much money were you making per month?

Chris started out making $500/month and grew it to $5000/month during a span of a year

6:11 - How can someone else build relationships like how you build relationship?

Chris wrote a post on the art of the follow up: The Secret to Success

6:55 - Why do you think most startup fail?

1. Lack of persistence from the founders
2. The market has to fit your product and the market has to be ready

Chris recommends to listen to: Customer Development Series

8:52 - How many times have you failed?

Chris has failed more than 10 times.  Don’t be afraid of failing.

Investors want to see that you have failed because it makes you that much stronger in terms of leading a startup to success.

9:47 - What is the X-Factor that a young successful entrepreneur has?

The ultimate trait: not being afraid to fail

10:44 - Is it better to just focus on one project or try all of your ideas at the same time?

The best entrepreneurs know how to descriminate and focus only on the most important thing.