“Impact Venture Capitalists!”

Hello Team…

It fascinates me to see how competition plays into things. As most know, Impact Club did not invent the concept of “100 Leaders. 1 Hr. $10,000 Donated.” Just as Warby Parker, the billion dollar eye-glass company, or Mission Belt or the other hundred companies, did not invent the concept of “Buy 1. Give 1.”

Impact Club simply saw an opportunity to improve upon that “100 Leaders, 1 Hr. 10K” concept. Further, and beyond that, we expanded on it. Stay tuned. As much of what my development team is working on, is not yet known…

But think Starbucks vs. the local diner. Sure, they both serve coffee. But in reality, they are fundamentally different.

That is what Impact Club is: Fundamentally different.

Which is why in each of the last 3 local markets that Impact Club has launched, in short time, our member count and quarterly donation total, has surpassed that of other previously launched groups. For some reason. “Enter competition.” This has led some (from those groups) to see Impact Club as an enemy.

But this is ridiculous.

First, Impact Club is about charity. Who cares what group, even if there are 75 groups, donates the most to impact local charities? It only matters, I guess, if someone started the group for the wrong reasons.

Second, in the words of Jeff Bezos, paraphrased, speaking to booksellers, “Amazon is not your enemy. Innovation is.” Meaning anyone, in any industry, whether it’s Amazon or Starbucks or Impact Club, can choose to innovate. And if someone chooses not to, then it’s not the competing company that is the enemy…

It is innovation itself…

Amazon did not put booksellers out of business. Innovation, or should we say, lack there of, done by traditional booksellers, is what put booksellers out of business. So don’t blame Amazon. Blame the leaders of those competing entities i.e. CEOs of traditional booksellers, who chose not to innovate.

Impact Club is not the enemy of other “100. 1 hour. $10K” groups.

Innovation is.

And our innovation is Storytelling.

Then, on the back-end, our innovation is tech and infrastructure so that Impact Club can launch and thrive in hundreds of local markets, so that we can operate as a single powerful machine.

Our third innovation is: Impact Club is founded by myself, and my local co-founders, who believe in the purpose of Impact Club so much that we’re willing to fund the continual cost of operation and innovation.

Impact Club isn’t a charitable organization. Yet, 100% of all Member donated funds, $100 at a time, from each member, our beloved Impact Venture Capitalists, goes direct to local charities.

In less than 150 days, here’s what we’ve accomplished:

The Impact Venture Capitalist

I must admit.

There is something unique about our DNA.

Although we’re all different, I can’t help but to think how similar we are. Like we’re all playing the same character in a sitcom. Of course, we have different sized families. Some of us are male. Others female. Some have big noses. Some small noses. Etc. Some have lots of money. Others, not so much…

But none of that matters in how I talk about the Impact Venture Capitalist.

I don’t know if you’re familiar with the show, Breaking Bad, created by Vince Gilligan, which aired for 6 seasons? If you’re not. Find it on Netflix. Once it sucks you in, it never lets you go. The character development, done by the show’s writing team, is just immaculate and worthy of admiration.

In fact, studying the writing philosophy of the shows’ writers, I came across the paragraph below – it’s the answer to a question, asked by an interviewer, as that person interviewed show creator Vince Gilligan:

(The answer is the important part. The question just gives context)

QUESTION FROM INTERVIEW: Skyler raises the idea in this episode that Walter could conceivably retire from cooking meth, because the car wash is almost doing well enough. Has that ever entered your mind as a possible ending for the show, that Walter is just a car-wash owner?

ANSWER FROM VG: You know, anything’s possible, and I wouldn’t want to rule out any potential avenue that we might choose to explore in the last 16. But having said that, Walter’s had many opportunities to steer a better path with his life and get back on the straight and narrow, and he has consistently neglected to take them. Maybe one of the biggest watershed moments in the life of the show was way back in the fourth episode of the first season where Walt essentially had this deus ex machina offer given to him, in which his former lab partner says, “I’ll pay for your cancer treatment. I’ll give you a job; you’ll never want for money, and it’s no strings attached,” and Walt, I think because of his pride, says no. He turns it down. He’d rather cook crystal meth than be beholden to this guy who he secretly hates. Walt could wind up being on the straight and narrow and being the owner of a car wash, but I wonder if two things mitigate against that. One is, I question whether Walt would be satisfied with a life that quiet at this point. And the other factor is that he’s got a lot of sins to atone for, and he’s got a lot of people out there who are mad at him and probably want to kill him. [Laughs.] Leading a quiet life might be tricky for him at this late date.

Do you not find this statement odd…

[Gilligan] “One is, I question whether Walt would be satisfied with…”

Keep in mind, Walt isn’t real.

Walter White is a just Sitcom character, but yet, the creator of the Sitcom speaks of “Walt” as if he’s as real as you or I. Which is what occurred to me the other day, about the character of the Impact Venture Capitalist.

I can see this person…

I can see you… (Every member of Impact Club)

I feel like I can hear, and even imagine your thoughts. From the stories you have shared with me and other members. To the hugs that have been exchanged at the Events themselves.

The Impact Venture Capitalist is REAL.

(at least to me)

And “This Person” is the very best part of every one of us!

So please, when I talk highly of the Impact Venture Capitalist, please know that I’m talking about you.

KEEP INSPIRING OTHERS!

By the end of 2017, we will have raised millions to fund local charities.

-Ryan Fletcher

Co-Founder, Impact Club – forever Grateful.

PS: Encourage everyone you know to learn the Language of Story. If they do, life, business, fundraising, relationships, the attraction of opportunity, clients, money, love, etc. will be much easier for them.