Neil Amrhein

EO forums are reportedly safe spaces where entrepreneurs can share their personal and professional hardships in confidence to receive shared experiences. However, some forums aren’t an ideal fit, and entrepreneurs may be at odds with other members over miscommunication or broken trust. How can you navigate a failed forum experience?

Robotics-as-a-service pioneer Neil Amrhein believed he had his forum’s utmost support and encouragement. After presenting a groundbreaking new business idea, a forum mate accused Neil of poaching his idea. Despite offering his forum mate a majority stake in the business, Neil was voted out of his forum. Rather than abandoning his idea, this gave him the confidence to pursue it further and identify a new forum that aligned with his personal and professional goals and values.

Tune in to this episode of The Decision as Robert Hartline and Eric Jackson interview Neil Amrhein, the Founder and CEO of My Goat, about his personal and professional pivots. Neil talks about being first-to-market in robotic lawn care, how he built his company’s hardware and software solutions, and how he pivoted his initial business model.

Quotable Moments:

• “You should always be learning, thinking, and leading; you shouldn’t be thinking about anything else.”
• “For me, I answer to investors, and one of the big pivotal moments we had was essentially terminating our relationships.”
• “One of the lessons I learned early on in a book I read was you ask for money, you’ll get advice. If you ask for advice, you’ll get money.”
• “Be curious every day. It’s important to be active every day. And it’s important to look for opportunities every day.”
• “It’s a tool that is a labor multiplier, not a labor replacement.”

Action Steps:

1. Embrace change and be open to pivoting: Neil Amrhein’s journey from residential to commercial services highlights the importance of being adaptable in business. Embracing change allows you to identify and seize new opportunities, especially when current models face challenges.
2. Leverage technology for disruption: Neil’s focus on developing software to enhance robotic capabilities underscores the power of technology in transforming industries. By investing in technology, you can create more efficient systems and services, addressing labor shortages and operational inefficiencies.
3. Engage in continuous learning and curiosity: Consistently exploring new ideas and seeking knowledge fosters innovation and personal growth. Curiosity encourages you to discover novel solutions to problems and can lead to unexpected yet profitable business ventures.
4. Cultivate resilience and view setbacks as validations: Neil’s experience of being voted out of his forum led him to validate his business idea, emphasizing the importance of resilience. Viewing setbacks as learning experiences or validations can provide the motivation to push forward and succeed.
5. Build strong networks and support systems: Engaging with peer groups or forums offers diverse perspectives, emotional support, and invaluable advice that can guide you through complex business decisions.