Hello everybody! Today, we have Toby Rush from Zoloz. Toby is also the Founder/CEO of EyeVerify which became the platform for ZOloz. He also founded Rush Tracking Systems and enabled forklifts to optimize warehouse labor and increase inventory accuracy.

As a CEO it's our responsibility: we make sure to keep first things first

Toby shares his journey from when he started Rush Tracking Systems in 2003, until he came across the idea of computer vision which led to the creation of EyeVerify; the financial challenges of the company, how they’ve overcome it, and some tips for CEOs to keep first things first.

Toby then mentions the importance of building a culture of trust, honesty and openness in the team saying that founders/CEOs must build trust over time. It is a long term investment but will create treasures beyond your imagination. Toby also shares his interesting serendipitous collisions with various people. And then, we discuss the impact of digital connection and social media in building relationships emphasizing that it made people more isolated and lonely.

Episode Quotes

"Once I was able to separate my identity from the identity of the company it really allowed me to have enough perspective"

"As entrepreneurs sometimes our ventures and our own self identity are so intertwined that we stopped thinking clearly"

"If we succeed as a company and we do it on the backs of our marriages and got divorced, we fail"

"Having the right personalities on the team, and having a level of trust and openness amongst those teams is the difference of life or death"

"Trust is embedded inherently in relationships. Trust is built when we're at risk"

"But our mobility and our ability to connect with so many people via this digital means have again made us more isolated."

"The vast majority of disagreement is really misunderstanding more so than disagreement"

"Investing early and often over a long period of time in people will create treasures beyond your imagination."

Listen to Learn

00:24 Getting to know Toby Rush (education, business and career)

04:50 Toby's core skill

06:39 Financial challenges as a founder, make-it-or-break-it moments

11:31 Lessons learned, how to leverage it into your team or co-founders

13:41 How teams can help founders visualize challenges

15:35 Toby's recommended books/resources for founders

17:04 How to build the culture of trust

19:43 Interesting story about Toby's serendipitous collisions

23:51 An extrovert's tips for introverts

25:15 Impact of digital connection (social media) to relationships

28:42 Rapid Fire Questions

32:14 Links and announcements