Don’t let other’s negativity deter you from pursuing your dreams and making them realities.
Andy Bilinsky is the co-founder of Lensabl – an LA based start-up focused on improving how consumers purchase replacement lenses (both prescription and non) all from the comfort of their own home.
Where did the idea for Lensabl come from?
The idea for Lensabl came out of a previous eyewear business. My co-founder Mike Rahimzadeh and I sold really cool frames for an affordable price direct to consumer, and customers started requesting the ability to order frames with the proper prescription lenses. They were fed up with long wait times at Optometrists offices and multi hundred dollar price tags at LensCrafters. We decided there had to be a better way
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
We work 24 hours, as the work in a startup never stops. Up at about 630 am answering emails. Into the office by 830 for conference calls and strategy sessions. Having a cell phone at hand allows us to reply to emails and talk to other team members at any time from anywhere. Coffee definitely helps too!
How do you bring ideas to life?
Hard work and determination. We have a great engineering team that is able to take cool concepts we discuss and draw out and bring them to life
What’s one trend that really excites you?
VR/AI
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
To do lists – they are the only way I am able to survive. So many moving pieces to starting a business that without some type of organization and reminder, I wouldn’t be able to
What advice would you give your younger self?
Don’t let other’s negativity deter you from pursuing your dreams and making them realities.
Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on?
That I am funny 😉
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
Set goals. Write them on paper and print them out. Post them all over your room/office. Make sure they are always right in front of you.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business? Please explain how.
Monday morning strategy meetings. The weekends allows us to take our mind off work a bit. This is often when our best idea are bread. So, we come back fresh Monday mornings and discuss ideas and goals to tackle for the week, with specific deliverables. This recurring meeting has really helped us stay focused and grow quick
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
On my first startup I was unable to raise money as quickly as I needed to, and almost ran out. I needed to come up with another strategy – fast before the money ran out. I was selling a product direct to consumer, but it was hard to acquire customers. I not only needed the money to continue funding the business, but to show investors that I had a viable business. I was able to find an online retail site that loved my product and ended up making a huge order. My profit on the order was low, but it got my product in the hands of hundreds of customers who eventually came back to my site for more, and it didn’t cost me a thing. Based on that deal, I was able to secure investment.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Virtual Reality education using VR headsets. Rather than just for game, more for training and education.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
A massage from Soothe the day after I did some marathon training. I could barely get off the couch let alone get in a car and drive to a massage parlor. A great Soothe masseuse came to my house and I felt a million times better after.
What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Hootsuite. It lets me schedule my social media posts in advance. Even on very busy days, my posts are published on time, and I can focus on other tasks.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
Business Adventures by John Brooks – Bill Gates and Warren Buffet both agree that it is the best business book ever written.
What is your favorite quote?
“If you chase two rabbits, both will escape”
Connect:
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Mario Schulzke is the Founder of ideamensch, which he started a decade ago to learn from entrepreneurs and give them a platform for their ideas.