Today's Entrepreneur: Tom Patterson

Meliza Solan Surdi · March 10, 2011 · Short URL: https://vator.tv/n/17fa

No. 1 mistake: To rely on the opinion of people to guide their sense of self worth....

Entrepreneurs often choose the path of innovation, without realizing the kind of unpredictable and disquieting lifestyle that comes with it.

Indeed, they will often live unstable lives. But as they courageously take risks, they'll make several mistakes which become valuable lessons for the rest of us.

Within our community, you will find talented risk-takers.

Our new profiles allow Vator members to share the lessons they've learned on their journey.

So if you are a first-time, serial, or even an aspiring entrepreneur, we'd like to hear from you.

Today's entrepreneur is Tom Patterson, CEO and president of Wize.com. According to his VEQ, he is good at team motivation, product management, and he is also a thought leader.

I Am: An Entrepreneur

Name companies you've founded or co-founded:

Wize.com

Name companies you've invested in:

Advisor to Casual Collective(Backyard Monsters, greatnonprofits.org, Icurrent(sold to Washington Post)

Name startups you worked for:

Respond.com, Markettools Inc

If you are an entrepreneur, why?

I want to work with the best people on the planet to build something worthwhile and develop more internal wisdom about life through these experiences

List your favorite startups:

vator.tv, casual collective, fixya, threadsy

What's most frustrating and rewarding about entrepreneurship/innovation?

Frustration is the time between having an inspiring and motivating vision or idea and your ability to articulate it clearly and with conviction to compel those that matter. The most rewarding part of entrepreneur-ism is when you see an employee take flight and grow right before your very eyes.

What's the No. 1 mistake entrepreneurs make?

The number one mistake entrepreneurs make is to rely on of the opinion of people to guide their sense of self worth. Once an entrepreneur accepts himself for what he/she is good and bad, the real magic happens.. Once the inside has integrity, the entrepreneur will have rich and rewarding long term "life" success and sustainability.

What are the top three lessons you've learned as an entrepreneur?

1.)Partner or Team Selection is everything.
2.) Be transparent to yourself, your board, your employees and your customers
3.) Treat others with love and patience even if they don't deserve it. Good things will return to you.

Meliza Solan Surdi

All author posts

Related Companies, Investors, and Entrepreneurs

Wize.com

Startup/Business

Joined Vator on July 2, 2007

Finding the product that's right for you is hard. Reading thousands of reviews and picking from hundreds of products is difficult and frustrating. It takes a lot of time to make sense of all this information and find the product that fits your needs. We built Wize.com to solve this problem.

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Looking for a Television for "Watching Movies?" Simply tell us what you're looking for, and we'll read through all the product reviews from the Web to help you find the best product.

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Not sure which product to choose from? Compare the products you like using our product comparison, and find the best product that's right for you.