Subject: F**k the unicorn, be the workhorse...

10X Funnel Hackers

Cindy Eckert began her career with Merck before moving on to work with smaller specialty pharmaceutical companies like Dora and Ilan. After a short stint with a shopping network, she founded two pharmaceutical companies, Slate Pharmaceuticals and Sprout Pharmaceuticals. She created Addyi, which was the first drug designed to enhance the female libido, the "Viagra for ladies." She sold both companies for over $1.5 billion. She then launched an investment firm, Pink Ceiling, in order to improve access to capital for female led startups and she established the Pinkubator to provide female focused entrepreneurs with direct access to mentors, investment opportunities, and business development.

01

"When everyone else was running away from opportunities, I ran toward them. And I looked at things that everyone else was overlooking. I still do that today, inside of the Pink Ceiling, because I'm investing in products mostly for women. So a buyer for women...most of my founders are female. And guess what, [only] 2% of venture capital goes to female founders. I'm looking where no one else is looking and that's just good business."

02

"I have been laughed out of so many rooms, and I recognize I think, that the founders I get to work with, that they too have walked that path. So it's always, how do you get them to take you seriously: You kill them with competence."


03

"I walk away ambitious. I was going to prove them wrong. Leave people room to change their mind. Yeah so you aren't like angry and resentful, you're just like, 'Okay, let me just go build up the stuff.' Keep the door open for that collaboration.


You have two choices. I think in the face of adversity, you either pull back either in resentment or maybe self doubt...or you lean into it, and the joy of it. The sport of it is proving them wrong and actually then allowing them to come sit alongside of you and be part of the next phase of the journey."

04

"F**k the unicorn, be the workhorse...The only people who ever become the unicorns are the really, really hard workhorses, and I think that’s the mindset to be in every day— that workhorse mindset—because you’re building to that ultimate outcome."

05

Cindy Eckert told the story of how she managed to sell her one of her companies for $1 Billion dollars and had more advice on how to be successful. To learn more, click here to download my notes from her talk.


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