Jarie Bolander
Jarie Bolander caught the startup bug right after graduating from San Jose State University in 1995 with a degree in electrical engineering. With 6 startups, 7.75 books, and 10 patents under his belt, his experience runs the gamut from semiconductors to life sciences to nonprofits. He also hosts a podcast called The Entrepreneur Ethos, which is based on his last book by the same name. When he’s not helping clients convert a concept to a viable strategy, he can be found on the Jiu-Jitsu mat (he’s a blue belt), interviewing entrepreneurs on his podcast, or researching the latest in earthship construction techniques. He’s engaged to a wonderful woman named Minerva, her daughter, and their Bernedoodle, Sage. Currently, Jarie lives and works in San Francisco, where he works as head of market strategy for Decision Counsel, a B2B growth consulting firm.
Facebook: @jarie
Instagram: @jariebolander
Is there a genre of music that influences your writing/thinking? Do you listen to music while you write?
For whatever reason, the Red Hot Chili Peppers influences my writing. I’m not exactly sure why but whenever I have to tackle a writing challenge, they always get me to focus.
I think the reason they influence me so much is because of the funky grove that gets me moving more. I also think it’s the lyrics and the backstory of the struggles that the band has been through that gives me comfort that I can get past whatever block I may have.
I do listen to music while I write but not always the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. For most writing, I listen to a couple of Spotify playlists like Your Favorite Coffeehouse and Yacht Rock. Both of these playlists are so good for getting in the grove.
Have you ever experienced Imposter Syndrome?
Indeed, especially with my memoir, which was so far out of my comfort zone, it got its own zip code.
My writing is usually business so it’s not too emotional or rather personal. With the memoir about my late wife Jane, it was a whole other level of internal conflict since it was so personal and not a style of writing that I’m used to.
The good thing about that feeling of being an imposter was that it drove me to seek out help from some fantastic writers and editors. This gave me the confidence to keep writing while still feeling that, some day, the world will find out I don’t know what I’m doing.
Is there another profession you would like to try?
I have always wanted to join the military. In fact, I was about to do just that when I was younger but, as all good stories start, I met a girl.
The draw for me was the idea of service to a greater cause and the comradery of other like-minded people. I also think it has to do with proving oneself in the sense that if things got tough, I could rise to the challenge.
If you could create a museum exhibition, what would be the theme?
It would be an exhibition called “The Long Road to Overnight Success” where it would be a series of timelines of “famous overnight successes” showing that it was hardly overnight.
Part of the exhibition would be the inflection point where things started to take off for them as well as the lucky breaks they got. I think this would be an awesome exhibition to show that both luck and hard work play a huge role in “overnight success.”
What piece of clothing tells the most interesting story about your life?
My most interesting piece of clothing is my Jiu Jitsu gi. Normally, I don’t wear the full gi in public but rather just the pants.
A gi is a traditional Japanese garment that is used for training martial arts. Since I’m a blue belt in Jiu Jitsu, it’s meaningful to me to showcase, in a small way, the dedication and discipline it takes to practice a martial art.
When people do ask me about my “strange looking pants” I find it a prideful moment that I can tell them the story and also share a little bit about myself.
