StockX CEO Scott Cutler discusses out-of-touch VCs, challenges of marketplaces, gaining perspective, work-family balance, e-commerce in the US vs. China, and digital ownership. He emphasizes the importance of the journey rather than the destination, and shares insights on routines, StockX's future, going public, SPACs, and NFTs. Additionally, he highlights the power of persistence and addresses the challenges of balancing work and family.
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Quick takeaways
The journey in life and careers is about facing new challenges and gaining perspective from brief glimpses at the top.
StockX aims to revolutionize trading by focusing on the physical aspect of goods and building the infrastructure for a digital trading future.
Finding a balance between professional and personal life is crucial for success, requiring persistence, dedication, and the ability to overcome challenges.
Deep dives
StockX: A Marketplace for Trading and Consuming Current Culture
StockX is a global marketplace that allows buyers and sellers to connect and trade current culture items. The platform focuses on collectible and in-demand goods, particularly in the realms of sneakers, apparel, and other assets. StockX ensures the authenticity and quality of products through rigorous verification processes, acting as a trusted intermediary between buyers and sellers. The platform also provides an opportunity for individuals to participate in trading and making money within the current culture market. While the concept of NFTs (non-fungible tokens) has garnered attention, StockX primarily focuses on the physical aspect of goods and aims to revolutionize how assets are traded without physically moving them. The company continues to build the infrastructure to facilitate this digital trading future, where ownership and value can be unlocked through blockchain technology.
Navigating Challenging Times and the Path to Going Public
As the CEO of StockX, one of the main focuses is guiding the company through uncertain and difficult times, particularly amid the volatility of the last few years. Going public has always been seen as a starting line for a new race in the public markets. While it is an aspiration, the CEO recognizes that not every company should pursue the objective of becoming a public company. Timing and the ability to see into the future are crucial factors in determining the right moment to go public. With the current state of the capital markets, the decision is influenced by careful evaluation of the company's progress, the direction it is heading in, and the ability to adapt and perform amidst the ongoing challenges.
Persistence, Overcoming Challenges, and Ambition
The CEO's perspective is grounded in the principle of persistence. The quote, 'that which you persist in doing becomes easier, not that the nature of the task has changed, but that your ability to do so has increased,' represents the enduring drive and constant quest for progress. This mindset parallels the challenges faced when climbing a steep hill or navigating through life and career. The CEO's ambition continues to evolve, with each chapter of their career offering new opportunities that peak open like doors. The next chapter, Chapter 7, awaits, and it will be embraced with an open mind, ready to seize the next opportunity that arises.
The Intersection of Physical and Digital in the Future
StockX recognizes the potential of digital assets and the application of blockchain technology to other areas of ownership. While the NFT space has seen limited success in terms of underlying value, StockX envisions a future where physical items can be traded digitally without physically moving them. By verifying physical items and providing seamless and trusted trading experiences, StockX aims to create a digital marketplace for assets that holds value in the physical world. This concept aligns with the vision of unlocking the potential of digital trading accompanied by physical goods. The company is actively building the physical infrastructure to support this vision and create a new digital trading experience.
Career Ambition and the Importance of Family
The CEO's ambition extends beyond career success, prioritizing family and personal growth. While career accomplishments are important, failure in the family realm is not an option. Finding balance between professional and personal life is a challenge, but an active effort is made to be present and prioritize family. The drive to perform at a high level stems from the realization that opportunities to be a public company are rare, and success in career and family life requires persistence, dedication, and the ability to overcome challenges.
What’s the point of climbing a mountain, or heli-skiing in the Swiss Alps, or biking in the Tour de France? StockX CEO Scott Cutler has done all three, and for him, the answer is momentary perspective. “When you’re descending, you don’t see, but you know what is above,” he says. “You have experienced and have seen what you saw at the peak and you take that with you into the next experience.” He stressed that the pleasure of being at the top is a fleeting incentive to do it again, not the destination; in life, and in our careers, he argues, the journey is about continually facing new challenges and getting brief glimpses from the top.
In this episode, Scott and Joubin discuss out-of-touch VCs, the challenges of marketplaces, Josh Luber, Dan Gilbert, almost missing flights, gaining perspective, scary blackberry bushes, work-family balance, daily workouts, sleeping on planes, e-commerce in the U.S. vs. China, and digital ownership.
In this episode, we cover:
Special shoes (01:07)
Scott’s past jobs at the NYSE, StubHub, and eBay (05:47)