A conversation @ CO+HOOTS: Featuring Olu & Larry

On Monday, June 10th 2013, we sent Olu Ayandosu and Larry Cummings to lunch with a bunch of questions to get to know each other, they assured us they would be hungry.

Larry: Olu, welcome to CO+HOOTS. I’ve been meaning to ask you, what are you passionate about?

Olu: Making stuff. To clarify, I’m passionate about the creative process of collaborating & building software from loosely formed ideas to a final product that solves real-life problems. In my domain, those products happen to be web & mobile applications.

Larry: I can sense your passion. What are some exciting projects you are proud of?

Olu: There are a couple that top the list. I’d say the top two are Zeos, a Common Core Assessment Application that I was fortunate to build with a very talented team at Pearson Education and the Red Bull F1 Racing Project, winning the Gold Addy Award.

Larry: Very impressive! So tell me, why do you love what you do?

Olu: Well, there are a couple of reasons but the primary one is that I get to work with incredibly smart people to build experiences disguised as software.

The process of refining and polishing rough ideas, sketches, wireframes and prototypes that might seem futuristic or impossible into a polished product is what I live for. That stuff gets me going.

Larry: Very true. Down the road, what are some long-term goals you have?

Olu: Since starting Cinch, I haven’t necessarily been thinking long term. The thought of long-term goals seems scary for a small company that needs to be agile. I just want to keep shipping products I’m proud of. I’m genuinely happy with what I do. But, I see more opportunities to collaborate with great companies that share the same values.

Larry: I’m already looking forward to seeing what your next big thing will be. Has there been anything that this journey has taught you?

Olu: The two that has really stuck out most is:

1. Building good software takes individuals. Building great software takes a great team.

2. Embrace insecurity. Get out of your comfort zone.

Larry: Simple, but brilliant advice! I have one last question for you, what keeps you motivated?

Olu: There is a quote that I love by Michelangelo that goes “The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.” I’m just aiming high with big scary goals.

Larry: Good. I didn’t expect anything less.