Tanner Johnston

Take a look at your favorite VC’s website. No, I’m serious. Do it right now. I’ll wait. You’ll probably see some great marketing copy about how out of the box they are, how forward-thinking they are, how they only invest in big ideas, etc. Some of my favorites: “We believe before others understand.” “We seed…

Space is cold. About -458 degrees Fahrenheit to be exact. However, for startup founders and private investors, it’s as hot as a SpaceX Dragon capsule reentering the atmosphere (3,500 degrees Fahrenheit). Annual investment in space companies grew from $300 million in 2012 to $10 billion in 2021. Fueled by technological advancements such as reusable flight…

“We wanted flying cars, instead we got 140 characters” – Peter Thiel Flying cars have been a hopeful technological benchmark for futurists for the better part of the century. Since Glenn Curtiss strapped wings onto a Model T in 1917, there’s been a fascination, particularly among Americans, of combining our love of cars and the…

My sophomore year of college I found a huge whiteboard on CraigsList for $20. Every semester I’d write down a few goals I wanted to accomplish by finals week. I’d wake up every morning and look at that whiteboard to remind myself what I wanted to accomplish. Get good grades. Join the 1,000 pound club.…

Unless you studied economics in college you likely didn’t encounter the idea of universal basic income (UBI) until Andrew Yang announced his candidacy for president last year. Americans experienced a taste of UBI a few months ago as the government dished out stimulus checks, no questions asked. I recently listened to a podcast with Albert…

With what has been happening in the world over the past few months I’ve made a concerted effort to expose myself to people who have different views than I do. I’ve followed new Twitter accounts, discovered new conversations, and expanded my news sources. Through this experience, I’ve come to a conclusion that is already well-known:…

Evolution has allowed organisms both big and small to become more efficient and advance in their capability to survive. For millions of years the earth’s inhabitants grew and advanced by this slow yet steady process. As the weak died and others began adapting to the environment, plants and animals continued on a linear yet upward…

Disclaimer As we talk about wealth, there are three things I’d like to keep in mind. First, wanting to be wealthy is not a bad thing. However, putting wealth in front of relationships, integrity, and others is a bad thing. Second, wealth can be created. It is not a limited resource. Every $1 I make…

Recently I’ve been thinking about what it takes to be a great CxO. I’d like to get there someday whether it’s for a company I’ve started or a longstanding company that excites me. With this as my goal I have closely watched Vivint’s c-staff and taken notes on what makes them tick. One of the…

“If you actually want to be a doctor, that’s one thing. But there are easier ways to make a lot of money than going to med school.” This is what my dad told me in high school. When he was growing up, to be wealthy you became a doctor or a lawyer. In a true…