Founder

This word is strange to me. The “-er” suffix means “one who,” but I am definitely NOT one who "found” Adventure-Us. I am one who is creating something new. It didn’t exist before I decided to bring it into being. In this case, the definition of “a person who manufactures articles of cast metal” is much more relevant. Iron casting involves filling molds with molten metal. As the founder, I set the shape of my community. When members pour in, they settle into one solid unit that has been designed for a purpose.

My purpose is very clear, and when I describe it in conversation, people react positively. The idea of a group of friends who frequently hang out in person and vacation together has massive, widespread appeal. When I mention the psychology of having members pay dues to make them more emotionally invested, no one balks. Still, in the few weeks since Adventure-Us has launched, the community has grown by only a modest amount. We are still short of that magic number that triggers a network effect.

I can’t help thinking of that other definition of founder—to take on water and sink, or break down due to a setback. Like every other creator, I have to maintain faith in my vision and keep pushing through doubt. Modest success is still success, and it is all cumulative.

In fact, I nerded out a tiny bit and did the math. At 20 members, there are 190 unique connections within the network. At 30 (an increase of 50%), the number of unique connections more than doubles to 435. Intuitively, it makes sense. The 50th person can create a connection to 49 other individuals. The 100th person can connect to 99. The numbers can become staggering, but those early adopters like #8 and #17 are the foundation of those later connections.

Perhaps that is the best definition of founder: one who organizes a foundation upon which great things are built. The events and plans we make today are the groundwork for unforgettable experiences and lifelong friendships down the road. If you are also a builder—a founder at heart—join us in creating a truly great community!