1540: He Built Robots, Now He's Helping Humans' Relationships With Tech w/ Terry Gromes Jr.
In an age where our attention is the most sought-after commodity, how can we as entrepreneurs protect our focus and build businesses that truly serve people? This episode features Terry Gromes Jr, a former robotics engineer who is now the founder and CEO of The Canary Project. Terry breaks down why our relationship with technology is broken and how he's building a mission-driven company to fix it. He shares a powerful perspective on viewing attention as a currency, arguing that the most successful companies of the future won't just compete for money, but for the conscious focus of their customers. This is a must-listen for any entrepreneur looking to reclaim their own intentionality and build a business that makes a real impact in a distracted world.
💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business
- 🚀 How to find a “worthwhile problem” to solve, and why this is more powerful than chasing a “brilliant idea.”
- 💰 Why “attention is the new currency” and how to shift your marketing mindset to compete for focus, not just dollars.
- 🤝 The power of community in product design and how to build a solution that’s 7x more likely to succeed by incorporating group accountability.
- 🧠 How to arm your customers with tools for decision-making rather than a one-size-fits-all solution, fostering autonomy and loyalty.
- 📈 Why you don’t have to be anti-technology to solve tech-related problems, and how to build a solution within the very ecosystem you aim to improve.
- 🗣️ The art of using powerful analogies (like the invention of the traffic light) to explain your business's mission and connect with any audience.
📝 About Terry Gromes Jr.
Terry Gromes Jr is the founder and CEO of The Canary Project, an Ohio-based initiative dedicated to helping families and communities build healthier relationships with technology. Coming from a unique background in industrial robotics and software development, Terry now focuses on the intersection of technology, culture, and human behavior. His work is centered on restoring human connection and intentionality in an era of constant digital distraction, making him a powerful voice for entrepreneurs navigating the attention economy.
🎯 Terry’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs
"Use the analogy of the grocery store. It's a place where hundreds of strangers with different beliefs, incomes, and goals all peacefully navigate the same space... How do you help your product and service stand out?"
📢 Memorable Quotes
- “The approach would be to find worthwhile problems rather than having brilliant ideas. It's about doing something that is meaningful, that has a purpose, that does influence other people in a positive way.” – Terry Gromes
- “Historically, companies would compete for money. Not so much today. They're competing for our attention. It is the new currency. And so, that means that ourselves, we are the product.” – Terry Gromes
- “Unlike money, attention doesn't announce its departure. It's unconscious. It's invisible. And that's why it's so easy that it can slip away.” – Terry Gromes
💡 Actionable Takeaways
- ✅ Audit your own attention for one day. Notice how many times you unconsciously pick up your phone and apply that awareness to how you can better capture your target customer's focus.
- ✅ Ask yourself: Is my business solving a “worthwhile problem” or just promoting a “brilliant idea”? A meaningful mission is more sustainable.
- ✅ Brainstorm a simple analogy for your business. How can you explain what you do in a way that relates to a universal human experience, like Terry’s grocery store or traffic light examples?
- ✅ Think about how you can add a community element to your product or service to increase accountability and success rates for your customers.
🔗 Links & Resources
