Justin Carrus: Visionary Tech Entrepreneur and AI Innovator

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If you do the same thing as everyone else, you get the same results as everyone else.

There were a few "weird" decisions I made in my life that shaped my life trajectory: applying to a competitive summer program in high school that I was underqualified for, switching majors in college because I didn't feel inspired by my peers, and spending a summer teaching abroad instead of getting a job in the industry. I don't know if they were the "right" choices for everyone, but---looking back---they were the right choices for me and were instrumental in how my life has turned out.

When I went to college, I wanted to be a tech entrepreneur and build cool stuff that connected people, like a car or plane. I took a class in the Aerospace department, but everyone else wanted to go to space, which I did not, so I changed course. I did internships at Ford and Chrysler and realized that most people working at a car company design a very small component, which did not interest me. It also seemed like a lot of paperwork.

I started taking classes and doing research in a lab that focused on helping developing regions of the world. I traveled to northern Botswana a few times to learn about life and needs in remote areas, which eventually led me to develop a new type of compressed earth brick press that enabled people to build strong mud huts with less cement. After experiencing how difficult it was to secure philanthropic sponsorship for my brick press, I began my entrepreneurship journey and started learning about the business landscape.

I tried to start a smart IoT lighting company, which failed after about a year. I then got a job at a manufacturing software startup and saw firsthand how a team of smart, dedicated people can will a company into existence. Inspired by the potential of AI innovation in the industry, I thought it was time to try again for myself. Now, I am currently working with a smart, driven team to will a better tomorrow into existence through Perygee.

Don't be afraid to do something different. Put yourself out there.

Trying may be the only way to find out what you like.

I feel a connection and obligation to "do the right thing" for humanity and the planet. I want to spend my time and energy building a better tomorrow, whether it be through my entrepreneurship journey in the realm of AI innovation or in how I connect with my family, friends, and community. 

I do enjoy novelty, creativity, and solving puzzles, and finding a career as a tech entrepreneur that includes those elements is important to me. To me, work often feels like play, and when there's some boring work to be done, the greater meaning and purpose, especially in driving AI innovation, are enough to help me finish and move on to something more personally rewarding. 

You should learn about yourself to better understand what gives you energy.

Setbacks are a part of life, especially in the world of AI innovation. It's essential to learn from them and choose joy as you navigate your entrepreneurship journey. I attempted to launch an Internet-of-Things smart-lighting company the year after I graduated from college. After nearly a year of trying and failing, we decided to shut down. When I shared this with our main advisor, she said, 'Congratulations, you can finally call yourself a tech entrepreneur,' which was precisely the shift in perspective I needed at that moment.

My high school calculus teacher was incredible. Equally respected and feared, he forced everyone to pass the AP exam at the end of the year. Everything about the way he taught was optimized around getting results: we only took tests that exactly matched the format on the AP exam, each topic was explained robotically using the same carefully chosen words every time, and nothing beyond the test was taught. Every foundational topic from prior courses was covered in a whirlwind first two weeks. At the time, I thought he had a different teaching style, but later I realized that he had rethought teaching AP Calculus from the ground up. We weren't just in a course that happened to teach calculus; we were part of a carefully crafted machine designed to produce students who could ace the AP Calculus exam each year. This approach reminded me of the principles behind AI innovation—clear focus and relentless optimization for results. He got results. Everyone passed. Every year. This was particularly remarkable for a public high school in central Kentucky where other AP exam pass rates were less than 50%. But this story isn't solely about calculus; it revealed a crucial lesson about my entrepreneurship journey: you don't have to follow convention. Always be questioning, exploring, and testing. Know what game you are playing and focus only on what is truly essential. An extra note on mentors: Don't get too caught up looking for mentors. Mentors aren't there to make your decisions for you; they show you one way to live your life. Be mentored by everyone and everything. Who do you want to be more like? Who do you want to avoid? Read books, listen to podcasts, and absorb stories of life as a mirror to learn more about yourself, just as a tech entrepreneur would.

There are far fewer "rules" in life than you think, especially in the context of your entrepreneurship journey. You probably don't have to follow the same schedule, learning path, or requirements that everyone else does. You also don't have to be a rule-breaking renegade; many times, you just need to ask with a little persistence, much like navigating the challenges of AI innovation.

Everyone experiences imposter syndrome when they start something new, including tech entrepreneurs. Stop worrying and just try.

Do things fast. Being fast isn't about rushing or cutting corners; it's about starting today, focusing on the essential, and skipping the fluff to propel your projects forward.

Don't just be a reactive "that's good, that's bad" kind of person. Why do you think it's good or bad? How does your measure of good or bad hold up to other situations? Reflecting on this can enhance your understanding in the ever-evolving landscape of entrepreneurship.

And always remember to give compliments.