Hopefully this isn't a contrarian indicator...

Recently, I had to make some last minute copies of a bizdev presentation for Udorse. Since I've tired of the generally surly copy attendants at FedEx, I decided to give Staples Copy Center a try. I dropped my disk off, went around the corner for a coffee, and a few minutes later strolled back for pick up.

Instead of the usual grunting and groaning I'd been met with on previous copying excursions to my local FedEx, the staff at Staples had ear to ear grins when I walked back in.

One of them, a guy around my age, was holding up a copy of our presentation in the air, and exclaimed, "YOU thought of THIS!?" It was half question, half boisterous statement.

I replied that I had awesome teammates [now four!] and we came up with the idea together.

After a spirited discussion about the product which I can't reprint here since we're in stealth mode, one of the guys, Newton, said, "This is going to change the world, bro! You guys are going to be on CNN!"

We've received encouraging feedback on what we're up to from VCs, from CMOs, from other entrepreneurs, and from friends. But there was something uniquely powerful about seeing two everyday guys with no expertise in our space and in no way connected to us react so excitedly, so joyously, to a crappy iteration of our concept brought to life in static on some powerpoint slides.

While I have to adjust for the fact that this specific Staples Copy Center was located in the heart of Hollywood [La Cienega and Burton to be precise] and therefore their enthusiasm may have been pent up residual from auditions missed and parts not won, I must admit: It felt damn good to hear.

If we ever do end up on CNN, my first shout out will be to Newton and Andre from Staples on La Cienega.