I’m not a financial advisor; Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions.Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work.Devin: What is your superpower?Troy: I would say I kind of have two characteristics that have really helped me, particularly in the last, say, 10 years of my career. The first one is self-discipline… Number two would be tenacity.Success in business and athletics often comes after facing and overcoming challenges. It takes a special kind of resilience to keep going when things get tough. Troy Helming, CEO of EarthGrid PBC, has that resilience in spades. He's a successful entrepreneur and athlete who has won numerous competitions.Troy shared his story on today’s episode of Superpowers for Good. I was impressed by how he didn't let age or setbacks hold him back. In his early fifties, he was competing with 20-year-olds in the Ninja Warrior competition. He didn't win the whole thing, but he did win some of the regional events.Troy's entrepreneurial journey has been just as impressive. He's the founder and CEO of EarthGrid, a company that is developing a new technology for tunneling and excavating. EarthGrid has raised millions of dollars in funding from investors, including $4.5 million from regulated investment crowdfunding.Troy's success is a testament to the power of perseverance. He's not afraid of hard work or challenges. In fact, he seems to thrive on them. When asked about his fundraising efforts, Troy said, "I had to put in a lot of work... I had to give over 2,400 pitches."Troy's story is an inspiration to us all. It shows that we can achieve our goals if we are willing to put in the hard work and never give up.Having raised so much from the crowd, I asked Troy for some tips:Have a compelling hook. Your message needs to grab attention amidst the constant bombardment of information people receive. A unique hook, like a science fiction analogy, can intrigue potential investors.Reinvest capital in advertising. Helming suggests reinvesting 10-20% of raised funds back into advertising to boost the campaign's reach.Simplify your message. Potential investors should quickly understand your company, its traction, achievements, potential upside, and expected timeline for returns.Build a strong network. Start with your network and gradually expand by investing in marketing and creating compelling content.Be sure to bookmark this article so you can find them when you need them!Disclaimer: I am an investor in EarthGrid.tl;dr:* Troy Helming, CEO of EarthGrid, discusses his company's innovative plasma tunneling technology.* EarthGrid's technology offers significant cost and time savings compared to traditional tunneling methods.* Helming shares his experience in raising capital, including the challenges and successes of crowdfunding.* He emphasizes the importance of self-discipline and tenacity in overcoming obstacles and achieving goals.* Helming's journey highlights the power of perseverance and innovation in making a positive impact.How to Develop Self-Discipline and Tenacity As a SuperpowerOn this episode of Superpowers for Good, Troy discussed the importance of cultivating self-discipline and tenacity. He believes these two characteristics are essential for navigating the challenges and setbacks that inevitably arise in life.Illustrative Story:Troy shared how he had to give over 2,400 pitches to potential investors to raise capital for EarthGrid. Despite facing rejection after rejection, he never gave up. He knew it was a numbers game and that eventually, he would find the right investors.Tips for Developing the Superpower:* Start with small, achievable goals.* Embrace challenges and view setbacks as opportunities for growth.* Practice delayed gratification.* Surround yourself with supportive people.* Celebrate your successes along the way.By following Troy's example and advice, you can make self-discipline and tenacity a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!Guest ProfileTroy Helming (he/him):CEO, EarthGrid PBCAbout EarthGrid PBC: EarthGrid invented plasma tunnel boring robots (think Star Wars light sabers) that consume no water, have no emissions & bore tunnels 100x faster at 1/10th the cost. They’re building a network of large, underground infrastructure tunnels to accelerate 100% clean energy: power lines, high-speed data, water, freight transportation, etc. Their BOOM model (Build, Own, Operate, Manage) will lease space to creditworthy Data Centers, Solar/Wind IPPs & Utilities.Website: earthgrid.ioX/Twitter Handle: @earthgrid_ioCompany Facebook Page: fb.com/profile.php?id=100090833724319Other URL: troyhelming.comBiographical Information: ​Troy Helming is a Unicorn Founder (with 6 company exits) and a modern-day industrialist. He’s an inventor (60+ patent claims), an elite athlete (American Ninja Warrior), an author (The Clean Power Revolution + articles), and a clean energy executive. He’s founded solar & wind companies that have generated more than $35 Billion of economic impact, and he serves on numerous boards. He's a longtime wellness practitioner, yogi, and family man.X/Twitter Handle: @SolarNinjaTroyPersonal Facebook Profile: fb.com/SolarNinjaTroy/Linkedin:.linkedin.com/in/troyhelming/Instagram Handle: @solarninjatroy/ Support Our SponsorsOur generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today’s advertisers include FundingHope, Azolla, Abby and Honeycomb Credit. Learn more about advertising with us here.Max-Impact MembersThe following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support:Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Add Your Name HereUpcoming SuperCrowd Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.* Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on December 17, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.* SuperCrowdHour, December 18, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, we host a value-laden webinar for aspiring impact investors or social entrepreneurs. At December’s SuperCrowdHour, Jason Fishman of Digital Niche Agency will an “Algorithmic Strategy to Reach Your Crowdfund Capital Raising Goals.” Free to attend.Community Event Calendar* Successful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events* Community Revitalization, Thursdays, 10:00 AM Eastern.* NC3 Changing the Paradigm: Mobilizing Community Investment Funds, March 7, 2025* Asheville Neighborhood Economics, date TBD following impact of Helene.If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 8,000+ members of the SuperCrowd, click here.We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe