Why Utah tech is about to explode - Scott Forbush explains

In this episode of Techs in the City, the hosts explore Salt Lake City, Utah, visiting iconic spots like Temple Square and Whiskey Street. They sit down with Scott Forbush to discuss business philosophy, the importance of authenticity in the tech industry, and the unique tech landscape of "Silicon Slopes".
Salt Lake City & Utah Trivia
State History: Utah was the 45th state admitted to the union. It was originally named Deseret, which means "honeybee" in the Book of Mormon.
State Motto: The motto is "Industry," symbolizing the creation of opportunity and building things yourself.
National Parks: Utah is home to five national parks.
Temple Square: The Salt Lake Temple took 40 years to build and features roughly 250,000 flowers planted on its grounds annually.
Business & Authenticity with Scott Forbush
The Power of Relationships: Scott emphasizes that in the channel community, relationships are paramount because people frequently change companies while faces remain the same.
Brand vs. Reputation: The discussion highlights a key distinction: a brand is what you say about yourself, while a reputation is what others say about you.
Authenticity: Scott advocates for being the same person in business as you are personally, noting that maintaining a curated persona is exhausting and easily detected as disingenuous.
Success in Sales: Especially in mid-market and enterprise deals, trust is more critical than just being liked or having a specific feature set.
Utah’s Tech Landscape
Silicon Slopes: This tech hub on the south end of town is driven by a strong talent pool from the University of Utah, BYU, and Utah Valley University.
Tech Community: Salt Lake City has one of the highest concentrations of agents per capita in the channel community.
Whiskey Tasting & Fun Facts
Whiskey Street: A downtown Salt Lake bar known for its selection of thousands of bottles and sponsorship by the local High West Distillery.
The "Kentucky Hug": A term for the warm internal feeling experienced after taking the first sip of bourbon neat.
Blanton’s Bourbon: The original single-barrel bourbon, featuring collectible tops with letters that spell "Blanton's" and depict a horse in various stages of a race.
Scott's Nickname: Known as "Big Dogger," a name derived from Utah Jazz player Antoine "Big Dog" Carr and Scott's powerful golf drives.
Video Chapters
00:00 - Introduction to Salt Lake City
The hosts introduce the location and share trivia about Utah's history as the 45th state.
Discussion of the state motto, "Industry," and what it means to build things and create opportunity.
Fun facts about Utah, including its original name "Deseret" (meaning honeybee) and its five national parks.
02:10 - Temple Square
A visit to Temple Square, where the hosts discuss the history of Brigham Young's arrival in 1847.
Key facts about the Salt Lake Temple: it took 40 years to build and features 250,000 flowers planted annually on its grounds.
03:51 - Meeting Scott Forbush at Whiskey Street
The hosts meet guest Scott Forbush at a downtown bar known for its selection of thousands of bottles and sponsorship by High West Distillery.
Introduction to the "Kentucky Hug," the warm feeling from a first sip of neat bourbon.
The group tastes a Whiskey Street exclusive High West American Prairie Bourbon.
08:22 - The "Big Dogger" Origin Story
Scott explains his nickname, "Big Dogger," which originated from his powerful golf drives and a nickname for Utah Jazz player Antoine Carr.
12:16 - Business Philosophy: Relationships and Reputation
Scott discusses his 29 years in the channel community, noting that while logos change, the faces remain the same, making relationships paramount.
The distinction between brand (what you say about yourself) and reputation (what others say about you).
Why authenticity is critical: maintaining a curated persona is exhausting and easily detected by others.
17:39 - Success in High-Market Sales
Scott highlights that in mid-market and enterprise deals, trust is more important than simply being liked or having the right feature set.
The importance of being comfortable saying "I don't know" and following up with accurate answers later.
32:07 - Blanton’s Bourbon and Collector Tops
A deep dive into Blanton’s, the original single-barrel bourbon.
Explanation of the collectible tops that spell out "Blanton's" and depict a horse in various stages of a race.
52:20 - Utah's Tech Landscape: Silicon Slopes
Discussion of "Silicon Slopes" on the south end of town, driven by talent from the University of Utah, BYU, and Utah Valley University.
Salt Lake City's high concentration of channel agents per capita.
54:01 - The Blind Bourbon Taste Test
Scott puts his palate to the test in a blind tasting, attempting to discern the price and quality of different pours without using his sense of smell.
01:03:02 - Conclusion and Parting Shots
Final thoughts and a "tap out" to the community.

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