Hey, I’m Lindsay, the host of Make Sense w/ Lindsay T., Lady Engineer®, a weekly podcast where my guests and I simplify complex topics at the intersection of people & technology. We analyze whatever hot mess is in the news, evaluate trending innovations through a human-first lens, and take deep dives on a need-to-know basis.
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Build for Yourself or Build for the Market?
When Will Toms co-founded REC Philly, it wasn’t just about building a business – it was about solving a personal pain point. He and his co-founder, Dave Silver, didn’t set out to launch a startup – they just needed the right tools to create, and ended up building one that empowers an entire community.
How do we balance solving our problems versus solving problems for other people?
This is a question we creators and engineers have to think about constantly. At the start of a software project, developers often build a tool to solve a problem for themselves. Yet, there’s an inflection point where if they build the solution with just themselves in mind, it will become increasingly more difficult to commercialize the product and fit it for other people’s needs.
When I invited Will on the show, I wanted to compare and contrast our notes, asking him how he views this dilemma in the creator (i.e. artists, musicians, etc.) community he runs with REC Philly. In this episode, Will shared his journey for us to learn from.
Building from Within then Listening to the Market
Toms (and his co-founder Silver) were both creators first. They looked at their frustrations – no studio access, no affordable gear, no mentorship – and asked, “What do we wish existed?”
As REC Philly evolved from a one-room studio they rented out to other artists, Toms and Silver got real about what they valued as creators and what others needed to feel supported. The result? A member-driven creative ecosystem that provides studio access, business education, networking, and community – not because Will thought it was cool, but because his members told him they couldn’t thrive without it.
What You’ll Learn with Will Toms on Make Sense
- How to honor your vision before worrying about business
- What it means to “debug” your creative idea into a sustainable venture, stay grounded, and keep it moving
- Mindset shifts that help creators balance purpose and profit
Reference the full show notes below.
Choice Quote
“You don’t have to choose between your vision and your value if you cultive a service mindset. And the moment you do start creating for others is the moment you start building something bigger than yourself.”
– Will Toms, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of REC Philly
Buck the media hype cycle. Calm the fear-mongering. Laugh at the inanity of Tech CEO “hero culture.” Be the smartest person in your peer’s LinkedIn feed:
Never Have I Ever…Internet Culture Edition
This new segment is an amuse-bouche before diving into the heavy stuff. I call out past internet habits, and my guests tell us whether they are guilty. If you’d like, join in on the fun by taking a sip of your beverage-of-choice!
“Never have I ever…
- …gotten in trouble for downloading music from Napster.” – 2:11
- …played Chat Roulette unironically.” – 4:28
- …woken up thinking in 140 characters because I was using Twitter too much.” – 7:35
- …reorganized my MySpace Top 8 for the drama.” – 9:46
Show Notes
00:00 Introduction
01:42 Segment One: Never Have I Ever
02:06 …gotten in trouble for downloading music from Napster.
04:18 …played Chat Roulette unironically.
07:21 …woken up thinking in 140 characters because I was using Twitter too much.
09:28 …reorganized my MySpace Top 8 for the drama
12:25 Segment 2: Debugging Innovation
13:14 How do you protect your creative vision from outside influences?
19:51 Can you take us back to the moment in the first space where you realized this wasn’t just for you anymore?
21:19 Building a Community Through Shared Experiences
24:25 The Joy of Empowering Others
24:33 How do you help creators stay grounded in their why?
31:24 Is there a mindset that you had to unlearn on your path from passion to profit?
38:35 What advice do you have for creators who feel stuck?
38:57 Staying True to Your Vision
40:34 Building Beyond Yourself
Where to find Will Toms
📌 Connect with Will Toms
Website: https://www.recphilly.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewilltoms
Twitter/X: https://x.com/TheWillToms
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-toms-08938141/
Where to find Lindsay Tabas
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsaytabas
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LindsayTLadyEngineer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindsaytladyengineer
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- Each week’s Make Sense podcast
- Need to know details, separating headline hype from reality
- Resources to elevate the way we innovate
- Personal and authentic stories to become better futurists
- Opportunities to meet IRL
- News and updates from the broader innovation eco-system
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