They say you buy from people you know, like, and trust. I think they must have founded a networking organization. insisting on so much interaction for a single transaction. It certainly dovetails nicely into having to go and meet the same people at the same breakfast spot every week. And after you get to know these people, you are supposed to like them as well? Hmm, seems a little excessive, just to buy a potato. (more…)
Tony Michaelides – The Lessons Learned from Rock n Roll
The backstage story is that, back in 2011, this chap, oozing the stereotypical Brit charm, wit and accent strolls into the Entrepreneur Social Club one Thursday evening. Tony Michaelides is his name and the one thing everyone learns really quickly, is that Tony is a master storyteller. The rare kind of stories that you never try to escape from, nor the usual kind you feign interest in, and certainly not the ones that leave you bored to tears. Tony has spent the last several decades among the coolest of the cool, within the inner sanctum of the Rock and Roll world, and has lived to tell those tales. And tell them well he does. Tony and I, we quickly became pals.
How to Offend and Alienate the People Around You
Ever wonder how not to respond after meeting someone at an event? I recently attended a class on networking. I repeat, a class on networking.
Exchanged cards with a few people and practiced the things we learned. Afterward I sent follow-up emails. Here is a transcript of one email exchange that went very bad, very quickly. Names, and other details, have been changed to protect the innocent – I changed anything that may identify the person and company with whom I communicated.
Initial E-Mail
Is Portland the great city I was expecting?
I had just a long weekend left available to conclude my Northwestern Adventure. Started in Calgary for the Sled Island Festival (read my Calgary blog- wow), 3 weeks ago, then roamed for about 2 weeks throughout Alaska (read my Alaska Blog – breathtaking) a bucket lister, for sure. I asked my pal and guru Drew Edwards to suggest a final nearby city to explore. Seattle and Portland are the two regional heavyweights, since Vancouver has already been plundered. (VC is great!) Seattle projects a cool image but, head to head, Drew says go visit Portland. Drew’s the smartest guy I know, nicknamed T$. So I buy my tickets and make my way south.
Glaciers, Grizzlies and Gold – Welcome to Alaska
MONDAY – TUESDAY JUNE 23 -24 2014: Anchorage
About 24 hours ago I decided to leave Calgary, parting from my best pal Drew Edwards as he made his way southwest to Bellingham to spend time with his brother Frank. Uncle Frank, now that’s another story for another day. Ask me sometimes about R-9 scallops and Grande Marnier at 11 am in Whistler….. Anyhoo, my path leads me northwest, heading further into the wild tundra called Alaska. The Sled Island Festival, held every June in Calgary, just wrapped for 2014, so now it’s time to ramble on. [Check out my blog about Calgary’s Sled Island Festival 2014]
So Welcome to Alaska. It’s cold, there are bears, gold and glaciers. That’s about all I know, except this will be the just the kind of adventure I’ve been yearning for. So after a good “night’s” rest at a delightful B n B out on Goose Lake, owned by an equally delightful Susan. There are really nice people renting out their homes and apartments to be found on AirBnB. (“Night’s” because It’s never really dark here in Alaska during the summers…odd at first but it’s growing on me). So I catch the early morning train towards…
Music, Comedy and Model Milk – Welcome to Calgary’s Sled Island Festival
When my vacation opportunity door opens, I quickly scramble to find somewhere to escape to. Running a 5 Star wedding and event venue, NOVA 535 Unique Event Space, means that every client and guest experience is critical. Just a bit of pressure. So with only a week or two available to roam, I touch base with my best pal Drew Edwards to collaborate. Drew, among other things, is President of Comedian Ron White’s business empire, and is always up for an adventure. He adds “check out their festivals” to my suggestion of visiting Canada. Stampede, Calgary’s most famous, isn’t until July…so
ESC takes the St. Pete Mural Tour
Every Thursday the ESC, aka Entrepreneur Social Club gathers, mostly at NOVA 535 Unique Event Space, though today, May 22, 2014, NOVA 535 was booked for another fabulous wedding.
The ESC is my gift to the community and the meetings are free to attend. NOVA 535 has bills to pay, and does so by hosting world-class wedding and events. (My pitch =D) So it’s up to me, Michael S. Novilla, the founder and leader of the ESC, to find another location. Sheri Kendrick, owner of (more…)
Apple and Dr. Dre – Lessons about Collaboration
Well you can’t log on to any site right now without seeing some news about the confirmed, but still not really confirmed collaboration between Apple Inc. and Dr. Dre‘s Beats Electronics. A partnership, that would make Dr. Dre the wealthiest hip-hop artist in history, and most likely, based on his entrepreneurial savvy, the first hip-hop billionaire.
We may not be creating a $3.2 billion dollar collaboration, but there are some very valuable lessons to be learned from this event:
While riding my bike downtown St. Pete, I discovered Paris London Tokyo
While riding my bike downtown St. Pete, I discovered Paris London Tokyo..
I spend a lot of time pedaling my 7-speed “Townie” around downtown St. Pete. A major part part of the charm and excitement of it, aside from the obvious time away from being in front of this computer screen, is the certainty that I’ll always discover something new.