One of my favorite components of The Entrepreneur Social Club is my fellow Entrepreneurs and the things that come out of their mouths. We had several newbies tonight, Thursday March 24, 2016. They ranged from pre-start-up to successful business owners. Julia, a newcomer, was offering organic facials, 5 Dollar Facials, and the double entendre was enjoyed throughout the evening. We enjoyed it so much that after several drinks during dinner, we purchased the url http://5dollarfacials.com. Yes we risk takers and visionaries, those of us who create and lead and make the world a better place,we need to blow off a lot of steam and stress, and the ESC is a strong dose of that healing medicine. We need to laugh, and joke and be silly to rebalance our inner cores, from the ever present over-tilt of too much work, not enough play. So tonight I’m titling “Food Porn and 5 Dollar Facials.” Read on at your own risk!
entrepreneur
Lucky Night at NOVA 535 with Dinner Drinks at Queens Head
Thursday March 17, 2016 aka St. Patrick’s Day, was, as these publicly celebrated holiday are, a meeting attendance wildcard. It’s uncertain how many people show up each week for the Entrepreneur Social Club, aka the ESC, as we don’t require any registration. Just show up to downtown St. Pete venue NOVA 535, and enjoy! With these ‘minor’ holidays (we’re closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas, for example) you never can tell who’s gonna show up. I had just literally got off the plane from Las Vegas Catersource 2016, and it was a bit of a late start, then my fellow Entrepreneurs joined in for our weekly fix. And what an excellent night it was. I’m calling this story. A Lucky Night at NOVA 535 then Dinner and Drinks at The Queens Head. Yes I know the English and Irish aren’t historically pals, but Tracy the owner of the always fun and delicious The Queens Head was in attendance, so our restaurant choice tonight was easy peasy!
Pitching at the deep end of the Artpool
Thursday, March 10, 2016 was another exciting gathering of our weekly social club for business owners and Entrepreneurs. The last few meetings had people squeezing in here and there, while this week was a bit smaller. Size matters, and when we have smaller groups (under 25 guests) we can spend a bit more time drilling down, vs with larger groups, we only have about 90 minutes for everyone. They both are great and I enjoy each for what it offers. Tonight we dug deep: Pitching at the deep end of the Artpool. But before tonight’s ESC, I spent some time in DTSP, short for Downtown St. Pete, getting my hair cut at world-famous VLVT Salon on Central Ave, then “lunching” (always sounds so cool vs “having lunch”) at the always delicious Gratzzi Italian Restaurant. Earlier, while I was showering, I used the great smelling, all-natural soaps from local, fellow Entrepreneur Kim, founder of Bodhi’s Basics. A day full of Entrepreneurs creating wonderful things for us all. When’s the last time YOU THANKED an ENTREPRENEUR for all they do? =D
A Delightfully Unexpected ESC Reunion then Oyster Bar and Ruby’s Elixir
It’s Thursday night again, which means the Entrepreneur Social Club, which meets most always here at historic venue NOVA 535 in beautiful downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. Occasionally we’re offsite when NOVA is booked for a private event. we had a packed house. I LOVE seeing the entire table full, tonight was a delightfully unexpected ESC reunion, so many faces returning from their busy lives. Tonight was unusual as several, independent clumps of friends and Entrepreneurs randomly show up for this Thursday’s Entrepreneur Social Club. Plus there was around ten newbies. I asked all the newcomers how they heard of ESC, and EVERYONE said from a friend or business associate. I then asked who spent time today on social media and EVERYONE raised their hands. I wanted to drive home the point that Word of Mouth is still the most powerful way to gain new business.
Queens, Cards and Illustrations
Queens, Cards and Illustrations. February 18, 2016
Every Thursday night, since 2009, we meet, most always at my historic venue NOVA 535 Unique Event Space, located in beautiful downtown St. Pete, Florida, for the Entrepreneur Social Club, aka the ESC. We spend the first 30-45 minutes drinking, socializing and schmoozing, in a fun, casual atmosphere, before we sit down for the meeting. Our rules are simple, NO religion NO politics, just come and enjoy a fun and productive couple of hours with like minded Entrepreneurs – from ideas and start-ups to Billion $ businesses. NO need to register, just check the MEETING LOCATION (most always at NOVA, occasionally offsite when NOVA 535 is booked for private wedding or event).
Popcorn and Pitches at historic venue NOVA 535 in Downtown St. Pete
Popcorn and Pitches at historic venue NOVA 535 in Downtown St. Pete
Every Thursday night, since 2009, we meet, most always at my historic venue NOVA 535 Unique Event Space, located in beautiful downtown St. Pete, Florida, for the Entrepreneur Social Club, aka the ESC. We spend the first 30-45 minutes drinking, socializing and schmoozing, in a fun, casual atmosphere, before we sit down for the meeting. Our rules are simple, NO religion NO politics, just come and enjoy a fun and productive couple of hours with like minded Entrepreneurs – from ideas and start-ups to Billion $ businesses. NO need to register, just check the MEETING LOCATION (most always at NOVA, occasionally offsite when NOVA 535 is booked for private wedding or event).
Entrepreneurs bring the Social to the Entrepreneur Social Club
Every Thursday night we meet here in beautiful downtown St. Petersburg, Florida for the Entrepreneur Social Club affectionately known as “The ESC”. Most always it’s at my gorgeous modernized historic venue NOVA 535, and when NOVA is rented for a private wedding or event, we find another DTSP location. Yes having the ESC’s home at NOVA is amazing, yet the gathering of my fellow Entrepreneurs is the real secret sauce to this Social Club. People always complement me on how beautiful NOVA is, and after thanking them, I reply that, without them, it’s just a empty building. It’s the life and energy and excitement and new ideas and crazy thoughts and laughter that we Entrepreneurs, business owners, students, start-ups, mentors and even “regular” people with a positive attitude bring to the ESC every Thursday night.
Books I Keep Recommending for the Beginning Entrepreneur
Books I Keep Recommending for the Beginning Entrepreneur.
I’ve noticed a common occurrence recently, I was finding people who wanted to follow their passions yet didn’t know how. See I was spending 5 weeks abroad, from Budapest to Bratislava to Vienna to Prague (where my father’s grandmother hails from) to Split and Dubrovnik with a quick stop in Mostar with superstar tour guide Marko – wow what an adventure that 24 hours was! Then off visiting my delightful pal from back in MBA grad school at the University of South Florida, super stud Olivier, in his hometown, the wild port city of Marseille. Afterwhich I went to hang with my best friend Drew Edwards, who married the beautiful, brilliant, lovely French Helene on the 4th of July 2015 (celebrating his loss of Independence – my words, really – haha) at my gorgeous unique wedding and event venue NOVA 535 here in beautiful sunny downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. Congrats to Drew and Helene!! =D
Hungarian Entrepreneur scores with the Flipper aka Pinball Museum in Budapest
Wow do I love pinball!! So you might imagine my raw excitement as I saw a listing for The Hungarian Pinball Museum , located in the heart of Újlipótváros, Budapest, billed as “Hungary’s first and Europe’s largest continuously operating interactive pinball exhibition.” You had me at Pinball. The only downside was it was closed on Monday and Tuesdays, opening at 4pm Wednesday, my last full day in Budapest. Us “kids” hate to wait, right?? Come on Wednesday!! (more…)