Three Tips To Succeed At Online (Social) Networking

There are benefits to networking both online and off. A lot of businessmen (and women) prefer networking in person because they are more comfortable with it. Social networking is new and ambiguous, but super essential to success in the technology era.

Here are some tips for startup entrepreneurs and business owners to succeed.

• Start small. Pick one or two social networks to start with. Once you are comfortable with them and have enough time to devote to move social sites, you can add to your marketing. However, if you spread yourself too thin, you won’t be able to network the way that you should.
  Action Item: Download the app and turn on push notifications.
• Pick your social networks carefully. Each social media network has special features that work well for different types of networking and businesses. You should decide what goals you have and then decide which network you should choose. If you want to show off your artwork and network with other artists, you may want to stick with Pinterest where you can pin your own art and that of other artists. Facebook is good for event planners nowadays.
  Action Item: Ensure your Twitter profile is part of the mix for engaging new people.
• Be present. It is important that you connect with others online. It is also important to remember that it takes work to make online relationships works. You must take time every day to check online and respond to any messages. Answer questions. Stroll through your feed. Do you have anything helpful to add? Make sure that anything you add to a conversation makes it better.
  Action Item: Delete a profile that you haven’t used in 3 months if you have one.

It is important for business owners to succeed at social networking. Start small and pick your networks carefully. They are all different for a reason and contextualizing your content is key. Then, when you pick one or two, devote a portion of time to it daily!

Learn how to network more effectively in the Handshakin Startup Pre-accelerator.

PS Let’s network on LinkedIn, add me here.

My Guinness World Record Attempt on Jan 29th

I hate writing blog posts that have “me” in it more than “you.” But, this is going to be freaking cool. On January 29–30th, I’m attempting to break a Guinness World Records​ with Aiko Cheslin​ (@lucidpaper) for the world’s longest handshake.

We’re doing this to celebrate and bring exposure to the Colorado​ startup scene.

The current record is at 43.5 hours and we’re shooting for 48. We need help while we go two days without sleep and only one hand!! Please sign up as a volunteer if you’d like to be a part of this and everyone who helps gets a certificate of being a part of breaking a Guinness World Record! ​

Get involved right now a handshakin.com/worldrecord if you can be in Denver. There’s already two volunteers coming from out of state for this!

4 Reasons You Need to Be Face-to Face Networking

Today, everyone relies on social media for networking. They focus most (or all) of their efforts on meeting people online and establishing relationships that way. However, as business owners, networking face-to-face is still important for many reasons.

Here are some reasons that you should still be networking face-to-face for your business.

• Builds trust. Meeting face-to-face builds trust a lot faster than online relationships. When you meet someone in person, you can start to build a relationship which can grow quickly and easily. Online, it takes a lot more work to feel comfortable around someone that you have never met.
• Memorable impressions. When you meet someone in person, it is very memorable. You can’t get that online. You meet so many people online that they are easily forgotten. So make sure that when you go to a networking event, you make a good first impression.
• Real. When meeting people, you make your business seem more human because they get to see a side of you that is real. Sometimes, there are so many businesses online that it is hard to determine if they all really do exist. Seeing the person who runs a business can help someone realize that your business is truly real. They are more likely to refer your business once they meet you in person. QUIT BEING SO FAKE!
• Solve problems. There is no other way to put it but, if there is a problem with your company, the easiest way to solve it is in person, not online (especially when meeting for the first time). There is nothing better than talking through your problems in person rather than waiting for an email when you have a question or concern.

Listen up, networking face-to-face is REAL important. It helps to build trust and make your business real. People are more likely to refer a business once they meet you in person. Plus, how can you really solve any problems if you’re not meeting new people that actually know the niche you’re entering. Now close this blog post and get on meetup.com, or…Watch our free videos to help your business grow through networking.

Start Public Speaking to Increase Entrepreneurial Success

As an entrepreneur, you are the brand builder and primary lead generator. You can’t afford to turn down the honor of being visible and showing your expertise, no matter how small the forum or indirect the role. Plus, with so many aspiring entrepreneurs being afraid of public speaking, the competition is low. Here’s 3 reasons you should start participating in events as a speaker (or panelist or moderator):

1. You’ll be seen as an expert.  When there is an audience listening to you speak, you are the implied expert on the topic. Even as a moderator you clearly have some expertise on the topic to be able to interview panelists about the said topic, this provides your community proof that you indeed are the founder that can take your idea to market. It discourages competition, and can encourage collaboration.
   YOUR ACTION ITEM: Get on Meetup.com and message organizers of events relevant to your startup. Go!
   
2. You’ll have better networking opportunities.
   After each event where you speak, you’re much more qualified to talk to other speakers than everyone in the audience. Learn about their businesses, and add value that directly helps their bottom line. There’s nothing more powerful of a network of high-caliber speakers who you’ve already given a favor to.
   YOUR ACTION ITEM: Message one speaker, asking them to coffee, and help them selflessly.
   
3. You’ll improve your messaging & vision.
   Even Forbes argues that every entrepreneur needs to master public speaking, and it’s because entrepreneurial success basically requires a honed, concise brand and ‘elevator pitch.’ Take every opportunity you can to make your message more concise and exciting.
   YOUR ACTION ITEM: Record your pitch from your front facing camera right now and publish it on your YouTube channel. Ask 1 friend for feedback.

Yep! So there ya go. Launch your business in the Handshakin Startup Pre-accelerator or pitch publicly at a Startup Denver Meetup Event.

Are You Ready to Start Your Business?

Dreaming about being an entrepreneur and actually starting a business are two separate things, and a lot has to happen to make the jump from dreaming to doing. The risks involved, along with the investment, leave a lot of entrepreneurial hopefuls lingering in between the two worlds, sometimes indefinitely. To help you bridge the gap, here are some ‘traditional’ signs that you are definitely ready to start your own business:

Sign 1: You have money to invest and some in savings
It takes more than just a dream to make a business happen. Traditionally, you need to have startup capital, and you should also have some cash set aside in savings for your personal ‘financial runway.’ This step is crucial, and it might mean you need launch when you feel you have enough money saved up.

Sign 2: You can’t imagine doing anything else
It sounds great to own a business and be your own boss, but you still have people to answer to when you set off on your own. You basically have several bosses, just not a traditional boss. If you are unhappy in your current career, and truly can’t imagine being happy doing anything other than starting your own business doing what you love, then follow your instincts. But don’t start a business just to avoid having a boss. There’s plenty of happier companies that will allow you to spend time with them and pay your bills if you spend all of your waking hours at work and thinking about work.

​Sign 3: You have either a well-thought out business plan or you make decisions faster than anyone you know.
If you haven’t thought past the first year of your business, it’s time to take a step back before jumping in feet first. And yes this is relevant for those who can make decisions quickly, too. To succeed as an entrepreneur, you need to have a well-thought out plan for the present and the future. Some people make a plan with a 30 page business plan (please don’t ever make one longer that); others make a plan with 3 sales channels in their head and have already pitched 5 clients with a 1 page .pdf). Think about the growth of your business as well as whether you want to stay in one area or branch out regionally or nationally. Having a clear plan in place is a sign that you’re ready to start your own business.
​
In Conclusion
Starting a business can be scary, but it is also exhilarating. There is never going to be a perfect time to start out on your own, but having money and a plan will go a long way toward turning your dream into a successful reality. Otherwise, you can keep working for the man. Those of us that take the risk will go ahead and become that man (or woman) ;)

Apply to the Handshakin Pre-accelerator to launch your business today.

Startup Founders: Be Mentally Healthy… or else.

As a business owner, you are a very busy person. This is especially true in the beginning when you can’t justify the cost of hiring any help. You feel like you have to do everything yourself--because, you do. You probably feel like you could work all day without stopping. However, if you asked any entrepreneur for some tips, they would tell you that you need to take time for yourself. ​Sometimes you have to say F*CK IT.

Taking care of yourself is important for the following reasons:

• Family Time. As a business owner, you need time with your family. After all, don’t you work hard for them? Shouldn’t you take time to enjoy them before you get to where you're going?
• Me Time. As a business owner, you wear many hats. You have to take care of the children, your spouse, the house, your business, and everyone else. Probably a dog or cat, too.  Take care of yourself, too. If you don't, you'll basically immediately die.
• Come Back Refreshed. When you step away from your business, you will come back refreshed, recharged, and ready to work harder. This is especially important when you are really swamped with work.  When you're refreshed, it's a great time to start fresh--make a new to-do list.  Don't just come back to right where you left off unless you're in a product sprint.
• Helps When You Are Stuck. When you are having trouble with your business, whether you are facing a difficult problem and you can’t find a solution or you are just having a bad day, walking away for a few minutes might help.  Or a few hours, or days, because you're an 'entrepreneur' and have a 'flexible schedule.'  I like to spontaneously take cruiseships to Mexico on credit cards I don't know how I'll pay back.  Sometimes all it takes is a few minutes to clear your head and you will be able to find the solution to your problem.  Sometimes it's a cruise to Mexico.  

It is hard when you own your own business, especially when you are raising a family. Take some breaks so you can spend time with the ones that you love. You work hard for them so you should take time to enjoy them. You will also notice that you will work harder after a break, with more purpose

Now please follow my company on twitter and I'll tweet you my free e-book for entrepreneurs!
Me:  www.twitter.com/handshakin
My Company:  twitter.com/handshakinshow

Entrepreneurs: Get involved with your local TEDx!

Can I tell you why TEDx is awesome for entrepreneurs?  This weekend changed my life and I want to share it with you. ​Recently, I was invited to attend TEDxBeaconStreet in Boston as an "Adventure Catalyst,"  which means I'm one of almost 100 people involved with organizing a TEDx in my local community.  The goal of our attendance was to learn more about building community through 'adventures' with speakers and the TEDx attendees.

John Werner is one of the many awesome team members behind organizing this.  He is an international visionary and knows how to execute. Friday before the public conference started, John took us on a private tour of MIT, a VIP tour of Fenway Park, and break-out sessions with experts to help us become stronger, smarter organizers.  We quickly learned that adventures are clearly the best way to build our local communities.  I had only known my fellow Adventure Catalysts 24 hours at that point, but we had so much in common and had already experienced so much together.  When it comes to building community, TEDx Adventures work.  Plus, John led by example, rather than teaching us from an awful powerpoint presentation.  Thanks John!

After the public conference started the following day, I realized the entrepreneurial spirit really runs high in the TEDx tribe.  I also learned many stories of how it helped many fellow organizers on their entrepreneurial journeys.  Many of the speakers who we are all so closely connected with are successful entrepreneurs sharing their idea.  I already knew I wanted to urge entrepreneurs across the world to get involved or consider starting a TEDx in their community and it will fast-forward you to success.

To top off the first day of the conference, John invited all the adventure catalysts to philanthropist Bobby Sager's penthouse.  Do you even know who Bobby Sager is?  I googled it for you.  As if that wasn't enough, John's team organized us to see Marathon Sports(founded by Colin Peddie) which is a shoe store, that pivoted into a hub for marathon runners.  Anyone in the public can use their lockers, go for a run, and take a shower.  Smart.

Anyway, all I can stress to you is that as an aspiring entrepreneur, you must get involved with your local TEDx.  Join TEDxMileHigh as a volunteer if you're in Denver with  me.  Apply for a TEDx license to open one if your community if there is not one already.  Network to speak about your idea if it's an idea worth sharing.  Just do it.

PS want to see my favorite TED Talk?  Check out Simon Sinek on "Start With Why."

See 4 video interviews with Adventure Catalyst on the original blog post here.

Entrepreneur Tips: Building a Better Strategic Plan

2015 is quickly drawing to a close and now is the time to begin the strategic planning process for the coming year. Since this is such a crucial area when it comes to building better relationships with the customers, it is something that a great deal of time should be spent considering. Throughout the process, be sure to consider the following entrepreneur tips when it comes to building a strategic plan

Customer Experience
One way to enhance customer experience is feedback. Developing relationships with clients is a great way to learn this information, but so is customer feedback programs.

Spend some time looking through your Yelp reviews and any other sites that may offer reviews regarding your service and products. Businesses can definitely develop a stronger strategy by learning what their customers are missing.

Consider Mobile ServicesTechnology is an important factor for customers and should be included with every strategic plan. Businesses should offer customers with ways to engage with them through technology. Many are choosing to provide specialized apps that help the customer find exactly what they are looking for.

Keep in mind that learning new technology can be challenging for both employees and clients. One way to make these types of additions easier is to hold in-person training opportunities or demonstrations for both customer and employees to learn the best ways to utilize the new technology.

Adapt to New HabitsOne new habit that must be included with in a strategic plan is the idea of social media. Customers now expect to have the option to view businesses through these mediums. Businesses should add a section in their strategic plan that revolves around the social media plan and how they will use this tool to their advantage.

Be sure to consider your online presence. Are customers able to receive the information that they need when they need it the most? One idea to ensure that this is the case is to offer video meetings for customers. With this system, customers will always have access to the specialist that they need even when they are not physically at the business.

Naturally, the work of an executive when it comes to strategic planning is never quite finished. Instead, this is more of a living plan that indicates the direction that you wish to take for the future. By focusing on these key areas, you will be certain that your strategic plan is ready for the next year and continues to help you grow your member base. Be sure to contact us to learn more about this process.

How to Survive This Holiday Season as an Entrepreneur

You can't stop it; the holiday season is coming up right around the corner whether or not you're ready for it. This can be an anxiety-producing time of year if you're a new entrepreneur, but it doesn't need to be. If you're getting nervous about how to keep your momentum going, don't fear. Here are our best entrepreneur tips to survive (and thrive) during the holiday season:

1. Schedule what you need to get done for the holidays: Chances are, you have something going on outside of your business that you need to attend to during the holiday season. Whether it's shopping, travelling to see your family, or getting to your kids' annual holiday pageant, schedule it in now so you can work around it. Yes, you need to stay productive at work, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't also make time for your most important relationships--family & friends. Scheduling your priorities now will ensure that you can get to them without having them interfere with work, making you a more rejuvenated and productive entrepreneur when you do settle back in to the office.

2. Get festive: Yes, it can be cheesy (think the holiday parties on The Office.) But that doesn't mean it isn't fun to get a little decorative and creative this time of year. Holiday decorations can be as classy or as cheesy as you want, so get shopping and start decorating the office. It will bring good cheer to your employees and clients.  Decorating the office is a smart way to take professional relationships personal in a healthy, fun way.

3. Schedule important meetings NOW: Nobody, and I really mean nobody, wants to do business during the last few weeks of December, so get important meetings on the calendar now so you can hold them in November or the first week or two of December. Only conduct business with clients, suppliers, and other offices during the last few weeks of December if it is an absolute emergency. The same goes for important deadlines at the office. Even if you don't officially shut down for more than a couple of days between now and January 1, chances are many of your employees will be taking time off. Don't impose any strict deadlines between December 20th and January 1 unless they are absolutely critical. 

​The holidays are supposed to be a joyful time of year, so be sure to have some fun with them. Lighten the mood at the office with fun decorations, but make sure people understand the importance of staying on task from now until the end of the year. Added incentives for your employees like taking a long lunch or getting out an hour early for meeting a particular deadline or other goal can be great ways to keep momentum going without costing you a fortune. For more ideas about how to stay productive and get through this holiday season, contact us.

Why Entrepreneurs Must Publish a Book (and How-to)

So you quit your job, you’re working on your startup and your old co-workers basically see you as unemployed. Not a startup founder. Investors aren’t taking you seriously because they’re asking why you think you are the right founder to take your idea to market. Aren’t others more qualified? You know where I’m going with this, right?

Writing and publishing a book related to your niche will elevate you to level of credibility that will ease the stress and hurdles of your newly launched entrepreneurial journey.

So first, let’s talk 3 benefits of writing a book before you have a profitable startup.

1. You have an excuse to ask big dogs their opinion. While I was writing my book, I had a strong reason to build my relationship with venture capitalist Brad Feld, while simultaneously showing him I was able to execute ideas. His opinion is incredible valuable — I had interviewed only 17 people before Brad on the video series and his lessons confirmed many of the themes on how successful entrepreneurs build personal relationships with mentors and their network.
2. You truly learn more about your niche. Although the founder of Ibotta, Bryan Leach, didn’t have time for a formal Handshakin interview, he did make time to answer my questions via email. Ibotta is one of the 20 most frequently used mobile applications in the US. Bryan is 2015 EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year. Including your community leader’s opinions in your book will teach you extremely valuable lessons related to your niche.
3. You can show your community your ability to execute. In writing your book, you’re going to want to get a lot of people involved. This provides the perfect opportunity for you to build relationships, helping others gain credibility by inquiring for their expertise on things like editing or design. As you write, re-write, edit, re-edit, and finally publish your book, you will not only show your ability to see a project through and work with others to do so but, you will have also increased your network and personal relationships.

Next, let’s talk the best strategies on ensuring you crank your book out quickly and do indeed publish it in a timely manner.

• Past Handshakin Guest Andre Durand told me that ‘the entrepreneurs job is to create environments that hold him or her accountable.’
• So put some money on the line and sign up for Self-Publishing School by Chandler Bolt (or just watch the 4 FREE videos)
• Ask the individuals contributing to hold you accountable to your work and see if they need support doing the same.
• 
  
• Publish a short read before you publish your book. There’s nothing more comfortable than publishing a book on Amazon when you’ve basically already done it with a ‘short read.’ I packaged six of my blog posts into a book format, gave it a dedication and book cover, and published it here. That way, I knew what to expect when attempted to submit my first real book, here.
• Create an Author account on Amazon and use their pre-order feature. The ultimate Minimum Viable Product (MVP) also gives you a deadline to work with. Warning: They allow you to push it back a little, but if you miss that deadline, they’ll tell everyone who pre-ordered it that you didn’t make your deadline. I bet that’s a situation Andre Durand would create to ensure success.

Are you the type of entrepreneur that can execute publishing a book on your niche? We’re looking for individuals of your commitment and we want to help you launch your startup. Apply to the Handshakin Pre-accelerator today.

If you wanted to check out my book, go here.

Check Yourself (Before You Wreck Yourself)

Searching out entrepreneur tips is like doing a search for any generic term--you're going to get a ton of results. The problem is that how do you know which are really going to apply and make a difference for you? Some of these depend on external factors and others might seem vague in regard to your particular business type. Most importantly, they should be ACTIONABLE tasks.

There is one thing you can do that is guaranteed to help you get results, no matter how many other tips you put into action. This is a to-do item that is completely under your control and it's going to increase your consistency at the same time. Considering that most goals are not achieved because of a lack of consistency, you'll see the results of increasing this almost immediately.

Writing a journal may not have occurred to you before for a variety of reasons. You may not think you're a great writer, you may not have the time, you may not want others to see what you've written--it can be any number of issues. However, all of these are addressable and non-consequential when you look at the benefits of a productivity journal.  For example, ff I would have written one with my real estate company back in 2012, I would have remembered to celebrate the fact that I owned 2 houses by the time I was 25, instead of worrying about only being able to pull out $275/month to live off of.  That would have refueled me to keep my momentum and energy, instead of letting my stress increase.

Break it down:

1.) You don't have to be a great writer. You're not putting together a novel or anything that is meant to be enjoyable for another person. This is about you, stating your goals, putting them down in black and white and then being accountable to yourself about how you're progressing towards them each day. It's powerful to see goals on paper, and it gives you a mindset change that doesn't happen simply by telling someone else what you want to achieve.  Plus, Simon Sinek says you release "feel good" hormones, like dopamine, when you check things off a list, upping the chances you'll do it again because it happens to be a highly addictive hormone.

Someone somewhere (I'm sorry, I don't remember who!) said that an idea gets just a little bit more real when it is written down.  Once something is written down, it's way more likely to turn into an action.  Those are the steps you can take to success. Plus, there is the ever so famous principle called 'Commitment & Consistency' which basically states that you are more likely to be consistent with your actions when you commit to them. Writing it down physically is a commitment.

2.) Time is not an issue. You can set a timer and have this done in five or ten minutes. It's not about sitting down for a long session and doing personal therapy. It's about stating what is going to occur and what has occurred on paper, because again, that is more powerful than simply stating those same facts. It can be a quick process and everyone can squeeze in five minutes.

Just do 3 bullet points right now if you think it would take too much time - it wouldn't even take 5 minutes

3.) If you're worried about someone else seeing it, then STOP IT.  When other people see your goals, you are creating a situation in which you are held more accountable which will help you reach your goals faster.  Past Handshakin Guest, Andre Durand, the Founder of Ping Identity (350+ employees, 1 Founder), says, "The entrepreneurs job is to surround themselves with people and situations that hold them accountable."

One of our favorite tools is Trello, which allows you to organize tasks by creating categories. Our favorites columns? To-Do, Doing, Done & Urgent. You can share this board with other people working on projects with you, or create a personal board. You can add due dates, checklists per items and really zero in on where you are at - plus, if you download the app you can elect to get notifications on your phone. Sign-up now.

Entrepreneurs are constantly looking at themselves to learn how to be better individuals, how to be more efficient and productive and how to work around their natural instincts to sabotage themselves. Keeping a journal lets a person identify these problems, avoid them and become more profitable and effective by creating new habits. You might even find that you start listing other tips you've put into action in these entries, and this can help you focus your efforts more effectively.

Need help identifying goals and implementing plans to see them through? Check out our Pre-Accelerator to see how we can take you to the next level. 

Actionable Tips for First-Time Entrepreneurs

So you have a great idea for a start-up business and some cash (hopefully some time, too) to put into it. Those are essential first steps for any entrepreneur, but they are far from the only things you need to be successful. Here are quick entrepreneur tips that are especially geared towards first-time, young entrepreneurs who are just getting their feet wet in the world of start-up businesses:

Network by getting involved with your community

You undoubtedly already know that you need to network in order to get further in business, but networking shouldn't be limited to just people in your industry. And you shouldn't be only focusing on networking with the big-wigs (although that can prove useful). Start getting involved with your community as another way to network. Join a group that is based around your interests and entrepreneurship. (Check here to see if there are any small business meet-ups in your area). Volunteering is another great way to meet people at the same time that you help your community.
-Your community involvement will get your name and business recognized within the community, and you will also be making your area a better place to live and work. It's a win-win situation.

DON'T quit your day job

Unless you're ready to dive into your new small business for 60 hours a week, oftentimes without pay, it's a good idea to keep your current job, or at least work part-time somewhere, so you can have some cash reserves ready in case your small business isn't as profitable as you planned in the first year. If this isn't possible for any reason, then at the very least be frugal with the cash you do have.  Sign a cheaper lease, or buy a house and rent it to roommates.
-Decrease your burn rate so you have more time to turn your business profitable.  Most should be prepared to lower their standard of living temporarily--for the promise of a future, much greater standard of living.  

Get specific help from friends, family, and your newly found community

Don't think that being an entrepreneur means you have to do absolutely everything by yourself. In fact, you'll fail if you believe that.  Just ask past Handshakin Guest John Paul DeJoria.  He says, "Success unshared is failure."
Ask for help when you need it, and take help when it's offered. Ask other business owners for advice, ask your techie friend to help you figure out your new software, ask your parents if you can move in for a few months so you can avoid paying rent while you're still figuring things out, ask for anything you need help with to get your business up and running.  Oh, and make sure to GIVE help a shit ton to increase your ability to seek help. Then, network more to increase the caliber of people giving you help.  It's easy, go shake some hands.
-You might hear no a few times, but the more likely scenario is that you will hear yes, and those yeses will help your business more than you can imagine.

Starting a new business is exciting, and the perks that go with entrepreneurship are definitely worth the risks. But that doesn't mean it's an easy road. Start preparing now for what's ahead. Make local connections, save aggressively however you can, and ask for help when you need it.
​-For more information on what you need to know as a first-time entrepreneur, apply to the Handshakin Startup Pre-accelerator.

What I Learned Interviewing Billionaire JP DeJoria

For those of you don't know, JP DeJoria is the founder of Paul Mitchell and also Patron Tequila. He was also the first billionaire to join the Handshakin Video Series. I've shot about 45 interviews and there's been some common conclusions from interviewing today's most successful entrepreneurs here at the Handshakin Video Series.

Today, I want to share with you everything we've learned thus far.  JP realllllly nailed some key takeaways for aspiring entrepreneurs...

He said pay it forward from day one. Do it before you even start your business. He really helped conclude what the video series has been eluding to for some time.  We typically ask Handshakin guests about three topics: community, feedback, and mentorship.  Here's what has been concluded after having 45 filmed, in person interviews, including venture capitalists, a member of congress, and a billionaire.

What startup entrepreneurs need to know about:

Community- Join a community of entrepreneurs. As your progress in your idea, find more elite communities to provide value to.  Communities are for YOU to help.  Not to help you (although that often happens).

Feedback-  Seek feedback from everyone you know (and haven't met yet) to make sure your startup idea is actually something real that provides specific value to future or current customers.

Mentorship-  Accelerate your entrepreneurial career by identifying key mentors in your community.  Find a way to get an in-person meeting with them (check out my book for more on this).  Help them and understand how they gain value from the relationship.  Know relevant questions to ask them about your startup.

Go and join your first community today by applying to the Handshakin Startup Pre-accelerator.

PS Two favorite quotes from John Paul DeJoria:
"Successful people do all the things unsuccessful people don't want to do."
"Success unshared is failure."

Thoughts on Brad Feld's Founder Story at Denver Startup Week

For those of you who know me, you know Brad is one of my favorite past Handshakin Guests on my video series.  But, not everyday do you get to hear Brad's story as the CEO of Colorado Technology Association asked about it (he's smarter than me and should have his own video series, too).  Here's some fun facts and takeaways I've summed up for you :)

Brad Feld Fun Facts:
-His first successful company was actually his fourth company.
-Once, he had equity that went from $0, to $100 million on paper, to $0.  What an experience!
-He has subbed in as a CEO while being a full-time Venture Capitalist.
-His wife made him stop wearing t-shirts & he has Star War shoes.
-As long as he supports the CEO of a company, he works for them--even as the investor.

3 Takeaways for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
There's more.  You should read his blog.  If you're too busy, here's 3 takeaways that aspiring entrepreneurs can learn from Brad.

1.  Know your weaknesses.  Brad is incredibly human; he's vulnerable and humble.  Founders of startups need to be approachable, and always have their ears open.  They need to be able to seek and listen to all feedback and evaluate how the will play into the vision/journey of a startup.

2.   Be a fun person.  I think Brad is a stand up comedian who doesn't do stand up.  He also said, "Entrepreneurs have to be comfortable in their skin." Be fun to be around.  Joke around.  Make fun of yourself (and weaknesses).  Business is most fun when you can keep it engaging, informal, and feels like it's not work.

3.  Math & money shouldn't be your driver.  Brad says, "A person can't motivate someone else." But, he said he could create a situation that you would be motivated in.  Wow!  Mind. Blown.  Focus on what motivates you, and then focus on what situations your team members (yes, co-founders and employees) would be motivated in.  Brad says learning is one of his motivators.  It should be yours, too.

Whew, hope that helps friends, tweet me @handshakin with any questions or who I should blog about next.



PS  Denver Startup Week (#DENstartupweek) is the biggest free event of it's kind in North Amerca.  I've never seen so many resources, lessons, people, free swag, beer, food, and information available.  For free.

So if you're not convinced to move to Denver, CO to launch your business, I'd recommend there's one big take away aspiring entrepreneurial communities can take away from us.  Take-away:  Get entrepreneurs together in your city, and reach out to the busy, but highly successful business leaders for financial help.  Throw pitch battles, panels, netwrorking events.  Reach out to the press to help promote it.  And then Tweet me (@handshakin) if you have any questions or if I can help you.

Also, We asked some of the mentors and attendees so you can get a flavor.

Q:  What's your favorite part of Denver Startup Week?
"The biggest names and successes are available to give you a handshake."
-Mystery Murphy, Cooley, Mentor
"Denver has made it Founder focused.  It's authentic when programming is led by the community."
-Charlie Kelly, Silicon Valley Bank, Mentor

Q:  What was your favorite event and why?
"The event on Pearl's on Tuesday evening, because I met 4 people who can help me in purchasing my first company."
-Bill Eastman, Attendee

#DENStartupWeek Blog Post: Tips to Balance Home & Work Life

Hey Entrepreneurs!  This week we're interviewing folks at Denver Startup Week since ​many entrepreneurs work from home. This allows them to work around their family and spend more time with their children. It allows stay at home parents to raise their small children and contribute to the family's bottom line and change the world. It can be wonderful for college students who are launching, too. However, it can be very difficult to balance work and home, especially if they share the same table! Hear what Mentors at Denver Startup Week 2015 have to say:

From the Mentors & Pros at Denver Startup Week:
Q:  What's the best way you balance work and home life?
Answers:
Tom Higley, Founder, 10.10.10, "Don't try to balance it and work from home."
Perry Evans, Founder of MapQuest, "Get up at 5am so you can have real evening with family."
​Kirsten Blake, ChapterBe.com,  "Create a specific space in your house for work."
Tami Door, DowntownDenver.com,  "There is no balance, there's just life and you live it."
Chris Franks, Growth Executive, "Make sure you have a 'firm' scheduled date night and family night."

Here's some additional tips for entrepreneurs to balance home & work life.

• Set working hours. Figure out when you are going to work and stick to it. Many people work when their children are at school or taking naps. However, you need to make sure that your family knows your working hours and won’t interrupt you!  Or, just incorporate your work into your personal life.
• Set your own office space. It is really hard to work from home if you use the kitchen table. Instead, try to find a space that is just your own so you can leave whatever you are working on out. It will also help if you can shut the door when you are finished and you don’t have to look at your projects sitting out when you walk by.  Like they all said above.
• Spend quality time with friends & family. You are going to have to find ways to stop thinking about your business so you can just sit and enjoy spending time with your family.  Hell, make your mentors your friends to kill two birds with one stone.

The best way to balance your home and business life is to set working hours and stick to them. It also helps if you have your own space to work so you can just shut the door on it when you are done. Then, be sure to spend plenty of time with those you love without worrying about your business.  Or spend it with those that love you AND your business. You work hard so you deserve it!

Launch your business by applying to the Handshakin Pre-accelerator.

Interesting & Creative Ways to Publicize your CO Startup

So you are working on your Colorado startup and you are about ready to launch. Now what? Now it is time to put together your marketing plan and go public. Of course you have done your research and you know the standard answers for publicizing your business: social media, coupons, networking, etc. But what are some more interesting and creative ways you can publicize your Colorado startup: 

Guest Post and Blog

You started a business, what does that mean? It means you could probably be considered an expert in your field, or try to be seen as an expert in your field.  There are other companies, websites, blogs, etc. that are just dying to get your opinion on things. Do them all a favor and write some guest posts with links to your own website in the byline. They get expert advice and you get some free marketing. Another way to market your business effectively is to create a blog for your own website and keep it up-to-date with relevant and informative content.

Social Media Contest

Putting together your social media is easy – but getting a following on your social media sites is much harder. Get some traffic flowing by holding a social media contest within your business. How? Ask your employees to share, like, and follow your businesses’ social media posts. Entrepreneurs can't be scared to ask for help, you need it.  Ask them.  Award the person who has added the most traffic at the end of the week with a prize. Or, you could make a game out of social media. According to this site you can hold a competition that is similar to the game Yahtzee. “This competition will span 13 weeks, based on the 13 lines of game play in Yahtzee… Each week employees who are participating must complete one social media task.” Some social media tasks you could use in your game could include:

• Sharing a Facebook post
• Tweeting something about the company
• Write a post for the company blog
• Re-pinning a company Pinterest Pin
  

At the end of the week you play Yahtzee and prizes are given to those who have accomplished the goals in the different sections. See more specific rules for play at this site.

SEO

SEO or Search Engine Optimization has become an extremely popular way to market a business. What is it? The basic idea is that you write the content on your website so that your website will rank higher on search engines like Google. How do you do this? You could hire someone who knows exactly what they are doing or you could try it yourself. Here is a basic rundown of how to do SEO yourself:

• Think of a few words that people might use when searching for your business online.
• Type these words into Google Keyword Tool.  Think local first.
• Take a look at the similar words that are being searched for and try to use those words and phrases in the text of your website.

QR Codes

Lastly, a pretty inexpensive way to advertise your business is to start using QR codes. A QR (Quick Response) code is similar to a bar code that a smartphone can scan and provide easy access to information like a video, a website, etc. Put QR codes on flyers, on packaging, on products, whatever you like. Just make sure the links work and that they go to useful, entertaining, and or interesting information.

Or, ditch all of that and shake hands with the world's 1% and get them to share your content.  Learn how to get meetings with them in the Handshakin Pre-accelerator or watching our free videos.

The Worst Case Scenario: How to Deal with Fears When Starting a Business

Every person who has had the experience of starting a business knows the fear that comes from taking those first steps. You are putting your energy, your income and aspects of your life on the line to bring something to the market. You believe this is worth it, but how do you address those fears that just do not go away? 

The Worst Case Scenario

In his book, How to Stop Worrying and Start Living, Dale Carnegie gives a powerful formula to help deal with our anxiety-inducing fears. Honestly take a look at what you are afraid will happen. This is not a time to get wildly imaginative but to honestly assess what you are afraid of.

Is it that you will not make enough money? Is it that your friends will see you fail? Whatever you are truly afraid of happening, make it your worst case scenario and say "Now what?" If you do not make enough money, can you find work again? If your friends see you fail, will they stick with you through it? Do you need new friends?

Visualize yourself going through the fear that drags you down. Now visualize yourself responding to that event. You have failed at your business, learned significant principles about business and are now back at work. You have failed, but you can start again.

Your friends have seen you fail, those who are truly lifelong friends have gathered around to support you and those who are not have left. Good riddance.

Your family is hungry. Grateful you live in the United States, you sign up for food stamps and go look for work. Not the most dignified moment in your life, but really not that bad. You recover and you go back to work.

In order to face your fear of the worst thing that can happen starting your business, you must do these things. Address it realistically, visualize the results of your fear happening and plan your response. At this point you are ready to face whatever may come.

I invite you to apply to the Handshakin Startup Pre-accelerator to measure your risks and fears.  I'd love to connect with more entrepreneurs (and maybe I'll share with you what I did when I had $100,000 of student loans and then lost $8k on a previous startup).

Why Training & Education is Important For Your Startup

As a new business owner, you are probably looking for lots of feedback. Many people love to give advice and feedback. One entrepreneur tip that is sometimes overlooked is that you have to spend money on your business to make money. It is important to watch every penny that you spend. 

However, you do need to buy office supplies, computers, and there are usually monthly costs like the internet to think about. What about yourself?

Your training and education is also very important for your business for the following reasons.

• Grow so your business can grow.  As a business owner, you need to grow so that your business can grow. If you want to learn better ways to grow your business, you should take classes about managing and growing a small business.
• Learn more about marketing your business.  Many entrepreneurs do not know much about marketing. There are many classes available so that you can learn how to market your business to reach as many new customers as possible.
• Improve your customer service.  Customer service is so important, no matter what type of business you run. Learning better ways of making your customers happy will increase your business and will definitely be worth it.
• Learn better ways to improve your sales.  Many small business owners should take some classes to become better salesmen. Many businesses are sales oriented and would benefit from learning the craft of sales.
• Improve on your craft.  There are many classes about all types of businesses. No matter what type of business you run, you should keep up on your education so that your business is running up-to-date. This is especially true in the health care and technology field but applies to all fields.
  

Education and training are important for any entrepreneur. Consider taking classes on basic business management, marketing, and customer service. Many people would also benefit by applying to a Startup Pre-accelerator (a class where you are executing, instead of just learning how it 'would' be). No matter what your business, you should find classes, communities, and mentors tailored to your individual business so that you can stay on top of your field and be competitive in your business.

Apply to the Handshakin Pre-accelerator today for more tips & action items to help you launch or grow your business!