Why I Abandoned Using Voicemail In 2016.

Just after Christmas 2015, I was driving from my hometown of Santa Fe, NM back to Handshakin’ Headquarters and my home base in Denver, Colorado. I dialed my google voice number to check voicemails because there was nothing else I could do to be productive while driving.

“You have 54 new voice messages.”

About 90% of them were obsolete because we had already dealt with the issue. Another 5% were low priority for me and ignored — I couldn’t write down anything while driving. (And honestly, who wants to write anything down. Just text me a number I can click to call.) The remaining 5% I would have liked to have gotten to sooner, but surely, months later it was too late.

So, what’s the next logical step after dealing with that bullshit?

Cut out the bullshit. I instantly made the decision to update my personal and business line voicemail message to say the following:

“Hi, you’ve reached Matt Holmes, Founder of the Handshakin Video Series. I don’t check voicemails more than once per year, so please shoot me a text message or email me at matt@handshakin.com. That’s handshakin’ without the ‘g’.”

Before I tell you what will happen moving forward, you should know about two tools I already had working to my advantage.

1. My personal voicemail box had been full for a while. It’s unprofessional. Don’t do that. However, one perk of that was that people would email me saying “Your VM was full, but I was just calling about XXXX.” This still accomplished my goal of obtaining information in the most convenient and efficient way for me.
2. My business line is actually just a Google Voice phone number — therefore it texted me automated transcriptions. I could usually get the picture of what the message was about. So I wasn’t 100% out of the loop with voicemail like I plan to be in 2016.

These two thing had helped, but weren’t enough and didn’t come across to the level of professionalism I hold myself accountable to today.

As my business grows I realize more and more that time and network are the most valuable resources. I do not want phone calls or voicemails that can be answered in literally 2 seconds via text message or email. Get straight to the point when you communicate with me, please. I’m sure a number of you out there feel the same way!

I’m working towards being a better communicator with everyone I interact with professionally and personally by setting expectations up front, even if it’s not traditional. I encourage you to do the same so your friends, for example, don’t text you when you never check your texts. Get crazy!  Oh, I’m also big on Twitter & Quora. So get at me there.

5 Tips for New Meetup Organizers

Many people have asked me how my meetup grew so fast. It had just over 100 members December 2014, and December 2015 it was just under 1,000 ‘movers and shakers.’

Over the last 12 months, I’ve actually been doing a little bit more on Meetup than organizing Startup Denver (PS Join us right now if you’re local). I’ve organized over 30 events, and that doesn’t include my other meetup groups. Startups Drink Local, Evolving Entreprenuers and Denver Podcasters.

Anyway, here are my top 5 tips for your new Meetup group.

Disclosure: This worked for me from 12/14 to 12/15 and for an entrepreneurial type of meetup. It isn’t guaranteed to work for yours. Be smart, take some or none of my advice and most importantly. Keep pushing forward.

1. Get consistent. Don’t do a millionaire different events at 10 different places at 2 different times. Make it were a newcomer can describe it to their friend in once sentence. “Yea, their pitch battles are the 4th Thurs of each month at Galvanize @ 6:30pm.”
2. Ignore almost all feedback. Don’t wait for feedback before planning. When you meet with co-organizers, make sure you are executing and not planning. Don’t listen to feedback until you can look at the last 6–9 months to analyze. Ignore what people tell you at the event unless they’ve come to every single event and have expressed an interest as co-organizer.
3. Be patient. Don’t be discouraged when 33 people RSVP and 6 show up like this event that we had. It takes time to build a group, and the faster they can describe it in 1 sentence the faster it will grow (or not, if there’s no demand).
4. Keep your event free. Help others first, and the money will come later. If you charge you’re never going to have a huge notable meetup group that actually matters in the larger community.
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5. Simple Reminders. Send emails 2 times: 7 days and 1 day in advance of each event. Keep them super short and STRAIGHT to the point. Include the date, time, and location even if you have that on the event. People don’t want to click your links.

If anybody has other suggestions please give your tips in the comments, would love to improve with you guys :) Check out my group Startup Denver and let me know any questions you have about how I grew it.

​-Matt Holmes
​@handshakin

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.
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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.