Before anyone goes to college an effective yet under utilized technique to meet new people and help figure out what you should do with your life is informational interviews.  The play is this: call people in the professions you are thinking of entering and simply meet with them to ask them some questions.

How do you find these people?

* Do your research

Google is the gateway to all professions and information about them. Research any associations that target your future industry. Anyone who picks up the phone will be able to connect you to marketing and communications directors or member representatives.

* Ask your older family members

They have been on this earth longer than you and with that comes a network much bigger than yours. Ask them to ask their friends and business associates for a few minutes for you to meet with them.

* Ask your teachers and councilors

Teachers are likely to put in a lot of time to open doors for you and go out of their way to make sure you meet the right people. It is their job to help you.

Why are you doing this?

* Learn about the person you are interviewing

People love to talk about themselves. It is their favorite subject. Most people will be honored that you’d like to interview them about their rise to the top. The key is to listen to what decisions they made, how they made them and what they did to get them to their current level.  One of the most important things to look for is what they need. What is their pain? Who do they need to know? Along your journey you will surely meet people that you should connect with one another. Listen and potentially do something admirable for them later.

” If you can cure people’s business pain, you will be sought after for decades.”

- Guilherme Cunha

* Get you started and get some direction. [Connection for life]

If you spend 15 minutes with ANYONE, to talk to them intimately about what they’ve done to achieve their current success  you now have a contact and a potential new friend for life.  They will connect you to people and provide guidance when you most need it.

” Business is short. Life is Long. “

You don’t have to only look at it from a business standpoint. You never know what opportunities may arise in which you will need to ask that person for advice. Nurture relationships as if you were looking to meet friends and the B2B aspect will fall into place automatically. Get to know more people and increasing your network of friends and business associates.

* See if what they do is what you want to do.

You’ve lived your whole life with your teachers and parents asking you ” what do you want to be when you grow up? ” This is the perfect opportunity to analyze the life and work of different professionals and save yourself the heartache of studying 4 years for a profession you weren’t going to enjoy. Often times jobs and careers are not what they seem. This will allow you to get a sneak peak into your future or give you a comforting feeling to know you wouldn’t want to do this year AFTER year.

Questions to ask

How did you get started?

What made you decide to do what you are doing?

What is important to you?

What is the best/worst part of your job?

Who do you know that would be willing to sit with me for 5 minutes just like you did?

Note: Take notes. Never have I seen anyone be offended because you wanted to write down what they are saying.

After the meeting

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Send an actual postal service thank you letter. If they took the time to meet with you without any monetary gain you have the time to write them a letter and splurge on the stamp.

Do unto others

Keep in the back of your mind what you can now do for that person.

Pay it forward

Anyone that is struggling to find their way is looking for answers without asking any questions. If you conduct informational interviews and they work out for you suggest for others that you sense are in the same boat to do the same. Or only do it when asked for

advice. It is up to you, isn’t it?

If you’re not so young

Follow the above steps. If you’ve recently been laid off or want to start in a new career conduct informational interviews. Just like anyone would respect an outgoing 17 year old who is proactive about their career so too does the respect go to an individual like

yourself who wants to better their life and do something more rewarding. You will likely get more  ” no’s ” yet keep going. You truly only need 3 meetings and they will allow for even more meetings if you need them.

Depending on your credibility with others getting 3 meetings can go as smoothly as asking 3 people or take up to 12 attempts.

Fear not the numbers.

Accept them.

Put your head down and go to work.

You will pick your head up with 3 successful meetings and a new found vigor and direction.

See this post on referrals on how to overcome not being able to get in the door.

1. Proper funding from the beginning.

2. Entering a market with a handsome outlook of at least 5 to 10 years.

3. Cashflow positive right out of the gate.

4. A great management team that builds a system.

5. A great customer service department.

6. A growing list of clients.

7. Leveraged partnerships for hyper growth.

8. Building leaders for hyper growth.

9. Becoming number # 1 in the industry.

10. Sell the company for 5 times the current years revenue. [Or keep it going if its a cash cow]

Bonus sweep: Rinse and repeat for a dollar more than your last exit.

Anything missing?

Watch another clean sweep:

Anytime you push against ” what is ” and you resist ” what is ” you have more stress in your life because you won’t accept what is. Focus on what is and changing if you don’t like it other than thinking about the past.

- O.W

http://www.thesixtyone.com/

Well done. W.O.W.

” I don’t know how much time I have but I have something to say. “

It seems like something that should be handled on a case-by-case basis, right? I gather that a ” mad lib ” system would work well. What I mean by that is they can fill in the blank regarding different aspects and then calculate what and how to give. Number of deaths, degree of difficulty to get back normal, coupled with the companies current cash holdings would be some good starting points. I am no mathematicians yet surely someone can create a solid equation to figure out just the right about to give.

A referral is worth its weight in gold.

So much so that if you call someone and say that you were referred by someone and they don’t know or remember who that person is they will take your call and meet with you.

All because of the power of the referral…. Real or not.

- Guilherme

WRITTEN by:  David Cooperstein, 01.06.10, 6:26 PM ET

In my interactions with CMOs at some of the largest companies in the U.S. and Europe, I hear a familiar refrain. It goes something like this: “My company is customer-centric, but marketing doesn’t control the customer experience.” Indeed, only 53% of marketers we surveyed recently reported that they “own” the customer experience, putting the brand experience in a channel or environment that does not think to speak with marketing’s voice. Even fewer are directly responsible for loyalty programs, community management and customer service. And from a budget standpoint, 80% of marketing budgets go to advertising, with just 20% going to loyalty programs and customer experience.

To truly earn their place at the executive table, chief marketing officers today must go beyond overseeing marketing programs. They must drive the brand promise into the hearts and minds of everyone in their organization. Top marketing executives must refocus their attention. Their responsibility isn’t just aggressive advertising and promotion. It should also consider their company’s broader business agenda. The CMO is the one who must connect the dots—the touch points with the customer—to make every experience with the brand consistent and positive.

Why the CMO? Because he or she, in segmenting the audience, building a media plan or collateral portfolio, and testing ideas and awareness, understands the brand experience that resonates best with the customer. The CMO needs to orchestrate this message across diverse opportunities and resources—within marketing, across, and outside of the company—to create a compelling brand experience that delivers value to the consumer, and ultimately to the company. As the “chef d’orchestre” for the company, he or she is the conductor, not the manager of the box office or the lighting board. But as the creative force that makes sure the overall experience fits together, the CMO needs to see to it that the operational and sales efforts are in synch with the messaging that gets distributed.

How does a CMO do this? Forrester prescribes four pillars that the CMO must use to get the company playing by a single customer playbook:

* Align the company by customer group. Product-centric companies focus on distribution and throughput, but do not leverage the value of combining products that serve a single customer. Companies organized by consumer groups can gain media buying and marketing leverage, with a large set of products and messages tailored to a few strong audiences.

* Synchronize the consumer lifecycle. As customers go through the purchase funnel, and the post-purchase cycle, they should have a consistent experience. This means every touch point tells the same story, and is consistent in the message and service they deliver. The outcome is loyalty when they seek to purchase again.

* Offer visible value to the customer. The definition of a product now extends beyond the one-time sale. Mobile phones, Louis Vuitton travel bags and Xbox videogame consoles combine the product offer, content, and interaction to provide a much more comprehensive experience than off-the-shelf products had in the past.

* Use customer insights to direct company efforts. Harnessing customer data to understand preferences, buying trends, and shortfalls in conversion or satisfaction are critical and fundamental to the company working synchronously. CMOs must understand the data and use it to help set objectives for success across the entire company.

Which CMOs lead this thinking today? Think of the brands that wrap themselves around the customer. Best Buy extends its brand beyond selling electronics to content and support for people before and after they actually purchase with reviews supplied through BazaarVoice, installation through Geek Squad, and customer support via their Twitter-enabled “Twelpforce” to answer immediate problems. It uses mobile devices and apps to provide the in-store team with information and allow comparison shopping. IHG, meanwhile, operates brands that appeal to consumers depending on the mode of travel they are anticipating - Hotel Indigo when the clients want a local boutique experience as well as benefits of a brand, Holiday Inn for a smart value, and Intercontinental when practical luxury is desired. Del Ross, IHG’s vice president of U.S. sales & marketing, says “IHG has moved from pure demographic targeting to aligning the brands with the needs of each travel experience.”

Companies that embrace the customer, led by the CMO, will give consumers the kind of experience they—and your brand—deserve.

WRITTEN BY: David Cooperstein is a VP, research director serving marketing leaders, at Forrester Research in New York

That is hardcore friends.

- Thanks J.R

Innovation and leaders like William Kamkwamba will make the world a better place. Creativity and passion infused with necessity will surely cure the world of its extreme problems. Amazing.

Scarlett Johansson
When I met you, I didn’t know what to do.
I was tired I was hungry I fight.
Now I’m away, I write home everyday
and I see you on the TV at night

Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson
You can see that life’s for us to talk about.
You can leave whenever you want out
whoa oh

Pete Yorn
You don’t relate to me, no girl,
you don’t respect to me, no girl
no no yeah

Scarlett Johansson
When I met you, I didn’t know what to do
But I noticed that I didn’t really feel
Now you’re away, you write home everyday.
I don’t beg I don’t borrow I steal

Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson
You don’t think that life’s for us
To talk about.
You can leave whenever you want out
You want out

Pete Yorn
You don’t relate to me, no girl.
You don’t respect to me, no girl
(you can leave when ever you want out)
You don’t relate to me, no girl.
And you don’t respect to me, no girl.
(You can leave whenever you want out)
No you don’t relate to me, no girl.
And you don’t respect me, no girl
no no yeah

Team work.

You need a team or you’ll surely die. If you think you can load film (I just dated myself. Whatever, I’m old school), shoot, do make-up, get water for the talent, keep the 5 PR people from going crazy all while taking a great picture…. you are nuts.

In business, if you think you can to sell, manage, take incoming calls, handle accounts receivable, all while balancing long term vision with short term cash flow needs… you are nuts.

You need vision.

Many of my photo friends sketch their photographs in their books and simply make a photograph they’ve already created in their minds eye. It is like de ja vu for them once they are on a set. Sometimes things change and you have to adapt but the vision is life.

It is best to have solid plans, a clear vision, for as far as you can because then you will be able to adapt, change or evolve the plans according to the market or things you couldn’t have foreseen.

Business and photography are careers that demand dedication and experience. Most seasoned editorial photographers get the advertising jobs after some time. Most people who get funded by Venture Capital firms have 10 + years domain experience. Most people think they can pick up a $400 digital camera and become a professional photographer. Only to realize that some lenses cost $1,500. Some people who get fired decide to start their own business out of necessity. While I applaud the entrepreneurial spirit being a a business owner is not a fly by night thing. It takes courage and the understanding that you are walking into a dark cave–a cave that 95% of people don’t ever come out of. (95 % of small businesses fail.)

Mentor and experience.

There are two specific ways out of that cave for both industries.

1. Find a mentor. Learn from the mistakes of others.

2. Get some experience. In photography you will be asked an endless amount of times to do work for free. Pick your battles and understand what is worth doing for the progression of your career, brand and portfolio versus someone looking to take advantage of you. In business, you can take on a few clients in the beginning for a greatly discounted amount or even offer pro-bono work.

Instant Gratification

Previously, the Polaroid provided instant gratification for the professional photographer. The digital screen is the novel savior for commercial artists. Both allow you to know where you are and what different options you now have. Without it, you feel trapped and unsure of yourself having to keep within a very narrow frame of thought and creativity.

In business, the solid foundation of any business is cash flow. Cash flow allows you room to maneuver, trying different things in marketing, R+D and possibly hiring more employees. Without it, you feel an obligation to think cheaply hoping to get things for free and sometimes cutting corners to your detriment. I am in favor of having cash flow, yet still thinking smarter and more creatively as opposed to attempting to be innovative because of lack of money.

One (wo) + man.

You need the team and you need to be able to delegate in both photography and business. But everything comes down to one person. In photography it can range anywhere from the actual photographer to the creative director or the boss and clients. In business, it can range from the actual CEO, to the board of directors or Chairman. Different opinions are welcomed and encouraged but the buck has to stop with one person or max a dynamic duo. It will lead to too much drama when there is a fight for the top decision maker position. Do not stress this reality and simply accept the fact that it exists. All things fall into place. It just takes time.

As this analogous journey took me through and on the bike trails of Killington Mountain I learned the following entrepreneurial life lessons and similarities.

The right vehicle said Henry Ford

Before the actual biking began, the company I was with decided to take a look at the prices and selection of bikes at a local store. We realized that the bikes for rent were twice as expensive (retail) and better technology than the ones for rent at the mountain but for the same rental price. Making the right choice in bikes was the crucial first step to a successful ride.

In the entrepreneurial world it’s important to have a business that is in the right market. The right “vehicle” and industry you choose should have at LEAST a 5 year outlook, if not 10. Longevity is an element of success because products and services change. To be truly successful, it becomes imperative, to pick an industry where the wind is blowing in your direction and where you can take advantage of the natural industry momentum.

You don’t know what to expect even if you think you do

As Cheni, Dan Allen and Mario Bernardini and I decided to take on mountain biking, the challenge , in retrospect became clear that I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I had surely ridden a bike before thanks to the necessity, and part of my active childhood in Queens. Keep in mind though that the streets of Astoria and Sunnyside are nothing like Killington as I soon found out.

Not having a clear understanding of what the road ahead is reminds me of the E-myth revisited, Allan T. Young and one of my earlier posts on being an entrepreneur. The E-myth Revisited by Michael Gerber explains the simple yet PROFOUND idea that most businesses fail because the founders are “ technicians ” that were inspired to start a business without knowledge of how successful businesses run. Most people start their own business because they are good at a specific thing. I was the exact same way in thinking I can succeed down a mountain with slippery rocks thinking that it was the same as riding up Steinway Street.

Get some tips. Even if you’re not a waitress

Once at the top of the mountain, I was given some extremely quick tips and told to just take it slow and then we were off. Within 30 seconds I found myself in completely uncharted territory, accelerating at an unforgivable speed down a small hill with a bump at the bottom. Everyone knew what was going to happen except for me because I was too busy losing control of the bike. I leaned forward on the bike and FORWARD I went! Into gravel and dirt. As I laid there in utter shock and confusion, I looked up to Dan Allen who later told me that my facial expression reminded him of what children look like after their dad first lets go of them when learning to ride a bike and fall face first into the ground. In mountain biking one of the most important things is balance and maintaining control. Once you are riding down a mountain the best way to do this is to stand up, lean back and hold your arms straight. I found out this from my riding buddies only after I had taken the dive of my life. [Thank you gentlemen!]

As an entrepreneur is it best to enter any act of business by getting some tips to prevent heartache, pain and wasted time. Look for people whose business you admire. Get together with them and buy them a cup of coffee. People love to feel needed, respected and valued and when you do this, they will gladly help you, someone who has been where they once were. It provides them with a boost of self-confidence and makes them feel great to assist in saving future business owners time and money.

Fall so that you can get back up

After the initial shock of my crash, I was determined to succeed; impressing everyone and proving to myself that I can accomplish the daunting task at hand.

You will inevitably make mistakes, we all do so you don’t have to make a conscious effort to fail just to motivate yourself. The world will take care of that for you. The key is that when you do fall, you learn from the mistake and use it as a motivation to succeed the next time. You never fail until you stop trying. Use your new found experience as a springboard to your success.

Go, Now!

My first time down the mountain was one of the most terrifying things I’ve ever experienced. I’d never gone this fast on a bike, let alone down a hill where it seems you have no control of what is potentially about to happen. My initial reaction was to slow down and press on the breaks when in actuality going much slower and pressing on breaks is what causes accidents and wipe outs.

As an entrepreneur consistency should always be your close friend. Going slow in business in hopes of surveilling the scene can sometimes be counter-intuitive. Just as in riding, in business it is important to keeping going, to fight through any possible fears you have of falling, or failing. Time is of the essence. There will always be someone aggressively looking to take your spot and your client list. Do not wait. Go, Now!

Clyde Drexler says follow him

When I was mountain biking the bikers who have come before me have blazed a trail that I decided to follow. Doing so allowed me to keep away from rocks and enjoy a slightly smoother ride. This also allowed me keep my head up to assure I knew what was ahead.

In business many have already done what you are just beginning to think of doing. An insatiable appetite will keep you out in front. Be an avid reader of business books with case studies, read Fast Company and Inc. and The deal.

Blaze yourself

As I was riding, I watched Cheni, our “weekend warrior” taking note that he didn’t always follow the easily identifiable and well used path. There were times when he would make his own trail, and by so doing, I realized that just as in life, in business you need to be willing to take chances.

In business …

There is a thin line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line. - Oscar Levant

Just like those in the video, Cheni, has been a great example, both on and off the bike, he has lived his life by blazing a trial and taking chances. He started sunshine suite along with his best friend and business partner Joseph Raby. They now have a flourishing business that is extremely helpful and needed for the further progression of entrepreneurship in New York and beyond.

“And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give
other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our fear,
our presence automatically liberates others. ”

- Marianne Williamson

Because they had the guts to do something extraordinary it has provided me and other entrepreneurs in New York the opportunity to do something remarkable as well.

“ Coach… I’m listening ”

Mario of Avenue A Staffing gave me some pointers and provided moral support during the first and most difficult 30 minutes. With a task as monumental as getting down this mountain in one piece I had to be completely open to advice–without it, I would’ve been without a doubt at a loss as to how to do this properly. I would’ve been COMPLETELY lost. Again, just as in life, in business there is a time when the “coaching” is shared. Cheni had his turn to coach me by riding along side of me, coaching me up some difficult trails. It was when I was faced with a difficult turn or spot and when I doubted my own abilities of succeeding that his screaming words of encouragement and tips helped me surmount the hurdles, ultimately reaching my destination.

No matter how much you think you can’t do it just keep going and you will surely accomplish your goal.

“ Humbling, HUH? ”

Cheni wanted to push us to the next level. He decided that we should do a “ single diamond ” mountain trail. As we proceeded through this “ single diamond ” trail I fought with more persistence and determination than I did that whole day. In the beginning of the trail I actually made it far enough to pat myself on the back and be proud. THEN the rocks came. As Cheni and I made our way down he screamed from a few feet back

“ This is a very humbling experience, isn’t it? ”

It was indeed. We ended up having to walk the majority of the way down the mountain. At the end of the mountain we realized that we actually went down A “ double black diamond ” trail 23. 23 is the hardest trail on Killington.

Sometimes in business you will end up on your own trail 23. Yet you won’t even know it until it is all done. Fight. Keeping going.

Below is one of my own favorite quotes.

“ Humble yourself, or the world will do it for you.” - Guilherme Cunha

“ That’s it, I’m done ”

By the end of third trail it was decided to do one more run. I was still shaking from a previous nasty spill. At this point I spoke out,

“ Oh no, I’m done.” I know my limits and I’ve reached it.”

Recently I wrote about Brian Tracy and Zero Based Thinking that is similar to this situation.

In particular, I think the following quote is appropriate, “ The inability to stop doing things that are no longer working and to discontinue people that are no longer performing is the primary reason for failure in business. On the other hand, your ability to be fast and flexible in face of this dynamic market environment is the key to your success and to the success of your business. ”

Click here for the whole post. I think it can be very helpful.

Ben’s had it… He’s Done.

Oh, so you mean …?

As soon as I was down the mountain I had the opportunity to share with my good friend Louie Torrellas my experience on the mountain bike and the parallel between my life as an entrepreneur and his life as an entertainer.

He immediately said:

Oh, so you mean mountain biking is exactly like your life because at any given point you can die simply by slipping down the side of the mountain and lose everything you’ve ever worked for at a moments notice?

I said

wow, Louie, I was looking at the more positive aspects of my ride but I suppose that is entirely true.

The entrepreneurial life is also just like No Limit Texas Hold ‘em in this instance. At any given point in time your opponent [life] can go all in and force you to make a decision for all your chips. Many entrepreneurs bet it all on one specific business and sometimes you fall short. Success lies in picking yourself up and continuing on.

There’s no other game in which fortunes can change so much from hand to hand. A brilliant player can get a strong hand cracked, go on tilt… and lose his mind along with every single chip in front of him. This is why the World Series of Poker is decided over a No-Limit Hold ‘Em table. Some people, pros even, won’t play No-Limit. They can’t handle the swings.

Rounders
- Matt Damon’s Character

What experiences or activities can you compare to the life of an entrepreneur?

Cooking? Golf? Please comment and lets compare stories.

J.R. Thank you for your help and for RSS feed subscription.

Amazing words to live by.

http://allantyoung.com/2009/08/10/a-remarkable-story/

Ibreakfast is …

The Monthly Meeting at the Capital of the Web’s “Storefront”

The monthly iBreakfast Club meeting promises to showcase the Silicon Alley movers and shakers in the context of the entire technology marketplace. That means the Breakfast Club will feature the people behind breaking news and the technologies about to make a difference.. Attendees also have the opportunity to network with other seasoned players in the New Media Technology industry.

The event was …

How Entrepreneurs can tap new sources of capital

Money is available in all kinds of places today from crowdfunding to the alternate VCs like the CIA. Here’s how to look in new kinds of places and in fresh ways. As we search for new sources of capital we have put together a group of new ideas for funding and growing your business with innovative solutions.

Alan Brody

Alan started by talking about who gets funding.

There are two classes of start-ups that usually get funding. The people that get most of the money most of the time have 10 years domain experience in a well established company. They have identified a problem that is very specific to their industry and they have walked off with either a customer list, key team of that company. So think of a bunch of guys at IBM that have figured out what the biggest problem… know who the customers are, stolen the team that knows how to develop that service and walked off with them.

I can tell you right now that their check is already in the mail.  From an investor point of view the chances of recouping your money is about 80 %, the chances of making good money is 60 %. The google’s, the 22 year olds, the 23 year olds with out of the ballpark ideas don’t pop up that often.  Especially in the New York environment it’s that middle league that gets most of the money and it’s that middle league that is not being laid off.

So, what’s happening is we’re seeing all kinds of people that are forced to think entrepreneurial with really no interest whatsoever in the VC community.  And the other kind is the serial entrepreneurial, the successful entrepreneur of any age.

The main focus of the breakfast was to think about what is coming up, what are people doing that is bringing un-thought kinds of money as well as structural changes that will deliver these types of benefits.

Stephen E. Arnold

The business model is that when you get software from IBM, micro soft, ORACLE  you’re in a cage.

So the whole premise of open source is not that its really cheaper or better it’s that you’re not in a cage.

Its really not going to be that much different but this is a very powerful idea.

In my research … Google is saying that they are an open source company. I don’t think they really want to be an open source company I think it is how do we get from here to there.

And Google is now using this open source play in 6 market sectors.

They are going to be very disruptive. They may not make any money but the disruption is what creates the opportunity for you.

He goes on to talk about other projects.

“ Lucene. ” It is downloadable software for search. Find it here.   You can search content.

Since we have a president that is pushing Open Source and funding sources are now available S.A has called all of this a game changer.

The same thing is happening in the U.K  Arnold mentioned.

So what you ask?

Stephen Arnold will say to you..

Funding of open source in the $300 million range. Which is nothing but so far in 2009 it has not been cut off. And why is that important? Because these companies, which you’ll recognize, have been putting funds into open source play in software.

The encouraging thing, which is really new, is that money will be available from government funding entities in the US and the UK and that means the same thing will flow out of the EC.

So this is new money. YOU’VE HEARD IT HERE.

I’m not sure if this is exactly the equivalent of the California Gold rush but this is something new to think about if you are looking for funds and you’re looking for a new angle.

Open source is definitely up in the air. There isn’t that much of a track record and everyone has to watch it. The reason why this is worth many people’s attention is because the President is fully pushing for new projects and ventures in this space. Once Obama says “ I want this ” and the CIA funds it this is the real deal.

____________________________________
VC companies aggressively looking to fund Open Source

Bench Mark capital
BV Capital
CMEA Capital
Draper Fisher Jurvetson
Ignition Partners
Intel partners
Redpoint
Trinity

Allan T. Young

Allan mainly spoke about PCM exchange as a viable new platform to connect entrepreneurs and investors.

The vision is for PCM exchange to become a watering hole for both entrepreneurs and investors where actual transactions can be made online. The whole process can be managed through the site and provides a great value add for both parties.

They also have a secondary market for anyone interested in selling their business and/or trading private equity shares with third party investors. This is a great opportunity for many companies who aren’t quite ready for an IPO yet would still like take part in similar exchanges.

As the world changes drastically everyone is looking and experimenting with new models.

Slava Rubin

Slava opened up by speaking about Film maker Robert Greenwald. He is a documentarian who wanted to make a movie called “ Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers.” He wanted to raise $750,000. He had reached a cap through his normal means of raising money and raised $350,000. He already had a following from his previous documentaries and so he had a novel idea about sending out e-mails throughout a 9-day time period looking to raise the gap amount. He offered credit not profit. He got an average of $1,000 per contribution. He funded the movie and everyone got credit.

Indie GoGo takes this idea of crowd-sourcing and engaging audiences to the next level.

The different levels in the film process

Fund raising
Production
Distribution
Promotion
Discovery

The earlier you can get your sales… If you get them before your distributing, if you can get them when you’re fundraising,  if you can get them when your producing you’re already ahead of the game.

Indie GoGo will likely evolve into a platform for crowdsourcing and audience engagement for many different industries. Slava mentioned that they simply started in the film space.

It’s the best of times and the worst of time in the media space. It’s the best of times because production costs are low, distribution cost are down, social media is making it easier to find a niche audience. Its also the worst of times because independent film houses are getting crushed and it’s progressively difficult to sell content online.

Slava also spoke about the reason selling is so difficult right now is because audiences are so fragmented. People need to figure out how to engage with them almost on a one-to-one basis.

Indie Go Go allows you to post, pitch your project, raise money and build an audience.

Slava mentions that if you raise $1 from anyone they’ll likely be a huge marketing power for you because they’ll promote enough to probably get you an extra $100.

The site will allow you use custom widgets and post it on different social media websites.

They launched at Sundance in 2008 and are in 90 countries. Sundance winners and Hollwood regulars are using the website as a tool for funding raising and marketing.

Slava meets with many top people in the film industry. He knows what is happening, he knows what is going to happen and is a go to person regarding the future in the film space.

If you’re looking for someone who really knows this space your audience will be delighted to hear from him.

The host

Alan Brody runs ibreakfast and ievening events. He brings an immense amount of passion and knowledge to all his events.

The social crowd + The networking crowd

It is a diverse crowd and was actually hard to pinpoint. Ibreakfast and ievening events bring an eclectic mix of people and it provides a platform for different points of view on the same subject.

The venue

Cresa Partners hosts many of the ibreakfast and ievening events. The offices provide for great meetings regardless of size of the group. They have space for many and can adjust the space for smaller crowds.

They have commercial real estate available. If you need anything from Cresa Partners be sure to reach out to Jack who is the senior vice president.

Difficulty in getting in

Pay. That’s it.

Future information needed

Here you go…

Notables

Other than the speakers ….

Herman Sperling. He is working on a potential innovation for the music industry with a few major music icons. Who? You’ll have to ask him yourself.  3D incorporated.

Last chaser notes

Ibreakast is doing an entrepreneurs day in association with Fordam University on September 14th  2009. This will give an opportunity for entrepreneurs to mingle with each other and hear from other people that are going through the same thing.

Also, a  thank you to Ellen Schaeffer and Alan Brody and thank you to Allan T Young for the meeting.

A leaders potential is determined by those closest to him.
If those people are strong then the leader can make a huge impact… If they are weak, he can’t.

Ask yourself, who is in your inner circle? If you’re not succeeding is it because of the people who are around you on a daily or weekly basis?

I’ve seen both sides of the spectrum. Often times I see examples of good leaders who have a stellar team by their side. Every now and then I see teams who have good leaders yet the inner circle teams lack a certain ability to align well with the leader.

If a team isn’t succeeding what is the reason? I’ve thought about this for the past few months.
What I realized is that there are so many things that have to be taken into account.

All of these things are covered in John C. Maxwell’s book ” 21 irrefutible laws of Leadership. ”

Is it because the leader doesn’t have influence over his followers?

Is it because the leader has a hard time setting out a proper plan for the team?

Is it because the leaders inner circle isn’t as strong as it can be?

Some interesting questions to think about.

What do you think? Leave a comment.

Character creates trust and trust makes leadership possible.
Whenever you lead people it is as if they consent to take a trip with you. The way that trip turns out is dependent on your character.

Character communicates

1. Consistency
2. Potential

” When people trust you they believe your relationship has a future. ”

3. Respect

” When you don’t have respect within you can’t earn respect without. ”

How do leaderships earn respect?

• Making sound decisions
• Admitting their mistakes
• Putting what’s best for their followers and the organization ahead of their own personal agendas.

- Jennifer Kushell

What are B Corporations?

B Corporations are a new type of corporation which uses the power of business to solve social and environmental problems.  B Corporations are unlike traditional responsible businesses because they:

• Meet comprehensive and transparent social and environmental performance standards.
• Institutionalize stakeholder interests.
• Build collective voice through the power of a unifying brand.

Morena Baccarin, a Brazilian-American actress, is the new star of the ABC miniseries “ V.”

Slowly but surely Brazilian actors and actresses have been inching their way into the main stream of American Pop Culture. A few years ago Alice Braga joined forces with Will Smith in “ I am Legend.” Then Rodrigo Santoro was cast in the MEGA hit “ 300 ” as well as in a small part in ABC’s “ Lost.” Since “ V ” is on ABC as well one might think that ABC likes to cast Brazilian actors. Baccarin will play Anna, the leader of the Visitors.

She joins a group that is opening the doors for other Brazilian actors to get more work in Television shows and Hollywood movies here in the US.

Morena, from my mouth to god’s ears. Or in this case from my website to his computer. Best of luck with the new show.

Foi um prazer conhecer você. Plataforma está te esperando.

* My favorite: fifty people one question

“We had an idea. Go to a place. Ask fifty people the same question. Film their responses. ”

Featured Question: To wake up
Location » Brooklyn, NY

Fifty People, One Question: Brooklyn from Fifty People, One Question on Vimeo.

Featured Question: To wake up
Location » London, UK

Fifty People, One Question: London from Fifty People, One Question on Vimeo.

* Aperfolio

A digital portfolio that lets your images speak for themselves.

* Simple, sexy portfolio viewer
* Upload, sort and edit with ease
* Fully-hosted, gads of storage

* REMIND

provides resources and support to injured service members, veterans and their families

* Pictures Reframed

Pictures Reframed, unites two strikingly original artists - pianist Leif Ove Andsnes and visual artist Robin Rhode — in a collaborative performance which centres around Mussorgsky’s epic piano suite Pictures at an Exhibition.

The Collaboration from IMG Artists on Vimeo.

* Sustainable Party

Ideas, products and best practices for creating environmentally and socially responsible events.

Welcome to the Party! from Sustainable Party on Vimeo.

* By Association

Be sure to follow @crushlovely

It was because of following them that I became one of the “ 100 founding members ” of By Association NYC division.

Crush + Lovely, I’ve got a lovely crush on you.

I met him once on a photo shoot and he couldn’t be any nicer of a guy nor more deserving of his success.

Support the new album!!     Check it out on rhapsody

P.S - The album is amazing.

Photography by Dorothy Hong

Check out the new site from up and coming New York based Photographer Katie Nicole Smith