WilliamGriggs.com | Entrepreneur + Marketer + Technologist

My Session: “Hustlenomics 101: From Idea To Business — Tips, Tools & Tactics That Work”

About: If you’ve got a great idea, but are unsure what to do next, this is the session for you! In this session, you will get the knowledge you need to take your idea to the next level.

Sign Up Here!

1. Start before the conference begins

Study the sessions and read the presenter bios ahead of time. Determining what sessions to attend before you show up will help you maximize the value you receive from the conference both in terms of the content you consume and the people you will meet.

2. Put your gadgets away!

Sure you will want to tell all your twitter followers about the amazing session you just attended and that’s fine, but there comes a time when you need to put the gadgets down and focus on in-person, human interaction.

3. Talk with the people around you

If you are attending the same session you already have something in common. Start by asking your neighbors why they chose the session!

4. Swap contact information with the presenter

If you are really interested in what the presenter had to say, exchange contact information afterward. The presenter is likely to be pretty busy that day so remember to be brief. Tell them your name, how much you liked their presentation, what you do and why you would like to talk with them further.

Did I miss any?! If so, put them in the comments below!

About William:

While at centresource and Suineg Consulting, William Griggs worked with clients ranging from one-man operations to large corporations in order to launch their products and grow their business.

William is very active in the digital community and has served as both an advisor and in managerial roles of several Internet start-up companies.

Currently, William is in the process of starting giveyear, a social enterprise he is incubating in the Nashville Entrepreneur Center that seeks to change the world by harnessing the talents of our nation’s most promising future leaders and providing them with an opportunity to serve.

Follow William: twitter.com/william_griggs

About Start-Up Chile

Start-Up Chile is a program of the Chilean Government to attract world-class early stage entrepreneurs to start their businesses in Chile. They provide selected entrepreneurs with a $40,000 grant (no equity taken!) and 6 months to work on their project. Check out the video below and visit their website for more info!

Click here to apply today!

What the heck is Carrot Mob?

“In Carrotmob campaigns, an organizer asks local businesses to compete: Who will make the biggest change to their business in order to improve the world? Then you show up with your friends at the winning business, and spend money to support them. You can entice businesses to make social and environmental improvements by giving them a financial benefit for doing what you want. It’s the opposite of a boycott. Join today, and unlock the power of your spending to change the world.” (source)

Example:

First, you approach two businesses, for this example we will call one Ted’s Convenience Store and one Mason’s Convenience Store. We will then tell Ted and Mason (the convenience store owners) that if they commit to allocating a percentage of their sales to retrofitting their buildings with greener, more cost effective lighting, we will commit to rounding up a large number of people to come by their stores to purchase their products, on a agreed upon day. We also share with them that we are only going to work with one of them and it will be the one that allocates the largest portion of revenue that will get our mob’s business.

Ted decides he will allocate 25%, beating out Mason’s 20%. The big day rolls around and Ted’s sales shoot up from an average of $1,800 a day to more than $9,800! Ted then takes the amount he committed to allocate (25% of $9,800 = $2,450) and upgrades the lighting in his building.

Benefit To The Business

Ted’s Convenience Store now has an elevated perception in the community as a greener, friendly business as well as a lower utility bill!

Want to get involved? Want to host your own Carrot Mob? If so, click here!

What is SourceYourCity?

According to to their website, SourceYourCity (SYC) is a virtual community connecting local reporters with local experts to enhance the quality of local news through confidential news sourcing in real-time. (Source)

SYC + Personal Branding

Personal branding is all about positioning yourself as an expert in your field. Once you have setup a personal website and become to generate quality content, hopefully at the same time building a community, it’s time to take your personal branding to the next level. SourceYourCity can help you do just that.

Simply put, SYC connects you with local writers. The potential exposure SYC provides is tremendous. Imagine the impact being quoted in local publications can have on you, your brand and your company!

How do I get started?

1. - Sign up for an account
2. - Once accepted, fill out your profile
3. - Fill out your profile completely
4. - Monitor source requests for requests that might be applicable to you, or someone you know

Go ahead sign up for an account!

Note: Full disclosure SourceYourCity office is located across from me at the Nashville Entrepreneur Center.

Become A Better You Today!

I admit, the title is a bit cheesy, but I’m glad you decided to read this post anyways. Instead of making a New Year’s resolution like lose some weight, or eat healthier, my New Year’s resolution is to become a better me. Follow the steps I outlined below to develop your own plan!

Where do you want to improve?

Identify 5-7 areas of your life you would like to improve.

Example:

• - Spiritual Discipline
• - Physical Fitness
• - Business Knowledge
• - Relationships

Begin To Formulate Your Plan

Figure out how it is you can become better at each of these.

Example:

• - Read a book
• - Read a blog
• - Listen to a podcast
• - Weekly Gym Visits
• - Take a class
• - Find a mentor
• - Weekly dinners
• - Talk to an expert

Add Structure That Encourages Discipline

• - Create a schedule using Google Calendar.
• - I would encourage you to set aside specific days, or times of day for each area of your life you would like to improve.
• - Set Reminders — It’s important to set reminders early. They will help you create a routine.
• - Make the new schedule a priority!

Let me know what you think in the comments below!