Happy Quote (on being unbeatable)

Long ago we abandoned the idea of having a life’s work, a calling; those that still do their work from that sense of calling or vocation, will be unbeatable.

- David duChemin, world & humanitarian photographer, best-selling author

Happy Quote – the starting point

April 19, 2009 in Happy Quotes

“...now it's when the client says she's happy that I really start to work hard. That's the starting point.” (more)

- Chase Jarvis, profession (inspiring!) photographer

Happy Quote

March 9, 2009 in Happy Quotes

“My life has been a series of well-orchestrated accidents; I’ve always suffered from hallucinogenic optimism. I was broke for more than 10 years. I remember staying up all night one night at my first company and looking in couch cushions the next morning for some change to buy coffee.”

—Evan Williams, CEO of Twitter

Happy Quote

January 14, 2009 in Happy Quotes

“Work smart not hard. If all you do is work hard making incremental improvements you are just like a hamster running in a wheel and never really getting anywhere… Far too many people think entrepreneurship is like an attendance award, where you can win just by showing up.”

—Markus Frind

(Sorry for the Markus Frind overload, moving future Frindisms to my twitter).

Happy Links (Chicken Little Edition!)

January 9, 2009 in Happy Links, Happy Quotes

• The Startup Depression. The opening salvo here from Jason Calacanis (who has retired from blogging, so don’t mistake this, or his dozens of other recent blog posts for, um, blog posts). 

  When the market is in the middle of correcting, as I believe it is currently doing, people tend to underestimate everything including:
  a) how bad it will be
  b) how quickly it will get worse
  c) how long it will take to recover

  It’s not short, but it is reasoned and interesting (including some personal details), and ends with 10 things you can do. He then follows up that post with this further commentary: Good News for People Who Hate Bad News.
    
• Employees, Freelancers and Entrepreneurs - How to recession-proof yourself includes a list of rather drastic steps Ryan Carson has taken with his company (cutting some employees, and his Audi), and some panicky tips for weathering it. 

  As hard as it may be, it’s time to lay off staff who aren’t directly generating revenue. If you avoid doing this now, you might go out of business later which means you have to lay off everyone, which will be much, much worse.

• Recession Tips for Web Designers provides counsel (and a bit less panic) applicable to more than just web designers, from the sage and entertaining Jeffery Zelman.

  There are four keys to surviving bad economic times: do good work, charge a fair price, lower your overhead, and be sure you are communicating with your client.

Ok, now that we have done our due diligence and ingested, contemplated and processed these downers, it’s time to do what good and successful entrepreneurs do – put on the hat of ridiculous and unfounded optimism, and make sure we’re the exception. You are the exception right? If you’re reading this, you’re the exception, trust me. And as the exception, we recognize that a down time means competition is lighter, opportunities greater, and that those who work hard, and smart enough to survive will be in control when the cycle recovers. Now let’s do it.

“You have to be an optimist – almost delusionally optimistic – otherwise you’ll never ever think about creating something new, like a business.” – Guy Kawasaki

The Secret to Success In [whatever]

January 2, 2009 in Happy Links, Happy Quotes, Killer Advice

Chase Jarvis, if you haven't heard of him, is a very successful (by most any measure) commercial photographer. He's also a true mensch -- and as such -- the object of great admiration by many serious photographers.

He is frequently asked the secret to success in photography. I think his answer applies 100% to whatever you're trying to find success in. His answer?

1. Be undeniably good (quoting Steve Martin).
2. Dedicate at least 10,000 hours (quoting Malcom Gladwell from his new book Outliers: The Story of Success.)

[Full post by Chase]

Happy Quote

June 25, 2008 in Happy Quotes

"There is nothing that drives a team forward like the fear of public failure, debt, and starvation. Leap off the cliff and start building the airplane on the way down and you might be surprised with what you can pull off.

—Tony Wright, founder and CEO of RescueTime (review eminent)

Happy Quote

January 9, 2008 in Happy Quotes

"I view my life in a way … I'll explain it to you, OK? The greatest thing about tomorrow is, I will be better than I am today. And that's how I look at my life. I will be better as a golfer, I will be better as a person, I will be better as a father, I will be a better husband, I will be better as a friend. That's the beauty of tomorrow. There is no such thing as a setback. The lessons I learn today I will apply tomorrow, and I will be better."

—Tiger Woods

Happy Quote

November 12, 2007 in Happy Quotes

"Don't worry about people stealing your ideas. If your ideas are any good, you'll have to ram them down people's throats."

— Howard Aiken, computing pioneer and innovator

Happy Quote

November 9, 2007 in Happy Quotes

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
— Mark Twain

When a Client Can’t Afford You: Why It’s Still Better to Bid High

A start-up just contacted you — needing brand identity work, web design, marketing materials, whatever. As an experienced professional, you know your services aren’t cheap, and you may be too expensive for a start-up with a shoestring budget.You want to know what the project’s budget is, but they can’t tell you. Start-ups and small companies often don’t have a set budget for projects like these. They are looking to you to provide a price quote, so they know what they can expect to pay.

Still, your gut is telling you this client can’t afford you. What do you do?

A Case Against Lowballing

In the situation above, you could casually walk in the other direction, saying that you don’t have availability. Or you could refer them to someone else, or simply pretend you never got the message. But if you’re an experienced freelancer, you know that ignoring sales leads, while sometimes tempting, is terrible business.

Instead, if you really want the client, you might provide a lowball estimate, hammer out some quick work at a low cost, collect your twenty dollars and call it a day. But this approach has several pitfalls.

1. Even a budget client can turn out to be high maintenance. Your lowball client could easily start demanding more than the inexpensive services you plan to offer. Cost factors for freelance services aren’t always easy to clarify, and they may not realize that you are a Cadillac freelancer charging Chevy rates. If things gets out of hand, you could end up spending too much time with a demanding but low paying client – and that’s no way to make a living!
2. Too much for too little is a big problem no matter who you’re dealing with. Even if the client doesn’t start off demanding much, a client you have lowballed in the past is more likely to become a problem in the future. After getting a logo designed for $100, they’ll probably bristle later when creating business cards costs twice that much. They have put a low premium on your work, and they’re not expecting it to get more expensive overnight.
3. The client could eventually leave for a more expensive vendor. Once you’ve lowballed a project for a client they might see you as a “starter” vendor and want to “upgrade” to someone more expensive as their business grows. Perception can quickly become reality, and lowballing projects could impact the billable value of your services, with your own clients and within their professional networks.

Just Bid It

Instead of lowballing the project — risking an awkward client relationship and setting the wrong precedents — why not just provide them with a quote like you would any other client? After all, they came to you because they want your professional services and style, and you’re not bargain-basement material.

When creating the quote, make sure it’s balanced, fair, and somewhat realistic for a startup or small company — while also true to what your services actually cost. If you have a bad feeling then don’t spend too much time on the estimate, but still provide something in range of your own professional standards. They’re probably not expecting a glossy, ten-page proposal — but just sending a quick email might look like you’re blowing them off.

Often times, you’ll be glad you bid at your standard rates. Maybe you will get the contract, maybe you won’t. But if you do, it will be on your terms, and for a price you know you’re worth.

If it turns out your gut feeling was right, and they can’t afford you, you might still congratulate yourself — because you’ve made an investment on the future. They may choose someone cheaper, but deep down, they still want you. They may hang onto your business card, check up on your work, and even refer their colleagues your way. And many times, months or years later, they may come back — with a budget you can work with and plenty of respect.

Related posts:

1. How High Is Your Loyalty Factor?
2. Adobe Photoshop: 50+ High Quality .PSD Files and Tutorials
3. 12 Things You Should Never Say to a Client

About the author: Christian MacAuley is a long-term freelance web designer and professional writer with two published books. You can learn more about her at www.xiann.com, or visit her company website at www.fabapps.com.

How I Started My Freelance Career With Zero Experience In My Field

Carlo Feliciano 

When I decided to start my freelance copywriting career months ago, one of the biggest obstacles I had to overcome was my lack of experience in the field I wanted to get into.

I decided to explore the idea of freelancing when several people from the office complimented my writing one after the other. My problem was that I had no idea what I wanted to do exactly. Yes, it was going to involve writing of some sorts. I discovered I had a knack for words (my boss even trusted me to write a press release about a new product we were launching — not bad for someone 6 months out of university!) but I had never been specifically hired and paid by others just to “write stuff.”

The biggest question running in my head was: who the hell was I to be charging people for a bunch of words I put together?

Luckily, I managed to push through that hump. Within a month or so, I went from being clueless about freelance copywriting to consulting with my first client over Skype.

If I were to summarize what I learned during that period, I would narrow everything down to these 5 steps:

1. Learn

Let’s face it — no matter what field you’re in, you won’t be able to get anywhere with your career if you don’t actually have any idea what you’re doing.

Although I never thought I’d do this again after college, I got my hands on books about copywriting and studied. I pumped as much material as I could into my brain about the topic. I trolled Amazon and hunted down the respected and credible books about the field. I bought them and read them during my free time. I subscribed to blogs, and most importantly, I practiced my craft.

Not enough free time, you say? I didn’t have much either (I work a full-time job, and maintain a long-distance relationship). I can’t read while I’m on the bus without getting dizzy, so I got my hands on a seminar conducted by a well-known copywriter. I took the audio and put it on my MP3 player. I listened during my commute and took my Zune to lunch. Voila; I just had 2-3 hours of study time everyday.

You might think you’re pretty good at what you do, and you know what? I believe you. But you’re not perfect. Every one of us can use more knowledge and improvement with our skills. Don’t sell yourself short by choosing not to learn.

2. Research

We all know the importance of differentiation, and I’m a huge advocate of marketing something unique about your business. Copywriters are a dime a dozen — it wouldn’t be good business sense to call myself a freelance copywriter and hope that clients came in droves.

How did I find my way around this? As I mentioned in the previous point, I studied. In addition to buying books and actually reading them, I went to tons of copywriter’s websites and took detailed notes. I noted what services they were offering and how they were selling it. I paid attention to their website style and how they presented themselves online. I wanted to know their strengths, and more importantly their weaknesses, so I could make an educated decision on how to position myself against them.

Being someone who doesn’t have a lot of experience, not having a lot of people to be compared with works to my advantage.

At the end of it all, I decided to focus my services on website copywriting. My goal is to be the guy you run to when you need your website to sell your products and services. Instead of generalizing my services to include everybody, I decided to narrow down the field and focus on what my competitors weren’t offering. Being someone who doesn’t have a lot of experience, not having a lot of people to be compared with works to my advantage.

You can always add more services as you become more established. Don’t worry about offering everything plus the kitchen sink right now. Besides, expanding your business is always a lot better than “downsizing” it.

3. Build

Some might say that building a website isn’t necessary. I’m sure there’s a success story or two out there by freelancers who until this day don’t have a website (Dickie Adams is one, am I wrong?). And they may be right; if you have a large enough network offline, then you probably don’t need a website to start your freelancing career.

But I didn’t have a business network to leverage. I was completely green (and still am in some ways) and NEEDED a website to advertise my services; otherwise nobody would know I existed. I registered my domain name, signed up for a year’s worth of hosting, and slapped a customized WordPress template on it. I managed to find one that suited my needs (I didn’t want it to look like a blog, but I wanted an easy content management system). Plus, with all the research I did on my competition, I knew exactly what to write on my website so I could stand out.

Although I am up for bootstrapping when starting out, one thing I would recommend is to outsource as much of your website as you can. I’m not a web designer by any means, so I probably spent 3 to 4 times longer than I would have if I simply left the coding to a professional.

4. Spread

While most freelancers hate marketing, this is the part I enjoyed the most. I love coming up with a marketing plan and executing it. It is critical that you spread the word about your new business. You never know who you will run into, so don’t be shy about talking up your business.

You don’t have to market your services to businesses alone. One alternative that not a lot of freelancers think of is partnering up with other freelancers. Programmers need designers, designers need copywriters, copywriters need illustrators, etc.

Talk to the people you know and tell them about your new venture (one of my clients is actually a good friend starting his new business). Participate and forums and put your URL in your signature. If you’re comfortable, write an ebook and distribute it through social media. My first client was actually a referral from Shockboogiedesign who found me from the Freelance Switch forums. She contacted me, and we set up a partnership that works exceptionally well for both of us.

Ask yourself one thing: who would benefit from your services? Then figure out how you can use that to your advantage.

5. Act

Your ducks will never be all in a row, so you might as well get to it now. You will make mistakes along the way, and that’s fine. A Kennedy once said, “Only those who dare to fail can ever achieve greatly.” Airplanes don’t travel in one constant direction — the pilots have to adjust and correct their paths every now and then. Your freelancing career should act in the same way. Ready, fire, then aim.

Avoid the curse of daydreaming. I can’t count how much time I’ve wasted reading about freelancing as opposed to taking action and just doing it. Don’t get me wrong; knowing how to do it right is great. But many people should concern themselves more with actually just doing it, period. Blogs and ebooks are a fantastic learning resource, but be sure you dedicate enough time to taking action, as opposed to learning how to take action. (Reading Freelance Switch is the exception, right?  — Ed.)

Conclusion

If you’re delaying starting a freelance career due to lack of experience, hopefully these tips helped you get your mind straight. Starting a freelance career is probably one of the most time-consuming activities I’ve ever done, but it’s also been one of the more rewarding ones too.

Aside from his day job as a traffic marketing coordinator, Carlo sidelines as a website copywriter (http://www.carlofeliciano.com) and spends his time launching other entrepreneurial ventures.

Chris Kemp Steps Down As CEO Of Nebula, The OpenStack Startup ALEX WILLIAMS

Chris Kemp, a former NASA CTO is stepping down as CEO of Nebula, the company he founded to provide hardware and software systems for building OpenStack cloud services. Kemp will become the company’s chief strategy officer and continue to serve as a member of the Nebula board of directors.

Gordon Stitt will replace Kemp as CEO starting September 23. Stitt is a veteran technology executive. He co-founded of Extreme Networks, now a publicly traded company.

Kemp is one of the more well-recognized executives in the cloud world. He is one of the co-founders of OpenStack, the open cloud initiative. He founded Nebula with much fanfare at OSCON in 2011. At the time he talked about how his company will revolutionize computing for decades to come. Two years later, the company launched Nebula One, the company’s “Cloud Controller,” a hardware appliance that turns server racks into a scalable on-premise system that combines compute, storage and networking into one machine.

Nebula is growing, Kemp says. But with that in consideration, questions inevitably surface why the company needs a change in leadership. Kemp said simply that Stitt has the experience for the job.

Kemp’s switch is illustrative of a transition at Nebula. But the change in roles is not so unusual. Founding CEOs often become strategists for the companies they start, leaving the job as CEO to someone with more experience.

Cloudscaling and Piston Cloud have both had changed in leadership with the CEOs both remaining as founding executives of the team. Both companies are also startups in the OpenStack ecosystem. Neither of these companies are showing tremendous growth and the same seems evident with Nebula.

The question, overall, has to be about OpenStack and its own ability to scale. If it can become a universal cloud infrastructure than Nebula, Piston and Cloudscaling has an opportunity to grow considerably. If it does not then a company like Nebula will need to adapt to the demands of the market.

10 New And Unexpected Workouts

By PureWow

There are only so many hours you can spend on a stationary bike before you're ready to swear off spin entirely. And don't even get us started on our park's monotonous running path. Sometimes you need a change of pace. Good news, we've got 10.

More from PureWow:
A New App That Creates Playlists To Match The Speed Of Your Run
A Bracelet That Tracks Your Steps, Calories And Sleeping Habits
30 Gadgets You Need In Your Purse

Check out these super-fun and totally unexpected workouts (read: Zumba in a pool!) that are sure to get you out of your exercise rut.

• 1
  Aqua Zumba
  Courtesy of PureWow
  What do you get when you mix Zumba and water? Why, Aqua Zumba, of course. Performed in a pool and offered at gyms nationwide, this high-energy (and oftentimes comical) workout features all the same heart-pumping moves as your regular Zumba class, but it's easier on the joints.
• 2
  Tramping
  Courtesy of PureWow
  Calling all Spinning enthusiasts: Ever feel like your knees may fall off after that latest SoulCycle bender? We've got a (super-fun) solution -- JumpLife. The new TriBeCa studio, devoted entirely to "tramping," features high-energy classes performed exclusively on -- you guessed it -- trampolines. Indeed, the same contraptions you flipped (or flopped) on as a kid are actually the idea behind this low-impact, high-cardio workout. Do your joints (and mood) a favor and get jumping.
• 3
  Yoga On The Roof
  Courtesy of PureWow
  You've been doing sun salutations for years, but imagine hitting those same poses while actually facing the sun. One step inside NYC's swanky Clay Health Club & Spa and you'll see why it's so exclusive (the espresso/smoothie bar is a must-try). The private roof deck is a stunning setting for not only yoga (classes are available at both sunrise and sunset once a week, mat included) but also a barre workout and a high-intensity circuit routine. Treadmills are so last season.
• 4
  Spin In A Pool
  Courtesy of PureWow
  Since most Spinning classes make us look as if we've just stepped out of a pool, we couldn't resist one that involves just that. At AQUA, the bikes are in water. Seriously. The TriBeCa (by way of France) studio takes elements from traditional Spinning -- like the high-calorie burn, upbeat music and full-body engagement -- but does it all in a waist-deep pool. The result: a low-impact sweat session that accomplishes the same toning and tightening while managing to feel like a trip to the spa (well, as best as physical activity can). See you in the shallow end.
• 5
  Underground Hip-Hop Class (Complete With Live DJ!)
  Courtesy of PureWow
  We've found a place where camaraderie and easy choreography combine, inspiring us to happily funk our way to fitness. GROOV3 is a dance-class workout and pseudo underground cult led by hip-hop teacher Benjamin Allen. Allen's a professional dancer (he was featured in the movie Rent), but his is no snobby, competitive class. The hour-long workout has a live DJ who spins hits of the 90s while Allen patiently demonstrates easy-to-follow steps. While we forgot parts of the dance halfway through, we kept moving and caught up thanks to our fellow students -- one woman even stepped aside so we could see Allen better. And for the entire sweaty, musical hour, we didn't think once of how we looked -- only how much fun it is to dance.
• 6
  A Dance-Club-Inspired Cardio Class
  Courtesy of PureWow
  The lights are dimmed, Beyoncé starts bumping and suddenly you're sweating more than you do in a Bikram session. No, you don't have to step foot in a club. It's 305 Fitness, a new dance-inspired cardio class. (Hint: that’s Miami's area code.) Our likeliest comparison is Zumba on steroids -- but way more fun. There are three styles to choose from (original, Latin and sculpt). We opted for the original 55-minute workout with the founder, Sadie Kurzban. While we were warned of the class's intensity, we figured our childhood days of jazz and tap lessons had us covered. Holy booty-popping, were we wrong.
• 7
  The New Workout That Stretches You Out
  Courtesy of PureWow
  We may have discovered the ultimate workout: It comes to you, doesn't involve equipment, is only as hard as you want it to be and helps your body feel healthier and move better. Too easy, right? Well, kinda, but it works. Chicago "stretch therapist" Estelle Harford of Stellar Strength is one of only 25 Global Master Ki-Hara practitioners in the world. The discipline helps eliminate pain, reactivates and releases muscles, builds new muscle and improves what she calls "true flexibility."
• 8
  A Rowing Machine Class In Water
  Courtesy of PureWow
  We're always looking for off-the-beaten-path gyms that will challenge our stamina but build us up rather than drain our batteries. That's why we're keen on Crowbar Cardio, the studio that focuses on three popular types of exercise but does so in an encouraging manner. Our favorite is Indo Row. Even beginners are welcome in this class that treads the same high-intensity, low-impact terrain but with a watery twist. While traditional rowing machines have cables that pull fans, these feature cables that actually pull blades through water. No need to wear a swimsuit -- only part of the machine is submerged in water.
• 9
  Ride A Surfboard -- Inside
  Courtesy of PureWow
  We're totally stoked about the new exercise studio City Surf Fitness. It's the newest toning trend to wash up in Dallas, and we have to admit we're all for a place where you can ride a surfboard without fear of seeing sharks -- or getting your hair wet. Plus, you're sure to get an epic workout. The four types of classes offered work your core strength and balance, so your abs are really going to feel it. The small studio has room for just 10 stationary surfboards, made by the Mark Cuban-backed company SurfSet Fitness. Each board rests on three stability balls, which create a hovering effect as you wobble, twist and assume plank and warrior positions. Two stability straps can increase or decrease resistance. Our workout pick, the Buddha Board class, had our namaste written all over it.
• 10
  The Yoga-Paddle Boarding Hybrid
  Courtesy of PureWow
  We were skeptical when we first heard about folks flocking to water-top yoga classes on paddle boards. We wondered how this was a) even possible for non-Cirque du Soleil acrobats and b) fun, since it involves falling into the icy Pacific. But we're happy to report that we've now tried and love YogAqua, the brainchild of Santa Monica-based yoga instructor Sarah Tiefenthaler. The 90-minute class takes place on a calm bay off a tiny sand strip in Newport Beach (with a Marina del Rey site launching next month) and begins with a leisurely 15 minutes of stand-up paddle boarding to acquire balance. Then up to 10 students drop anchor in the water, and a slow-flow vinyasa yoga class ensues. One benefit we hadn't anticipated: the stimulation that comes from blue sky, cool breeze and the relaxing slap, slap, slap of the water against our board.

10 Dead Dudes Every Entrepreneur Should Follow (but, not on twitter)

Sadly, none of the dudes on this list tweet, blog, text or accumulate badges on foursquare…

I’m guessing the reason is pretty obvious. But, they’ve each left legacies and a substantial body of work capable of fueling tremendous entrepreneurial growth and transforming business. If you know their work, revisit it. If not, find it and devour it and leverage it to take your venture, idea and life to the next level.

1. Gary Halbert | Persuasion in Print – Gary was a legendary copywriter and marketer, but was also known as a near-mystical storyteller, both in life and in print. And, though he passed a few years ago, he left a tremendous educational legacy in the form of a series of letters to his sons that were the equivalent of an A-list copywriting education. They’ve since become known as The Boron Letters and you can read all of them online at TheGaryHalbertLetter.com

2. Buddha | Service, Giving & Compassion – It’s not about religion, it’s not about dogma, IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU! Leading with humanity, respect, compassion, awareness, presence, service and hard daily work. The fundamental lessons taught by Buddha thousands of years ago still resonate powerfully in business today. A great place to start is Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, Tao De Ching or Ron Hogan’s edgy, modern interpretation Getting Right With Tao (which rocks).

3. Claude Hopkins | Test or Die – Back in 1966, Hopkins wrote a 70 page book called Scientific Advertising that forever changed the way companies crafted sales messages…at least those who were paying attention. Among, them, David Ogilvy, who credits Hopkins’ book with changing his life. Because Hopkins focused in on the need to measure and improve what you do. He championed results and metrics over ego. And, that was huge. The amazing thing is, Scientific Advertising is just as relevant today as it was more than 40 years ago.

4. Milton Erickson | Story, Trance, Influence & Action – Erickson was a legendary therapist whose work in hypnosis, storytelling and trance laid the foundation for a broad array of transformative mindset technologies, including what others would eventually turn into neurolinguistic programming or NLP. While his work was centered in the field of therapy, the skills and discoveries he made about the power of language and story to drop people into trance states then lead them to change translates beautifully to the area of influence, sales, persuasion and marketing. You can learn more by starting with My Voice Will Go With You and Phoenix: Therapeutic Patterns of Milton H. Erickson. Just promise to use your new found powers only for good.

5. Eugene Schwartz | Matching Headlines to Market Stage – Schwartz is legendary for having sold over $1,000,000,000 with his copy. But, he didn’t just stop at selling other peoples’ stuff.  He also wrote a little known book called Breakthrough Advertising. Little known, that is, to nearly everyone but the small handful of people who’ve used the knowledge contained within it to understand how to create headlines and copy that match the “stage” of a market…then generate big, fat piles of cash. The book is expensive ($80 – $200, if you can even find it in stock). Don’t cheap out, this gem is worth hundreds of times the price.

6. P.T. Barnum | The Power of Entertainment – We all know P.T. Barnum, showman extraordinaire, the first-ever “show-biz millionaire” and creator of Ringling Bros & Barnum & Bailey Circus. Why study him? Because, he understood and leveraged the power of engagement and entertainment phenomenally well. And, especially, if you’re either in or are thinking about launching a business that educates others, understanding how Barnum integrated entertainment and “mesmerization” into a business model is a powerful lesson. He was also a complex, polarizing person who came back from the financial failure. You don’t need to like him or his views, you do need to understand what he did. Check out P.T. Barnum: America’s Greatest Showman.

7. Keith Richards…oh…he’s not…never mind…

8. David Ogilvy | The Power of Selling En-Masse – The founder of one of the largest ad conglomerates in the world, Ogilvy brought a direct response sensibility to large scale communications sharing, “In the modern world of business, it is useless to be a creative, original thinker unless you can also sell what you create.” Study not only his approach to advertising, but how he built his empire. Read anything you can get your hands on, but start with Ogilvy on Advertising.

9. Stevie Ray Vaughan | The Power of Passion – Vaughan was a legendary blues guitarist and performer. But, there’s something immensely powerful to be learned from the way he lived, performed and created music. He was all in. Completely and utterly absorbed. If there’s a word that goes deeper than passion, he embodied it. Reportedly humble in person, he gave everything he had when he hit the stage. And, in devoting his life to this singular muse, he created magic that people could not get enough of.

It didn’t even matter if you were a blues fan, when you were in his presence, you were drawn in. Hell, there was a pretty good chance you wanted to BE him. Back in 1980, at the age of 26, he wrote a love song to his wife, Lenora, after she rallied 7 friends to chip in $50 each to buy him a 1965 Stratocaster guitar. The song was called Lenny. You can listen in here. Close the door, close your eyes and turn it up. If you don’t get it from that…

10. Fred Lebow | The Power of Will – A die-hard runner and much beloved founder of the New York City Marathon, Lebow turned a dream and some serious marketing savvy into one of the largest athletic events in the world. Starting from humble beginnings with only 55 finishers in 1970 (Lebow finished 45th), the race has now grown into one of the most prestigious marathons in the world, boasting more than 40,000 finishers, millions of live fans and tens of millions of TV viewers. Lebow’s accomplishment were a testament to what happens when you blend passion with marketing genius and extraordinary will. Start your reading with Anything For a T-Shirt, then google and read.

11. Bonus Live Person: Trent Reznor | Making Your Own Rules -  Founder of the band Nine Inch Nails. After working successfully in the traditional music label model, he turned everything upside down, stepped outside the box everyone believed defined the space and created a new paradigm. Reznor isn’t just a brilliant musician and performer, he’s also an extraordinary provocateur, community builder, business strategist with an eery ability to see where the industry is capable of going, then lead the way.

And, like many others who’ve achieved a certain level of success by breaking a lot of rules, people tend to have strong feelings about him. What he’s accomplished applies across many different industries. This video from TechDirt’s Michael Masnick does a great job of laying out what Reznor did and how it impacted not only the band, but the entire industry.

So, that’s my top 10. If you’ve got thoughts on them or have others you think would be of value, feel free to share away in the comments below.

And, if you’ve found value in this collection, why not share it?

- See more at: http://www.jonathanfields.com/blog/12-dead-people-entrepreneur-read/#sthash.QsdehKPD.dpuf

Twitter Is Going Public, Files S-1 With SEC ALEX WILHELM

2013-09-12_14h21_11 Today Twitter confirmed that it has filed an S-1 with the SEC and is therefore on the road to going public. This is an important moment for Twitter, and for tech, as it shows that the IPO window is open. Here’s Twitter on its filing: Count to 10 and let’s hope the damn thing leaks right away. We don’t know much, but expect Twitter to go public at a valuation of roughly between $15 billion and $20 billion, roughly. Its last private money came in at around a $10 billion valuation, and those investors will want a return on their funds. Goldman Sachs is said to be the lead underwriter of the offering. Facebook’s IPO, for comparison, valued the social giant at around $100 billion on the day of its flotation. The irony here is that Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg yesterday at Disrupt told the world that it should not be afraid of going public. Twitter did not decide to go public on the back of Zuck’s axiom, but it is nicely pat that it announced this news the day after his comments. Facebook’s public offering was marred with trading errors and a slipping stock price, and the company lost tens of billions of value before it recovered. Facebook is currently trading at fresh highs, helping to set the stage for Twitter: Whatever the Facebook IPO hangover was, it is no more. Twitter’s public offering has been a very long time in coming, and contains inside of it oodles of institutional pressure: With hundreds of millions of invested capital under its belt, Twitter has a number of investors that want their money back. It has been well-managed, sure, but cash has a certain feel to it. The IPO will be a zoo. But it will be a fun zoo, and that is all that matters. The NASDAQ and the NYSE are at war a bit on who gets to host more tech offerings, but I think that we’ll be seeing the NASDAQ scoop up this deal. Now, what are Twitter’s revenue and profit figures? We’ll actually get to know soon, though the fact they are filing in this fashion does imply that Twitter had less than $1 billion in revenue in 2012. So, there’s that. Top Image Credit: Emmanuel Huybrechts