ktoddstorch @ business thoughts

People You Need to Meet: Michael Tchong

I had first heard of Michael after reading through his 2005 Trendscape book early this year.  Then, I was fortunate enough to meet him in person after his keynote speech at the CSS RDQ conference this year.

At the first break, I immediately logged onto Bloglines and subscribed to his blog, Ubercool.  To listen to Michael speak is electric.  You are immediately interested and engaged.  If you want to view the world from his entrepreneurial eyes, his blog is a good place to start and this interview as well.

I'm drawn to people like Michael...curious, constantly learning, driven and dynamic.  I hope you enjoy reading more and getting to know more about Michael and his Ubercool world.

IF YOU ARE NOT INTERESTED IN LEARNING ANYTHING NEW, STOP READING NOW!

Business Thoughts: You describe you blog, Ubercool, as a "cool, concise, data-based overview of the world's hottest trends".  But Ubercool is more than a blog, right?  Tell us more.

Michael Tchong:  From a big-picture perspective, I see Ubercool as a transformational company.  Its mission is to energize and inspire, so the blog draws the people who need to stay on top of the hottest trends.  It will also serve as point central for trendsetters and professional hipsters who want to attend our Ubercool trend parties around the globe, which is another aspect of the Ubercool business.

BT: Where did the name Ubercool come from?

MT:  I had a problem.  I owned two brands, Trendsetters.com and Trendscape, and while they're both superb, I decided I needed a brand that people could remember instantly.  Too many confused us with other companies with "trend" in their name.  So a while ago, I was surfing and I saw that Ubercool.com was owned by this British programmer since 1998.  The name resonates because it signals  a global perspective.  I was right.  Just about everyone I meet today loves the name.

BT:  Have you always been an entrepreneur?  Tell us where you get your creative drive.

MT:  I'm on start-up number six, so I'm clearly a serial entrepreneur.  I also have about two more ideas brewing before I might call it quits, but for now I'm enjoying the process of creating and building.  And because it's so tough to start a company today, I believe that if I can turn Ubercool into a viable business, I can do just about anything I want, which is the entrepreneur's only true reward.

BT:  What has been your biggest accomplishment so far?  Biggest business regret or failure?

MT:  I think the fact that I've been able to sell three out of my five previous start-ups within 15 months of their start date is my most remarkable feat.  Then again, my biggest regret was that I didn't sell ICONOCAST the second time for $18 million, but them's the breaks, as the saying goes.  The only consolation I have is knowing that I can recreate that value over and over again, which is what keeps me going.

BT:  What is on the horizon for Ubercool?

MT:  The blog and events are just a sliver of the vision.  We're building a brand that will have enduring value irrespective of the business it's in.  Ubercool is built around a set of ethics and new-age values that will slowly seep into the masses and create large amounts of goodwill.  So, expect to see us in every conceivable new-media format.  After all, if we weren't on the bleeding edge, we couldn't call ourselves "ubercool".

BT: Fast forward five years.  What will Ubercool be accomplishing in 2010?

MT:  Ha, ha, you're definitely trying to make me say something about my future strategy, aren't you?  Well, of course, our Ubercool events and its product recognition and propulsion capabilities will in 2010 be equivalent to winning an Academy Award for innovation.  There will be Ubercool parties around the globe, occurring almost daily.  The Ubercool forum as already influenced its 1,000th product design through a collaborative process involving naturally curious trendsetters and truly consumer-driven marketers.  Ubercool, meanwhile, continues to blow past other media and entertainment companies by launching its umpteenth superbly innovative entertainment idea, this one involving 3D modeling and live printouts of your future using memory-reading robots.

BT:  What wakes you up in the morning and gets you going?

MT:  Two cups of coffee and a continuous urge to know.  I'm also born to shop, so I like to keep myself surrounded by all the latest and greatest toys, foods, clubs, restaurants and people.  I can't imagine being in a better business and getting paid to do what I do.

BT:  Are there any questions I forgot to ask you and is there anything else you would like the readers of Business Thoughts to know about you and Ubercool?

MT:  I think the big message flowing out of all my trend monitoring is that the world ain't what it used to be.  Even compared to five years ago.  The speed at which everything moves these days requires business people to be doubly vigilant, while still processing information at twice the speed of, say, 1990.  Competition, the BRIC countries and the next big technology boom will seriously up the ante for everyone, from marketers to white-collar workers.  To prepare yourself for this bold future, be in the know, so you can be powerful beyond measure.

[link] to Ubercool blog

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tags:  ubercool | michael tchong | people you need to meet

People You Need to Meet: Art Wickson

I first met Art after hearing Adam Curry play some great Mashups on the Daily Source Code podcast from this "place" called Mashuptown. 

After checking out the site, I was hooked.  If you are new to Mashups, just think about taking 2 (or more!) of your favorite songs and "mashing" them together so they now sound like a new song.

DJ's around the country are taking this music form to a whole new level and Art Wickson is there to bring it to all of us.

Art has some big goals in mind.  After we had some great email conversation, I'm please to feature him as the newest PYNtM guest.

Business Thoughts:  Tell us about your blog mashuptown.com.  Tell us what it is and when you got started.

Art Wickson:  Mashuptown.com was started back in the early days of podcasting.  I think my first post was near the end of February '05.  It started out as most things do; an experiment.  From there, it's kind of taken on a life of it's own and has grown larger than I ever imagined.

BT:  How did you get started with blogging and why did you decide to focus on mashups?

AW:  Well, I had a blog account for quite a while and hadn't really used it.  I figured out how to hack the blog account and the server space associated with it to start podcasting.  I really don't think of it as a pure blog or even a podcast.  Just a delivery mechanism so people can experience and sample the world of Mashups.  I heard my first Mashup on Adam Curry's Daily Source Code back in December.  After I heard my first Mashup, I was addicted.  Finding them on the net at the time was difficult and after much time spent looking, I realized that others were probably having trouble as well.  So I thought that setting up a podcast and scouring the net for the freshest Mashup and providing folks access was something that people would enjoy.

BT:  What are your goals for mashuptown.com?  What do you see in your future regarding your love of music?

AW:  Well, I plan to keep providing samples to people as long as there is a demand.   As for goals, I would like to use the site for the development and promotion of the Mashups and the creative and talented Artists that mix them.  Our other main goal is to stimulate sales of the original tracks the Mashups are made of.  We have some discussions going on right now with interested parties that I'm not at liberty to discuss.

BT:  Where do you get the content and have you had any issues with record labels or artists due to your blog?

AW:  The content is found on the net.  I takes a lot of time and energy to find the best of the genre.  Now quite a bit of content ends up in my email account and mailbox.  DJ's and Artists from all over the world send me their Masterpieces - it's pretty cool and the community is great.  Up on the site is an offer to remove any material that the labels and original artists wish.  We also have links through iTunes to purchase the original tracks as well.  We are finding that these Mashups do drive sales of current and back catalog as well.

BT:  You are getting a lot of promotion from Adam Curry's Daily Source Code.  How did that come about?

AW:  I can't really remember.  I think it started when I sent him a link to Bootystition - a Mashup of Stevie Wonder and Destiny's Child.  I kept sending him links to others I thought would be good for his show.  Adam has been great and really supportive of the community.  His interest in the Mashup scene is obvious and we have been discussing opportunities in the area for the past moth or so.

BT:  You make it well known through your "Disclaimer" that the music is for "evaluation purposes only" and that "you will delete the file from your computer after listening".  Do you really believe that people aren't sharing these files?  Does this really protect you or others?

AW:  As I mentioned, there are a few disclaimers on the site regarding this issue.  I firmly believe that the majority of people on the net are honest and therefore will abide by the disclaimers posted.  I also think that they will support the original artists as well.

BT:  Tell us more about you.  Where did you grow up and where does your passion for music come from?  What is your day job?

AW:  Grew up in Vancouver, BC Canada.  After college, went to grad school in the US and ended up staying here.  Currently living in Louisville, KY.  Day job is working in the Health Care industry and currently working on a software development project for the industry.  I run several Internet radio stations as well.  One of course is the streaming station for Mashuptown.com and I also started patientcareradio.com.

BT:  Are there any questions we forgot to ask?  Anything else you would like the readers of Business Thoughts to know?

AW:  Just a big thanks to you Todd for spending the time to visit and to all the "peeps" that keep enjoying Mashuptown.  We have just received commitment of our first artist to Mashuptown Records and are excited about the opportunity to continue to support the development of all the Artists that contribute to this creative art form.

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tags:  mashuptown | mashups | people you need to meet | adam curry | daily source code | podcasting

People You Need to Meet: C.C. Chapman

I first met C.C. through my PYNtM post on the independent musician, Chance.  C.C. is working hard on a number of projects, but the Podsafe Music Network is the one that could be groundbreaking!

Read below to get an idea of what an individual is doing to help start an entire new music industry.

Business Thoughts:  From the looks of it, you have quite a few business projects in the works:  Random Foo Pictures, Accident Hash and PodShow.  Am I missing any?  Tell us a little background and how you got where you are.

C.C. Chapman:  Well, it's certainly been a long and strange trip, but one that I wouldn't change at all.  Born in West Lebanon, NH and grew up there most of my life.  Graduated from Bentley College and moved to D.C. for a few years.  During that time, Random Foo Pictures really grew into a fun filled indie film making company.

I moved back to the Boston area once we had children and I've been here ever since.  I got into Podcasting back in December of 2004 and instantly was addicted.  As I started discovering more music, I decided it was time to do an all music podcast and on January 10, 2005, the first Accident Hash was recorded and put up on the web.

Now I'm the Manager of the Podsafe Music Network and one of the first podcasting talent signed by Podshow.com.  I had the distinct pleasure of finding and recruiting other top level music podcasts to the Podshow family and had a great time doing it.  The journey has just started and it's fun not to know where it's going just yet.

BT:  Tell us about these business projects that have you so busy.

CC:  The biggest has been getting Podsafe Music Network live and kicking.  We've been working on it for several months.  We are finally live and now I'm just working on getting the word out about it and podcasting in general.  I really want to make sure that as many people as possible find out about podcasting so it's a lot of fun.

BT:  Where is the majority of your focus?

CC:  Right now, my focus is split between Accident Hash, the Podsafe Music Network and being the sort of ambassador for music podcasting. 

Accident Hash has been a lot of fun and I look forward to putting it out roughly three times a week.  It's not always the easiest thing to do, but once I get started recording, I'm wired to do another one.

Through managing the Podsafe Music Network, I'm really getting to educate people on what it is all about and why it's such a great resource for both artists and podcasters.  We want to make it easier for podcasters to play legal music on their shows and also for artists who embrace podcasting to get their music out there.

BT:  There is lots of press and excitement about podcasting; tell us about what you have going on with Adam Curry's PodShow.

CC:  The goal is really simple and that's to get the number of people listening to podcasts to continue to grow and get to be as high as possible.  We know that by presenting high quality indie podcasts that people will enjoy them and then begin to seek out others.

iTunes certainly helped open the flood gates on podcasting, but of course they paid more attention to corporations and radio stations trying to get on the podcasting wave and we're no interested in that.  We want the indie podcasters to succeed.

BT:  Do you have a specific goal of what you want to achieve?  What's the future of independent music from your point of view?

CC:  Indie musicians are not going to need to sign a record deal in order to sell their music.  Podcasting and digital downloads are flipping the music industry on their head and I love that I'm part of it.

I've had the luxury of talking to so many artists who have no desire to be signed.  Now that the price to create an publish CD's has one way down, more people can do it.  On top of that, we're trying to make digital downloads for indie artists much easier to do.  It's a fun, fun time right now and it's going to only get better.

BT:  Are there any success stories from the work you have done so far for independent bands?  Any bands been signed to a major label or been able to quit their day jobs?

CC:   Not to that level just yet, but it's only a matter of time.  I know that Addison Records heard a track by The Evil Queens on a podcast and signed them to their label.  When I heard that, I smiled from ear to ear!

I also know that Slim also let me know that due to the publicity and podcast play, he got on several podcasts and completely sold out his CD.  nothing made me happier than when I got that email from him.  He's not going to be the last one!

BT:  What motivates you?  What really gets you fired up when you wake up in the morning?

CC:  What motivates me is every time I get a message from a listener that says "I've been sick of mainstream music and your podcast has made me realize there is still great music out there."  That gets me excited.  I also love when musicians thank me for playing their music.  I still laugh because I'm thankful that they are letting me play the music.  The fact that they thank me always feels weird.

It took me a while, but I finally realize that I AM making a difference.  That feels really weird to say, but it's the truth and as long as I'm having fun doing this, I'll keep doing it.

BT:  Anything I forgot to ask you?  Any story just waiting to get out you want to share with us?  Hmm, what does C.C. stand for?

CC:  **Laugh**  In third grade, there were two kids named Charles in my class and the other kid already had the nickname of "Chippy."  The teacher wanted me to have a nickname so she called me "C.C." and it stuck.  Crazy how something so minor can change into something so big.

Anything else?  I guess I just want to say that if you are looking to get into podcasting and need help, I'm here to help you.  I'm always looking to do more consulting in that area, so if someone needs help, please contact me.

Thanks for having me on for this interview!

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tags:    people you need to meet | podsafe music | podcasting | podsafe music network | c.c. chapman | adam curry

People You Need to Meet: Scott Sigler

I don't remember where I first heard of the podcast book (podiobook) EarthCore, but once I heard the first episode, I was hooked!  I've introduced you to authors David St. Lawrence, Rosa Say and Dave Shields and the overwhelming passion that all of these authors bring to their work is contagious.

Scott is taking self publishing to a new level by using podcasting and blogging to help his cause.  I recommend that you read more about Scott below and be sure to check out his blog and subscribe to his podcast!

Business Thoughts:  Tell us about you and the "world's first podcast book" EarthCore!

Scott Sigler:  I've been writing for about seven years.  I originally landed EarthCore with AOL/TimeWarner and the book was due in stores in April of 2002.  Unfortunately, the 9/11 recession hit AOL/TW pretty hard and they scrapped a lot of projects, including EarthCore.  The book was tied up contractually for a couple of years - AOL/TW didn't want it, and didn't have the staff to process all the legal work, so it kind of languished in limbo until my agent could get it free and clear.  Since then, we haven't been able to find a publisher.  So when I discovered Podcasting, it seemed like a great way to create a brand name as a writer and entertain some people.  I had no idea it would get as big as it has; it's been a ball.

BT:  Is this your first novel?

SS:  EarthCore is actually my second novel.  Infection is my first...it, too, is seeking a publisher.

BT:  How did you decide to use podcasting for the book?

SS:  When I first found podcasting, I assumed there would be dozens of podcast novels, because the format is so perfect for delivering serialized fiction.  I Googled like mad, but could find no podcast novels out there.  At that point, I realized I had a finished, professionally edited novel of major publishing house quality, and that I could be "first to market" with the concept of a podcast noel.  I butchered my way through the technology (and when I say "butchered", I mean it - I'm a Grade-A Techtard), and put up the first episode.  If I had know how much work it would be, I probably wouldn't have done it, but now in for a penny, in for a pound.

BT:  What is your ultimate goal of using podcasting and your blog for the book?

SS:  The ultimate goal is to land a print publishing deal for EarthCore.  Breaking into the publishing biz is very difficult.  I'm hoping that by proving EarthCore can land a big audience a publisher will take a chance on printing the book.  The typical first printing for a new novelist is 5,000 copies.  I already have more listeners than that.  It seems like a no-brainer that a publisher would pick up a book with a proven audience and built-in publicity.

BT:  You have a local band, The Transfer, as a sponsor of your blog and podcast.  Are they paying you for the sponsorship?

SS:  Yes they are paying.  I'm actively seeking new sponsors.

BT:  What is the best lesson you have learned from this EarthCore experience?

SS:  That a weekly podcast, edited for deliver, is a rather time-consuming affair.  I think doing podiobooks or audio players are very different from most talk-show style podcasts.  With a talk-show style podcast, you just turn on the mic and go - if you say something silly or mispronounce a word, that's part of the charm.  With a podiobook, however, you have to go back and fix everything so it sounds professional, and that takes a lot of time.  And mine is a straight reading - I can only imagine how long it takes to do a podiobook with sound effects, like Tee Morris's Moravi or Mark Jeffery's The Pocket and the Pendant (both are available at Podiobooks)

BT:  When did you start writing and what was your inspiraion to write?

SS:  I wrote my first monster move in the third grade.  My inspiration was seeing King Kong in the theater as a little kid - I almost peed my pants.  My dad thought my terror was funny as hell  After that movie, I knew I wanted to write monster stories.

BT:  What drives you and gets you fired up in the morning?

SS:  I write constantly and I'm always thinking of a new story or a new screenplay.  I'm still trying to find a way to "break into the biz", so to speak, so that also occupies a lot of my thoughts.

BT:  What is your day job?  Have any other interests besides writing/blogging/podcasting?

SS:  I am a marketing director for a communications company in San Francisco.  Outside of the "day job", I like to bike and root for the Detroit Pistons and the Detroit Lions (this is the year for the Lions!)  I've been saing that for 20 years, and I ain't stoppin' now!

BT:  Anything I forgot to ask you that you would like to let us know?

SS:  EarthCore will be free right to the bitter end.  A lot of people think I'm going to yank the chair out from under them for the last chapter and make them cough up the dough to hear the end (you're gonna pay, see, your gonna pay or the last chapter gets it!).  However, I started the audio book saying EarthCore would be free, and I'll finish it that way.  For my next podiobook, Ancestor, I'll try charging $5 for the whole thing and see how that goes.

[read] Scott's blog
[subscribe] to EarthCore podcast (right click on link, copy link and paste to your podcast aggregator)

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tags:  podcast | podcasting | earthcore | podiobook | scott sigler

People You Need to Meet: Dave Shields

I first found out about Dave Shield's book The Race, from reading a review in a cycling magazine last year.  I went to 3 different book stores to find it and it was worth it!  If you are a cycling fan, or if you want to learn more about what goes on with a pro racing team, this is a great book for you.

If you are a Lance Armstrong fan and want to know more of the behind the scenes detail that he and his team deal with, read this book!

Dave is a very passionate guy and learning about why and how he wrote this book serves up lessons for all of us, regardless the interest in cycling.

Dave is also a new blogger and I was quite suprised to find out he gives me the credit for starting his blog(!).  Check out Dave's blog.

Business Thoughts:  You know I'm a fan of you and your book The Race!  Give us some background on you as to why you wrote the book.

Dave Shields:  I guess it was because I couldn't avoid writing it. My first novel, "The Pendulum's Path," got great reviews but didn't sell too well. I felt like I needed to come up with some blockbuster concept, but I couldn't get this idea of writing a novel about cycling out of my mind. I thought about it so much that finally I decided I'd have to write the book if I was ever going to think straight. One of my ambitions for this novel is that it would create new cycling fans by teaching them the sport while they enjoyed an intense story.

BT:  After reading the book, you definitely have a thorough knowledge of racing.  You have a lot of behind the scenes stories in the book.  Does that come from experience or discussions with pro teams?

DS:  It's a combination. I rode my bike 300 miles to Southern Utah as a fourteen year old, and I used to race criteriums. I ultimately turned to triathlons and I got lucky enough to win a few small races. It's such a unique experience to hold the lead after you've been in the pack for years. But the thing that really took the story to the next level was getting 1999 US Pro Cycling Champion and two-time Tour de France finisher Marty Jemison to read the book. He subsequently gave me hours of his time, helping me to perfect the sense of being on the inside of a pro team. Marty is a stud. He's got tons of great stories and is so refreshingly honest about everything.

BT:  With the success and mainstream hero status of Lance Armstrong; have you seen more "non-cyclists" buy your book? 

 

DS:  No question about it. Lance has brought a lot of attention to cycling in the last few years and everything cycling   oriented has benefited from the increased level of interest. I hope that these new fans will stick around once Lance is retired, and I believe that they will if they begin to really understand the sport. Hopefully "The Race" can play a part in that.

BT:  There are plenty of people out there that would love to write a book, but don't know where to start.  What advice would you give them?

DS:  It might not be a bad strategy to massively underestimate the challenges the way I did. The slippery slope thing got me sliding and I've never had enough sense to turn back. Eleven years into it, I remain optimistic that my big break is just around the corner. In reality, though, there are thousands of great manuscripts that will never succeed financially. It turns out that fiction is one of the toughest markets   (not nearly as tough as poetry, but far harder than non-fiction). If, like me, you just have to write novels, be realistic going in. It's a great hobby, but if you want to make money this is a very tough way to do it.

BT:  I see that you started blogging in December!  Why did you start and has it been beneficial?

DS:  I started because you told me to. Do you remember that? One day I did a Google search on my title and your blog popped up. That was the first time I ever heard your name. I thanked you for mentioning my book and you asked me if I wrote a blog. I think I started my blog later that same day. It's been very beneficial. People who are interested in my career are easily able to follow along with recent developments. Others who might be searching various key words become aware of my work. I try to post a brief note whenever anything relevant happens.

BT:  You just won a Benjamin Franklin Award for Best New Voice in Fiction.  Congratulations!  Give us some background on the award and your thoughts.

DS: I'm ecstatic about the award. When a reader considers buying a book from an author they've never heard of before it's not the cost in dollars that makes their decision tough.  It's the investment in time that they are going to have to make to get through it. Validation like this award reassures readers that they are in for an entertaining experience.   The Ben Franklin Award is administered by Publishers Marketing Association which is a large industry organization whose goal is to help quality books   make it into the marketplace and get recognition. They've meant a lot to me.   Not only have my book sales jumped, but I've also had all sorts of rights inquiries including film, audio, and foreign print. It's been an exciting time.

BT:  What is next for you?  Can you give us some info on the upcoming new book? 

DS:  In between a heavy travel schedule to promote "The Race" I'm putting the finishing touches on my sequel. I'll be traveling to France in late July to do polish up my descriptions of key locations, and  then I'll be pushing hard to get the book onto store shelves by April 1, 2006.   I don't want to say a lot about the project right now because experience has shown me that inspiration can bring about major last minute changes. I will say that I'm extremely happy with how the manuscript has turned out so far. The story takes all sorts of twists and turns I hadn't anticipated, and the ending was so intense and unexpected that I was glued to my keyboard for hours at a time as it revealed itself. That sort of talk may sound odd to someone who has never written fiction, but you'll find that most authors are addicted to those moments where the story really takes off and the characters seem to act on their own. The author is just as surprised to learn what happens as the reader eventually will be.

BT:  Anything I forgot to ask you or that you would like to share with us?

DS:  I want to thank you and others who have taken the time to spread the word about my books. As I alluded to above, it's incredibly challenging for an unknown author to break through. Whenever it does, you can be sure that it's the result of passionate readers sharing their opinions. I love hearing what people think of my work, and how it affected them. Every reader brings a different background to the experience and interprets the words in their own way. I love hearing about and trying to understand people's opinions. I'm honored when readers contact me, and I will always do my best to write back.

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tags:  people you need to meet | dave shields | cycling

People You Need to Meet: Adam Curry

Disclaimer:  I didn't interview Adam for this feature (although, we've shared multiple emails). 

However, this recent article (5/18/05)  in CNET reads just like the PYNTM feature.

Following Adam's development of iPodder and his mission to make podcasting a mainstream word and medium, this interview/article fits perfectly. 

If you have been reading Business Thoughts for a few months, you know I have challenged your thinking on how Adam could end up on radio and how podcasting has the potential to "change everything".

I invite you to read the following article and learn more on what he has been up to and what he has in store for us and the ears of the world.

[link]

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tags:  adam curry | podcasting | cnet

People You Need to Meet: Review

Just like going to a party, you always end up catching up with someone you haven't seen in a while or you meet a really interesting new friend.

Here's a good opportunity for you to catch up with People You Need to Meet from the past.

I won't be posting hardly anything for the rest of the week and weekend as I head out for the MS150.  Enjoy reconnecting or meeting these great people for the first time!

9/20/05:    Michael Tchong, Ubercool entrepreneur
9/14/05:    Art Wickson, Mashuptown.com podcast and website
7/21/05:    C.C. Chapman, Manager of Podsafe Music Network
6/15/05:    Scott Sigler, Author
6/9/05:      Dave Shields, Author
5/20/05:    Adam Curry, Podcaster Evangelist
5/11/05:    Chance, Independent Solo Artist
4/20/05:    Anita Campbell, Small Business Trends blog
4/13/05:    Rosa Say, Talking Story blog
4/05/05:    Tim Bourquin, Podcast Expo and podcast
3/30/05:    Matt Wardlaw, Metal Show podcast and blog
3/04/05:    Greg Cangialosi, The Trend Junkie podcast and blog
1/29/05:    Michael Geoghegan, Reel Reviews podcast and blog      
1/16/05:    Matt Sunshine, Ideas, Leadership and Vision blog
1/06/05:    Merlin Mann - 43 Folders blog
1/04/05:    Dave Rothacker - Wiz Speak blog
1/02/05:    Terry Storch - @Fellowship Church blog
12/29/05:  Jon Strande - Business Evolutionist blog
12/27/05:  Brendon Connelly, Slacker Manager blog (the one that started it all)

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tags:   people you need to meet

People You Need to Meet: Chance

Chance is an independent solo artist.  I first heard his band on Adam Curry's Daily Source Code (read rest of story).  As a huge music fan and secret (ie. wanna be) rock and roll star, I am fascinated and extremely interested in how this artist is using new media and technology to make a living.

Chance is an artist that C.C. Chapman apparently has his eye on with his new Podshow Music Network.  The times are changing and it is an exciting time to watch how businesses are adapting (and not!) to new technology.  With all of the discussions about how ASCAP, BMI and RIAA will play into the world of podcast music, along with new opportunities for independant artists like Chance; this is a business trend you need to watch.

I invite you to read more about Chance, his music and how he plans to dominate the world, one new song at a time.

Business Thoughts:  Tell me about your band. When did you start the group and tell me about the name Chance? Also, tell us who are your favorite current artist and what got you started playing music?

Chance:  Well, actually I'm an independent solo artist, and my name is Chance. So, that was easy! I write, perform and record pretty much almost everything I do.

Regarding current favorite artists: that's probably Queens of the Stone Age. Not as thrilled with their latest as I was with the last few, but still enjoy them tremendously. I like Outkast a lot, at least the last few albums, and currently believe the White Stripes can do no wrong. Now, believe it or not, I have been listening to alto of old Salsa! Seriously, old Tito Puentes and more. Ha.

I started playing the piano when I was 7, but it wasn't for a few years that I found my calling. I decided--for no reason--to put my old beat up stereo on top of my piano and try to play along. It was at that point that I said "wow, what's coming out of the speakers---I can do!" Very simple and innocent, but it's pretty much exactly how it played out. It was a few years before I wrote my first song, but I knew at that moment what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

BT:  I noticed on your website that you have quite a few CD's. How often do you release your music?

C:  Well, that's an interesting question, because I guess you could say i release new music all the time. The reason is I believe do things a little different than other artists.

What I do is release MP3 singles "about" once a month or so, selling them on my site for 99 cents. But each single plays out as sort of a "mini-event."
You get: Lyrics; a story (Genesis) of how the song came to be; single "poster art" for each single; samples; a section called "geek out" where I showcase the recording aspect of the single, and sometimes an alternate version (maybe acoustic or something).

Once I get to 5, I release a compilation of those singles on CD. I usually include something special like re-mixes or unreleased tracks. The 1st compilation was called 1 through 5 and the 2nd i just released called--you guessed it--Six through Ten. So, I plan on releasing my 11th single in the next month or so.

So, my fans (and potential fans) can either get the music on CD when the comps are available or as MP3 singles, if they just want to try a few at a time. I had a few the other day download everything instead of picking up the CD's! IPOD generation, I'm telling ya....

BT:  Do you have a current record deal? Also, tell us about how you record.

C:  I am an unsigned, independent solo artist. For recording, I have a very small apartment studio, so small it doesn't deserve a name. That's cause it's a desk!

I use a Toshiba Laptop and record everything using ProTools Digi 002. My guitars go through Amplitube (I have a 57 Strat that I absolutely adore and my cheapo Mexi Fender Jazz that I call "El Bajo.") My microphone is an AKG C451 B. For all non-geeks out there, that mic is usually used for recording overhead cymbals (when paired) or perhaps a hihat or acoustic guitar. But a close engineer friend of mine (he mixed Say What You Will, actually) suggested the C451 for my voice, and I've never heard a mic sound better on my voice.

I use Reason 2.5 (well, i just upgraded to 3.0 and am going home TONIGHT to crack it open!!!) for all my synth and sequencing, and for my drum programming. I have a Kawai ES-x 88 weighted key piano that I also adore.
And that's it!

BT:  I found out about your band through Adam Curry's Daily Source Code. How did he find out about you and your song Say What You Will?

C:  Well, I have had the recent great fortune of being embraced by members of the podcasting community. It started with Insomnia Radio Podcast, a GREAT podcast run by Jason Evangelho.

Jason is one of my biggest fans and has just been wonderful. A few others climbed aboard and began playing Chance music, and then my music came to the attention of C.C. Chapman, another great podcaster. The community is so tight knit, which is a great thing so they all sort of help each other out.

Well, C.C. has recently started working with Adam on some new thing  called the Podshow (i think that's what it's called.) Anyway, C.C. was kind enough to promote my music to Adam's show, and that's how it got played, I believe. It was quite the surprise to me; I heard about it the day or the day after it aired. I'd be interested to hear what Adam thinks of the material. Regardless of that, I'm just grateful that people like Jason and C.C. promote me the way they do. It is VERY grassroots. The hype, if you will, is genuine.

BT:  How many people bought your song or other CD's after being feature on the DSC?

C:  Hard to say, because I don't always know how people found me. I try to send an e-mail out to everyone who picks up my music but they don't always respond. Most people are genuinely shocked to see the artist writing them, but I like to speak to as many people as I can. The connection is important to me. It's what makes us human, ya know?

BT:  What would you like the readers of Business Thoughts to know about you and your music?

C:  Well, I think the thing I'd most like to be clear about is how much I enjoy every aspect of being a musician, of being a songwriter. A lot of my friends call me sort of a Renaissance kind of guy in that I immerse myself in so many artistic endeavors. It's the only way I really know how to be. But the music itself, along with my performances and my recordings come from a very "what you see is what you get" theme. I do not hide behind titles or mystique or genres. Well, at least I don't think so! Some songs are happy, some are sad, some are angry. To me, that is more life than an entire album of bitter tunes, or an entire album of professed love. I prefer being dimensional.

BT:  What is one question I didn't ask you that you wish I did?

C:  Well, I guess I could take the time now to tell people about my web site. It's called MYNAMEISCHANCE.COM and there are a tremendous amount of things going on there.

#1, the store has all the CD's and Singles and extras there. Two of my songs, Say What You Will, and Taste of the Good Life, are currently ranked #2 and #12 on Garageband.com, a HUGE music site.

#2: The Friends of Chance Message Board: I have a burgeoning message board with fans and friends from all over the world. These are truly genuinely good people, and I am truly blessed to have them with me. I'd definitely suggest signing up and saying hello. There are a variety of topics on there we post on, and I'm almost always on.

While you're there, definitely check out the "Friends of Chance Cover Song." I do this thing where the fans suggest then vote on a song for me to cover. Whatever is selected, I record and release exclusively for them. All in good fun, it's sort of my way of giving back. The 1st was Creep by Radiohead, and the 2nd was When Doves Cry by Prince. I'm recording the 3rd now. (it's a surprise, you'll have to log on to find out what!)

#3: MyNameisChance Comix! I have a comic strip i just started. I'm working with an extremely talented artist by the name of Zero. We just released the 3rd one and he's really starting to cook. I come up with the stories, and he does all the art.

There are many more things on the site: a section for my artwork, photographs, quotes from fans, show info. You could get caught up there for a while if you're not careful. But the most important thing I hope your readers will do is check out my music and sign up to my e-mail list. I send out very graphical flyers and newsletters. My attitude is: if you're going to get e-mails from me to interrupt your day, I will at least make them interesting!

So that's it. Thanks for giving me the time! Definitely tell everyone you know about me and my music. This grassroots approach is something I completely depend on. It makes all the difference in the world.
Chance

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tags:   podshow | daily source code | adam curry | garage band | ascap | bmi | riaa

People You Need to Meet: Anita Campbell

Anita is the author of a focused and informative blog called Small Business Trends.  Anita has an amazing background and her passion for what she does is contagious.

Her blog provides a great service and she is definitely someone you need to meet!

Business Thoughts:  As stated on your blog, your past life includes titles such as CEO, general council, corporate executive and more.  Tell us how your past experience led you to your blog! 

Anita Campbell:  After I left the corporate world, I started consulting with other entrepreneurs and small businesses.  Mainly it was for friends, former employees and business colleagues.  I know a lot of entrepreneurs and business owners and they kept me very busy.  They asked me to help them with business plans, strategic planning and marketing.  I decided to start a blog as a way to provide them with additional information and insights.  I simply started writing, and before long the blog had a following.  Readers felt I was providing something of value, and so I continued with it.  Gradually I expanded it.  

BT:  Ok, so what is your "day job" now?

AC:  The blog has evolved to the point where it now is the flagship for a suite of five Internet properties.  It also serves as the hub for my consulting, writing and speaking activities. The nature of my consulting has changed.  These days I don’t consult for small businesses much – mostly it’s limited to some existing clients.  Instead, I consult about the small business market, particularly trends and what the future holds.   I have packaged up my insights and knowledge into certain saleable information products, and I expect to create even more of these over time.

BT:  Your blog's focus in on small businesses; why did you choose that distinction?  What is your definition of "small business"?

AC:  I chose small business because it is an area I know.  And there is a need.   Right now I focus on small businesses of under 100 employees, although that could change.  I also tend to focus on segments that are not as well covered by other publications:  non-startups (i.e., mature small businesses); non-venture-capital-eligible businesses; solo entrepreneurs; work at home Moms; family businesses.

BT:  The approach is a from-the-trenches one into the small business market.

AC:  What I do is spot up-to-the minute attitudes and behaviors that are happening right now among small business.  Here is what I look at:  What are small business owners thinking?  What are their values?  What lifestyle factors impact how they behave and what they buy?  What technologies do they use and how do they use them?  What are their attitudes toward companies that try to sell to them?  What needs do their businesses have that are not being met? And so on. 

At Small Business Trends we try not to duplicate what others are doing.  Instead we always strive to provide fresh perspectives and cover issues that don’t get much coverage elsewhere.  As soon as others start beating subjects to death, I start looking for something new and different.

BT:  What are you most proud of?

AC:  Having created something that people thank me for.  It validates what I am doing.  It makes me feel that I am contributing something useful to people’s lives.

BT:  What benefits do you get out of blogging?

AC:  Blogs – done right -- are the best networking tool I know.  This past year I’ve met more people through blogging than I ever could have through in-person networking. About 20% of those people have been local (Cleveland ,Ohio) and the rest are from all over the English-speaking world.  Blogging truly has expanded my horizons.

BT:  What else would like the readers of Business Thoughts to know about your or your blog?

AC:  I welcome everyone’s insights, whether you agree with me or not.  Please come over to Small Business Trends and leave a comment or two.  Your input is crucial to understanding what entrepreneurs and small businesses are thinking.  And, besides, I look forward to networking with you through blogging.  If you drop by and say “hi” I will come and visit your blog, and we can start a conversation.

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tags: people you need to meet | small business

People You Need to Meet: Rosa Say

Ever been around someone new that you felt like you've known your whole life?  There are just some people that make you feel very comfortable and welcome.  I believe most of this comes from trust, experience and an inherent love of people.

Rosa is one of those types.  I was fortunate to meet her from a fellow blogger, Dave from Wiz Speak and I've never been the same since we first exchanged emails about management, people and blogging ideas.

I encourage you to spend a few moments reading this interview and also checking out her blog and business.  You can also read her book that I have a link on the bottom right as well.  Your time will be well spent.

Business Thoughts:  Tell us about Rosa Say?

Rosa Say:  I'm a management coach in Hawaii who is a manager through and through: I love management and I love coaching managers to achieve their greatness. I have a passion for reinventing work and our workplaces, and to be honest I can be pretty obsessive about that and my passion for writing. I have to remind myself daily that when all is said and done the work I do can't love me back, and I need to focus more on my family and the people I care about. Leaving corporate life to work for myself has helped me to do both things much better, and I feel very blessed right now.

BT:  You have a wonderful blog that is full of resources and information on managing people.  Why did you start blogging?

RS:  Oh thank you Todd! for that is exactly what I want Talking Story to be, a readily-accessible resource for managers and leaders jam-packed with knowledge currency they can bank.

I started blogging because I wanted an electronic means to engage with my coaching clients. I needed to develop a website, and I was looking for a way that I could quickly learn to design and maintain it myself without having to work with a webmaster. I do believe in hiring experts versus trying to do everything in a business yourself, but in this particular case I knew I'd be a frequent learner-tester-adapter and unless he sat at my side daily a webmaster wouldn't be responsive enough for me. I have a huge hunger for learning to do web design myself, and as a writer nuts about aggregating business knowledge, the blogging platform was perfect for me.

Just this past week I've worked to finish an update of SayLeadershipCoaching.com which totally converts it from a static website to another interactive blog (a big thank you to any understanding readers out there who may have witnessed the week's roller coaster). However I still am working with the webmaster who did my original site: Now we can get into some other more advanced stuff for my business — more fun for him, a better investment of my dollars for me.

BT:  Do you have any "success stories" from blogging?  What are your goals of blogging?

RS:  When I think of how much I've learned since I started blogging … whew, that's a pretty big success story by itself! I often tell other entrepreneurs who have asked me about Talking Story that if I can do this, so can you. As a business owner I recommend blogs highly as a fantastic means of reaching more customers while marketing your authenticity.

There is no doubt that Talking Story has helped in the success of my book, for people find and reach me more easily thanks to the magic of search-and-ye-shall-find-blogs-first. Authors who have blogs become more human to their readers: You can send them questions, and they answer — personally! Their future writing gets the better for it in a positive feedback loop. Managing with Aloha has reached more people globally than I'd ever imagined it would, and my learning about blogging has helped me develop a great online resource for MWA readers (and my coaching clients) to keep the book's lessons alive and ever-evolving.

I've mentioned my Internet learning goals; the blogosphere and its web-wide connectivity has become my classroom. I have six different blogs; 3 are public, 2 are internal (a client workspace, and a staff intranet) and 1 is personal for my family. I have different goals for each of them: The possibilities of what blogs can be used for really intrigue me.

For Talking Story in particular, the goals I have most in focus right now have to do with the reinvention of the online business community. What we have been able to do in the professional fellowship and shared aloha of the Ho'ohana Community of Talking Story is deeply satisfying and energizing for me. You Todd, have been a very important part of that success, and I am very grateful to you and the other bloggers who have been willing to take this ride with me. I think of Talking Story today as a professional online version of the show Friends; my goals for it are similar to a TV writer trying to hatch a spin-off, and enjoying every minute of the process. My customers, the Ho'ohana Community of readers, will tell me where Talking Story needs to go next.

BT:  Tell us more about your "day job" and your book, Managing with Aloha .

RS:  When I am not writing for Talking Story I am coaching, training, and speaking about Managing with Aloha, and as the subtitle of the book says, bringing Hawaii's universal values to the art of business. I have both individuals and companies as my coaching clients, and I speak to a pretty wide variety of audiences. I love being a businesswoman, and I coach, train, and speak about the business work world.

I am a strong believer in the effectiveness of the Gallup strengths-management model, for I've repeatedly seen it work, and as a 'Maximizer' on their profiling, I am very attracted to strengths. Strengths management celebrates people, and Managing with Aloha brings their innate values into the picture for a strengths-values match-up to complete that picture in a more meaningful way.

Managing with Aloha is more than the name of my book; it is the heart and soul of all the coaching I do. When I coach and train, MWA is used as a workbook and reference. The Managing with Aloha model reinvents a person's management style in a more productive, humanitarian and rewarding way, while remaining true to that person's innate strengths and personal values. It does so understanding that at the end of the day businesses must make a profit, and thrive in a self-sustaining manner. I offer six different services, and if your readers are interested I have more about them at SayLeadershipCoaching.com.

BT:  You reference, almost educate your readers on Hawaiian words/phrases and their meanings.  Why is this important to you?

RS:  Your question is interesting to me, for this language instruction is not something I've consciously set out to do: I write the way I speak and coach. 99% of the people in Hawaii speak English as their first language with commonly-known Hawaiian words sprinkled into their sentences, and I'm in that 99%: I don't speak Hawaiian. However the Hawaiian-named business values of MWA have become a business language for me, and if I am, as you say, educating my readers on Hawaiian words and phrases it happens just because that's who I am.

As a coach I do find that language is powerfully transformative, in that new language creates new meaning. For example, if I say "ho'ohana with lōkahi" to a manager, the literal translation is "work purposely on your teamwork." But if I have coached that manager on the Hawaiian kaona (hidden deeper meanings) of both ho'ohana and lōkahi, they know I am telling them to bring the passion they have for the work they do to the collaborative efforts of teamwork which seek the creative breakthroughs of synergy — and they know how to make that happen. Quite a difference. 

BT:  What are you most proud of?

RS: I am proud of creating Managing with Aloha as a way to better articulate worthwhile work for people, inspiring them to achieve it for themselves. However I count my proudest achievements in bodies; those managers whom I have had a part in mentoring to live their best possible lives, in love with what they do and with who they are. On a more personal level, I'm very proud that I've raised my two children to have the healthy attitudes they do have about bringing meaningful work into their own lives; I'm proud of the young adults they have become.

If I go a bit farther back into my work history, I ended my corporate career as the only female, American vice-president working under the umbrella of a Japanese-owned company that was then the third largest construction company in the world. I do feel good that what I have achieved has been done so with authenticity and integrity; those two things are important to me. I'm proud that I'm still learning every day, and willing to reinvent myself now.

BT:  Is there anything else that would help the readers of Business Thoughts know more about you?

RS:  We've already talked about a lot! So not about me as much as about my message: Managers matter. However you need to be a manager for the right reasons — the good reasons, for managers have a profound effect on the people they work with. It comes with the territory, but it is also what makes management so meaningful and rewarding. If you are a manager you are a critically important person: Accept your responsibility for leadership and manage with aloha, always.

Mahalo Todd for talking story with me, for you know how much I love Business Thoughts and the passion you bring to all that you do! You're the real deal, and I become the better myself for knowing you. To be interviewed for your People You Need to Meet feature is quite an honor and privilege for me.

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tags: interviews | management | managing with aloha | people you need to meet