Monthly Archives: April 2012

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Matt Nathan

Today I interviewed Matt from ePageCity about building a website.  He was quite convincing that it really can pay big dividends by hiring the right company to build a website that not only makes you look good, helps you compete with the big dogs, but also makes you money.  There is a lot of things that go into a website, and research and planning is a key component.  Listen in to this podcast on making a website that can be better than an employee. 

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John Dicker

John Dicker from Geeks Who Drink joins us and shares with us his crazy business story.  We talked about why he started, why he bought out his partner, and how he makes money! 

Look for John’s big event coming up on January 29th at the Filmore called Geek Bowl, the largest live trivia contest in the country.  Teams come from all over to compete for a CASH prize. 

He did confess to us that since he has an 11 month old daughter, he is a drinker, but is not a technical “Geek.”  Then he turned the tables on Nick and Johnny to find out how little we know about trivia.  We went 0 for 2, and John acused us  of living under a rock.   

While scoring is rather archaic, it does provide for good social time at Geek Bowl, as well as normal Geeks Who Drink events.  While John would not share with us what the entertainment for Geek Bowl will be, he did guarantee us that it will be worth getting to the event on time!

We were shocked that it only comes to about $175 to bring GWD into a bar for a weekly event.  John also shared that his model does not alow to only host a bi-weekly or a one off event.  You can check out one of their events at over 35 bars around Denver.

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Lem Fillyaw

We talk a lot about having passion in your business, and Lem is no exception.  I met Lem this summer at my sister’s wedding in Lakewood, WI, and was immediately drawn to get to know him.  He is the first Nijagrapher I’ve ever met!  AND the best wedding photographer I’ve ever experienced.  Yes he was good behind the camera, yes he was engaging and fun, and yes he wowed not only the bride (the most important person), but the rest of the guests as well.

Lem has built a fantastic small business, travels the world doing what he loves, and living the dream.  This all goes to show you that if you do what you love, the money will come, but you need to be passionate, find your niche, and market yourself.  Lem know that every wedding is his biggest opportunity to market his business.  What’s yours?

Do YOU know a smoker?  I’m sure you do, but if you don’t know anyone that does now, chances are that you knew one at some point.  They are a dying breed…sorry for the un-PC pun. 

I was watching a smoker today, and a few things hit me, that I think we as small business owners could learn from.   So here goes, the top 5 things small business owners can learn from a SMOKER:

1. Smokers are FEARLESS.  I live in Denver, and as you can imagine, it can get really cold.  Today, in fact, is extremely cold!  About 12 degrees, and tonight is going to be worse.  Anyway, I was driving through an industrial area, and I noticed an older gentleman outside smoking.  Did I mention how cold it is?  And he did not look like he was dressed for the cold snap.  They always take their smoke-break, without fail, no matter how cold it gets.  They are FEARLESS.
2. Smokers are CONSISTANT.  You don’t have to remind them to smoke their little cancer sticks.  It is like clock work.  Some smoke more than others, but they are as consistent as a Timex watch.  Can you even imagine them forgetting.  If we were HALF as consistent as them, boy would we get some stuff done. 
3. Smokers are DETERMINED.  Ever try talking a smoker into quitting?  Right!  How far did you get?  No way are you going to convince them about anything other than having another puff.  We need to be just as determined.  All the Nay-sayers can go keep yapp’in all they want.  Just keep moving forward. 
4. Smokers STICK TOGETHER.  Rarely have I seen a smoker by himself.  They usually travel in packs, all huddled around, trying to stay warm.  Small business owners should stick together too.  Unfortunately they are usually loners.  We don’t like to take advice or listen to others, so we have a tendancy to just plod along by ourselves.  It is good to get other’s advice and feedback, and just learn from other business owners…even if they are in a different industry.  Don’t stand ALONE.
5. Smokers are FOCUSED.  It doesn’t matter what is going on.  What they are doing.  Where they are.  Smokers are going to smoke.  I don’t care if they are swimming in a pool, riding their bike, walking the neighborhood, sitting in the dentist chair (well, maybe not), they are going to smoke.  I’ve even seen guys driving a motorcycle at 50 mph with a cigarette in their mouth.  Wow, if we could be so focused?  Know your business.  Talk about your business.  Know your competition…no matter where you are, or what you are doing.  It’s 24-7 baby.  Focus.

So that’s it.  That is what we can learn.  Hopefully you can laugh with me on this, and not take it too serious.  Dispite my lack of tact on this one, I hope you got a few important learning points.

Okay, so a two week project turned into a one and a half month project, and I still don’t have audio up on our site…but at least everything looks nice.  I will say this:  I am glad I tried it.  I learned how much goes into building a site, and thank God I have contacts that can save my butt.  Joel Turner of Joel Turer Graphics really saved me.  He ended up having to (I think) re-create a majority of the site.  It’s good to have connections.  A few things I learned about building a site:

1. It always takes longer
2. You won’t think of everything at the beginning
3. Things are not as easy as you think
4. There is a lot of behind the scenes stuff you won’t know has to happen for something to look right
5. I want to have a full time web designer on staff!!!

Not sure what your experience has been with building sites, but this one was the hardest lesson.  Now if I can just figure out how to upload from the FTP site. 

Oh Joel………..