a little bit of soul...

Just a tidbit on what our reports can show in the crazy detail...(THIS IS A PIECE OF AN ACTUAL REPORT)

embrace it, learn it, live it

First Time Customers –

How to increase – Advertising, additions/changes of specials on certain days.  See trends within this report and make necessary changes.  For example, Wednesdays are slowest days between 12 and 3.  Make changes by offering an incentive for customers and then see if it actually works by reviewing next reports.  First time customers may become repeat shoppers, which is the ultimate goal.  If the percentage of first time customers that turn into repeat shoppers GROWS, you are doing something correct.  These reports can help gauge if what you are doing is correct or not.  Make changes, evaluate results, keep moving forward.  Growing First time customers = your advertising is working.  Zip codes, Ages, and genders will show you who is actually responding to your advertising.

Repeat Customers –

After you attract new customers, you can view the frequency at which people revisit your business.  This will help you see if your products and prices are actually BRINGING THEM BACK and HOW FREQUENTLY.   The value of a business can weigh greatly on repeat customers.  Now, you can see how much of your business is actually from repeat shoppers and the transition from new customers to repeat customers.   Some businesses may track this to evaluate value in regards to how successful their business is at attracting consistent shoppers.  Are your repeat shoppers predominantly male or female?  What is the largest percentage of age demographics?  What zip code are they coming from?  The only way to move forward and track progress is to know where you stand.  A growing repeat customer base means your product, service, and/or prices met their needs.  Obviously, if this is consistently going up each period, you are on the right path.  If it is not, you can make changes regarding product, service, and/or price.  Then, see if it actually works in a relatively short amount of time. 

Number of Different Customers –

This signifies variety in a given period of time.  The true popularity of your business will be shown through the number of unique customers.  This can be one of the significant highlights on how well you are capturing the attention of the general public within a given day, week, month or year.  As the number of different people grows, you will be able to witness stronger trends among ages, gender, times, days, transactions, sales, and zip codes.  Businesses without GoNextWorld may know the amount of customers that visit their business, but they do not know the number of unique visits.  This is comparable to a website that has 100 hits by 100 different people.  Some websites have 100 visits, but only by 10 different people.   Obviously, you would rather reach 100 different people.  GoNextWorld can calculate this for your PAYING CUSTOMERS.  Know where you stand, make changes to draw in more unique visitors, and keep moving forward.

game on...

When I was a kid, we would make anything into a competition.  Racing bicycles, riding dirtbikes, hockey, video games, billiards, golf - you name it, we made it into a competition.   My friend and I went overboard with some things, but there is no doubt that prepared me for years later.  I absolutely thrive off it. 

Now, its basically the same, but only the games have changed.  Today its much more important and there is more at stake.  It's no longer a video game or a simple game of pool...its our life as a company. 

No matter how you look at it, if you have competition as a business, you are competing for survival and ultimately your lively hood, your food on the table, your roof over your heads, and the ability to provide for those you love. 

The way I look at it - if your business is successful, there is always a person or a business that wants to take away or capitalize on your business model.  And this is what gets me going in the morning.  This is why we can't take off for holidays.  This is why its the greatest competition.  Its constantly ongoing. 

Someone is out there that wants to take away all the Next World has done and capitalize on what it will do...atleast I hope there is.  We thrive on the competition. 

Game on.

a born fighter with a pretty face...

Less than one year ago, we were running all around Pittsburgh installing Verifone Tranz 330 terminals into the participating businesses.  For those unfamiliar with these machines, I can sum them up with one word - Awful.  They look like they are from the 80's but I believe they are much older. (SEE BELOW).  Many Businesses Laughed at us...or shall i say WITH us.

 

Then, we upgraded to something a little more appealing - The Omni 3750.  Now, we could use an Ethernet cable!  Big stuff  kids.  The time and effort we spent setting these up was comparable to when we played Oregon Trail in 1993.  (SEE BELOW)

Now, both these machines may seem ridiculous, but these are just stepping stones to finding our identity.  Stepping stones, not mistakes.  We were still making our own way through the brush.  There were no clear cut trails to follow or even a deer path to maneuver.  

Both of these machines were costly, time consuming, and just not impressive.  All of that was about to change...

-

We teamed up with a POS software developer to start building an APP a business can download directly onto their computer/POS system.  This put GoNextWorld on its own path.  I compare it to when you are in the woods at night - You can't see the path you are on UNTIL you look to the sky and moon to see it reflect off the ground in front of you.  The APP was cost efficient, very little time to install, easy to use.  The functionality and versatility was beautiful. (SEE BELOW)

Then, we tested.  We got feedback.  We made changes.  We upgraded.  And yes, we needed to make it Card-less.  On May 24th (yesterday), we were able to see the first prototype of the new APP.  Some changes need to be made before we put it out to market on August 1st, but it looks like a new animal.  Its a born fighter with a pretty face.  You will see it soon...

The Summary - 

 Each day that passes, we chisel our identity a little more, we get a little more feedback,  we have new ideas, we try new things, we learn a little more, and our value increases.    Everything takes time.  But days like yesterday make you really feel the wind in the sails. 

IDENTITY AND VALUE - the more we find the one... the other only goes up.

The New upcoming Mobile Website

What do you think of it?  Any feedback would be much appreciated!

my biggest fear...

I love trying new things.  If I have the time, the money, and it if doesn't interfere with the end goal, I'm all for it.  Adventures- there's no reason to live without them.

I am very blessed and fortunate to say that I have had my share of adventures in my day.  I wanted to put myself through as many experiences as possible, so I never looked back with regret and say "Damn, I wish I would have done that instead".  

Now, at 27, I've done enough random small adventures that I can safely say what is important to me. Spontaneity is truly a beautiful thing, but the END GOAL and the Ultimate Adventure are what really matter.    If something takes away from hitting the end goal or delays it in anyway - it simply is not worth it.   

Thankfully, my Ultimate Adventure and End Goal are one in the same.   But the only way to accomplish them is to stay the course (which may take years, if not a lifetime) .  Distractions and short term wants and needs make people drift away from what they set out for, sometimes forever, which in turn can lead to....... regret - my biggest fear.

There is a poem i read years ago that pretty much changed my life called "Staying the Course" by BJ Gallagher (listed below)
It has sat on my desk since day 1.   

Our journey of life is about progress,
not perfection.
It's not about doing one thing
100% better -
it's a matter of doing 100 things,
1% better each day.
Progress is evolutionary
not revolutionary,
and most days we measure our progress
in inches,
not miles.
What matters most
is showing up for your life
whether you feel like it
or not.
Ask yourself,
"What two or three little things
can I do today
that would move me forward?"
You'll be amazed
at how much distance
you can cover
by taking it in increments.
The little things add up;
the inches turn to miles;
and we string together our efforts
like so many pearls.
Before long,
look what you have -
a whole strand!
 

Moving Forward...

 

If you saw this every time you woke up, would this mean anything to you?  Wait, don't answer yet (i am afraid of your answer).  Recently, a a person asked me "what is the meaning of your logo?"  So, I felt I had  to write it down.

It is difficult to capture the essence of "A software company that embodies 

-the ability to show businesses an up to date full snapshot of their current customer demographics by way of a universal cardless rewards program" in an image.

But, I think we did a pretty damn good job.  Hopefully, when you look at this, the two words come to mind (other than "red arrow") is "MOVING FORWARD". 

And that is all we want to do.  Our program can help the businesses move forward with new advertising strategies (and see if they actually work) and ultimately their bottom line.   The rewards program gives the customers the ability to move forward and save money on everyday spending WITH EASE. 

The beauty of GoNextWorld is that the title can mean something different to everyone.  We are not bound to just a rewards program, a loyalty program, or anything else that may strike response "oh, I have heard of something like that before".  Its so much bigger than that.

This is the symbol that will be on your iphone, the businesses POS system and hopefully pinned on your refrigerator.   

 So, next time your child comes home from kindergarten with a picture of a red arrow, please make sure you tell them what it means...

Testing new cities!

a dark night...

Awhile back, when we started sitting down with "potential" investors, there were a few questions we did not have a clue on how to answer without us looking like young and inexperienced - WHICH WE WERE.

 The question that made me laugh was "What is your exit strategy?" This came up quite a bit. The way I look at it, I would never invest in someone who is already thinking about quitting and letting go of their baby.

The way I answer now is what i truly believe - "If something comes along, and we all agree, then that would be something we will look into and that would be great. If not, we will just keep moving towards the vision."

Some people are dumbfounded that we are not focusing on dissolving the company for financial gain 5 years out. To those, I would like to answer with a much longer answer, but John usually stops me.

This is the story I want to tell them -
Years ago, I was doing a bunch of odd jobs to save up enough money for the future GoNextWorld necessities. Landscaping, sales, and I even remodeled a bathroom, among many others. During a job, I discovered the current toilet was unable to be fixed. I needed a new one and I needed it fast.
The two choices - Go out and buy one for roughly $100 or problem solve a bit and ask around. If you know me, you would know that I do enjoy problem solving, so I went with Plan B.

I started asking plumbers, contractors, friends and family if they knew of anywhere I can get a toilet for free.
My friend, a contractor, did have an answer for me. He told me there was brand new looking toilet in an old abandoned warehouse they were performing a demolition on. The only problem is that it was completely full of human waste, and has been for months, if not years. The building did not have running water, so there was no hope in removing the contents before removing the toilet.

 I did not care. It would save $100. This $100 could possibly help GoNextWorld survive 1 more day someday in the distant future. It had to be done.

 I snuck into the abandoned building around midnight one night. I took a wrench, a flashlight, and a screwdriver. However, there were windows. I did not want to draw attention to the building from surrounding homes, so I turned off the flashlight. It became a mental game more than anything. As I removed the toilet (completely in the dark), the smell, the materials, and anything else you can think of hit me (I felt like Andy Dufrane). Then, I needed to carry it down a flight of stairs, get it into the pickup, and get it home. Needless to say, the mission was a success. I installed the toilet and it worked perfectly. Then, I took the broken toilet and installed it back into the abandoned building (JUST TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT) a few nights later, I cleaned up the mess. They demo'ed the building a few months later and all was right with the world.

 I did this to save $100 - That is one electric bill now. To think we are doing this venture for the sole purpose of selling it - is completely ridiculous.
We have sacrificed too much to not see this through till the end. Money, like happiness, is the by-product. The service we provide (better than anyone else), the life we can create for our family/team, and the ability to do what has not been done before ....is the main products and the real goal.

Like I said, if something comes along, and we all agree, then that would be something we will look into and that would be great. If not, we will just keep moving towards the vision.

 Larry Page, You know where to reach us. Until then, we've got some work to do...

GoNextWorld Mascot mentally prepares for the Commercial shoot...

famous last words...

In the Spring of 2005, I went to Italy for Duquesne University's study abroad program for 3 months.  It was an experience unlike any other.  And it would be the last time (for a long time) that I had no care of money inflows/outflows.  We were in a different country, so we couldn't earn any money AND if you wanted to go to Switzerland for the weekend, you can always find a way to justify it.

We were 60 kids packed in a convent in the town of Boccea.  You wouldn't believe how well you get to know people when you are in a country that you can't really communicate with the outside world due to the language barrier.  I met some great friends along the way.

It was always interesting to hear people's stories you meet in the different countries.  Many times you share some stories, take a picture, and keep on moving - knowing you will never see them again. 

One night at a bar in downtown Rome, I started talking to an Italian boxer.  I think his name was Alonzo Morning or something.  He couldn't speak too much English, but at 1am, nobody really could.  We started discussing my childhood hero, Rocky Marciano, an old boxer from long ago.  After a couple drinks, you would have thought we were old bowling friends.

Before he left, I quoted one of my favorite movies Point Break, by saying "I'll see ya in the Next World Alonzo" 

Until recently, I thought it was just a humorous way to say arrivederci to someone.  But now, with the upcoming ability to have a business join GoNextWord.com online on their own...his attendance in the Next World is not too far fetched.

Now,  I say it as a statement of fact.


Dear reader,

I'll see you in the Next World.

Sincerely, 

-Mike 

change is good...

This past week was a major pivot in the Next World.  Since we now have an APP that a business can download directly onto their Point of Sale station or computer, we no longer will need to install any hardware in each business.  No more terminals, no more wires, no more calls regarding bad card readers.  The removal process has already commenced and the APP is currently on 14 of our 40 some participating businesses.  This is the first step towards the real beginning - CARD-LESS.

Did you hear me butterfly?  I said card-less.  As for the HOW and the WHEN, well, as they say "Patience is a virtue."   Customers will be able to get rewarded and instantly use the rewards towards their next purchase without ever having to look into their wallet and realize they forgot their Next World card on top of the washer/dryer.

Example - Sally Jesse Raphael buys a dinner at Ruggers Pub, pays for the meal, and then get rewarded with a percentage of that sale in Next World Bucks.  Sally Jesse Raphael then walks down to Delanie's Coffee 5 minutes later.  While she is in line to buy coffee, she goes on her phone, types in GoNextWorld.com, and buys $5.00 towards any food/drink at Delanie's using her rewards she just got from Rugger's Pub.  The Delanie's clerk has an APP that says who bought what via GoNextWorld.com.  Therefore, Sally Jesse Raphael just has to say her name to redeem for the Coffee.

The End Result:

She supported Ruggers, increasing their bottom line and increasing her enjoyment of life.
She got free food and drink to Delanies, increasing Delanie's bottom line (they still get paid for it) and increasing her enjoyment of life.
Ruggers and Delanie's is able to see what zip code and age and time of the people shopping at their business - this will show if their current advertising strategies are working at all.

Our old system could not have this "Live" feel.  That is the beauty of change.  We will be constantly adapting, constantly evolving, constantly testing.  We are counting on the customers and the businesses to give us the feedback we need to make our product better.  We never want the feedback to end and we will reward those who do stand up and actually say what they want from us.  (Except if they ask for my old G.I. Joes)

Perfection is truly unattainable.  But...we are gonna try to get pretty damn close.

Ride it like you stole it...

The "Next World" was born approximately 3 years ago.  It was much different, much less scalable, untested, and unprepared for what was to come.  Yet, I believe that is how everything starts.  Through many sleepless nights,  many battles won/lost, and about $65,000, GoNextWorld.com went from an entertainment company to basically a software company.

(Maybe someday around a fire, I can tell you some tales of our original ideas.  They are quite humorous.  I will wear an eye patch, just for effect)

Through all of the interns, employees, partners, attorneys, and other various people that have helped out, we have seen about 40-50 people that are/or were on the Next World team.  Someday I will hopefully be able to properly thank and repay all the ones that give or have given their heart and soul to help us to get to where we are now.... and to where we are going.

So, where are we now?  

Well, let me just begin by saying these past 4 days have been the most productive the company has been...EVER.

Now, with full-time workers and the right crew (totaling about 17 people), its really time to start shaking some trees.  Our current team - I couldn't be more proud of.  It feels like a badass muscle car that is finally firing on all cylinders.  The Marketing is acquiring feedback on all levels, The Advertising Campaigns are in motion, The Sales Team is hitting the streets, The Accounting department is getting their kicks over debits and credits, The IT team is installing the APP and removing the old technology from the businesses, The instant Report generation is ALMOST ready (and looking glorious), and the Tech team is getting ready to roll out the red carpet for Phase 2.

I can't wait to get this machine out on the highway and open it up to see what it really can do.  I'm thinking maybe in August.

Muscle cars are simple and fast - The way a business needs to run.