Halloween has arrived! So, what are you doing reading this right now? You should be heating up some popcorn, deciding what old horror movies to watch tonight, and preparing for that weird type of energy that only fills the air on October 31.
I feel that everyone has a dark side. On Halloween, its welcomed.
Creep the spirit alive... its the one night where the veil is lifted between this world and the NEXT.
(The picture above is dated April 2008 , just about when it all began )
John Donovan, co-founder of GoNextWorld (featured on the right), posted the below message on his facebook wall yesterday. If my blogs have not painted a good enough picture yet, maybe this will help. Enjoy!
"I quit my engineering gig at Bettis Atomic
Power Laboratories to concentrate my entrepreneurial efforts on our
brain child, GoNextWorld, exactly one year ago. Some people told me
"You'll be back to the cubicle" or "Leaving this secure job is too
risky". But with the help of a bad ass team, support from friends and
family, and a sprinkle of perseverance, I can say that I made the right
decision,
and that leaving that job to pursue my dream was the best choice of my life.
Over this year I've learned that the thrill of creating a business,
positively impacting others, and having a passion for what you do far
outweigh a steady pay check, vacation days, and tps reports.
Thanks to all that have helped me, believed in me, and tolerated me
during the most chaotic / impactful year of my life. Can't wait to see
what happens in the next 365 days. Joe Donovan, Joanne Donovan, Margie Wiater Tarquinio, Ryan Gilson just to name a few! Yinz are great!"
9:04 AM - One of my tenants texts me "Either there is a man that is trying to break in from the roof or you caught the raccoon"
9:39 AM - Confirmation of trapped raccoon. Victory is mine.
9:47 AM - Two choices: 1)termination or 2) transport it to another area . The raccoon reminds me too much of Palzy, so the vote goes 2 to 1 in favor in keeping it alive. Since it is illegal to transport it as a private citizen, two police officers escort the raccoon and myself to the cemetery. In a scene that is reminiscent of "The Green Mile"....we take him to the edge of the woods and give the warm blooded creature a new lease on life. The animal rushed through the woods like its trying to get the new IPAD mini.
......
Part 2 of 3
Well, now that I have briefed you on that, maybe it's time to get back to what some of the team members are working on at GoNextWorld...
Jim Saxton - Also known as "The Chief", Jim is the man responsible for updating the public about GNW progress via press releases, newsletters, and blogs. His latest masterpiece can be seen HERE . He likes being on the ground floor of the new ideas and what the GNW future has in store. Besides the fact he has added the word "Swag" to his daily vocabulary, Jim is a fantastic writer. Alyssa Oldham - There are no two ways about it....Alyssa is a fighter. Alyssa is part of the sales team and is preparing the table for all the advertising openings that we will be launching in December/January. Also, when it comes to any arts and crafts that are in need of being made, shes the go to girl since she has dreamed of working for Joanne Fabrics since she was five. Even in the rain, she is all smiles at work...except when she has to agree with me.
Carolyn Suhocki - Carolyn has transitioned from our accounting department to our legal department. In preparation of her dream job, a tax attorney, Carolyn loves to see all aspects of the company. She has been there on some of the most stressful of days and that is why I often ask Carolyn to be the to be the voice of reason. Because of Kate and Caitlin, we were able to hire Carolyn. And because of Carolyn, we were able to hire Jim Saxton. Carolyn also helps out in many other ways, such as keeping the office stocked with enough water to quench the thirst of a small rabbit.
Part 3 is next.
But remember, this is Halloween Week - The week in which the veil is lifted between this world and the NEXT...
A long morning run on a gorgeous fall day gave me some time to think. With so much going on, it's good to just update the gang on what is happening on the other side of the cubicle and to show the momentum growing from all of the other pistons firing at the same time.
Part 1 of 3
Here is the first batch -
Amelia Cimerola , the marketing manager, is the social media/twitter/facebook guru and video producer. So, everytime you see a video of a cat wearing a tight leather jacket pawing at the camera... you know who is responsible. She is continuing to build the GNW brand as a mentality.... not just a company. Not only is she always full of ideas, she embodies the true GNW lifestyle - to take the ups and downs of life...with a smile.
Kevin Gormley , the chief of report generation is the man responsible for what the businesses see as they track their progress regarding customer trends. Even though he wears a Buffalo Sabres Jersey 6 days a week, we put up with him because he's damn good at what he does (except for making coffee).
Alexandra Assaf - is the newest addition to the GNW team. She is helping GNW get ready for the new APP rollout in December. Also, she assists the sales team for Summit Computer Networks in notifying all current customers of the big updates that are seen in POS PIZZA version 6. Alex is willing to try anything. This is seen everyday at the office as she makes sales calls without hesitation... and for the fact that she has opted to go as one of the Spice Girls this year for Halloween.
My next blogs will feature some more updates on the rest of the team.
Until then, remember, this is Halloween weekend. That means a few things...
1) Dressing your pet up in an obnoxious outfit, 2) a haunted house - there is no better date, and 3) watching 'The Walking Dead' and hoping Rick becomes more like Shane each episode...
Everyday in the winter of 2008-2009, I would leave work and immediately head to the Northland library to get my corner desk next to to the window.
I needed to find some an area where I couldnt think about anything except the next 5 years. However, sometimes I would run into my tenant that owed me $2,000. (Long story short - I got it back.)
Once I did find some alone time, I was able to put "Nickels and Dimes" on loop and start hashing out a plan for the big adventure - the dream business.
Some of the names that it started with - Legend Adventures, Immortal Enterprises, and Next World Entertainment.
We stuck with the third one and away we went.
Here is an actual drawing I made at that cold table next to the window. (circa 2008)
As you can see, its a bit different than what you see today. Fortunately, this may map did not lead to the treasure we were looking for.
The wind guided us in a different direction.
I keep reminders like this around the office for a reason.
Our new map has all arrows pointing towards December.
As I was up on my roof fixing a leak this weekend, I had what I like to refer as that "one good scare of October".
My roof is about 3 stories high, on a 50 degree incline, and it was raining. Upon peeking into a closed off chimney, I realized I was face to face with a raccoon.
My reaction should have been caught on tape. It almost caused me to slide right off the roof.
The only solution was to start setting traps. When I reached the local hardware store to purchase some traps, there was a man was in line that looked quite familiar. It was a man that we pitched our GoNextWorld idea to almost 2 years ago in hopes of getting funding. Needless to say, two years ago, he turned us down.
He was interested in how the business was doing. I expressed to him that two years ago we were looking for $30,000. And fortunately, we did not receive it. Otherwise, we would have shareholders that do not bleed GNW. Two years have passed, and we have teamed up with a company that has seen it all before called Summit Computer Networks.
Now, the only investment we would consider would be a minimum number consisting of 7 figures.
He asked "how could you justify that number?"
My answer was simple.
"When creating a business, there are many problems (like a roof leak), tons of surprises (like a face to face raccoon confrontation), and many joys (like actually fixing/solving the problem and seeing value increase).
And along the way, you start to see what you can really do (like target market advertising).
The end result from all the ups and downs is one thing - Increased Value. And that is the only thing that matters.
I left him with a few numbers of my own.... 12-12-12.
Today, I will be checking to see if I captured the raccoon. After all, everyone's entitled to one good surprise every October....
As December approaches, the sales mentality starts to build and build.
Its gonna be an incredible feeling to sell a "finished" product. I put "finished" in quotations because software is really never finished.
Early on in this quest, I used to believe that as long as you build a wicked car, the rest will take care of itself and you can go wherever you want. Now, I know this is not so.
The road has to be built BEFORE you perfect the car.
You can build the fastest car possible, but if you are surrounded by trees... the car will not be able to show the world what it really can do.
Q. How long does it take to get rewarded from a
business?
A. Immediately!
Q. If I purchased store credit towards my
favorite business via GoNextWorld, how long do I have to wait before I can use
it?
A. You can use it immediately… Even if you buy it while you are standing in
line!
Q. What makes this different from every other
rewards program?
A. You can shop at many businesses and get
rewarded to ONE account. Therefore, if
you routinely support a particular restaurant, then you can save money at
another business that you have always wanted to try. USE THE REWARDS TO ANY PARTICPATING
BUSINESS!
Q. Am I limited
to the amount of vouchers I can purchase?
A. Nope.
Q. Am I limited to a certain amount of vouchers I can
use at the participating businesses?
A. This is completely up to each business. Just ask the business when you are paying the
cashier.
Q. Is there a limit on how much a I must spend
in order to use a voucher?
A. This is completely up to each business too!
Q. Do the rewards expire?
A. Yes, 45 days after the issue date.
Q. How do I know if I purchased/redeemed a
voucher?
A. You can look under “My Receipts” in “My
Account”.
Q. How do I get rewarded?
A. You can either “check-in” to that business
via GoNextWorld.com or you can simply say your phone number when you pay the
cashier.
Q. How much do I get back from each business?
A. 3% (in Next
World Bucks)
Q. One Next World Buck equals 1 U.S. dollar
right?
A. YEP!
C. I see that you use “Next World Bucks” instead
of points. Very smart, points are
confusing.
A. Thanks, we know.
Q. Your mascot is really cute, do the girls love
him?
Here is just the basic rundown for all of the most Frequently Asked Questions from Businesses.
FAQS FOR
BUSINESSES
Q.Can Any Business Join?
A.Yes.The more businesses, the more universal, the more people will use the
rewards program, the better the chance you will have a NEW customer.
Q.I already have a loyalty program for my
business, can I still use GoNextWorld and how is it different?
A.YES, of course!Your current loyalty program does not help
you get NEW customers.GoNextWorld does…
and it keeps customers coming back.So,
you could use GoNextWorld and your current program at the same time if you
want.
Q.Can I limit the amount of vouchers that can
be redeemed at once per customer?
A.Yes, this is completely up to you the
business.
Q.Can I set a limit on how much a customer must
spend in order to use a voucher?
A.Yes, this is completely up to you the
business
Q.Do the rewards expire?
A.Yes, 45 days after the issue date
Q.How do I account for each voucher redeemed?
A.This is up to each business, but many businesses
account for it as store credit.
Q.How do customers get rewarded?
A.Customers can either “check-in” to your
business via GoNextWorld.com or they can simply say their phone number when
they pay you.
Q.I see that customers get rewarded with 3%
back in Next World Bucks.Can I change
that to give back more/less?
A.Not yet.We want to keep it uniform to make it very simple.
Q.I see that you use “Next World Bucks” instead
of points.Very smart, points are
confusing.
A.Thanks, we know.
Q.How do I know what people
bought vouchers?
A.It will be clearly shown on your APP that you
download
Q.How much is this rewards program for my
business?
A.It’s Free.Yes, pretty sweet, we know.If
you want the ability to view the customer tracking reports, that is an
additional fee.
Q.How much is the ability to view my customer
tracking reports?
A.There is a One-Time fee of$50 and we offer a
discount if you embed a link to our page from your website.
Q.Can I advertise through your website too?
A.Yes, call 1-800-976-7924 for all information.
Q.Your mascot is really cute, do the girls love
him?
Some weekends stand above others. This past weekend was one of those weekends.
To celebrate a few GoNextWorld milestones and the confidence in the direction GoNextWorld will be taking in the next few months with the current team, I felt it would be a good time to step outside of the office and share some beers with some old faces.
Not only was my buddy's birthday celebration incredible, I was able to learn a few things along the way.
Even though I never would admit while I was in school, I love learning knew things. Ever since my 3 month stay in Italy back in '05, I have always been fascinated with the similarities and differences amongst cultures.
This weekend, I met a great girl from Israel that was able to shed some light on that subject. In return, I took her to her first haunted house... EVER.
Its not every day you get to show someone Pittsburgh for their first time.
So, to sum things up, the weekend was pretty awesome...or shall I say, SABABA.
One of the greatest things about sacrificing the past 40 months of time all for the company, is that it makes the celebrations along the way, that much sweeter...
Throughout this entire journey, there is one thing that John and I have underestimated outside of GoNextWorld : structure. In both of our personal lives, we have completely let go of structure and all that comes with it.
After 3-4 years of a non-structured personal life, it begins to take its toll on your
mentality (everything is about survival and growth of the company),
social life (you feel guilty if you go out and have a beer with your friends without the company flag in your hand),
relationships ("But sweetheart, Phase 3 is coming out Feb 14th, sorry, but we can just stay in and watch a Bill Murray movie instead of the dinner plans)
health ( "if im breathing, that's all that matters")
The last one is the one we have to watch out for. Stress, lack of nutrition, and lack of rest for approximately 40 months will start to have an effect. Sometimes it cannot be fixed.
The solution: More Structure.
Product development is all about building something today that will be used for tomorrow. The only trick is to not think you have to postpone life until that product is in the hands of the Chilean population.
Maybe ill start by pulling out some of the old hockey stuff again...
Its amazing what seeing a grey hair will do to jump start ya...
After going to Dogtoberfest this past weekend, I started thinking of the possibility of getting Palzy a brother/sidekick in the near future.
That got me thinking of the next 8 months. With the possibility of moving back to Mount Washington, I know there are a ton of things that need to be set in place by the end of 2012 before I can think of a new pal for Palzy.
Last night, we mapped out a few next steps at a late night dinner.
The date on everyone's mind is December 15th - the date in which our product takes 1 step further.
There are many advancements and upgrades that will take place in our product and within our affiliate's software. Strategies have been put in place to start letting GNW's and Summit Computer Networks' clients know about the upgrades.
Advertisements via GoNextWorld are underway with our first few businesses on board. Once all of the bugs are worked out and we can see what we really can do, then we will begin to push harder.
After meeting with Children's hospital, there are many paths we can take in order to complete our goal on that front. Amelia, our marketing director will be making a decision on our involvement with Children's Hospital and deciding where we want to spend our time and resources.
We welcome our chief publicist back to the team today. After spending time concentrating on the LSATS, he is coming back and ready to put GoNextWorld back on the desks of Pittsburgh magazines and newspapers top writer's (where it belongs).
Like I said, these next couple months are going to be pretty wild. New dogs, new housing, new product upgrades for GNW and Summit, new directions, vegas expo possibilities, Halloween..... and Darren's Bachelor party.
As you can probably see by now, I am really into documenting the entire process of a start-up.
Twenty years from now, I want to look back and see what we were working on and what we were thinking.
Less than 3 months ago, I was talking about the incredible addition of just saying a phone number to get rewarded. It is still is incredible, but would if we took it one step further? Would if the consumer just had to say their name to get rewarded at a Pizza Shop or a Bar/Restaurant?
Considering consumers already have to say their name to close a tab out or pick up thier pizza, it would make life a little more simple right?
Well, the new addition is on the way. Since we are still two months from unveiling, I will not discuss how it actually works just yet.
The new addition is a gift from the tech department. So, next year, when its a part of your routine shopping habits, you will know where it came from.
Kinda gives you that old special feeling...like the time when you got your first CD player for that 8th grade trip to Washington D.C and you played "Mama, Im coming home" over and over, right?
Awhile back, I read a book about an American that was captured in the Vietnam War and held as prisoner for over a year. He said "the only way to survive was to keep your head down and your mouth shut. Every day could be my last one."
He eventually broke free and was rescued. He said it really came down to one choice: It was either live ...a painful life, dying slowly, with the hope of being set free in time....or risk death and try to escape on your own to freedom. He chose the latter.
I later found out that the book was not just about being a prisoner of war. He related the book to what happens everyday all around the world in people's lives.
My goal has always been to be on the right path by 30...and financially free by 35.
When I was 23, I made this decision. This caused me to do some drastic things and make some crazy changes. At the time, I didnt know if it was the right choice.
Well, I saw a face from my past yesterday. I was able to see where I would have been if I would have continued on that same path and never left that life.
I know my decision was the right choice. I think I have always known that...but to see a ghost from the past before the crazy changes is unbelievable and it really drives it home.
Sure, I gave up some treasures that make life a bit more enjoyable. The way I see it, sacrifice is just an essential part of any good story. But hopefully, Ill soon be able to have the time to stop by and pick up all the treasures I passed up. I just hope its not too late :)
I still remember the first song that became "my favorite song" when I was I young lad. It was Aerosmith's "Janies got a gun" ... and I could not get enough of it. Sadly, my next favorite song when I was 4 years old was Escape Club's "Wild Wild West". (Yeah, no comment necessary.)
I think most people remember the first song. (Most girls will probably put "Barbie Girl" down as their first favorite song.)
It's amazing how some songs can just take you away from all B.S. of your everyday life and at times it can drowns the noise and block the pain. If you have the right song playing during traffic, the blood pressure isnt as high. If you have the right song during a workout, you can get 1 more rep than usual.
For the past few years, I've had a new favorite song. Every time I come to the office, I can hear it. And it seems that it just keeps getting better and better.
