For auld lang syne...

New Years Eve 2004 - Canada

I remember waking up on the ground with a crowd of people standing around me in the middle of the street.  A stranger was forcing me to stay on the ground while an ambulance made its way through traffic.

As they put me in the ambulance I started to understand that I was hit by a car as I tried to walk across the street into the bar.  


After I declined an ambulance trip to the hospital for stitches, my friends helped me into the pub; my destination that evening.  I remember the bouncer letting us go into the bar ahead of other people.  I remember a bunch of Canadians buying me Molsons to ease the pain.  I remember looking like a hobbit, covered in blood and mud, trying regain feeling back in my face as people took pictures with me.


The only take away from this (other than look both ways before you cross the street) ...is the fact that people enjoy seeing a man take a beating and get back up to finish a beer.

To many, scars are commendable.  In a way, it says "I've been there".  Some scars are earned. 

Throughout the four years of getting GoNextWorld to what it is today, you can bet we have had our own kind of scars.  From gathering any bit of money ....to finding the right person to add to the team roster...scars are inevitable. They all teach you a lesson in one way or another.

And that is what separates great businesses from others.  Some earn their scars...some never do.



As the New Year arrives, we wont ever forget those that helped us get to our current destination.
When we get to the real destination, there will be a beer/chocolate milk waiting with your name on it....


2013 is going to be fun.... For auld lang syne, my dear...

 

Half Animal. Half Machine.

 

4 years  -  roughly one thousand four hundred and sixty days.

Every morning on my way to work, it would feel like the opening scene to "Gangs of New York".

When you FULLY believe in a cause, bigger than any ONE person, the word "IF" is removed from your vocabulary and replaced with "WHEN".

As we assembled the company piece by piece, it started to feel that we were creating something that was half animal, half machine.  It needed to be fed (with $), but it would also never quit and never tire once it was ready to walk without a leash.

It's only been sixteen days since the nationwide launch ...and we have been contacted by businesses in at least 16 different states.  

Think its time to let it off the leash yet?

Say WHEN...

let your arrow go...

On my refrigerator... hangs an invitation to an October wedding  in Cancun. (which is going to be incredible)
On my wipe board... hangs a reminder of what needs done before February.
On my cell phone... is a reminder of what I need to get done today.
On my computer...is a reminder of a Marathon that I need to start training for.
And on my desk...is a phone with a list of people to call.

Planning is fun, but I live for the surprises that happen along the way.

Today, we were contacted by our first nationally known business chain.   Somethings you just can't plan. 

"So draw back your bow and let your arrow go"...

the want to stay...

In a recent blog, I wrote about the importance of communication; especially when it comes to business.  This includes both verbal and non-verbal.

In "business to consumer", I feel that non-verbal is just as important.  I want someone to look at our company and feel a certain way...and to know what is important to us and what we stand for.  Hopefully, they can relate. 

It's like many great songs that exist.  Even if you can't hear the words and you just listen to the music, you feel a certain way.


Great songs never get old.

Neither should we...

a white horse...

Communication may be the most important piece to survival. This doesn't just go for businesses, it is important in any endeavor that requires more than one person trying to accomplish a given task.

That is why we are placing a large amount of emphasis on our "How To" video collection. The clearer our videos, the less the businesses/owners/managers will have any problems. The less problems, the less support calls ...which leads to MORE FREE TIME - the end goal of any man, woman, or child.

It all comes down to saving time...

In the daring night...

Yesterday, we had our first business from overseas try and join GoNextWorld.  I say "try" because we are not setup for certain currencies, languages, and countries without zip codes just yet.  That will all be available in later versions.

Right now, we are only available in the United States.  However, we are preparing to set zones for Canada, so they are able to join too.

As I think back to 1 year ago today, I can think of checking inventory to make sure we have enough ethernet cable for the install John would be doing for the entire next day.  Some installs would take 2 - 3 days to complete.

Fortunately, we have grown up quite a bit over this past year.  Within 3 days after our launch in Summit Computer Networks' software, we were able to reach more businesses than ever before...even a country I could only hope to see someday.

The moment these business owners look up at night and see the Next World for the first time, they will begin to see their business' world a little more clear.

"Don't let go, don't let go in the daring night"...

Get POS PIZZA and GoNextWorld FREE on CNET:

http://download.cnet.com/POS-Pizza/3000-2067_4-75337756.html?tag=mncol;1

the days of dust...

It still amazes me to think of some of the things John and I had to do in order to keep GoNextWorld afloat early on in the adventure.

Starting a business from complete scratch is an undertaking that many people attempt...but few succeed. Turning an idea into a living, breathing entity takes much more time and money than ever anticipated.

Working 14 hours a day WITHOUT being paid is a normal occurrence early on.  As long as your bills are paid and there is even the slightest felling of progress (noticeable or not), then its full steam ahead as planned.

At one point, awhile back, I had to get a job as a late night janitor, cleaning offices and restrooms.  (The only person that knew this was John.) 

Daily Schedule

7am - 5pm      GoNextWorld
5 - 5:30          Take the GoNextWorld Mascot for a run
6 - 10             Using Windex on everything and anything
10pm- 11pm -  Gym

(then repeat)

Not only was it a way to make ends meat, it was sort of a social experiment too.  I was able to see how some "prestigious" doctors treat the cleaning crew -  I definitely learned a few things.  You can clearly see which doctors never had to pick up a 2nd/3rd job.

And I did gain a new found obsession to keep my bathroom clean.  When in doubt, the answer is Windex.

Like I said, as long as overhead was paid and we were still making progress, then you better believe I had a smile on my face as I swept those stranger's rugs.  That..and the fact that I knew the job was only temporary. 

But..

knowing you will do whatever it takes to complete this adventure.  That isn't temporary.   

To find that out, we had to do some things that still amaze me... 

on the loose....

Well, the nationwide launch last week was a success!  The response has been incredible.  Businesses all over the U.S. have expressed their interest. 

As my coffee cools down and the sun makes itself known today, I can guarantee them one thing:  This time next month -They will know more about their business than they ever have before.

The past week has been a wild ride.  On top of the release, I was able to see some old faces - friends of at least 10 years;  at a recent Christmas party.  

Over the past 4 years, I couldn't see them too often.  The focus and prep of GoNextWorld kept us pretty busy.

However, this year was a reason to celebrate.  We hit our mark...and my one Christmas wish came true.

Like i said, the sun is making itself known...

the waiting... til 2013...

Brands/Products/Companies will be able to own a consumer's experience 2013

as seen here http://gnwdb.summitcn.com/advertise.html 

if you are interested in hearing more, please call us at 1-800-976-7924.

You will not be able to see the First advertisement until January 2013.

Here is a snapshot of the preliminary idea given to the tech team months ago.  But they took this idea... to a whole new level.

Completing the circle takes time...but the wait will be well worth it.

Plan X...

One of the many things I have learned during these past fours years is  - -   that very few things will happen EXACTLY as planned.

Creation is sometimes messy.  Four years of shaping and molding is what led to our nationwide release yesterday. Sometimes, the smallest task needs problem solved in the last minute.

What it all comes down to is everything is a race against time ...and having a backup plan for a backup plan is essential.

The phrase around the office is "Let's go to Plan X"  because plans A, B, C didn't work or can't work on the deadline we have.

Four years of trying thousands of different things.  And from what we've seen.... Plan X usually turns out better than the orginal Plan A. 

The greatest part is... what you see today is only a fraction of what our vision entails.

2013 is gonna be a wild ride.....
                                                We're planning on it.

12.12.12 - We have launched!

Today, we launched nationwide within POS Pizza 6.4! 

12.12.12.  We did it!

This is the last of the same day, same month, same year number date until another 89 years when it becomes 01/01/2101.

I cant imagine what we will have for that day.

Now, the fun begins...

 

Breakdown...

Below are a few samples of the zip code breakdown.

Are you a business that wants to advertise to all women in U.S.?  All males under 28 years old?  Everyone in Pennsylvania?  or just people in Zone 3 of Maine?


The choices are yours and yours alone...

wild horses...

Last night was my friend's bachelor party.  And like many other bachelor parties, you never know what you are in for.  The gang met at a bar in Greenfield, but eventually migrated to the casino.
As you may know, you meet all kinds at the casino.   I witnessed a man put an absurd amount of money down on the roulette wheel.  While the others were betting the minimum, he was betting the maximum.

He took a shot it in the dark, lost a ton of money in the beginning, but when he hit....he hit big.  To many, risk is the most attractive thing in the world.  To others, its the scariest.

The word "RISK" means something different to everyone.  It is defined on wikipedia as "the potential that a chosen action or activity (including the choice of inaction) will lead to a loss (an undesirable outcome)"

I believe businesses look at this sentence and cross out everything thats NOT in the parentheses.  They will define it as "Risk is the potential that the choice of inaction will lead to an undesirable outcome".

Truly Successful businesses do not EARN success.  They do not ASK for it.  They are not GIVEN it.

They CREATE it... by taking constant action.


GNW's new product launching next week is all about the action from many people.  Months, weeks, days, hours all lead to what you will see.  Created from nothing.

Sometimes, its only a matter of time.


Congrats Bennie and Darla!

Just Like Greta...

During my teens and early twenties, I felt that everything was extremely temporary.

Because to me, life didn't begin until I was 24 years old - the beginning of GoNextWorld.

Until then, it felt like I was just window shopping for the life that I wanted.   

And the way I see it, if you still don't know the person inside, how can you get that person a gift that they really want?

....

Going to hell and back, that's how....



Seeing our company featured on a list next to some really big names, I don't feel that everything is temporary anymore....

  

soul to squeeze...

The sound of an engine firing up for the first time is unforgettable.  A deafening rumble can block out all other noises, shake the ground,  and even for a brief moment..is unavoidable.

It means there is life to something that took time, money, and ingenuity.

Now that its December, we at GoNextWorld are firing up the engines on our new product - GNW 3.0.  We have a few days before it hits the street, but where there is sound, there is life

Can you hear the rumble yet?

Wanna ride?