holding on for dear life...

Every time we hit a milestone, its amazing to look back and see how much ground can be covered in such a short amount of time... within the company, ourselves, and in those around us.

The excerpt below is from Jim Saxton, our chief publicist from his blog "The NextWorld Trek"

"This is something the tech side of the company has been working on relentlessly and is truly a great accomplishment for them and the GNW team as a whole. Mobile is one of the greatest trending, most effective and cost efficient, advertising platforms being implemented across industries today. Now that we have the advertisment programming all finished, its on to the next step…
Similarly, in five days I will recieve my graduation diploma for the completion of my undergraduate degree in business, where I will then also be ‘on to the next step’. After four years of college, its unexplainable how much I have come to learn. Those things i’ll never forget, the people i’ll always remember, and the countless lessons learned from this experience has truly been life changing. 
While sometimes moving on is hard, it is something we must all do at points in our life. Its not a bad thing, (if anything) change often brings new opportunities for one to pursue in life. Just like the NextWorld, the next step is here…We are ready…Join us as we—Keep Moving Forward."



Just another example of how trying new things is sort of a gamble.  But sometimes it really pays off.

HOW TO experience it all...

If you look in the back of our office, you will see a ton of manuals that we have read before we took our leap of faith into this business. 

These were all the "How to" books that gave us a basic understanding of what we were getting ourselves into.

Books like:

"How to manage rental property"

"How to start a business from the ground up"

"How to simplify marketing campaigns"

"How to live like Keith Richards"

Well, you get the gist of it.

Anyway, these can give you a basic PLAN of where to go and what to do... which can be very reassuring to the reader.  It was for us.  Naturally, like anyone else jumping into something head first, we were afraid of the possible surprises that may arise if IT DOESN'T GO AS PLANNED.

So, when we began, we were constantly trying to figure out a "fool-proof" PLAN that could not fail.  A plan set in stone without any detours in sight.  More importantly, no surprises.

This, we found out, is impossible.  Not only is it unreasonable to think there will not be any surprises, its very unhealthy.   The stuff that doesn't go as planned is what makes the day to day adventures even that much more exciting.  It's the stuff you can't take away from any manual, any book, or any documentary that will ultimately keep you going.

On Saturday around 11am, as I was watching 500 people gathering for the Jeremiah's Place 5k and donating over $10,000 to the cause, I received a text message from our chief programmer that read:

 "The new mobile advertisements are now being picked, logged in our database, and billed!  We are ready!"

 Unbelievable news from our chief programmer, 500 people contributing something amazing, and 65 degree weather...


The way I see it..

The How To books are a basic outline of what to do in order to accomplish something,

But it's stuff that you can't read in the books that will ultimately get you there...

it only means one thing...

As I have recently been trying to fully understand the flow of payroll taxes and the BS that is included within them, our tech department has been crushing out the next advancements that are much more interesting... and will be seen this summer :)

Two days ago, they showed me the next piece of the puzzle.  To be honest, it is our future. It is glorious. 

Afterwards, they asked me for suggestions and/or any ideas.

However, since their progress reminded me of the first time I saw Geena Davis in 3rd grade, I knew not to interrupt what the mad scientists are building.  They are truly onto something.

And I believe:
If it is working...and working very well, and any involvement will disrupt any bit of progress, THEN you do not mess with it.


Why change up lines in hockey if the player combinations are producing?

Why cancel the show "Eerie Indiana" if its a damn good show?

Why interrupt any bit of progress at this stage in the game?


The answer:  You don't.

Summer can't come soon enough.  

otherside...

This week is the final week of undergrad school for a few of our interns at Duquesne University.  Some will continue to Law School, some are moving back home to take the next step in life, some are taking a trip to Budapest to admire the Hungarian culture and tapestries for a few weeks.

This time of year always makes me think of my last week in school.  I still remember sitting on a bench after my last final, knowing that real life was about to begin.  To be honest, I was excited as hell.

Back then, I did not know what I wanted to do with my life.  So, I was only concerned with the grades I received....rather than the answers I took home with me for the future.


I was able to read the books and then regurgitate that information back on the test at the end of the semester.  Nothing really soaked in beyond what i needed to know for the test.  And to be honest, it was forgotten very soon after it.

The reason:  I was only concerned with the grade...not the answers. 

BEYOND A CERTAIN POINT IN LIFE...the answers you take home are what will help you in the future.  Not the grades.

In school, I was always a B student.  I was content with B's and I always said I was never as smart as the A students.  Looking back, I think deep down inside, I just didn't try as hard as them.

And that's what school's job is:  To expose the ones that try... and the ones that don't. 


With school, and basically anything... you get out of it, what you put into it. I learned this lesson a little too late.  

I should have tried harder.  I should have learned the answers, the whys behind them, understood them, and never forgot them.  The grades should have been my 2nd priority. 


----
I recently sat down and talked to a sales manager of a very large corporation. 

He gave me some insight on the number of revenue streams that are necessary for his company to survive and how they track what is/isn't working.


I asked him many questions that took him by surprise. 

His answers will help us in June.

I care about the answers much more now.  I guess that's just a part of life.


And I think that's what Life's job is:  to expose the one's who care... and the ones that don't.

B's are no longer good enough for me...or for us.

do it...

.

Below is an excerpt from a song I wrote a few years ago.  Still holds true…

Lying in your bed, with her still in your head

Thinking of all that went wrong

But there’s no more pain, like a bullet to the brain

When you know what you want out of life and what you need to say

Tired of being a slob, Gonna find that dream job

It’s time to put it all on the line

It will be a long fight, but l’ll make it all right

Cause the only way to get what you want is to go all the way

even crazier to stay...

Awhile back, I used to work the 5am - 9am shift at a local gym.  Like I have said before, you meet all kinds of people at the gym at 5am. 

Right around 8/9 am, the older crowd will roll in for the Silver Sneaker classes...Coffee consumption went up, the music slowed down, and the conversations got interesting.

One day out of nowhere, a frequent member that everyone loved, told us that he was leaving the gym.  The man was around 68 years old, retired, and lived by himself.  Everyone was stunned. 

"Where are you going and why?" asked the gang.


He told the coffee crew that through his "connections" (underground ties if you know what I mean) , he found an old friend he worked with many years ago.  He couldn't date her because he was married at the time.  He had not spoken to her in approximately 15 years.   And since his wife died 4 years ago, he was gonna visit her and give it a shot. 

If it worked out, he would sell his house, his cars, and everything in Pittsburgh and move down south with her. Everyone thought he was crazy.   Everyone.
I remember him saying "It would be crazy for me NOT to find out."


2 weeks later he came back to the gym to say his goodbyes.  He told us that he visited her in South Carolina and hit it off with her again. The only problem is that now she is married. But, in their week together, she agreed to divorce her current husband and get together with him.  ONE WEEK!

This man decided to put everything on the line just to find out.  The woman he was going to see was doing the same. Everything.

Before he left, I told him that his story was one of the most craziest things I have ever heard.

His reply was "It would be even crazier of me to stay."


I heard through the grapevine that the two eventually got married.
I guess he was right.

---
This story always makes me think of the early, early days of GoNextWorld.  Everyone, and I mean everyone thought we were crazy to put it all on the line, give it all up and leaving our jobs to pursue something that is not etched in stone.

I guess the way we felt is similar to the man in the story...
"It would be even crazier to stay."

keep writing...

If it's not worth reading, then it's not worth writing.  

-------

If it's not worth writing, then it's not worth living.

When you're 65 years old, sitting on the deck of your dream house, grilling some burgers for the get together that night with your friends and family, listening to some Buffett, drinking lemonade with your significant other, throwing the tennis ball for Palzy III...a story worth writing is all that's left. 

But, it's really the beginning.

keep writing. 

 

work your magic...

I write every day because it forces me to dig... for material, for clarity, and for purpose.  I have always found pride in being a ditch digger.  To force yourself to do things that you do not want to do is really tough, but it can get you to find some amazing treasures within the world... and within yourself.

As a landscaper years ago, I loved being placed in front of a giant brush field, in 95 degree weather, with bees attacking and told by the property owner "work your magic."
After working 12 hours, losing tons of water weight, and receiving wicked sun burn, I had very little left in the tank.  However, I always looked at it as a way to test myself:  How far will I go before I just can't/won't go anymore?

It requires you to do WHATEVER it takes to redirect your concentration towards something other than the awful experience you are doing at that moment.  You need to put your mind at ease...or somewhere else.
 For me, what did the trick was the right song & thoughts of the next few years (the light at the end of the tunnel).

By forcing yourself to do things you do not want to do, you acquire certain tools that will only help in the days to come.  Tools that will help you to dig further and faster.  Days that you considered "tough" or "difficult" THEN...are not "tough" or "difficult" NOW or in the future.


That is why I ask myself one question each time we consider adding a new person to our team: "Is this person willing to dig?" 

The way I see it, a person that is willing to dig ...is willing to do whatever it takes to find those amazing treasures with us.


How far will you go?  If you're like us and think "as far as it takes". Then, grab a shovel and work your magic.

an object in motion...

"An object in motion stays in motion."

   

The same law could apply to anyone trying accomplish something worthwhile. 

Too much waiting and too much rest is one step closer to stagnancy... which is one step closer to mediocrity. 



Keep Moving.  It's the only way to live.


 (Now, imagine that poster to be the size of Harry from Harry and the Henderson's.)

light it up...

Simple is good. 

I think that is why I have always loved camping so much.  It brings everything back to the basics. Things are very simple.

All you gotta do is:

Prep the wood/kindling, light the fire, and just keep the music going. And the rest takes care of itself.  

above is a picture of a camping trip back in 2008

Sometimes, life can get pretty crazy;  Bills due, tax deadlines, different strategies, new ideas for GNW, problems to solve, blogs to write, palzy's diet, ideas for a horror movie someday, etc.   When that happens, it's always best to break it down and simplify them.

The lessons I learned from when I was a kid still apply:

Prep what we will use today, light the fire, and just keep the music going.  The rest will take care of itself.   

looking forward to...

Dead ends.  The goal is to stay away from them... and to do whatever it takes to never hit them. It's important to wake up each day and look forward to the long road still in front of you.

When you are trying to find your way through starting a business, a new job, or a new endeavor, there is one thing that always cross your mind:  Will it eventually hit a dead end?


Will I eventually come to a point where it cannot go any further?   


In starting a business, this is especially true.  We must take steps and make decisions that ensure longevity and leave us room to always expand.  I constantly ask  "How creative can we get with this?"

looking back -

Our first endeavor - Entertainment and events, back in 2009.  We realized this had a dead end.  There was a point we would hit where we couldn't take it any further.  So, we took it one step further....

Basic Card Rewards program.  We realized that this had a limit.  Eventually, we would hit the dead end.  So, we took it one step further...

Universal Rewards Program via your Mobile Phone.  We realized we were onto something.  However, we still needed to take it great lengths if we wanted something that was limitless.  So, we took it one step further...

Universal Mobile Rewards w/ targeted advertisements.  Once we smartened up and realized that advertisements are the basic language of the business world, we made adjustments.  So, we took it one step further.


Now - 
Enter #ProjectHailMary
(The one that arrives in June. )

Software that tracks, shares, and rewards progress.  Our bills are still paid from targeted advertisements, but now we offer a service that we can truly branch off of FOREVER.  

And that is the goal:  to plant a seed in these early stages that never stops growing, that never runs out of road, that never hits a dead end.

A company branded with the word "Progress".  It leaves so many possibilities on the table ...and many roads around the dead ends.

#ProjectHailMary in early June, Social Distortion June 26th, 75 degree weather this week.

there is a lot to look forward to...
I can't wait.

 Front row then.  Will be again :)

make your move...

Intuition.  You've all heard of it.  Many people think of a "Mother's Intuition".  It's there to protect you.

I think everyone's got it.  But, only a few people listen to it.

It basically means to make a decision based off feeling, not rationality.  It's knowing something without knowing why you know it...and you can't explain it to anyone else.

It's all just feeling.

(Mock 1 of 6ft retractable sign for participating destinations)

Intuition will tell you "Something is wrong and needs to be dealt with immediately."  If you listen to it, it will prompt action.  Action will lead to a resolution.  Ignoring it will only cause your biggest fears to come true. 

The secret is to listen...and respond quickly.

When starting a business, time seems to speed up quite a bit.  Therefore, there is less time to make a decision and react.
Intuition is a major player in starting a business.  Somethings cannot be taught or learned.  You just have to feel and react.


HOW you respond is just as important as WHEN you respond.

I'm a big believer in:

When your gut talks to you, listen up, and be ready to make your move... 

more than you know...

In the beginning, I thought the only time we would "Pitch" an idea towards people was for funding from an investor.  I was wrong.

We've come to the point that every big decision, every new idea, every new direction must be pitched to the rest of the team to help them see what's going on in our heads and where we want to go.This happens in stages.

Last night, I pitched a new idea to the marketing department of GNW.

And I have learned that pitching is not as simple as a gentle discussion.  It's about taking an idea as far as you can (with visuals and demos) and then presenting it.  The purpose is to have them see EXACTLY what you are thinking, so there is no room for  miscommunication.  I believe miscommunication is the ultimate reason why things fail.

Once the idea is refined or approved, it will then be presented to the technical side of GNW.   The reason why has to do with time.  A pitch that is not clear, even if it is a good idea, will ultimately be rejected.  Always.  The first impression of an idea or product is more important than you know. 

Having an entire team on the same page at all times is difficult.  It does not happen over night.  It happens in stages.  But, every stage must be sharp.  If it is done well, the next stage will be reached.

It took me a long time to realize that some things are rejected not because its a bad idea or product..... it's because its presented in such a poor fashion.   (Speaking of poor presentations, it kinda reminds me of high school when I had Roxette or Maria Vidal playing on repeat in my car.  Now, that is a bad first impression.)


It only took us four years to realize that we needed to do a better job of communicating within the company.  The way I see it, I never did learn anything from the days that went as planned.  It was always the days that beat us down and caused us to figure out why things failed. 

A better pitch, a better product, a better team was the result...

Always.

just give me a reason...

On a recent 4 hour road trip, I had to listen a radio station that I personally did not prefer (which meant there was NO chance to hear any Social D).  Unfortunate, I know.

In Pittsburgh, the pop radio station is 96.1.  It's one of those stations that plays the same 12 songs every hour. 

I must have heard Pink's "Just give me a reason" at least 5 times during the trip.  Now, I don't have anything against Pink.  (In fact, she reminds me of a girl I dated back in college.  Yeah, the one I met at a Halloween store).  I just dont like when a song from 96.1 is stuck in my head.


However, just before we started GoNextWorld, the phrase "Just give me a reason" was uttered over and over.

I remember sitting at my job on rainy day back in 08', feeling like I was wasting my early twenties, and down-right bored with life.

Over and over, I thought "Just give me a reason to..."

-quit my job
-finally put my own ideas into action
-change my career
-put my reputation on the line
-risk losing financial stability for the next few years
-risk my health
-give up the fun, social lifestyle for awhile
-go against what everyone else I knew was doing
-say goodbye to those I knew very well
-wake up, snap out of it, and trust your instincts



Today, I was able to see some of the projects we have been working on for the past couple of months COME TO LIFE.

During a conference call with our programmers, they guided me through how advertisers will launch a campaign.  This is the first time I was able to see it work.  It is the skeleton of what our entire future will be built upon. 

In addition, one of the graphic artists sent over the final template of the 6 foot retractable signs that will be displayed in certain franchises over the U.S. 

Waking up to a 70 degree day, seeing the new additions the team has put together, realizing how much further we are today than that rainy day back in 08',   all of the reasons are right in front of you; clear as day.

Even though I might have to listen to a few bad songs along the way, I believe the journey is always worth it....

Just give me a reason...

forget most, remember some

The way I look at it, this weekend was the end of winter.  It's time to pull the bikes out, clean off the grill in the backyard, and put the 3 layers of hooded sweatshirts in the bottom drawer. 

You see, I am one of those people that is truly affected by the sun.  So, when the temperature hits 70, I feel a new level of freedom in the air.  

And the way I see it, when you hope and pray for something for months,  like comfortable weather, ... and then it finally arrives - you better be outside!

To celebrate, we treated this weekend like a mini-vacation.  Fallingwater, Evil Dead, and a night on the town. 

The information that I learned from the tour of Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpiece was pretty incredible.  Much like a company, the brilliance of an architectural design is all in the details.  This is the stuff that most people do not notice unless they look VERY , VERY closely.  You wouldn't believe some of the stuff Frank Lloyd Wright added to house that the average person would never pick up on. 

I can compare it to the programming department of our company.  They are the architects that add the details that the average person will never see.  Most people will never know what it takes to have something work, but if they looked close enough, they would be awestruck.

As we near #ProjectHailMary, its the job of our sales and marketing department to make the people look.

But it's the programmers that will leave them awestruck.

I suppose thats the way its always gonna be with everything:

The outside of the "house" is what makes it memorable... but the inside is what makes it unforgettable.

6.1.13 - there will be a new level of freedom in the air.

before you're gone...

There are many things I want to do before i visit the real next world.  Some people call it their "bucket list".  I just call it my "to-do" list.

Every day, I wake up a write down a list of the must dos for the day.  I can't rest easy until they are all crossed out.

One thing on my list is to see FallingWater, the crazy, unique home built home built by Frank Lloyd Wright in the woods of Pennsylvania.

Fortunately, this weekend, I have the chance to cross that one out.

The only thing that I know about it so far, is that it was designed and built in the 30's for a family known as the Kaufmanns.  Rumor has it that they were just as unique and different as the architect that designed it.

Now, as I have said before, I have always been a big history buff.  Anything on the subjects like Titanic, Wild West, and Bonnie and Clyde, I find extremely fascinating.

 It always seems that people that have grand visions of something or that have a unique way of looking at the world, somehow always seem to cross paths.

The trip to FallingWater - "one of the  most unique homes in the world", will be an experience.  I can't wait.

If it's a story of different people, from different backgrounds, that have grand visions of doing something very different, you know I'm ready to listen..... 

It sure sounds like a story the entire GNW team will want to tell one day :) ......

Somehow, the crazy ones always find each other.

keep knocking...

Before GoNextWorld started to take form, I wanted to see all aspects of the sales world - phone sales, door to door, Business 2 business, email, social media, etc... so I did them all. 

There has always been a bad stigma attached to door to door sales.  However, there are many valuable lessons you can learn from it.

Door to door salesmen need to have thick skin.  Rejection is a VERY common thing.  Very.

People are inside watching Judge Judy and here you come knocking on their door telling them about a product they may or may not need.  Immediately, they most likely think you are a Jehova's witness trying to preach the scripture.  It is your job to tell them who you are and what you have to offer in the shortest amount of time.

A couple things I learned:

•  the better the product, the more people want it, and the easier it is to sell, obviously. 

• the importance of clear, natural communication.  Never say anything in 10 words, if you can say it in 8 words.  In this case, more is not better. 
• Trust is not only important.... it is the MOST important aspect.   Do they trust you and/or the company you are representing?  

Now, if you are reading this and thinking "I will NEVER be a door to door salesman in my life.  A lot would have to go wrong for me to end up being a door to door salesman."  Then, you are in the majority.

However, whatever you do in life, I believe we are all somehow just knocking on doors.  Some are trying to get that dream job.  Some are trying to find Mr/Ms right.  Some are simply out trying new things.  And I believe the things learned in door to door sales can apply:

Some people will slam the door on your face before you can even say your name.  Just move on to the next door.
Some people will not answer their door.   Just move on to the next one.
Some other door to door salesman for other companies will threaten you for being in their territory.  Stand your ground and fight back.

All you gotta do is offer a damn good, trustworthy product.  And the right doors will open.  Just keep knocking...


come June, #ProjectHailMary is all about opening the right doors.

culture is hard to forget...

In a blog last year, I wrote about the importance of a company's culture.  We at GoNextWorld take many things seriously:  Palzy's diet, keeping tradition, and most of all - Culture.

Below, is an article by our chief publicist, James Saxton.

Tradition and Culture.  Two must-have ingredients...

 ------------------------------

Shall We Dine?

(taken from http://gonextworld.tumblr.com/)

       Like many others, this past weekend I celebrated Easter with my family. It is time that I cherish greatly and will always make the delicious home-cooked dinner a tradition within this time. That meal, just like Christmas and Thanksgiving dinner, is one that I look forward to each year, not only because of the food, but more importantly it gives us a chance to bring our families truly more closer than we often ever get. No matter what cultural background, eating meals with one another rather than alone has been a tradition througout history. Not surprising, but when you think about it there is just something about the act of dining together that is always special, whether its at a fancy French resturant or just a microwave TV dinner, we enjoy and prefer to eat meals with others. 
      Easter obviously has other reasons for why it brings families closer, but the traditional meal that it entails should not be understated. Food brings people together in so many ways and I, for one, love that fact. Recently, GoNextWorld has organized team dinners every other week so that we can really communicate and stratagize with most (if not all) our members together at one time. Its been a huge success so far and has really brought the whole team closer. Our next team dinner is a week from today and, apparently, CEO Mike Fallat, is taking on the job of not only hosting but cooking as well. Whether or not he can pull his cullinary skills together in time is up in the air, but hey, like I said, food brings people closer—whether its microwave TV dinner or not.
…… Just Kidding Mike : )
 

the ties that bind...

Loose ends.  I hate them.


Some loose ends take time, sometimes a very long time to remedy. 

For the past few months, we have been jockeying back and forth on how to connect two ideas that will be the drivers for the next few stages of the company.

Sleepless nights, late night runs, conversations with the GNW mascot (as he sleeps), and many attempts at trying to get my mind off of it; hoping that the answer will come one night. I knew it would take time and frustration before the storm would clear.

Last night, may have been the night that the rain finally stopped.

Sitting at the gym at 11pm; yawning and listening to Green Day, a solution came clear.

Immediately, the yawning stopped and the music got louder.  I think we may have what we are looking for.



Finding the right solution ...or making the right connection may take time.  But, once you do, it will be very tough to break.

The way it should be...

good habits...

This past weekend, I was grabbing a drink at the bar around 2 am. A man sitting by himself started talking to me about his trips to Oklahoma.  At that point, my only concern was to get my drinks and run away.  Before I could take two steps away, he asked what I did for a living.  I told him I have been working for a business for past couple of years that we built from the ground up.

He said "I have been trying to start a business creating and selling cottage cheese.  Any advice?"

Before I could process the fact that cottage cheese is on this man's mind at 2am, I answered with a quick response "create good habits".  Then, I kindly and gently ran to my table.

My response was only meant to be a quick getaway.  But, once I got back to my table, I realized that's exactly what the early stages are all about.

Early on, in just about anything, It's all about creating good habits.  Figuring out a schedule, a budget, and system and keeping it.  No matter what.  The rest will eventually take care of itself...

even if you are selling cottage cheese.