not so far away...

Ok, June is almost here.  I think it's only time to break it down and just give you the facts.  So, grab some keuring-made coffee and bowl of Corn pops, and soak it all in.

#ProjectHailMary is brought to light by:


Businesses/Destinations are added by GoNextWorld members for FREE.  Businesses receive a call from GoNextWorld explaining that they have been added to a website that tracks, shares, and rewards progress.  GoNextWorld requires an email to send free updates of who is using their business.  If the business chooses to offer a reward, they will be given $X in money to advertise directly on GoNextWorld to their customers/potential customers. 

Members that visit GNW businesses that are offering a reward will still be rewarded by GNW with something else :).


Businesses can offer an incentive/reward for people to visit/"punch-in" their business.  For example: "Punch-In via GoNextWorld to receive a FREE appetizer on your 10th visit!  "Visit 10 times and #HitYourMark for a free appetizer/ 10% off a meal / free sample of Marburger milk".
By punching in via GoNextWorld, consumers will be sharing their business automatically on facebook or twitter to thousands of people (for free).  Consumers will do it for the reward that is offered by each business.

(6ft banner seen at some participating locations to help promote it)

Anytime a person "lands" at a business, it is accounted for by GoNextWorld's merchant services.  Businesses receive Free automated emails daily, weekly, or monthly, showing how many first time customers, repeat customers, total number of customers


Here are a few of the original Mock-ups before Graphics Department gets their hands on it -

Businesses can make adjustments to prices, products, incentives/the reward for customers to promote on social media, advertising and marketing.

Then, they will be able to see if it actually works via the FREE progress reports sent to their email.
----
AND REMEMBER, Businesses can still join GoNextWorld Universal Rewards, which can even dissect their progress even more and offer just one more reward for customers to visit :)

-----

Advertising - 

Businesses that look at the free reports will see who their top clientele is.  They will see who is most likely to promote their business on social media.  People who promote on social media are actually helping their business (not only by shopping there, but also by spreading the word about that business.  This is where the reward comes in :)

Businesses receive the email updates and can adjust ad campaigns immediately on GoNextWorld.  Through their ad campaign portal, they can create as many as 50 campaigns, adjusting how much they want to bid per Xperience they want to own, adjusting the budget per month/per day, and exactly who they want to see it and when.

Minimum bid is 10 cents.  Current Max bid is set at $5.00. (this will change after month 3)  This is decided by the advertiser.

In the event that Coca-Cola wants to own every xperience, we have the ability to opt in our SPAN function.  This will protect all other advertisers from any chance of a monopoly taking place.


Every time an ad xperience is shown, the amount will be deducted from Advertisers Account balance funds that is seen in the ad login portal.  Businesses can add funds at anytime.

Social Media aspect - Sharing is one step to inspiring.  Inspiring promotes action for others to do the same.

Just landed @subway via @gonextworld! #HitYourMark for a reward too! GoNextWorld.com
— Mike Fallat (@NextWorldMike) May 30, 2013

GoNextWorld will not only track, share, and reward progress for a business.  It will for all people too!
Health and Fitness will be the first sector we offer. 

Mock 1 -

Just ran 7.00 miles and tracked my progress via @gonextworld! #HitYourMark too! GoNextWorld.com
— John Donovan (@Jonovan7) May 30, 2013

But it won't just be running, it will be in all aspects of one's life.  People always try harder when they know others are watching.  And when they actually get to their destination, they want others to get there too.



After all, getting to where you want to be is the ultimate reward.


#ProjectHailMary is just about to open her eyes....

don't dare drop back....

Anyone in sales that earns their income via commission realizes that slowing down can only hurt them.  Slowing down on calls and dropping back one's drive can be detrimental.  Less food on the table may result.

Any business that's trying to grow realizes that each day is a chance for even just one more person to be a potential customer (maybe for life).  Slowing down on advertising and dropping back on ideas can be detrimental.  It may slowly slip away and less time remaining may result.

Even that friend you know that is trying to quit smoking cigarettes, or lose 5 lbs, or run 20 miles, should realize that slowing down or dropping back on their efforts can be detrimental.  That certain feeling of beating something may never be felt.



And that feeling is damn sure addictive...

---------

soon be home

That feeling you get:

When you seem to be falling.... and you can't stop.
When you can't wake up from a bad dream...
When everyday is an expense... and the outflows constantly outweigh the inflows...
When you look down at the scale and it doesnt seem to move in the preferred direction...
When you can't seem to shake the cold....
When it seems you are not getting any closer to your goal....
When everyone you ask says no instead of yes....
When the wind is taken from the sails...
When you have been unjustly passed over for a job promotion...
When there is no balance...



AND THEN ONE DAY, it all seems to even out.  

You are no longer falling and sliding down, you finally wake up, inflows match the outflows, the scale moves your favor, you start to heal up, they start to say "yes", the wind starts to comes back, you start to find you're true calling, and it starts to all even out.

If I were to draw it...it would look sort of like:

 You get the picture?


It was only after we started this company is when I realized that falling is just an essential part in getting home...



---Ad campaign login screen mock 2---

-------------------

it's still the road that never ends...

This weekend, I watched a documentary about H.P. Lovecraft, an American author of horror and science stories in the early 1900's.

Not only did he spend a lifetime taking story telling in a new direction, he also changed a genre forever.

One of his more famous quotes is below:

“The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown” 

Fear is the common denominator among all people that try and do something out of the ordinary.  When there is no map home and no map to safety, then it's only natural to be afraid. 

Everyone experiences it sometime in their life.  It will either cause you to slow down or it will speed you up.

Fear is not the enemy.  Inactivity is.  

Don't let it slow you down.

 

tags:

#ProjectHailMary #HitYourMark #Palzyonachair

born to...

It's the Friday before Memorial day weekend!  Normally, I would include a short story with some type of meaning attached to it and a video of song that's currently stuck in my head.  --- Maybe the story of when I ran into the Pittsburgh Penguin's former head coach, Ed Johnston, and the only thing I could have him sign was a used napkin or a brochure for windows (I chose the brochure).

And I would probably include a link to Green Day's "Brutal Love"


But, like i said, today is Friday with nothing but sun showing up on the weather forecast.

So, I figured to settle with a wicked quote... and a must-see music video that had a budget probably comparable to our monthly cable bill.

"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat. " - T. Roosevelt

Pens vs Sens Game 5 tonight. 
#ProjectHailMary is near
Ideal weather to ride


Let's have some fun this weekend.

wherever the night takes you...

Do you remember in 2nd grade when your teacher would allow the classroom to take a break and to let everyone grab a water fountain break?

It was usually in late May and the air conditioner seemed to always be broken. 

I still remember her screaming for everyone to get in a single line and to not skip ahead.  However, some of the kids had the initiative to sneak downstairs to the other water fountain (to the colder, more free flowing water fountain).  Sure, it was risky, but c'mon, the water tasted better and they didn't have to wait!


In the end, the students that found another/better/faster way, were the ones that succeeded..and got what they wanted.


This lesson learned at 8 years old, can be applied for years to come.  The other day I received a phone call from one of our interns, Carolyn.  She told me some exciting news.

For the past few months, she and another one of our interns, James, have been waiting to hear back from a few of the law schools they have applied to.  The entire time, they have been submitting applications and getting in line among thousands of other people.

Both students have incredible resumes and high grades.  For some reason, they were not hearing back from schools.  Time and money were becoming limited, so they needed to make a decision.  They had the initiative to step out of line and make a bold and risky move.  They both hopped in a car and drove a crazy distance to visit one of their dream schools, Charleston School of Law.  They made an appointment with the DEAN to learn more about the school.


And guess what?  After meeting with DEAN, seeing the gorgeous weather, and getting the grand tour, they both were ACCEPTED.  Their initiative was noticed.  And that means one helluva a lot to people that can actually get things done.

Just like the water fountain with the line of people that stretches around the hall,... there is always a better one nearby.  And with that one, you don't have to wait for it.

It just takes initiative.


Congratulation Carolyn and Jim!  Well done on finding another way!    

you are not alone...

There's a common phrase that circulates the world of entrepreneurship:

 "If you can survive the first 5 years, then you've earned your seat at the table."

And I know why.  It's because for the first 5 years, you are constantly learning the ropes and discovering how the business world operates, how people operate, and how you operate.

We are currently in year 4...and still have miles of dark woods to travel before we can earn our seat at the table.   However, I have realized that even though the woods are dark, it shouldn't stop you from enjoying the run.


The first 4 years have taught me another phrase that I use quite frequently:   "It may be stressful, but its never boring."

I believe stress at 28 years old is a small price to pay if you don't want to yawn all throughout the work day for the rest of your life.  And I believe that stress will eventually dissipate once we've earned that seat at that table.

You see, when you are deep in the woods with miles left to go, its common for people to feel alone, which makes the journey more difficult.

But that  feeling is wrong.


The reality is:
Along the way, you get to meet others trying to earn their own seat at the table.
You get to work closely on a day to day basis with people that are destined to earn their seat (or they already have).
And when you are sitting on the deck, listening to some Van, contemplating the next steps, setting the plates for dinner, you finally realize that the journey may be long, but you are now not alone.


Are you trying to earn your seat at the table?  

still alive....

Delays are inevitable ... and they are never fun.  However, its just a part of life and of doing business.

Traffic jams, miscommunication, and even bad weather.  They all slow you down.

The fact of the matter is: delays hurt. 

The trick is to somehow find a way to weather the storm, until what you are waiting for finally arrives.
This means keeping yourself busy on something else and doing everything you can to keep it from slowing you down in other parts of your life. 

Here is an excerpt from an email I wrote today to one of the hardest working people that I know:

"I can understand that completion of the project will be another week.

But actually, its now 2 weeks past when we first said it would be done. 

As you probably know, every day that passes without a finished product, it costs money that goes somewhere else other than to you, and the rest of the team.
Given that GoNextWorld costs roughly 1500 per month to run (attorney bills, electric, partial rent, gas, services,) without including payroll, just remember that any delay will ultimately cost the company money.  Thus, making a 200 dollar project to always be a 200 dollar project.  A two week delay is basically costing the company approximately $750 that I have to find from somewhere else.

If we agree on a date the week prior and something comes up and you cannot finish it, I understand completely.  Please, just let us know if there will be a delay so we can adjust accordingly. 

And since john and scott have worked tirelessly for the past 5 months on that project, its almost time for the world to see it.   

We all know you do amazing work, so we know you will not ever half ass a job.  For that, a delay is understandable.

We are all waiting on you wizard. 

So, work your magic, sir.  Cant wait to see it next monday!"


You see, I believe life tests you by seeing how far you will go and how long you will wait for what you really want.

Fortunately,  I am a true believer in:  If you want something bad enough, it will eventually come.
Not when you think you need it..... but when you do need it.

When the storm passes, and you're still alive... you will realize that what you have been wanting so bad, has finally arrived.

meet ya on the roof...

Anytime a man hits a new stage in his life, I think its only natural to be reflective of how he got there.

...or when he attends a bachelor party, ventures to the roof of a cottage at the Oglebay resort with a few good friends and a case of beer at 4am.


You see, I believe the beginning of any story is just as important as the end.

This weekend was full of lots of stories.  Stories that will be told even when we are 60.  Some I have almost completely forgot about.  But, it's never ok to forget how you got there.



This June, GoNextWorld will be hitting a new stage in its life.  It's only natural to be reflective of how we got there.



My very first paycheck -

 The evolution of GoNextWorld:

    

....----------------------------------------------
Come June, I'll meet ya on the roof ...

---------------------

chained to fate...

At our morning meeting today, John and I were going over what is in-store for the festivities this weekend.  It reminded us of one of the ski trips we organized in 2008.  I guess it has something to do with: a group of people visiting for the weekend, a cottage located outside of PA, and the anticipation for the famous homemade pasta dinner on Saturday night.

Our conversation jolted some memories of things that didn't necessarily go as planned.

 For example...
-A few days before the ski trip, I remember John and I drove around on garbage night for hours, collecting dozens of plastic milk cartons.  We wanted to have the only cottage with milk cartons containing lit candles.  Well, the 14 degree weather and windstorm destroyed that idea the moment we tried to light em up. 

-I never expected someone to tear down my disco ball and spot light and punt them out into the snow.

-We never expected that both kitchen tables would be broken in half by morning.


Looking back, all of these mistakes could have been avoided.

We could have saved 12 hours of our life and left the milk cartons in the recycle bins where they belong.
We could have installed the disco ball and spot light a little more out of reach.
We could have placed a sign on the table that says "NO DANCING".


It's always the mistakes that teach the hard lessons.  In fact, that's the only way we learn.
If we didn't, GoNextWorld would still be driving around on garbage night instead of working on something a little more memorable, like...

where does the searching stop?

I believe we are all searchers.  Whether its for that next big thrill, a comfortable lifestyle, a person that can keep your attention, a dream job, the ultimate ride, the best place to bury a brand new bone (applicable if you're GNW's mascot),  or even the best deal on bananas in town... we are searching for something.


Some just search a little further and a little longer than others.  
  
Throughout this 4 year journey of raising GoNextWorld from cradle to early adulthood, it has become quite evident that during our search for GNW's next step, that life is moving by quite fast.  Any "downtime" is for  restoring mental and physical health. 

Fortunately, this weekend is my friend's bachelor party in Ohio.  It's our chance to see some old faces we haven't seen for quite some time.  A weekend set for forgetting about our own personal searches and celebrating the end of a good friend's own personal search.

I'm sure it will be filled with some much needed golfing, many tom hanks' movie quotes, and some stories that may or may not end up in this blog.  One things for certain, the search for that 'next great moment' will never end.


What are you searching for?  When does it stop?

ain't got no time to grow old...

One day, during my door to door sales days for a window company awhile back, I came across a young 25 yr old lad cutting his grass.  He was running around trying to get all of the yardwork done before the bad weather set in.  I remember him wearing a Sublime t-shirt that said "ain't got no time to grow old". After speaking to him for a few minutes, he expressed that he needed windows quite badly.  So, I was able to help him out.


Before I left, he mentioned a pretty interesting story of how his grandfather created one of the top 3 leading steak restaurant chains currently in the U.S.  If I didn't think business cards are worthless, I probably would have/should have given him a GoNextWorld card. 

I guess you never know who is gonna be on the other side of that door.

...the dirt will wash away

"Progress should be tracked, shared, and rewarded. We do that for you."

- I think this is the best statement that describes the direction we are heading with GoNextWorld.


The way I see it, people try harder when they know other people see their work, when others can be affected, or influenced by their actions.

For example, I know my cousin Mark is curious about the progress of the restoration of my dream car : (his former car).  Not only am I trying to get it done to drive it, I want to get it finished so he can drive it too.  He holds me accountable, and for that, I have an extra jump in my step to complete the project.

Also, I believe:

People run faster if they know their being timed.
People try harder to lose weight if they know they are being held accountable by someone else.
People write better if they know someone else is going to read it.


When their goal is achieved, it feels damn good.  And it MAY motivate others to do the same.  A person that achieves something difficult can then influence those around them. 

Like I said in the last blog, I believe motivation can come from anywhere...especially from those you know.


Finishing the mission may be messy, but once you do,... the dirt will always wash away.



Progress should be tracked, shared, and rewarded.  We do that for you.

Coming soon: #HitYourMark




here is just a test program for now, so we can test everything that we want to add into the new GNW software...

Also, here's a must see video from coffee buddha

...when you close your eyes?

I can think of many times when I opened my eyes and saw what I really wanted to be there.


When I was kid, I remember closing my eyes right before I opened my Christmas present.

Or

Sitting at bar, closing my eyes hoping the jukebox would play one of the songs that I requested instead of a loop of Diamond Rio songs.

Or

Waking up and realizing that the night before wasn't just a dream :)

 ....

Closing my eyes and being excited to open them wasn't always the feeling.

Awhile back, I remember being afraid to open them.


Like the time...

when I would look in the mirror, and open them to me wearing a janitors shirt at 10 o'clock at night.

Or

When I would open them to realize I was stuck at a Friedmann's supermarket, (near the cooler section), counting the hours down to 6pm.

Or

Waking up and realizing that the night before was just a dream.

------------

To not look forward to opening your eyes is scary.  There are no two ways about it.

Sometimes, all it takes is a little push.  I believe that a little push, or inspiration, can come from anywhere.   For me, it wasn't from words that I read in a book from someone I did not know, or from my facebook newsfeed from people that have never done it themselves. It comes from the actions and living examples of those that I know or from the people that I admire.

This is the basic premise of our next few additions. -  If motivation to #HitYourMark comes from one another, then why not incorporate that idea into our future software updates. 
-----------


I recently opened my eyes and saw something I really wanted to be there...

 --------

 So, are you afraid or excited when you close your eyes???

Coming Attractions...

If you know me at all, you know I love the movie-going experience.  Yes, even the previews. 

 I love seeing what is to come, what to get excited for, and what is next to add to the list.

The previews are geared to the genre of movie you are there to see. 
 So, when you buy a ticket to see Evil Dead or Iron Man 3, you won't be seeing any previews for movies like "Smurfs 2", or "John Cusack's Poetry Montages", which is beautiful.


Having the ability to see what's to come... is almost as exciting as what is HERE NOW.

Seeing a few of our latest additions -


View All of your campaigns:

Add funds to continue your campaigns:

Create A Campaign:

And then taking a moment to view the previews regarding the #HITYOURMARK tools we will be adding.

It reassures us of that all-important principle:

Ultimately, you're mission is to see what is here NOW.... 
However, you can't help but get excited of what will be there tomorrow.




If you like it so far, stay tuned for what is to come. :)

Coming Soon:  #HitYourMark

afraid of a ghost...

A quote by James Victore, seen below, hangs on the wall of GoNextWorld's Headquarters:


"The doubt comes not only from the inside, from your own personal critics, but also from without via our friends, family and well-wishers whose concern it is to keep you out of harm’s way and within your—or possibly their own—comfort zone. Here you need to trust yourself, lean into the fear, and resist the “be like us” mentality from a society that wants you to fit in.

Your pursuit of personal greatness challenges others to fear for their own causes, their own battles and pursuits. Your freedom is a reminder of their own imaginary restraints and limitations. Yet, for others, your confidence will be a beacon. People follow conviction, assertive advice and brave leaders, and there’s nothing more powerful than a confident man or woman."

just give me a pen and some paper...

Did you know...

Before we named the company GoNextWorld, we had a few other names.

The one that was at the top of the list in 2007 was Legend Adventures. So, for a few weeks, our website was legendadventures.com

With a pen and paper, on a back road in Chicora, PA, I scratched down the first words that people would see on our website.  (seen below)

 

Now, fast-forward almost 6 years later to January 5th, 2013.  With a pen and paper, at an Applebees in Cranberry, PA , 3 of us  scribbled down the true revenue driver of the company.  (seen below)    

I can't imagine 6 years from now.


Just grab a pen and some paper.  That's how it all starts...

it's not suppose to be perfect...

I can remember sitting at a Foodland in 2007, buying the website domain name  "gonextworld.ORG"

I can still remember sitting in that vacant house in 2009 trying to get warm and to find a place to sleep for the night just to save a little time and money.

I can remember waking up on the couch of our first office in 2011, eating my first of 3 meals that involves dry cereal that day, and running down the street to take a shower at the local gym before we met with a potential investor.


------

We never said it was suppose to be perfect.....

Actually, it wouldn't be much fun if it was.....

Than when we've first begun...

You've all seen a dog bury a bone in the backyard.

You've all seen The Shawshank Redemption when Red digs up the message left by Andy Dufrane.

You've all felt that amazing feeling of when you experience something that brings you back to a great time in your younger days.



There is something about the act of discovering something again that is sometimes even better than the first time.

It could be something you buried... it could be something you forgot about.. it could be something that was simply out of your reach.  Whatever it is, the experience can be amplified, if life stopped you from enjoying it for a long time.

-----

Over the weekend, we had another small get together that our technical division planned to showcase some of their new advancements, which  always comes with : a wicked sound setup that would rival the Coachella music festival, music from '77, and some jaw dropping GNW Ad-Xperience updates.

When we first unleashed the ability to advertise 7 months ago, it was finally a step away from the broken glass (that we were beginning to get used to).

It was an amazing feeling to discover what we could begin to do. But it was still very primitive.  And it would take a lot of time until the real idea would come to light.


On Saturday, we were able to see Round 2 of the changes. It was like discovering it all over again.  To be honest, it was even better.  An idea scratched on a piece of paper at Applebees was alive and in our hands.

A dog finding a lost treasure,
A man riding his bike for the first time after a very long winter,
and Discovering we are much closer to Project Hail Mary than expected...




few things can compare to   feeling something AGAIN ....

"Do not open until June"...

At the beginning of 6th grade in September, our teacher made us write down a few things on a piece of paper explaining:

• what we wanted to accomplish in the next year,
• and where we wanted to go,
• and the grades we expect to receive
• and  things we wanted to see happen.

Afterwards, we sealed the paper in an envelope and wrote "Do Not Open Until June".
I have no idea what I wrote down, but I'm sure it had something to do with:

•  Marry the girl from Hot Shots Part Deux
• Visit the beach for the first time
• Get straight A's
• Grow 4 feet

...Which none of it came true.  Back then, I never understood the point of that exercise.

However, I eventually got it.  It was to hold myself accountable for my own words.    It was the only way to see if what I wanted at one stage in my life...would eventually come true at another stage in my life.
The only way to do that was to write it down. 

That same type of reasoning is why I document every step we take with GoNextWorld.  When its all said and done, it will make one helluva story. 


Below are some screenshots of the new tools we are adding to the Ad Campaign functions due out in late June. 

----------------------------------------------------------------

Our new software will have tools that will aid in tracking of their progress, in all aspects - personally and business-related.

More details will be revealed once we open the envelope titled "Do not open until #ProjectHailMary in June"



When I was 19 years old, I remember doing the same thing as I did in 6th grade -  

However, the envelope reads "Do not open until I am 30".



Two Envelopes:  One I can open next month.  The other I can't open for 15 months. 



I have some time to make whatever is in those envelopes come true...  



What's in your envelope?