500 miles...

Throughout this blog, I've discussed many of the off the wall jobs i've taken in my life.  Like most, I would do just about anything in order to get by.

One i have not mentioned yet was a gig I was able to get back in college, setting up concerts at the Pittsburgh Post Gazette Pavilion (aka the First Niagra Pavillion) out in Burgettstown, Pa.

As a simple laborer, I moved all the equipment off of the truck, set up the stage, and put all of the equipment where the band's director wanted it.  (Yeah, I was basically a band roadie). It was pretty grueling, but it was cool to see all of the behind the scenes of what happens before/after a big show.

One day, I helped out with a Toby Keith concert.  Unloading instruments, speakers, cables and staging.  It took at least 4 hours just to unload the backup singer's glass stage off the truck and making sure it was all as clean as possible.

But, there was something that kinda caught me off guard during the sound check.

Ok, so we are setting a country concert, where most people are driving big red pickups, wearing flannel, and all have a can of copenhagen in their sleeves.  Its hours before the show and the band's director begins the equipment sound check.  The song that he plays over and over as loud as the speakers will go was the Proclaimer's "I would walk 500 miles".  Yes, over and over the song played.

To the rest of the crew it seemed very normal.  To me, it was something that reminded of an old high school party where the attendees would become angered by the fact 80s music was on loop.

I asked another stagehand what was the deal with the music.

He responded with "They just love to test things in unorthodox ways around here."

I told myself, "Damn, that quote is going in the book someday."






 
Here is a new article from one of our writers on the Health and Fitness division (seen in October...yes, October is near!)

Hard Core

By Alexandra Assaf

 

What the big deal about core strength? Take it from someone who learned the hard way- having a strong core is vital. Senior year of high school I blew out my back because I had focused way too much on strengthening my arms, legs, and agility and completely neglected my core. When you think about it, our core is what holds our body together!

The common misconception of core strengthening is that it’s all about getting a six pack. However, our core is a combination of our upper abdominals, lower abdominals, hips, glutes, and lower back. What core training does is help you look more sculpted and gain more support for your spine. Not only are you getting a flatter stomach, but you are also getting a stronger stomach. You’re targeting the front and backside of your body. Any movement that works your core is going to work multiple muscle groups, helping you see results quickly.

I’m not saying go cut out all crunches from your workout, just make sure you do some exercises that engage in your deeper core. Crunches are a great way to start out and build upon getting where you want to be. When you master the crunch on the matt, then you can try doing them on a Bosu. Pretty much any exercise you do on a Bosu will engage your core.

Here is a list of other core engaging exercises:

·         Russian Twists

·         Mountain climbers

·         Planks (both frontal, side, and back)

·         Squats

·         Scissor kicks

·         V-ups

·         Reverse crunches

Do each exercise twice for 1 minute, rest, and then repeat. Once you master them on the matt, try them on the Bosu!

it will haunt you forever...

I am one of those people that believe in burying the dead.  Not cremation. 

I am not against cremation at all (and those that decide in favor of it), I just believe a burial is much more ceremonial – the way a death should be.

I think it has something to do with the amount of effort required or closure or respect. 

And…it might just have something to do with what I’ve most commonly seen in my past 29 years.

I remember back in 2006 when we had to put our old dog down.  Buddy was a 15 year old mutt, that already had a few close calls in his long 105 year old life. 

One cold day in February, we all knew it was time.  Before the family could unite to take him to the vet for his last car ride, I went outside to get started on digging his grave.  It was 12 degrees outside, the ground was frozen, and there was 2 feet of snow. 

I dug as hard as I could.  I had to.   I owed it to the dog that was my friend since I was 7. I had to end it right.

The pain took away the pain. 

He deserved a good ending.

The way I see it, if you don’t end it right, it will haunt you forever.

Last week, I saw a face from my past that had an incredible impact on my life.  Many years ago, a mentor and I didn't see eye to eye, and it didn’t end right.

But luckily, life will sometimes give you another chance.   Last week, I had my chance.

I was finally able to bury it in the way it deserves.  

Whether it’s out of respect, or closure, or just downright effort… Remember, If you don’t end it right, it will haunt you forever.

know your brand...

The first big sale I closed was for $17,000.

The commission I made from that one sale (that took approximately 3 hours)  was more money than I made in any full week worth of work in my entire life.  

Before I walked in to that meeting, I made a decision.  I am not going to try and sell them anything.  I am going to just go and talk with them.  I am just going to be natural.  I am just going to be myself.

Doing what is "natural" is something I believe most people ignore, however, it is the most important ingredient.


A few weeks later I went back to visit my customer.  In a not-so-nonchalant manner,  I asked them a very direct question "So, why did you buy from me?"

Their answer sort of surprised me.  They replied "It was because you were not like the rest of them.  You didn't try to push a sale like the others.  Unlike the many others, we trusted you."

For the rest of my days, I will remember their words.  It was probably one of the greatest compliments I have ever received.  (Up there with that compliment from that Eat n Park waitress that said I resembled a character from the show "90210".  Well, I think that was a compliment).

You see, I believe everyone has their own brand.  And your brand will always outlast the paycheck.   Always.

The takeaway from the most financially successful day of my life "Know your brand and never sway from it.  If you do sway from it, it will be easily seen.  If you do sway from it, you will be "just like the others".



This winter, I will be putting together all of these little things I have learned from the many ups and downs we have gone through during our startup adventure and will put it in an e-book called "Keep Moving Forward:  The Startup Mentality".  

-TheStartupMentality.com  


(SEE MORE ABOUT THIS HERE)

laughing at the pain...

GoNextWorld would like to welcome a new writer to our team.  Her name is Justine Nagle and is also a Duquesne University student.

She has joined up with the Health and Fitness department of the company (which will debut online in a few weeks).

The first article I read from her is titled "The best curve you have" and I have included it below.


 It's amazing how you can see a person's passions, just by the way they write.  It's time for our "Keep Moving Forward" mentality to start crossing into our other passions...


Welcome to the team Justine!


 "Your smile is the best curve you have!

With that statement being said, your smile is the best curve you have,
 it is essential to

instill good habits to guarantee healthy teeth throughout your life. 
At a young age, good care and

maintenance will ensure the growth of healthy adult teeth. 
If you are of older age, it is not too

late. 

As dentists enforce the importance of brushing and flossing to 
keep white, clean, and strong teeth, a healthy diet is just as important!

Did you know that healthy teeth require the same nutrients as strong bones? 
This includes calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D. 
Not only should you take care of your teeth but gums as well. 

Foods that are rich in vitamin B, C, beta carotene, zinc, and folic 
acid will keep a white, clean, and even stronger smile! 
Something that also might be preventing that big bright smile is ulcers, 
leaving the mouth very uncomfortable and quite painful. 

Mouth ulcers are a sign that the body may be lacking essential nutrients.
 I myself notice ulcers when I eat a ton of junk food.

Sugar is in fact the biggest enemy of teeth causing tooth 
decay and many other things to our body. 

Cookies and soda are hard to resist but not only is sugar found within 
these but in

certain types of food. Things to avoid are fructose, 
sucrose, dextrose, fructose, syrup, lactose,and concentrated fruit juice. I recommend 
replacing snacks with vegetables, bread, and cheese.

Look for products such as milk, cheese, yogurt, broccoli, nuts, 
shrimp, and whole grains. A healthy smile is a healthy you"

If indeed we do cross paths...

When you do something that you want to do (like start a business) because you have the guts to go through it, most people watching from the outside get a sense that you're on your own schedule, you do ONLY what you want to do, and time management and money, in general, come easy.. or shall I say AS easy as when you get a job with a big company.

Let me tell you from experience, this is not so.

I, like most of America, have fallen in love with the show "Breaking Bad".  I missed the first few seasons because I did not have time and cable tv, but I have been able to watch this final season.

The basic outline I get from the show:  You do what you HAVE TO DO... not what you want to do.
   


When it comes down to doing what you love like starting a business... you sometimes must do what you NEED to do and not what you want to do.

Is it easy? Hell no.
Is a story that can maybe change a reader's life?  You bet.

And, 100 years from now, that is all that matters.

I have decided to not only document the startup adventure in my blog, but I will begin adding layers and other pieces of the puzzle in regards to what makes me tick, what i have learned, and what we believe is good advice to those that share our same interests.

Necessity is the mother of innovation.

We will do what it takes.

Will it be easy?  Hell no.
Will it be a story that can change a reader's life?  We hope.

top 5...

I'm a big fan of the movie "High Fidelity". It's a story about a record store owner that categorizes his top 5 moments in life in a similar fashion as he lists his top 5 albums.  With a dash of Jack Black and a few scenes of Catherine Zeta Jones, it's a movie worth watching when "Grosse Point Blank" or "Risky Business" isn't on.

I think most people can list their top 5 moments in life....  or their top 5 mistakes... or their top 5 best decisions they ever made  just as easy as they can list their top 5 movies, songs, and albums.


I feel that the meaning of the movie has to do with the importance of reliving a top 5 moment/experience just as you can relive a top 5 song at any time or any day.



Recently, at GoNextWorld, we made a few changes.
The five year adventure has made us realize one of our top 5 mistakes we made back in year 1...

the initial "If you build it, the money will come" mentality/vision is wrong.

The correct way to look at it now is "If you build it, and if you can sell it, then the vision will come."

Last week was the most profitable week we have had in 5 years.

It's something that we need to relive every day, every week, every year from here on out...just as we do with one of our favorite songs.


What's in your top 5 _______ ?