ThingsTo Do In Austin While At PCMA Convening Leaders

With the PCMA Convening Leaders event just days away I am getting some inquiries from friends and clients about fun things to do in Austin (since I have lived in the Texas Capital for 25 years).  Here are some ideas, but there are so many more.

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Just a few restaurants you may want to try-- but you will need a car to get to some of them...or take Ride Austin (like Uber - but we dont have uber in Austin).

• The Salt Lick (in Driftwood, about 30 miles away, but good if you are hungry and with a big group who want to do family style BBQ)
• Guero's Taco Bar. (on South Congress) 
• Geraldine's (Restaurant in Van Zandt Hotel- Rainey Street).  Wow, this is good food. Fun upscale atmosphere.
• HopDoddy - Hamburgers (on South Congress)
• The Vegan Yacht (a food truck of East Cesar Chavez)
• Taco Deli (several locations). BEST TACOS (some will say Torchy's are the best tacos. They are wrong... but close 2nd). Note...Taco Deli is only open for breakfast and lunch.
• East Side Cafe (on Manor)
• Hula Hut. Sitting outside on the lake is awesome. 
• Jo's Coffee on South Congress. This is where the famous "I love you so much" graffiti wall is locate (you may not know what I am talking about... but when you see it you will say "oh, I have seen that".... as everyone takes a photo in front of it and posts to FB).
• Mozart's coffee. On Lake Austin. Great local coffee and a patio you will never forget if we have great weather.
• Lick ice cream. Weird flavors.
• Voodoo Donuts (yea, yea, they are HQ'd in Portland... but they are 5 blocks from Convention Center on 6th Street and open 24 hours. The donuts are awesome).
• Wink (my favorite fine dining place... pricey but yum)
• Italic (Downtown).
• Iron Works... (dive BBQ place on back side of Convention Center... awesome).
• Winflo is medium/high end but great food.
• Three Forks is my favorite steakhouse, but Sullivan's, Vince Young Steak House, Bob's Chop House, and Perry's are all great.

This is just a start.

LIST of 25 famous old classic Austin restaurants: http://austin.eater.com/…/historic-classic-austin-restauran…

The official food is BBQ, Mexican (TexMex), and Breakfast Tacos. The breakfast taco thing is a real local obsession that is not like any place. The New York Times even wrote an article a few years ago about Austin and their breakfast tacos.http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/10/dining/10united.html?_r=0

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Things to see:

• The Whole Foods Flagship Store. They now have some big stores in other cities... but this is located on the bottom of their 9 story office HQ and was the first giant store they opened. Whole Foods was founded in Austin by hippies. When I moved here they had two small dumpy stores that sold healthy stuff. Now they are... well now they are what we all know (huge, expensive, etc...)
• The Capital Building. I know it seems weird, but take a tour with a guide. It is cool
• South Congress Ave. This is the Keep Austin Weird area, and mostly local shops.... but the chains are coming as the real estate is now pricey and it may lose its charm in a few years... so wander around now, as next time you come to town it will all be The Gap and Donna Karan stores. Also, one of the first Food Trucks that started the whole national food trailer "thing" is HEY CUPCAKE in SoCo.
• Take a Segway tour. Yes, even as a local I have done this... they show you downtown and it is a lot of fun.
• 6th Street. This is the famous street with all the bars and all the bands play on the weekends. Lots of live music, booze, etc... Mostly where the college kids go... and with 50K undergrads at UT... there are lots out at night.
• Go to Esthers Follies. This is a vaudeville style show on 6th on Thurs, Fri and Sat. It sells out most nights, so buy tickets in advance. 8 PM and 10 PM Shows. One block from hotel.
• 2nd/4th Street area (Warehouse District). Most warehouses being torn down for high rise condos ... but lots of good bars and restaurants. More grown up crowd.
• Tour the UT campus. Maybe get a tour to top of tower (need reservations).
• Texas State Museum. This is cooler than you would think.... and Texas has a really rich history. Most who go are surprised about all the stuff they learn about this state (we are more than cowboy boots and GW Bush).
• Buy your Cowboy Boots (many come to town and shop at Allen's Boots on South Congress).  It is next door to Guero's Taco Bar.
• You have heard about the Bats that live in the bridge? Yep, Austin is the home of the largest colony of bats... but they dont live here in the winter. Come back in July.
• Walk along Lady Bird Lake. I call it Town Lake, as that was the name until the former first lady (Lady Bird Johnson) died in 2007 (yes, she lived that long). They have a nice running trail that goes on both sides. If you run... this is your trail.
• If the weather is good go have drinks on the 2nd story outdoor patio at the Steven F Austin hotel (7th and Congress AV). this is my favorite place to drink beer or wine on a good day. Also there is an outdoor bar in the new Marriott Hotel (2nd and Congress).  And the bar in the Driskill Hotel has a cool copper ceiling..check it out.
• Take the Duck Tour. Yes, many cities have these now... but Austin's has been around as long as I remember. You get to see a lot of thing.

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There you have it folks.  This will keep you busy, but my list only scratches the surface. 

Welcome to all my PCMA Friends!!!  Austin is a wonderful and weird city. Enjoy the food, party feeling, and the super nice people. Buy lots of stuff (we appreciate the economic boost).  

Get up early on Monday and Tuesday at Convening Leaders and attend the morning orientation (I am leading this session both days... come say hello and start your day with some motivation, education, and I promise you will meet some new people.  Both sessions are different, so come to one or both).

Have A Great Experience at Convening Leaders

thom singer

www.ThomSinger.com

Cool Things My Friends Do: Feathr Wins the "Move My Start-Up to Austin Contest"

Each week on this blog I enjoy highlighting some of the cool things my friends do in their personal and professional lives.

I met Aidan Augustin at the 2014 South by Southwest Interactive Conference in Austin, TX.  Aidan is the co-founder of Feathr, an event management app (company) that is helping to make the human-to-human connections at conferences better.  

When we met he had just won the Capital Factory's 2nd annual "Move Your Start-up to Austin Contest", and he and his team are currently making plans to relocate from Florida to Texas.

As a keynote speaker and "The Conference Catalyst" it gets me excited when anything is introduced that is designed to improve the ROI of live events.  While I have not yet seen the details of what Feathr provides, I am looking to spending time with my new friend (and learning about the technology they provide) when he gets to Austin. 

Capital Factory is a great place for Aidan to bring his young company.  Josh Baer and the team at Capital Factory have created a unique environment for start-up entrepreneurs to learn, grown and thrive.  I think it is cool that they won this contest, with over $100,000 in cash and prizes that allows the employees at Feathr to come to Austin and become part of our dynamic business scene.

(This is week #97 of "Cool Things My Friends Do")

Have A Great Day

thom singer

7th Annual Fundraiser for the Kate Singer Endowment

Please join us in supporting 

this online fundraiser!!!

Kate was born with a condition called Sagital Synostosis, and required surgery to rebuild her skull at age six-months. At the time there was no Dell Children's Medical Center in Central Texas, thus we had to search outside of our community to find the right doctors who would operate on Kate and give her a fresh start in life. 

Since the opening of Dell Children's our family has supported the hospital with donations and hosting this annual fundraiser. 

We celebrate Kate each February by raising money to help others who are born with Cranio-Facial abnormalities. Thank you for your support of this great cause! 

CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW!!!

Thom, Sara, Jackie and Kate Singer

Cool Things My Friends Do - Laurie Loew of Give Realty Reaches $300,000 Milestone!!!

Each Friday on this blog I enjoy highlighting some of the cool things my friends do in their personal and professional lives.

I saw the news on Facebook -  My friend Laurie Loew of Give Realty, Inc. has now crossed the $300,000 level in donations to local charities through her unique way of combining her business to philanthropy.  WOW.

Laurie is the founder of Give Realty, a boutique Real Estate company in Austin, Texas.  She and her team believe in giving back to the community - and they do it with every sale.  They donate 25 % of their commissions to a 501(c)3 nonprofit of the buyer’s or seller’s choice (in their name, not the name of the company!).

Their mission is to make the world a better place by fostering philanthropy through home ownership. At Give Realty they inspire their clients to engage in the nonprofit community and encourage long term involvement. They help clients realize that in achieving their dream, they can help those facing adversity achieve their own.

Supporting the community is important to Laurie. I originally met her when we both served on the board of a local children's charity, Heart House Austin (now The BeHive Austin).  She was a dedicated board member and I was always impress with her ability to follow through on all she said she would do (I have written before about "Follow Through DNA" - Laurie Loew has that trait!!!).

Congratulations to Laurie and the team at Give Realty for making a real impact on our community!!!

Have A Great Day

thom singer

Scott Robinson - A Friend to Many

In place of my weekly "Cool Things My Friends Do" blog post, this week I am remembering a friend who passed away unexpectedly.

The Austin community was shocked and saddened this week by the unexpected death of Scott Robinson.  He was 41 years old.  This father of two young children (he leaves behind a son and a daughter, twins, age 8) was a tireless supporter of the Austin Entrepreneurial Community.  

It was nearly  two and a half years ago when I first met Scott.  You could not miss him at a networking event, as he had to be 6'4 (maybe taller), and was always very well dressed.  Scott took a sincere interest in others that instantly made people feel as if they were his long lost friend.  Every time I would see Scott he would have an idea of somebody I should meet.  He was all about helping others discover the connections that could lead to mutually beneficial success.  And he was not just an idea guy, he was a doer.... as he always followed up with an email making the introductions between people.

I would run into Scott regularly around town about once a week, and we were part of an occasional business networking group that met for lunch semi-regularly.  He was always excited about a project he was working on (TEDxAustin Youth, StartUp America, RISE Austin, or helping promote The Wire) to help make Austin a better place.  His smile was contagious, and he always was supportive of the causes of those around him.

The folks at Silicon Hills News wrote a wonderful tribute to the memory of Scott Robinson (link to article http://www.siliconhillsnews.com/2013/09/04/in-memory-of-scott-robinson-a-huge-supporter-of-austins-tech-industry/).  Take a minute to read what they said, but also view the comments section, as so many people added their thoughts about this man who was a real "giver".  

Scott Robinson was one of the good guys.  He will be missed.

To honor Scott there is a scholarship set up for his children ("The James Scott Robinson Memorial Fund" through Wells Fargo Bank). 

 In addition to making a donation, I suggest those who knew him (and others) should deliberately seek out a way to help another person find success.  Make an introduction between two people, or sit down with someone to help them brainstorm their next project.  When you do that, think of Scott.... I bet he would like knowing that he inspired us all to lend a hand and be better "givers".

Have A Great Day

thom singer

Cool Things My Friends Do - Joshua Baer Named Entrepreneurs Foundation's "Community Leader of the Year"

Each Friday on this blog I enjoy highlighting some of the cool things my friends do in their work and personal lives. 

Each year the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Central Texas honors someone in Austin as the "Community Leader of the Year".  This year's award went to my friend Joshua Baer. 

I attended the party to celebrated EF and their award winners, and it was a great gathering of the Austin Start-Up Community.  (A highlight of the night was talking to the delightful Amy Baer, Josh's wife...and clearly his better half!).

Josh is the co-founder of The Capital Factory, and a serial entrepreneur who is committed to helping others. Since arriving in Austin in 1999 he has been an active part of the local entrepreneurial eco-system.  

What impresses me about Josh is that he is always willing to meet and chat with any entrepreneur or wanna-be entrepreneur.  He never says "no" when it comes to helping those who are pulled toward starting or growing a business.

Congratulations to Joshua Baer on being named the Community Leader of the Year.  Well done and well deserved.

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

Cool Things My Friends Do - Kent Savage and Matt Hovis Launch "Icon.me"

Each Friday on this blog I enjoy highlighting some of the cool things my friends do in their work and personal lives. 

(Icon.me Co-Founders Kent Savage and Matt Hovis)

I was invited to be an early user of Icon.me (one of my friends, Laura Beck, is their PR person).  I signed up for the digital business card service and poked around the site several times, but I was not aware the value this cool Austin start-up has created until attending their "Launch Party" where I got to spend time with co-founders Kent Savage and Matt Hovis.

Icon is a cloud based platform designed for the modern professional who lives are lived online, but split up across several platforms.  It is a digital business card that allows you to easily share your information and curate your online persona. Icons are optimized to be shared with anyone, anywhere via smartphone, email or online. They provide valuable personal analytics - like who is viewing, saving and sharing your contact information and even reveal what you have in common with those you meet.

While I do not believe the paper businesscard should ever go away (they still serve a purpose), Icon seems to have found the answer to what others have been trying to solve in creating a tool that is both easy to use and provides real value to those who are looking to use technology to help as part of their networking efforts.

I see a huge use for Icon.me in the event/meeting/conference space.  Often the organizers of large conferences create a custom apps or other tools specifically for their meeting that allows attendees to share information and seek out the desired networking opportunities.  The problem is that not everyone uses these apps, and when they go home they do not revisit the connections they made in their phone.  While the folks at Icon have not yet implemented this feature, they could add a conference tab that would allow users could register when they will be present at an event, and make connections accordingly.  Since they would already use Icon in their daily lives, it would solve the problem of not being irrelevant later.

There are many tools out there being created to help people network, and most do not catch my eye as really valuable to the end user over time.  I see Icon as being something I would use and recommend.  Its cool. Plus, it is always great to see the good things coming out of Austin, Texas!

Check it out and let me know what you think.  The site still working out some of the bugs, but the concept is strong, and I can see it taking off.

Have A Great Day

thom singer

ProductCamp Austin - A Great Event

ProductCamp Austin celebrated their tenth event in five years (they host this informative and motivational networking event twice a year: winter & summer) this week with a large sell out crowd of over 600 people. The AT&T Conference Center was again the perfect venue for this high energy event.

It is a wonderful community gathering that is a true "Un-Conference".   Speakers sign up to speak, and the audience votes that morning on which topics are of the highest interest. This year they had a record number of proposed talks.  Once the votes are cast the participants and speakers are given the schedule.  Throughout the day sessions cover Product Development, Go To Market Strategies, Product Strategy, Product Management/Marketing Careers, and Marketing Execution.

I had the honor to present a session called "Giving Better Presentations at ProductCamp (and Beyond)".  It was a fun experience as the audience seemed to resonate with some of my advice.  It is more and more common for professionals to have opportunities to deliver presentations (at work or at a conference), and yet few people have had much training since their 8th Grade Book Reports. I loved the conversation with the group, as the topic clearly resonated.  Maybe some of those who were in my session will submit proposals for the next ProductCamp!!!

The rest of the day I was able to attend other sessions and visit with old and new friends.  If you have never been to ProductCamp Austin then you should mark your calendar for July 20, 2013.  Jump right in and propose a session, or come as a participant. Eithe way, be ready to "Teach, Learn and Network".

***Rumor has it that if 60% of those in attendance in July are repeat "Campers", then ProductCamp Austin president, Mike Boudreaux, will shave his head (that is a rumor that I am helping to start!).

Gaining access to new ideas is the key to those who want to expand their horizons.  Last week I spent Saturday at TEDxAustin, and this week I was at ProductCamp.  With all these ideas, information, concepts, theories and motivation in my brain... I need to get to work and make things happen.  Watch out 2013!!!

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

Austin Texas Tops The Charts In Jobs - Leadership Austin Engage Breakfast

Leadership Austin hosted their monthly Engage Breakfast on January 15, 2012 at the Long Center.  The topic was "Topping the Charts: Austin's Job Creation", and it was an upbeat panel discussion about where the Texas Capital has been, where we are, and what is around the corner.

Panelists:

• Ray Almgren - Vice President of Product Marketing for Core Platforms, National Instruments
• Tamara Atkinson - Deputy Executive Director, Workforce Solutions - Capital Area Workforce Board
• Gary Farmer - Vice Chairman of Economic Development, Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce; President, Heritage Title Company of Austin
• Hall T. Martin - Founder and Director, Texas Entrepreneur Network

Moderator:

• Brian Sanders - Anchor, KXAN

Of course it is easy to have a positive conversation when your city is leading the country in jobs.  The November 2012 unemployment rate was 4.9 % in Austin, which beats the state (5.8%) and national (7.4%) numbers by quite a margin.  And we are leading in new jobs created over the top 50 metropolitan areas in the United States.

Austin is a city with both a robust start-up community, with half of all investments in Texas start-ups going to companies in Central Texas. And it is not just technology ventures, as we have diverse sectors including gaming, food trailers, packaged foods, etc....

We also continue to attract larger corporations to move their headquarters or open satalite offices in Austin.  256 companies have relocated part of their operations to Austin in the last nine years.  

But it has not always been a bed of roses.  Austin has seen the ups and downs economic trends over the past few decades.  We were hit hard in the early part of the 2000's due to the tech bubble and our over focus on the semiconductor industry in the 1990s.  Today we have a much more diversified economy, which is what positioned Austin to lead the way through the most recent recession.

The Chamber of Commerce and other organizations have worked closely with the city to help the region become a highly desired area for both companies and professionals to locate. New college graduates flock to Austin because of the creative, innovative and entrepreneurial spirit.  

However, our boom-town does have challenges.  Too many high school students are dropping out or not pursuing advanced education.  This means they are forfeiting the opportunities that are abundant in the area for skilled workers.  We need to do more to expose young people to opportunities.  We have too many available technology related jobs (over 2000 unfilled), while every service job posted receives 55 applications.

Austin continues to top all the lists (and has for the 21 years that I have lived in the community).  Yes, part of the reason we do so well is our wonderful landscape, weather, recreation ,etc.....  But the economic leadership that makes us the envy of cities across the world is not an accident.  We cannot take it for granted, as everyone is looking to compete for the talent and the jobs.  Fortunately, Austin has amazing companies, elected officials, organizations and volunteers who work tirelessly to keep up on top!/

Leadership Austin continues to bring great programs.  I attend the Engage Breakfast each month (when I am not out of town) because the audience is always left with new information and their minds are filled with ideas.  

Have A Great Day.

thom singer 

Cool Things My Friends Do: Richard Bagdonas - Operation Turkey

Each Friday on this blog I enjoy highlighting some of the cool things my friends do in their work and personal lives. 

Richard Bagdonas is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, family guy and all around good person.  I have known Richard for several years, and I fondly call him "the hugger", as his friendly nature is his calling card.  He greeted me with a big hug the second time I ever met him.

In addition to a successful career in the technology community (he has founded several companies including one of Austin's hottest start-ups - SubtleData), Richard founded Operation Turkey in 2000.  Operation Turkey is an Austin non-profit that feeds and clothes the homeless and less fortunate on Thanksgiving Day.  It all began with one person and some left-overs.  He plated up the extra Thanksgiving feast and gave it to a few homeless people on Austin's 6th Street.

This year in Austin 2,200 volunteers fed over 4,600 in Austin's homeless community.  Think about how cool that is.... 4,600 people with no place to go for the holiday meal were able to eat a traditional Thanksgiving feast.  Wow.

Operation Turkey has grown beyond Austin and even Texas.  Both Dallas and San Marcos have joined in the Operation Turkey goodness and last week volunteers in each city handed out 1,000 meals.  There were 30 other participating cities around the country.

The purpose is to provide a warm meal, clothing and toiletries to the most vulnerable members of our communities.  Richard is most pleased that this program has captured the hearts of so many people in the community.  The Travis County Sheriff's Department, Austin's Police Department, the Department of Health and Human Services and countless other organizations have adopted Operation Turkey.

If you would like to support this cause you can visit the website at www.operationturkey.com.  From there you can donate your time, financial resources or food and clothing donations.

In keeping with the weekly tradition of "Cool Things My Friends Do"... this is really cool that one man's idea can have such impact on many people near and far.

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

Cool Things My Friends Do: Melissa Lombard - The 5 Year Project

Each Friday on this blog I enjoy highlighting some of the cool things my friends do in their work and personal lives. 

I met Melissa Lombard at the Blogathon ATX event in September 2012.  However, I already knew about her because of an interesting project that she had begun on her blog.  When Melissa moved to Austin earlier this year she started writing about the cool new people she was meeting in town.  Many of the people she had profiled were friends of mine, and the project had crossed my path.  I immediately found it to be a great idea, as connecting with new people in a strange city can be difficult.  By intentionally interviewing people in the community one can quickly get a better feel for the personality of a town, while making new friends along the way.

She formalized her networking coffee chats into what she calls "The 5-Year Project".  Her goal is to meet one new person each week for coffee and blog about what she learns about their life and career.  While a busy life does not allow her to do it every week, she has reached "17 Cups" since June (which is ALMOST every week!!!).  -- Oh, and I was number seventeen.

Melissa is onto something very cool, thus why she featured in this week's "Cool Things My Friends Do" post.  Imagine the treasure that her blog will be at the end of five years.  That will get her to around 250 interviews with an eclectic group of people.  Her unique style of diving into what makes a person "tick" will make the collection of posts into a more that a "Whose Who", but instead a tapestry of personalities that keep Austin weird.

Whether you live in the Central Texas region or not, take the time to scroll through the posts on her blog.  She has had coffee with some very interesting Austinites, and it is a good way to realize who lives in our city.... as we often forget it is not just the people who live and work in our own silos.

If you ever relocate to a new city, I suggest you take this idea and repeat it in your own style.  It is a cool way to get to know folks anywhere.  Kudos to Melissa for a great idea!!

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

Cool Things My Friends Do: Bryan Menell Named CEO of SubtleData

Each Friday on this blog I enjoy highlighting some of the cool things my friends do in their work and personal lives. 

Bryan Menell has recently taken the reigns as CEO of a new software company in Austin, Texas.  SubtleData was officially launched in August 2011, but has recently come out of the gate with a "bang", garnering a lot of attention in tech funding circles taking the top spot on AngelList for several days.  It's Point of Sales app platform already has over 200 companies building upon its architecture, and I am sure the company will continue to have great results with Bryan in the chief executive officer role.

I have known Bryan since 1978.  Yes, we were 12 years old.  We attended Jr. High and High School together in California.  And while we had over 800 students in our graduating class, we ran in the same circle of friends. Coincidentally we both landed in Austin, Texas in the 1990s, and have remained friends for most of our lives.  In today's transient world (especially before Facebook) it is not always common to have regular contact with childhood friends.

Bryan was always an achiever, and his career has been a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit.  He has founded several companies, including taking Perficient, Inc public in 1999.  He has a natural ability to seek ways of creating and growing new businesses in the fast paced technology world.  He sees opportunity and takes action.

Along with his wife, Angie, he founded the "Austin Tech Happy Hour" five years ago, and is a catalyst that brings people together in the local tech community.  The monthly gathering of those who work in and around the technology community has been a top networking event for over five years (and is still going strong).

Congratulations to Bryan on his new company.  I predict big things from SublteData in the next few years!

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

Ed Robinson To Speak In Austin -October 31, 2011

If you’re a speaker, author, expert, or consultant who’s ready to attract more customers and more revenue, mark your calendar now for a powerful NSA presentation you won’t want to miss. 

International speaker and recognized “Rainmaker” Ed Robinson is coming to Austin to share his powerful, proven “Make it Rain” formula with us. You’ll learn how to skillfully rethink and retool your marketing and sales efforts in ways that will help you reach and close more deals, more often and with more profit.

Learning Outcomes:

• Design (or refine) your personal marketing plan
• Outline specific goals and the actionable steps to achieve them
• Measure your business success and effectiveness
• Understand the “Magic Marketing Mix” that drives attraction to your brand
• Learn steps for selling both simple and complex projects
• Discover a four-step selling process that increases your closing percentage
• Find out ways to capture more business after your programs
• Close larger clients and win major contracts with repeat engagements.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011
DATE CHANGE:
Monday, October 31, 2011

11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Click Here To Register

Ed Robinson, CSP, is highly recognized internationally as an energetic keynote speaker, business growth coach and author. President .and CEO of Robinson Performance Group with over 30 years experience in professional service organizations, Ed provides unique growth strategies and leadership consulting to those businesses. Having spoken in over 35 countries, Ed is sought after globally for his speaking, coaching and Rainmaking techniques. Ed’s goal for NSA is to transform speakers in to Rainmaking machines

TEDx Austin 2012 Coming February 11th to the Austin Music Hall

I am a big fan of TED.  I keep a series of new TED Talks loaded on my iPad so I can watch them when I have that rare 18 minutes of downtime.

Two years ago I attended the first TEDx Austin event.  It was well done. The scoop on the 2011 event is that it was even better (I was speaking at a conference in Atlanta that same day, and since the transporter is the one piece of Star Trek technology not yet released, I could not be at both events).  They say "third time is a charm", so my guess is that the next TEDx Austin will be spectacular!

The local organizers of TEDx Austin have announced that the date for the next extravaganza is February 11, 2012.  The time is now to apply for a ticket, as the event always sells out.  Yes, you have to be "selected" to attend.  I am not on the committee so I cannot tell you what they seek, but they strive to have a diverse audience of thinkers who represent all of Austin.

The theme is "Beyond Measure", and the event will live up to the theme.  Hop onto the TEDx Austin website and fill out your application.

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

Gabe Krajicek from BancVue Speaks at ACG Central Texas

The Central Texas Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth consistently has the best presentations of any business and networking group in Austin.  This was certainly true at the July luncheon at the Shoreline Grill when Gabe Krajicek, CEO of BancVue, spoke to the crowd.

As a professional speaker I always pay close attention to all who speak.  I watch not only for message, but for style.  Often CEO's, who are great at leading their companies, stink when it comes to delivering interesting, informative and inspirational talks.  Gabe Krajicek, however, was great!  It was not that he was perfectly polished in presentations skills, but his passion for his company (and for being an entrepreneur) was front and center.  It was reminiscent of watching an 11-year-old kid tell you all about his new bicycle.... with the excitement being contagious.  WOW.

His talk centered around lessons he has learned as CEO of two companies, including the successful and fast growing BancVue.

He spoke on seven mistakes that he and other entrepreneurs often make:

Mistake #1 - Values are just a speech.

He strongly believes in the values at his company are more than just words.  BancVue has gone so far as to make their value statement into a visual "patch".  It creates a physical manifestation of the four core values of: Interdependence, 5-Star Leadership, Love, and "Badassitude".

Mistake #2 - You can't live without brilliant jerks.

Yes you can.  No employee, no matter how well they do their job, should be allowed to be a jerk.  Too many companies put up with bad behavior when they should fire those who are toxic.

Mistake #3 - You don't need to hire the "A-Team".

You must hire experts to fill the roles of CFO, marketing, etc....  You cannot do it all as CEO, and you are not the best at all the other roles in the company.  Get top people into the key positions and do not wait too long to do it.

Mistake #4 - Sitting on the fence.

The CEO needs to be a leader and make the necessary decisions in regards to the company's strategy.  Everyone on your team needs to know what are the priorities, and what is the #1 priority.

Mistake #5 - You don't need a "Plan B".

Too many entrepreneurs like the adrenaline of flying by the seat of their pants while building their company, but if you do not have a "Plan B" you can get derailed very fast.  Invest the time to create the back up plan for when something out of your control changes within your company, the economy, or your industry.

Mistake #6 - Thinking bigger is better.

"1000 mediocre musicians cannot out compose Mozart".  Having more people is not always the answer to solving problems.  Sometimes a small number of people owning a project will get it done cheaper and faster than a giant team.

Mistake #7 - Renaming your weaknesses.

Do not pretend that your weakness is a strength.  Often entrepreneurs give a different name to the area they are not strong and try to disguise it as a positive attribute. Do not hide behind your faults by calling failures something else.

Without leadership there is chaos.  When you are a good leader who lives by the mission and the values you profess your employees will give you the "benefit of the doubt" when you need it most.  We are all human and mistakes will happen.  Leaders will stumble.  When you have built good relationships with your people, they will show up and follow you the next day.  Without that relationship they will lose faith in your leadership.

If you are not attending the Association for Corporate Growth you are missing insightful presentations like this one.

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

Thank You to Delish Cupcakes - Austin's Best Cupcake!

Thanks to Lisa at Delish Cupcakes (on 3rd Street in downtown Austin) for hosting a tour of her store for my daughter's Girl Scout Troop.

The eight girls got a treat in seeing how an entrepreneur starts a business that becomes destination for cupcake lovers!  They asked questions from how she comes up with new flavors to what motivated her to locate in downtown.

The kids got to learn about the business but they really preferred eating the sample cupcakes.

I met Lisa at a business event (hosted by the FedEx+Me - My Story: Austin program) two months ago and when I asked about bringing the Girl Scouts she enthusiastically agreed.

If you live in Austin and have a hankering for a cupcake... it is worth the drive to downtown.  They even have a daily "Gluten Free" cupcake (I am still waiting for the vegan option!).

Have A Great Day.


thom singer

Tim Sanders to Speak At TEXCHANGE (#Austin Chapter) on May 26, 2011

Best-selling author, speaker, and consultant Tim Sanders will be speaking to the Austin chapter of TEXCHANGE on Thursday, May 26, 2011.

This is a rare opportunity to see Tim and to attend TEXCHANGE.  The organization's meetings are usually restricted to "Members Only", but this special dinner will be open to guests who register in advance.

Tim's new book, "Today We Are Rich" is climbing the charts, and continues to promote his message for strong business relationships, both internal and external. “Get them right,” he says, “and you’ll grow your business during good and bad times alike.”

If you were in the audience when Tim spoke at TEXCHANGE four years ago you know first hand why he is one of the most sought after speakers in the United States and beyond.  He is being brought back again in 2011 to share his expanded message and to inspire the Austin technology community (and others).

Tim’s expertise and deep research capabilities make him an indispensable consultant to some of the biggest brands in the world. His Los Angeles based company, Deeper Media, conducts research on business trends, new media and human behavior. He’s weathered the quality movement as well as the dotcom crash and emerged with precious insight. He was the Chief Solutions Officer at Yahoo! and later their Leadership Coach. Prior to these senior positions Tim created and led the Yahoo! ValueLab, an in-house “think tank” which delivered futuristic insight on technology and human behavior. He was an early member of Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner’s broadcast.com, the most successful opening day IPO in history.

Sign up today to ensure you space... and the first 150 people to arrive at the event will received a free copy of his new book!

When: May 26th

Where: AT&T Center (Univ of Texas)

Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Cost:  $35 Members  / $60 Guests

More information at https://m360.texchange.org/event.aspx?EventID=29277

To register as a guest please contact Ashley Arkin via email at ashleyarkin (at) texchange.org

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

Go Lab Austin - The Great Human Mash-up of Co-Working Space!

I have been searching for a while for co-working space in Austin to enhance my "work from home / work from Starbucks" lifestyle.  While there are many options available for "drop in" office space, I have not been able to find any place that had the right mix of location and coolness factor....  Until now.

I have recently discovered Go Lab Austin.  This unique co-working community is located in the heart of 6th Street near downtown.  Go Lab Austin is a unique mix of quirky and professional space that has an eclectic mix of member companies and individuals.

As clients for my local career and business coaching services continue to hire me, having this central location for face-to-face meetings is ideal.  Meeting people at Starbucks has worked fine up until now, but the ability to host conversations at Go Lab Austin brings my consulting programs to a new level.  There is also a conference room that will seat 12 people, which will be ideal for several group classes I will be teaching in the fall.

The location is easy to get to with plenty of street parking on East 6th Street (via parking meters), and walking distance from countless restaurants and other Austin locations.

If you are looking for a synergistic place to hang your hat, check out Go Lab Austin.  For more information on membership rates and amenities, visit the Facebook Page or call Steve Golab at 512.481.8831

Have A Great Day.

thom

FedEx + Me - My Austin Story

I spoke last night at the "FedEx + Me" event. The party was held in the new downstairs private room at Max's Wine Dive (Wow, this is a great location for a party!).  I felt like Oprah, as FedEx gave a free copy of my book "Some Assembly Required (Third Edition)" to everyone in attendance.

I met some really cool people from the marketing department from FedEx (from Memphis) and the MKTG Inc. experiential marketing group (from New York).  These teams worked with local executive consultant Nancy Shields and together they created a "happening". 

FedEx seems like a great place to work (fun people), and the marketing folks were excited about the success of their pilot program in Austin.

It was a unique networking event, well attended by many of Austin's coolest young entrepreneurs, and very well executed!  In addition to my kicking-off the evening, Austin Chamber of Commerce president Bobby Jenkins (ABC Home & Commercial Services) spoke about passion for business, followed by a panel discussion on the new realities of social media (featuring Ricardo Guererro, Aaron DeLucia and Fran Gangitano).  The cake balls from Austin Cake Ball looked fantastic (but not vegan...so none for me).

FedEx + Me and "My Austin Story" is a unique program.  FedEx started with nothing but one really smart undergrad, one really good term paper and one really big dream. In other words, FedEx used to be a scrappy small business.

That's why they developed the FedEx + Me program, piloted in Austin - to help small-business owners and to help them help each other. Because the world of business is changing; nimble, savvy, innovative small businesses are the key to our future. Everyone's future.

It has been fun being part of this program launch.  I wrote a blog post about "Austin Weird" when they launched their site, and have been hired to speak at two of their events.  The whole team that is creating this program, and all of the local entrepreneurs who are participating are over the top amazing!!

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

Scott Ginsberg to Speak Next Week in #Austin

Scott Ginsberg (That Nametag Guy) will be speaking at the Austin Chapter of the National Speakers Association on Tuesday, March 1, 2011 (11:30 AM - 1:30 PM at Norris Conference Center).

He will be speaking on writing and branding to build your business.

This meeting is not just for professional speakers, but any entrepreneur who thinks having a brand is a good idea.

Scott will share strategic writing tips and techniques that will help you engage the people who matter most to you and your business. You'll hear his step-by-step system for customizing your own content generation, content management, and content deployment system. Bring your laptop! And be ready to start turning thoughts into things and things in to money.

More information at the NSA Austin Website. Sign up TODAY!

***Just last week Scott was the keynote speaker for the NSA Winter Conference (and did a great job!). You do not get selected to take the main stage in front of 300 professional speakers if you suck!

Have A Great Day.

thom singer