Become a Social Media Master. A Wizard. A Guru!

Imagine life without Facebook.  How would we keep in touch with friends?
Or going throughout the day without Twitter.  Would we still be able to find breaking news in mere seconds?

Or looking for a new job without LinkedIn.  How would we connect with professionals to amp up our own careers?

Life without social media is scary.  This disruptive idea has turned our world upside-down...and for the better.  We cannot help but love it.

Since social media literally surrounds us every single day (did you check-in to that restaurant on Foursquare during your lunch hour?  We probably did.), it is obviously an important tool to integrate into business.  But what's the best way of going about that?

Get all of the tips, tricks and advice you need about becoming a social media guru at Social Media Masters: Kansas City.  This week, the Social Media Club of Kansas City and Sensei Marketing are teaming up to bring you insights into taking your social media skills to the next level.  Whether you're a social media professional or an online marketer, this program is your chance to go beyond a typical introductory course and get advanced training from true Social Media Masters. 

Ready to become a social media master?  A wizard?  An all-out guru?  Register for the Social Media Masters event.  The event kicks off on Friday, October 21 bright and early at 8:00 AM.  Learn more here. 

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig

How Do You Think Big?

As a part of our countdown to Think Big Kansas City (which was a BIG success on Tuesday!), we put up on contest on LinkedIn to find out how people Think Big.  The winner of the contest (congrats again to Christina Buffa of Keller Williams Northland Partners!) won a free ticket to Think Big Kansas City, their quote on the TBKC slideshow, and facetime with Bill Rancic. 

But we didn't want to forget about all of the other Big Thinkers out there.  Here are some of our favorite answers from our LinkedIn contest. 

 

How Do You Think Big?

"Forget about what everyone else is doing and focus on what they're not - then capitalize on it.  That is how you gain strategic advantage."  - Duke Getzinger

"Be unique and simple." - Brian Bush

"When you finally find that big idea, treat it like the day your wife told you she was pregnant.  Be there every step of the way: the first scan, the birth, those first teeth and steps, life's little accidents, the first achievements.  Your idea will grow with all your passion and belief in the wonder of life." - Ian McMonagle

"Meditate on the fact that you are a limitless individual and your limits are hinder only by what you are not willing to do." - Suzette DeCruize

"Ingredients to Thinking Big: First you will need the following; imagination, motivation, optimism, determination.  Take one brain full of "good ideas" (preferably new), take one white board of "crazy approaches that no one would try".  Combine the two and mix until success (this may take awhile, but don't give up!" - Corey Weddington

"Thinking Big...never, never, never give up on your dreams!  They may not seem big to anybody else, but they are yours.  Dreams can't get any bigger than that!" - Jeff Miner

"Take your current vision or plan and make it Bigger.  If you're selling in the US, why not sell in Europe or Asia?  If you're in one niche market, why not go for two?  Nobody changed the world by not trying and thinking small!" - Jim West III

"Think big but plan small steps.  All ideas have big and small forms.  Some of the largest small businesses were built one brick at a time." - Daniel Symes

"By constant pursuit of knowledge.  The more you learn, the more things become possible to you.  The more you know, the Bigger you can think.  Anything is possible!"  - Joe Elkjer

"My husband and I have created a franchise system despite the fact that we had no business background or experience prior to owning our moving company 3.5 years ago.  We are Thinking Bigger by rebranding our current operation to an affordable, national franchise system for American business owners, while enhancing and improving the customer's moving experience." - Dana Ward

Thanks for telling us how you Think Big!!

Winner of Think Big LinkedIn Contest Announced!

A BIG congratulations to Christina Buffa of Keller Williams Northland Partners! 

Christina Buffa, buyer specialist and real estate consultant at Keller Northland Partners, answered "How Do You Think Big?" most creatively in our LinkedIn contest!  As the BIG winner, Christina will receive two free tickets to Think Big Kansas City from Think Big Partners and presenting sponsor Alterra Bank! 

Check out Christina's winning answer:

"There will always be plenty of people who tell you 'no, 'not possible', 'impossible', etc, but I truly believe that Thinking Big means following your passion and God-given talents. Having a bigger purpose other than financial gain (such as helping others achieve their goals) are what drives me to continue to try and not quit. Thinking Big means not turning back at the first obstacle and realizing that most successful people are just failures who never quit."

As part of the winning package, Christina not only has the chance to attend Think Big Kansas City for free with a friend, but her quote will also be displayed in our slideshow at Think Big Kansas City.  As a BIG added bonus, Christina also has the opportunity to meet Bill Rancic, original winner of The Apprentice! 

Congratulations, Christina!  Way to Think Big!  Can't wait to see you on May 24th!

Written by Allison Way.
@AllisonThinkBig

The 10 Coolest Apps For the Kansas City Entrepreneur

Poynt is an app that helps entrepreneurs
find their way around in new cities.

We live in a world of apps-- some genius, some garbage and some just plain goofy.  But according to Entrepreneur Magazine, the best of the best can redefine how you run your small business.  I have narrowed down the 10 coolest apps for the Kansas City entrepreneur so that local small businesses can use these tools to run as efficiently and effectively as possible.  So whether you're an entrepreneur using a Blackberry or an iPhone, check out the coolest apps for Kansas City entrepreneurs and get that new small business rollin'!

For Productivity...

1. Bento -- $4.99 -- filemaker.com

Bento organizes the details of your life, no matter how large or how small your business may be.  Bento contains 25 ready-to-use, customizable database templates to manage your contacts, schedules, personal information, and inventory.  

2. Evernote -- Free -- evernote.com

Not only is Evernote free, but it is also the pathway to your next great idea.  Evernote captures your brilliant ideas and entrepreneurial insights the moment they strike.  You can document your ideas through text, photos, or audio recordings.  This app helps take any Kansas City entrepreneur's idea and transform it into a successful new business.  Now that's Thinking Big!  

3. Quickoffice Connect Mobile Suite -- around $10 -- quickoffice.com

This full-featured Microsoft Office productivity suite enables Kansas City small business owners to create, open, edit and share documents and spreadsheets on the go.  

For Sales...

4. Inventory Tracker -- $4.99 -- ipartymobile.com

Inventory Tracker allows Kansas City entrepreneurs to stay on top of what products the have for sale, what has been sold, and what needs to be shipped.  This application also allows for the use of Excel in case spreadsheets is your thing.

For Finance...

5. BAII Plus Financial Calculator -- $14.99 -- education.ti.com/educationportal

This app computes cash-flow analysis, amortization schedules, depreciation, and other financial metrics.  BAII Plus Financial Calculator mirrors the functionality of the Texas Instruments' bestselling calculator, so you know that what you're getting is high quality.

6. InterTrak -- $4.99 -- inertron.com

InterTrak is a task-management tool designed for Kansas City entrepreneurs who juggle projects and assignments on a daily basis.  This app documents how each workday is spent and calculates hourly billing according to different clients and rates.  

For Travel...

7. Poynt -- Free -- poynt.com

For the Kansas City entrepreneur on-the-go, Poyt is the app for you!  Poyt is a next-gen, location-aware Yellow Pages which identifies your whereabouts and everything in your immediate radius.  So whether you're looking for a retailer, restaurant, coffee shop, or gas station, Poyt can point you in the right direction.

8. Worldmate -- Free -- worldmate.com

Kansas City business travelers, Worldmate may be the perfect app for your needs.  This app acts as a personal assistant for business travelers by managing complete itineraries such as flights, hotels, car rentals, and meetings.  

For Any Entrepreneur...

9. Appbox Pro -- $.99 -- allaboutapps.net

Appbox Pro is the Swiss Army knife for Kansas City entrepreneurs.  It truly has everything--an alarm clock, flashlight, currency converter, games, loan calculator, unit converter, random number generator, and more.  Everything an entrepreneur could ever need whether on-the-go, in the office, or at home.

10. LinkedIn -- Free -- linkedin.com/mobile

One of the most popular networking sites on the Internet has now become one of the most crucial apps for the Kansas City small business owner.  The LinkedIn app allows you to stay connected wherever you go.  The business-centric social network's official mobile app gives users access to more than 75 professional profiles and is completed with real-time status updates and messaging tools.

So if you want to stay updated, connected, and even have every entrepreneurial tool right at your fingertips, then look no further, Kansas City entrepreneurs; check out these 10 apps to help your small business stay productive and successful--even if you're on the go!

Written by Allison Way.  Allison is a writer and videographer for Think Big Partners and bizperc, two of Kansas City's newest entrepreneurial resources.  To read more of Allison's work, visit the Kansas City Entrepreneurship Examiner.