Think Big Radio: 5 Ways to Perk Up a Normal Startup Day

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044 Think Big Radio: 5 Ways to Perk Up a Normal Startup Day

There’s really no such thing as a “normal startup day”, is there?  For most entrepreneurs, no day looks exactly like another.  And sometimes, because of the hectic lives that many entrepreneurs lead, many can get run down...and fast.  It’s tough to stay motivated, rejuvenated and focused throughout the work week, especially during the summer months.  But this episode of Think Big Radio will give you the top 5 ways to perk up any startup day including:

1. Try the 9/80 rule: work 80 hours in 9 days to take every other Friday “off”
2. Get outside: Hold meetings outside or even take your company out for a day at retreat at the lake
3. Walk & meet:  Kill 2 birds with 1 stone by walking to the local coffee shop and meeting along the way
4. Plan a get-together: Happy hours, running groups and company activities are a great way to bond
5. Bring in lunch: Sometimes all the company needs to stay motivated is a little grub

Learn more from Think Big on Twitter! @thinkbigKC

043 Think Big Radio: Top 9 Questions to Ask Before Naming Your Startup

043 Think Big Radio: Top 9 Questions to Ask Before Naming Your Startup

Google.  Tumblr.  Twitter.  Zaarly.  They’re all successful companies, but where in the heck did their names come from?  When determining the name of your startup, there are a lot of things to keep in mind.  Do you want one of these “whacky” names that mean virtually nothing, or do you want to keep it simple like AutoZone, Burger King or Stanley Steamer?  There are multiple ways to go about naming your business, but before you do, be sure to ask yourself these 9 questions:

1. What is your brand positioning?
2. Is the name too limiting (or too broad)?
3. Does the name make sense?
4. Is the name easy to remember?
5. Can people spell the name easily?
6. Does the name sound good?
7. Does the name reach your target audience?
8. Does the name look good on paper?
9. Is the name already trademarked?

So listen up, tune in and Think Big!  In this episode of Think Big Radio, Derek and Allison discuss the top 9 questions to ask yourself when naming your business.  Keep all of these questions in mind before you jot anything down on your formal business plan.

Follow Allison at @AllisonThinkBig & Derek at @DerekCOlsen.

Top 11 Kansas City Startup Resources In 2013

A long time ago (and we mean a long time ago) we developed a top 10 list of some of the best online and offline resources for entrepreneurs and startups in Kansas City.  Now that almost three years have passed, it’s about time we update this list with some of the newest and best entrepreneur and startup resources in the Kansas City area.  You may notice three years ago, we had a list of just 10 resources.  This year, we are publishing 11—and you’ll also notice how different these lists are from one another.  A lot of things have changed in the past three years—especially when it comes to the progression and creation of new startup resources in the Kansas City area.

All of the following resources have been created to help entrepreneurs launch successful startups and businesses.  So if you’re a serious KC entrepreneur looking for some small business help, check out one (or all) of these resources to determine which one is right for you (don’t feel like reading? Listen to our podcast episode instead!): 

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042 Think Big Radio: Top 11 Startup Resources in Kansas City (2013)

1. The Kauffman Foundation

www.kauffman.org

Back in 2010, The Kauffman Foundation was one of our top picks as a KC startup resource—and the organization has remained on top to this day.  The well-known and successful track record of the Kauffman Foundation is famous throughout the world.  The organization provides education and training (i.e. the FastTrac program) for entrepreneurs.  In addition, Kauffman promotes entrepreneurship-friendly policies to better facilitate the commercialization of new technologies.  In recent years, the Kauffman Foundation has boosted its involvement in startups even further by sponsoring Startup Weekend as well as 1 Million Cups.

2. Kansas and Missouri Universities and Colleges

Three years ago, we also made sure to add various Kansas and Missouri universities and colleges into our list of KC startup resources.  Today, we continue to add them to the top of our list because of their growing number of diverse programs for entrepreneurs and startups.  Below are just a few of the schools that provide strong entrepreneurship programs:

• Kansas City Kansas Community College, Entrepreneurship Program 
• Johnson County Community College, Entrepreneurship Program 
• University of Missouri Entrepreneurship Alliance  
• KU Entrepreneurship Program  
• UMKC Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation  
• William Jewell Entrepreneurship Program (recently received $500K from Kauffman to support the program) 

3. Think Big Partners

www.thinkbigpartners.com

We don’t mean to toot our own horns (or do we?) but Think Big Partners has seen exponential growth throughout the past 3 years not just in Kansas City, but across the nation.  Think Big Partners has gone from being known as a “business incubator/startup accelerator” to more of an “idea factory”—providing essential tools for local and nationwide startups.  With services and resources such as the Think Big Coworking (the company’s coworking space), entrepreneur-focused events (i.e. Hackovate Health, The Gigabit Challenge and iKC 2012 and 2013—coming soon), the Think Big Accelerator program, Think Big Ventures and many other initiatives, Think Big is continuing to build Kansas City into a hub for startups, tech and innovation.

4. Kansas City Coworking Spaces

Entrepreneurs can collaborate, mentor one another and meet other area-entrepreneurs at any of Kansas City’s many coworking spaces.  It seems as if coworking spaces are popping up all over town—and for good reason.  Kansas City needs a place for the growing number of entrepreneurs to go.  Some of these Kansas City coworking spaces include:

• Think Big Coworking
• OfficePort
• Innovation Café 
• Cowork Waldo

5. Startup Village

www.kcstartupvillage.org

Perhaps Kansas City’s newest “startup resource” is Startup Village, an entrepreneur-led, organic, grassroots initiative helping to bolster the Kansas City entrepreneur and startup community.  The mission of Startup Village is to create a concentrated and collaborative area of startup centered around the Google Fiber “fiberhoods”.   Currently, KC startups such as Leap2, FormZapper, Pipeline, CaddyX, EyeVerify, Handprint, SquareOffs and many others office in Startup Village.

Homes For Hackers is another startup that currently “offices” in Startup Village (and could be considered an entrepreneur resource in itself!).  Homes for Hackers provides 3 months of rent-free, Google Fiber-connected startup space to area entrepreneurs. 

6. Civic Leadership

There are many civic organizations and non-profits supported by the City of KCMO to help entrepreneurs.  Some of these organizations include:

• The Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City (EDC): Collaborates with the City of KCMO and other organizations to project a local identity and ensure a competitive, vibrant and self-sustaining economy. 
• The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce: The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce gives entrepreneurs the voice and resources they need to operate successful businesses within the region.  For small business owners in particular, the Chamber provides research and forecasts, networking events, global trade resources and leadership opportunities.
• Kansas City Area Development Council (KCADC): A private, non-profit organization that represents the economic interests in the 18-county region of Kansas City.  Under the KCADC umbrella is KCNext, the Technology Council of Greater Kansas City, which focuses on growing the existing base of technology firms, recruiting and attracting technology companies and aggregating and promoting regional IT assets. 
• KCBizCare: KCBizCare is the City of Kansas City’s business customer service center.  KCBizCare provides entrepreneurs with information and assistance in understanding and complying with city, state and federal requirements of operating a business.  The entrepreneur-focused part of KCBizCare is LaunchKC, a strategic initiative designed to attract and develop IT entrepreneurs and professionals to the thriving information technology community throughout Kansas City. 

7. Ennovation Center

www.ennovationcenter.com

In our previous list, the Ennovation Center rounded out at #10.  But we hear more and more about the Ennovation Center every single day.  Located in Independence, Missouri, Ennovation Center focuses on three core areas for the development of new business: bio-tech, kitchen and business & technology.  Ennovation Center provides professional facilities, administrative services, business & financing assistance as well as a vast list of resources.  We recommend the Ennovation Center for any food entrepreneurs out there!

8. KCSourceLink

www.kcsourcelink.com

If you’re a budding entrepreneur, be sure to visit KCSourceLink before you get started.  This online (and offline) resource’s mission is to help small businesses in the 18-county Kansas City region grow and succeed.  With 170+ nonprofit resource organizations that provide business-building services, KCSourceLink truly facilitates the linking of resource organizations to one another and to established, emerging and startup small businesses throughout the region.

9. The Enterprise Center of Johnson County

www.ecjc.com

The Enterprise Center of Johnson County (also known as ECJC) has the goal of stimulating business creation and employment in the region by providing resources and services to early-stage, high-return, high-growth companies.  Currently, ECJC boasts 31 current client and affiliate companies and has helped to create 904 new jobs in the KC metro area.

10. OneKC for Women

www.onekcforwomen.com

Kansas City boasts some very powerful women-focused entrepreneurial resources such as OneKC for Women (made up of the Women’s Business Center, the Women’s Employment Network and Women’s Capital Connection).  OneKC is made up of powerful advocates for women and are committed to assisting women on their quest for personal, professional and financial self-sufficiency.

11. Silicon Prairie News

www.siliconprairienews.com

Perhaps you’re not ready to make the entrepreneurial dive—but you do want to read up on area startup news and attend entrepreneurial events to dip your toe in.  That’s exactly where Silicon Prairie News comes into play.  This online resource provides the top news stories for what’s going on in entrepreneurship in the “Silicon Prairie” region (primarily Kansas City, Omaha and Des Moines).  Read up on startup news and attend any Silicon Prairie event to learn more about what KC-area entrepreneurs are up to. 

We would like to thank all of the above Kansas City resources for Thinking Big and providing help for all of our entrepreneurs.  Here’s to three more years of success in Kansas City! 

* Think Big Partners created this list to the best of our knowledge.  If you think a Kansas City startup resource is missing on this list, please add your thoughts to the comments section below. 

041 Think Big Radio: Top 10 Spring Cleaning Tips for Entrepreneurs

April showers bring May flowers.  But what else do April showers bring?  Spring cleaning!  Although most of us dread spring cleaning every year, it’s a necessity in order for us to push our businesses and startups forward.  What are the best tips that entrepreneurs can use when spring cleaning?  

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041 Think Big Radio: Top 10 Spring Cleaning Tips for Entrepreneurs

In this episode of Think Big Radio, Derek and Allison explore the best things they do (or don’t do but wish they did) during spring cleaning such as:

1. Organize digital documents
2. Reset passwords
3. Sort through emails
4. Update contact list
5. Update website content
6. Update portfolio or case studies
7. Get finances in line
8. Re-energize the team
9. Clean out your desk (literally)
10. Clear your mind

Follow Derek: @DerekCOlsen

Follow Allison: @AllisonThinkBig

040 Think Big Radio: An Entrepreneur Chat with Kelly Pruneau, Women’s Capital Connection

In the investment field, women don’t have quite as big of a presence as men do.  In fact, only 10-15% of angel investors and venture capitalists are women.  But Women’s Capital Connection (WCC) based in Kansas City, Missouri is looking to change that statistic.  In this episode of Think Big Radio, Derek sits down with Kelly Pruneau, network manager of the Women’s Capital Connection to learn exactly what the WCC does, how it is changing the investment industry, and just how important women investors are in the Kansas City area.

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040 Think Big Radio: An Entrepreneur Chat with Kelly Pruneau, Women's Capital Connection

In this podcast, Derek asks Kelly questions such as:

1. How did you get involved in Women’s Capital Connection?
2. What types of companies or industries does WCC invest in?
3. What are some of the companies you currently invest in?
4. Why is there a need for something like Women’s Capital Connection in Kansas and Missouri?
5. Does Kansas City have enough investment recourses?  Why?  Why not?
6. How does WCC solve the “lack of capital” problem?
7. Why are there more men angel investors than women?
8. What is Women’s Capital Connection doing to increase the number of women angel investors?
9. Why do women make great angel investors and venture capitalists?
10. How do you Think Big?  

Listen to other podcast episodes!  Check out Think Big on iTunes.  

039 Think Big Radio: SXSW Chat with Jeb Ory of Phone2Action

In this episode of Think Big Radio, Derek sits down with Jeb Ory, founder of Phone2Action to discuss his experience at SXSW 2013.  At SXSW, Jeb had the opportunity to compete in the SXSW Interactive Accelerator, where he pitched against 7 others in the "news" category.  After a great pitch, Jeb and his Phone2Action team won their category and walked away with $4,000 cash (not to mention a lot of bragging rights and exposure).

Learn more about Jeb's SXSW experience by listening to our podcast!

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039 Think Big Radio: SXSW Chat with Jeb Ory of Phone2Action

Learn more about Phone2Action! Follow @Phone2Action on Twitter. 

038 Think Big Radio: Top 10 Biggest Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make

We often learn more from our failures than we do from our successes.  But we don’t want to make too many mistakes, or else our startup may fail.  To warn you of what mistakes to look out for in the startup world, this episode of Think Big Radio, Derek and Allison will give you insight into the top 10 mistakes entrepreneurs make.  

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038 Think Big Radio: Top 10 Biggest Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make

These mistakes include:

1. Starting a business for the wrong reason:  Don’t start a business just because you’re “bored”.  Start a business because there is a need in the marketplace.
2. Choosing the wrong partner:  Startups that run with only one founder are more likely to fail than those with two.  Startups that have more than two founders are even more likely to fail.
3. Not sharing your idea:  When you don’t share your idea, you are not setting yourself up for success.  Find a mentor, accelerator program or coworking space to share your idea with those who are in the same boat.
4. Avoiding the pivot: Your business needs to pivot (in other words, your idea needs to change and be reworked).  If you never change your original idea, your business cannot grow.
5. Putting off legal issues:  Address legal issues the moment they happen.  Find a lawyer who specializes in working with entrepreneurs.
6. Too much overhead:  Don’t pull a “Tom Haverford” at Entertainment 720.  Keep overhead costs low and focus on spending your money to build the business (i.e. product research and development).
7. Hiring too many employees too early: Wear a lot of hats the first few months (or years) of building your startup.  Hire slowly and carefully.
8. Lack of goals:  Write your business plan to include both your own individual professional goals and goals for your business.
9. Too much focus on the product:  Don’t be product-driven, be customer-driven!
10. Not learning from your mistakes: Entrepreneurs are not perfect.  Remember—if you’re not making mistakes, you’re not pushing yourself hard enough! 

Learn more from Think Big! @thinkbigKC 

037 Think Big Radio: Jason Grill of Kansas City Startup Sock 101

If you’re a fan of the Kansas City entrepreneurship scene there is a very good chance you know who Jason Grill is.  But even if you don’t know the KC entrepreneur himself, you’ve probably come across many organizations, startups or articles that he’s touched. In addition to being a host of Entrepreneur KC Radio as well as the owner of JGrill Media, Jason is also one of the cofounders, along with Lea Bailes and Dave Feyerabend, of Kansas City’s newest fashion brand, Sock 101.

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037 Think Big Radio: Jason Grill of Kansas City Startup Sock 101

I was fortunate enough to sit down with Jason this past week at Think Big Partners to put him on the other side of the microphone.  We chatted about his startup endeavors as well as the ins-and-outs of up-and-coming startup, Sock 101.

For those of you not familiar with Sock 101, it is a new Kansas City startup that breaks away from the current model of most of those found in KC. While many startups in the area deal with either tech or mobile, Sock 101 is simply selling (what else?) socks.

Founded in June and pitched back in November 2012 at The Kauffman Foundation’s Startup Showcase 1 Million Cups, Sock 101 is focused on allowing people to step up their sock game with self-expressive high quality socks for $7 each.  Men’s fashion has been evolving in recent years, breaking away from the business standard of navy blue, black and grey. Nowadays, there is an increasing demand to add one’s own personal flair to their attire. The idea that your socks should match the color of your pants has been thrown out the window.

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what triggered this revolution in men’s fashion.  Brightly patterned shirts and ties, pocket squares and cufflinks opened the floodgates allowing men of any age to add their own personal style to “traditional” men’s attire. In recent years, with all other articles of clothing well covered, it was finally turn for socks to get their day in the sun.

While other companies are focused on producing stylish “high quality” colorful socks at a price point between $12 and $24 per pair, Sock 101 looks accomplish the same thing, only at a more affordable price.

Though it is a young Kansas City startup, Sock 101 is poised to make big waves not only in the Kansas City entrepreneurship scene, but in the fashion industry as a whole.   

Speaking from my own experience, the socks from Sock 101 are great. They provide enough panache without being gaudy and overbearing.  It should also be noted these socks are super comfortable. The socks can be purchased at local men’s boutiques like Method in the Crossroads as well as online at their website, Sock101.com, with flat rate shipping. For those who want to step up their sock game but don’t want to do a lot of work, Sock 101 also offers a “sock of the month club” that delivers a fresh pair of stylish socks to your door every month.

So what’s next for Jason and his fellow “Sockpreneurs”? Only time will tell, but you can be sure that this KC company will continue its mission of providing stylish professional socks at an affordable price.

When asked how Jason Thinks Big, here’s how he answered: “Anything is possible, the Kansas City community as a whole is super supportive and everyone is doing great things. With something like socks people think you can just grab a pair of the rack and go to someone and say make this. It’s not that easy. It takes a lot of hard work and you have to be thinking big.”

Luckily for the Sockpreneurs, Kansas City has the tools to accomplish something like that.

036 Think Big Radio: Carrie Royce on KC’s Startup Crawl

February 8, 2013 will be the date for Kansas City’s first ever Startup Crawl, an event hosted by Red Nova Labs and Kansas City Startup Village.  Listen as Derek from Think Big Radio goes in depth with Startup Crawl organizer, Carrie Royce (Red Nova Labs), to hear what this entrepreneurial event has to offer.  Learn about what to expect from Startup Crawl, why Startup Crawl is good for the city and what the event means for Kansas City entrepreneurs.

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036 Think Big Radio: Carrie Royce on KC’s Startup Crawl

To register to attend Startup Crawl on February 8, please visit http://kcstartupcrawl.eventbrite.com/.  

Learn more from Think Big! @thinkbigKC 

035 Think Big Radio: Dropouts—The Best Entrepreneurs in History

The most important aspect to becoming a successful entrepreneur is not educational credentials, but rather, ambition and the desire to be great. We have conducted a list of the top entrepreneurs who did not earn a college diploma. Others didn't even finish high school.  Some didn’t even finish 4th grade!

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035 Think Big Radio: Dropouts--The Best Entrepreneurs in History

In this episode of Think Big Radio, Derek and Allison sit down to discuss some of the most inspirational entrepreneurs of all time...all of whom are dropouts!  Our top 10 list includes entrepreneurial superstars like:

• Henry Ford (dropped out at age 16)
• Bill Gates (dropped out at age 19)
• Michael Dell (dropped out at age 19)
• Paul Allen (dropped out at age 20)
• Steve Jobs (dropped out at age 18)
• Mark Zuckerberg (dropped out at age 19)
• David Geffen (dropped out at age 21)
• Larry Ellison (dropped out at age 20)
• Sheldon Adelson (dropped out at age 19)
• Richard Branson (dropped out at age 16)

Plus famous high school dropouts that include:

•             Anne Beiler (Auntie Ann's Pretzels)
•             Walt Disney (The Walt Disney Company)
•             Mary Kay Ash (Mary Kay Inc.)
•             Dov Charney (American Apparel)
•             Charles Culpeper (Coca Cola)
•             George Eastman (Kodak)
•             Joyce C. Hall (Hallmark)
•             Richard Schulze (Best Buy)
•             Wally Amos (Famous Amos)
•             Hyman Golden (Snapple)
•             Rachel Ray (Food Network Star) never even went to culinary school
•             Kemmons Wilson (Holiday Inn)
•             Coco Chanel (Chanel)
•             Carl Lindner (United Dairy Farmers)
•             Jimmy Dean (Jimmy Dean Foods)

Listen to Episode 35 of Think Big Radio to learn more!

Follow Allison! @AllisonThinkBig
Follow Derek! @DerekCOlsen 

034 Think Big Radio: Fill in the Blank with Two Entrepreneurs

In this episode of Think Big Radio, Derek and Allison decided to switch things up and play a little game called Fill in the Blank with Two Entrepreneurs.  In this game, Derek and Allison ask one another intense, interesting and downright strange questions about entrepreneurship and startups.  Questions include:

• The biggest challenge I’ve ever faced as an entrepreneur was _____.
• The reason I became an entrepreneur was because _____.
• The coolest startup company I’ve ever heard of is _____.
• As an entrepreneur, I can never get enough _____.
• If you rubbed a lamp and could only wish for one thing for your startup, would you wish for funding or a handful of amazing employees?
• If working for a nice, corporate job is like Donald Trump, then working for a startup is like _____.
• If I could give a budding entrepreneur just one piece of advice, it would be _____.
• An entrepreneur should be born with 3 qualities: _____, _____, and _____.
• If I was given one extra hour every single day, I would spend it doing _____.
• The best piece of advice I’ve ever received about my startup was _____.

What were Allison and Derek’s answers? Listen to this episode of Think Big Radio to find out!

034 Think Big Radio: Fill in the Blank with Two Entrepreneurs

Follow Think Big! @thinkbigKC
Follow Allison! @AllisonThinkBig
Follow Derek! @DerekCOlsen

033 Think Big Radio: The Top 10 New Year's Resolutions for Entrepreneurs

033 Think Big Radio: The Top 10 New Year's Resolutions for Entrepreneurs

What’s on your New Year’s Resolution list for 2013?  In this episode of Think Big Radio, Derek and Allison dive deep into what entrepreneurs should put on their New Year’s Resolution list...and how to actually stick to your resolution for more than 2 weeks!  Tune into this episode of Think Big Radio and learn the Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions for Entrepreneurs including:

1. Take more time with your employees
2. Network
3. Set your goals
4. Take a new class
5. Organize
6. Read more
7. Find a mentor
8. Give back
9. Celebrate!
10. Get a life!

Follow Allison! @AllisonThinkBig
Follow Derek! @DerekCOlsen
Follow Think Big! @ThinkBigKC

032 Think Big Radio: The Entrepreneur’s Christmas Wishlist

As an entrepreneur, are you struggling to determine what to put on your startup’s Christmas wishlist?  Or do you have an entrepreneur you need to buy a Christmas present for?  If so, this episode of Think Big Radio is for you!  We’ll spill the Top 10 Christmas Gifts to buy an entrepreneur this season—some of them may even surprise you (ever heard of a smartphone leash? We didn’t think so...).  Listen up, tune in, Think Big and have a happy holiday!

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032 Think Big Radio: The Entrepreneur's Christmas Wishlist 

The Top 10 Christmas Gifts for an Entrepreneur:

1.      Money/funding (even if it’s just $20!)
2.      iPad Mini
3.      Gift cards
4.      Gym membership
5.      A phone leash
6.      Affordable website
7.      Great headphones (like Beats by Dre)
8.      A launch party or celebration
9.      Vacation/time off
10.   A nice office chair

Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig
Follow Derek! @DerekCOlsen

031 Think Big Radio: Q&A With Kansas City Startup Weekend Winner Wazoo

Startup Weekend is no easy hackathon to win—especially in a place like Kansas City where startup ideas and driven entrepreneurs are flocking in by the hundreds (if not thousands!).  This fall’s Kansas City Startup Weekend brought together some of the coolest startup ideas, the hungriest entrepreneurs and, of course, loads and loads of caffeine and high energy.

This year, Startup Weekend Kansas City crowned startup Wazoo as the winner.  Wazoo is a mobile application aimed at helping zoos provide a better experience for visitors.  The app features geolocation on a live map of zoo parks in order to help users navigate their way through zoos as well as real-time free featuring updates from other zoo-goers to help users stay in the know on what’s happening.

In this episode of Think Big Radio, Derek sits down with Kelly Tomlinson, founder Wazoo (and Kansas City-based UI designer) to learn about Wazoo’s Startup Weekend experience as well as what’s next for her new, “wild” app. 

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031 Think Big Radio: Q&A With Kansas City Startup Weekend Winner Wazoo

Follow Wazoo! @getWazoo

030 Think Big Radio: A Must-Listen with John Jantsch of Duct Tape Marketing (and Book Giveaway!)

Episode 30 of Think Big Radio is a must-listen.

John Jatsch of Duct Tape Marketing.

Get the complete inside scoop about the new book The Commitment Engine by John Jantsch at Duct Tape Marketing. In this episode of Think Big Radio, our neighbor from down the street, John Janstch, stops by to talk about his new book The Commitment Engine. Host Derek Olsen and Mr. Janstch discuss why he felt the need to write on the subject of commitment. What is commitment and why is it so important to be committed to doing great work? Derek and John dig in to some of the key concepts in The Commitment Engine and John goes even deeper discussing how those concepts have a huge impact on a small business owner.

Concepts include:

• “Your playing small doesn’t serve anyone.”  
• “Build a bigger purpose and let it build a bigger you.”
• “Passion Mantra”
• "Work Is Worth It When – Clarity is Strategy, Culture is Clarity Amplified and Community is the Natural Outcome of Clarity"

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030 Think Big Radio: A Must-Listen with John Jantsch of Duct Tape Marketing

Learn more about John, his business, ideas, and books at www.ducttapemarketing.com.

Book Giveaway!  We will be giving away two free copies of The Commitment Engine!  How can you win?  Tweet this episode of Think big Radio and tag @Ducttape and @ThinkBigKC! You will be entered into a drawing to win John Jantsch's newest marketing book!  Many will enter, 2 will win!

Follow John Jantsch at @ducttape. 

029 Think Big Radio: The Top 10 Things Startups Won't Tell You

029 Think Big Radio: The Top 10 Things Startups Won't Tell You

In this episode of Think Big Radio, Derek and Allison dive into something that many entrepreneurs want to know, but rarely ever get direct answers to.  It's the Top 10 Things Startups Won't Tell You.  Here at Think Big Partners, we want you to know what you're in for when you decide to enter the world of entrepreneurship.  This episode will help you understand the aspects of entrepreneurship that many founders, CEOs and startups may not tell you about.  It's the good, the bad and the ugly.

The Top 10 Things Startups Won't Tell You:

1.  "Our business is just as likely to fail as it is to succeed."
2.  "Sometimes, getting funding seems impossible."
3.  "Stock in the startup is probably not going to happen...at least for awhile."
4.  "We change the investment rules."
5.  "You probably don't want to work for us."
6.  "My parents invested money in my business."
7.  "I don't really have a life anymore..."
8.  "We hate our competitors."
9.  "I'm terrified to share my idea."
10.  "We have no clue what we're doing." 

028 Think Big Radio: A Think Big Partners Update

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028 Think Big Radio: A Think Big Partners Update

What can we say?  Think Big gets $*!@ done fast!  In the past few months, we have had a lot going on and we want to fill you in.  In this episode of Think Big Radio, podcast producer Derek Olsen sits down with partner at Think Big, Blake Miller and the two discuss an update from everyone’s favorite Kansas City incubator and accelerator.

So what’s new with Think Big?  Tune into this episode of Think Big Radio and get the skinny on:

• Think Big Ventures I and our two recent investments
• The first Think Big Accelerator class
• Success in the first two weeks of the Accelerator program from companies like Fully and Phone2Action
• Upcoming event: Microsoft’s Azure Cloud & Windows 8 App Kickstarts (a free event for developers)
• bizperc coworking space buzz 

Follow Blake! @blakemiller32

027 Think Big Radio: Google Fiber Update with Ryan Weber of KCNext

Ryan Weber, President of KCNext.

What’s new with the Google Fiber development in Kansas City?  Think Big Radio host Derek Olsen sits down with President of the Technology Council of Greater Kansas City (KCNext), Ryan Weber, to find out.  The two Kansas City natives (who both anxiously await the arrival of Google Fiber) talk about what the high-speed Internet means to the city and answer questions such as:

• What does Google Fiber mean for KCNext?
• Is Kansas City becoming an IT hub in the US?
• What groups are forming because of the Google Fiber implementation?
• How will KCNext help other major technology movements come to KC?
• What are the biggest challenges Google Fiber is facing?
• And more! 

027 Think Big Radio: Google Fiber Update with Ryan Weber of KCNext 

Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

026 Think Big Radio: Entrepreneurs and Sleep

026 Think Big Radio: Entrepreneurs and Sleep

Entrepreneurs and sleep.  The two don’t seem to go hand-in-hand do they?  Most entrepreneurs loathe going to sleep at night.  If they’re not tossing and turning thinking of the next big idea, they’re coding or jotting down notes until 3:00 in the morning.  

So what can entrepreneurs do to get the perfect amount of sleep and be productive the next day?  Is there such thing as too much sleep?  What are the top tips for falling asleep quickly?  And what are these "deep sleep packages" we've been hearing so much about?

In this episode of Think Big Radio, Derek and Allison will talk about the perfect amount of sleep an entrepreneur should get every night in order to be productive (and guess what? It's NOT 8 hours!).  In this episode, you'll also discover:

• What happens when your body gets too much sleep
• What a Berlin hotel is doing to provide jet-lagged businesspeople with "deep sleep"
• The top 3 tips for an effective sleep

Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

025 Think Big Radio: The Top 7 Classes Schools Should Implement for Future Entrepreneurs

025 Think Big Radio: The Top 7 Classes Schools Should Implement for Future Entrepreneurs

Elementary school, high school and even business school can't teach us everything we need to know about entrepreneurship.  But there are a few classes that we think should be implemented into school curricula not only to help entrepreneurs, but to help foster the startup ecosystem throughout different communities.  In this episode of Think Big Radio, Derek and Allison name the top 7 classes that they think should be added to school curriculum for entrepreneurs.

How did they come up with the 7?  Think Big Partners recently surveyed 51 entrepreneurs from across the nation to find out what classes they wish they had in college (and some even wish they had them in elementary and high school!). 

Check out the results: 

1. Coding 101 (54%)

2. Social Media 101 (35%)

3. Web Development 101 (33%)

4. Networking 101 (31%)

5. Content Creation (31%)

6. Inbound Marketing (21%)

7. SEO 101 (15%) 

Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig