Spurred on by the news of @thestartproject and what seems to be a growing momentum in phase one business creation.  I just wrote and sent the lamest pitch letter ever... incoherent comes to mind... I refuse to even go back and read it actually...

I’ve never written Santa Clause, but I’m sure this how kids feel the day after.  But for those that are looking to where the action is look for @thestartproject, @saca, & @cubedweller too...   

In the meantime, I’ve finally downloaded the new iphone SDK.... see what I can make happen on the ipad should be fun...

And maybe just one more lame pitch – I been doodling this micro-format evite\twitter thingy (dubbed light-vite)... Then I’m done, no more pitches.

I was absolutely blown away by this quote from "You can Negotiate Anything"
by Herb Cohen...

The secret of walking on water... is knowing where the stones are.

We've all probably experienced it. Receiving an appreciative email for some
service performed. or perhaps being rooted-on down the hallway by chants of
"my hero" or "my lifesaver." All the time thinking - really - it was no big
deal.

Regardless of your position, we all have customers. In any position of
support we can be miracle workers and "walk on water". If we take time to
really know our business, whenever issues arise we can address them quickly
-- all the customer sees is a quick resolution to something beyond their
reach and us dancing across waters they would dare not even try tread
across.

Louis.

I missed startup weekend in Dallas last year... And may have to head to
Oklahoma City for the next event... I cant imagine OKC having any more of a
start scene than Dallas....

STARTUP WEEKEND: http://startupweekend.org/
HACKER NEWS: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=164390

Louis.

Wired, April 2007: Besides the cover featuring a nice peel back transparency cover of Jenna Fischer, from The Office. Wired featured a great article on Radical Transparency (rt) – corporations baring it all through blogging. They pointed out how Microsoft has been able to leverage renegade bloggers – and make positive changes in there organization, and even impress shareholders and the like by barring it.

Personally I feel the great effects are a bit of a stretch, and it could be because they used such a dominate company like Microsoft. Bottom line, shareholders care about profit, and Microsoft will be profitable for so time to come…

What interested me most, was the question: How effective is (rt) for a small or start-up business? I knew from the beginning I would utilize a corporate blog, but letting the WHOLE WORLD see my successes, failures, and my future product ideas is a daunting idea. Yet, at this point, it can’t hurt much, right. Keeping an honest & open biz-blog is one way to keep moving forward: if you document a failure, you can read it right there in black and white, it’s done – you can move on.

So, I begin, either documenting the the foundation of a great company or whatever may be the opposite.

BTW, If you hadn’t snagged the latest issue of WIRED Magazine from your mail room clerk or next door neighbor, please check it out, stay curre nt. www.wired.com

How to present your business is an important decision to any startup… I ran across  a video on YouTube entitled “Don’t Make a Startup”, a view that raises the question: Is it beneficial, to take the time an energy to give the impression that a startup business isn’t a startup at all? Well, my conclusion is: StartUps are Sexy (thus the title). Every company has to be a startup at some point so why not embrace it and let your costumers embrace it.

The fact is, no matter how great and established you say your company or brand is… only time, a great product, and the truth can really set the foundation for continued success in business.

The truth makes a strong impression. Startups who present themselves as startups will benefit in the long run by drawing consumers who are willing to invest in their business from the start, and that will probably stick with them as they iron out the kinks.

This idea fits well into the idea of radical transparency (rt) – making your ideas, including company short-fallings, public knowledge.  And in this New Barackian Economy, hasn’t the truth become a truly endearing quality? Well maybe not.  But it does lay the ground to continue forward progress and will always be a very powerful tool at establishing a good reputation with peers and consumers. Anything else is just an illusion, so don’t be posers, they are on to it.

http://www.youtube.com/v/MhzCPvzf0hk

I feel like this dude sometimes.... Lens: Behind the Scenes: Man in the Pink Boxers http://bit.ly/EiSFj

Good book – and it’s got duct tape on the cover. I’m a bit late getting to this one, unfortunately current economics have really dated many business books – not the case with Made to Stick.

A bit bloated. If you come across this in a book store – I recommend considering the introduction “Six Principles of Sticky Ideas” (pgs.14-19 sum up the book quite nice). If you just love anecdotes buy the book and enjoy – plus its neon orange – looks great on the book self.

The authors “checklist for creating a successful idea: a Simple Unexpected Concrete Credentialed Emotional Story”

Louis.

I really enjoyed a retweet from @99percent… 4 Rules of the DIY by Ben Jones.

“Rule 4. Be Kind.  It’s so important to celebrate and contribute to the very community, market or scene you want to be a part of/exploit/culture jam. It helps if what you are doing is honest and good.”  -  http://tiny.cc/WW9Cf

So often in planning a new product launch organizations don’t consider the kind factor, they seek only to exploit the community whatever it may be from hip-hop to snowboarders.  They forget the community is inherently smart and invest judiciously (usually in its members). So if you see to be successful in a particular demographic, don’t be a Poser, if you do not truly support the community you will not succeed.

So how do you best support the community: if you’re interested in fashion- sponsor some local shows, usually you can get a mention for as little as $200.00… do your business locally - in searching for a fragrance expert (aka. a nose) who would have known that one (of the best) was within 30 miles of me in North Texas… tweet, Facebook, and blog.

Enjoy all 4 points… http://tiny.cc/WW9Cf

Louis.