Bootstrapping A Business
November 8, 2010 by Zac GrondaStart it , Do it, Open it, Pay for it, read a book about it
How do I get the money? Work usually is the best solution followed by sleepless nights. Collaboration and using what is available to you, saving, investing in quick money turn around I have painted houses, sold used cars, Ebay'ed Stuff that I found at a bargain. Avoid get rich quick scams and I am not a fan of multilevel (pyramid) business models.How do you meet people? - Join the chamber of commerce, be friendly , be transparent, don't talk about politics all the time, brush your teeth, Start your own group and put the word business in it (or what ever your interested in) then you instantly have your own platform to express yourself.
Start relationships with other business owners early in your start up to insure that you have support and more than one head. It's bad to just use one head because your head sometimes is not screwed on really tight when you own your own business.
Favorite Tools & Web Apps
October 27, 2010 by Zac GrondaI wanted to share some of my tools that I use on a regular basis to get work accomplished on the web. There are a lot of gadgets and fun tools you can use to get cool good looking things out to the public in a short period of time. Since I am a creative type personlaility a lot of them have to do with sharing information and designing cool looking stuff.
Elegant Themes is a WordPress theme creator that can make some neat looking blogs really quick. I learned a lot about how to promote with a blog format using this product and it was really worth messing with.
Dropbox is a free tool for file sharing with with Marketing/Designing/Photographers and internet Marketing Companies so we can collaborate and share information fast. It creates a file on your computer and you can share it with other computers by simply downloading the program and logging in. Also if you need free space just ask your friends to sign up and they give you 250MB of bonus space free. Just click on This to help me grow my storage!
I listen to tunes on Groove Shark while I am working hard and getting plugged in.
I also love to watch talks about Ideas Worth Spreading for education on new things and getting inspired.
Basecamp is a collaboration tool for managing projects and tracking progress. We used this program to track our progress on re-brandning my business and turning it into what it is today.
Don't Hog Your Journey It's Not Just Yours
October 21, 2010 by Zac Gronda
I do an exercise every year around this time. I write down everyone that I have either worked with directly or have been inspired by over the past year to help me grow my business. I start early because these days I have had more help than ever in my life. Understanding that your life is not just yours to smuggle and hide but it's for others to share in and be a part of is one thing I have realized this year. Being open and honest about who you really are and where you want to be in life later on down the road affects your immediate life my simple association. If you want to find the bad in the world be my guest it's all around us. I choose to strive to be as happy and surround myself with people that believe in what I do. I don't want to simply own and operate a business I truly want to affect life and set an example for people. So I encourage you to not hog your Journey in this life because you only get one chance. Leave a legacy that is tangible that people remember and people want to follow.
Here is my list. Try making one of your own and see how much other effect your life year by year it will honestly take you days.
Donna PrattMisty RupeMae Morgan Consulting - Jessica StaffordDanel Uselton and ClayEvans Agency - John EvansRockwood Street GrillLive and Let Live Drug StoreShear Academy - Crossville, TennesseeMaryland Parham- The Bottom LineDaniel PinkJim CollinsJack Dorsey @jackEvan Williams @evBiz Stone @bizChelsea CoolsettRachard DrakeKat SosnickJesi PowersAdam ScruggsLarry PageSergey BrinCountless Customers, Fans and Participants in our activities - Thanks to one and all!
Awareness
October 7, 2010 by Zac GrondaThis is a very funny video I ran across. It really makes you think.
Yee Haw
September 28, 2010 by Zac GrondaThis is a cool little poster shop I saw in downtown Knoxville called Yee-Haw. The owner of this shop started purchasing old printing press style letters and fonts you can't get anymore. This craft wasn't too popular 15 years ago, but now has become trendy for new bands, businesses, and artists coming to town that want a different look. They are returning to the past for inspiration. This business fills that gap and is one of the only old school poster printing companies around. I met a guy named BJ at the shop. He was drawing (of all things) cracked walnuts. Have you ever seen cracked walnuts drawn in such detail that you knew exactly what they were? I wish I had snapped a picture of his drawing. You can stop by and visit BJ any time. He works as an in-house artist and art restorer. Pretty Cool guy. BJ's in the picture talking to some of the other workers that had just walked in.
Here is a video of the press they use for printing posters:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=semPZmL3uDE&feature=related
Build Whatever You Want
September 17, 2010 by Zac GrondaAudience and Fans,
I really had no idea how to start my first blog or what to say. I usually have all the words prepared, but as the opening date approached I scrapped everything I had written and started fresh with this clear message as my brand starts to build momentum.That little dude that you see plaing the drums is me. This was my first world stage! I remember watching my older bother playing the drums and wanted to be like just like him. The only way I knew how to be like him was to practice. I wasn’t allowed on the real drum set so I built my own with flyswatters and extra large building blocks.You see my tongue out to the side of my mouth. That’s how you know I'm really into something. Do I still do that 25 years later as I play my guitar?
The point is that each person has enough creativity inside of them to build whatever they want. As this brand builds and we surround ourselves with high quality people, I want to make sure that we do not stifle creativity in the workplace.
Please check out all of our new products and apparel online. I will be writing on a schedule so check our blog each week for updates as this will start to be a part of my life and growing of my brand. Thank you to all my customers that have made this possible over the last 4 years of hard work.
