This is a terrific article about the inspiration of Lucky Napkin
http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2007/11/26/smallb4.html?jst=pn_pn_lk
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Nice to be Recognized by our Peers
Lucky Napkin is popping up all over the place.
Check out this flattering recommendation on Scribd...
http://www.scribd.com/doc/1127255/Business-Growth-Accelerators-Y-Combinator-Lucky-Napkin-OLaunch
Check out this flattering recommendation on Scribd...
http://www.scribd.com/doc/1127255/Business-Growth-Accelerators-Y-Combinator-Lucky-Napkin-OLaunch
CH 3 AZ Family is Talking about Lucky Napkin
We love to love our friends who say such nice things about us.
Check out who's talking about us now. Channel 3 Arizona Family Televison the number 1 independent television station in Arizona
http://www.azfamily.com/news/homepagetopstory/stories/KTVKLocal20080122_luckynapkin.4be108f7.html
Check out who's talking about us now. Channel 3 Arizona Family Televison the number 1 independent television station in Arizona
http://www.azfamily.com/news/homepagetopstory/stories/KTVKLocal20080122_luckynapkin.4be108f7.html
AUDIO Part 3: Founding Partners Amilya and Anthony on the Radio
Part 3, the conclusion of the interview with Lucky Napkin founding partners Anthony Tesoriero and Amilya Antonetti on the Peters and Brown small business radio program.
Anthony and Amilya take call in questions, assist entrepreneurs to gain clarity on their great ideas and help move them in the direction of their dreams.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FfN4f-UQMs
Anthony and Amilya take call in questions, assist entrepreneurs to gain clarity on their great ideas and help move them in the direction of their dreams.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FfN4f-UQMs
AUDIO Part 2: Founding Partners Amilya and Anthony on the Radio
Part 2 of The Peters and Brown radio interview with Lucky Napkin founding partners Amilya Antonetti and Anthony Tesoriero.
Anthony and Amilya discuss the Lucky Napkin company and explain how they help entrepreneurs of all stages of the journey take their ideas from mind to market.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uJIpwMlE08
Anthony and Amilya discuss the Lucky Napkin company and explain how they help entrepreneurs of all stages of the journey take their ideas from mind to market.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uJIpwMlE08
AUDIO Part 1: Founding Partners Amilya and Anthony on the Radio
Meet Lucky Napkin founding partners Anthony Tesoriero and Amilya Antonetti on The Peters and Brown small business talk show.
This is Part 1 of a 3 part interview.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjdgCgxcGcg
This is Part 1 of a 3 part interview.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjdgCgxcGcg
Q & A- I Got No Team, What Now?
Q) Amilya on the The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch show you spoke about your team behind you. What if you don’t have a team and are doing everything?
Dan P.
Frustrated in Washington.
Dear Dan,
A) I honestly believe most people want to help. The reason they usually don’t is a problem on both ends. Firstly the person needing help has no clue what they really want someone to do and are so controlling that they can’t let others help if the person doesn’t do it exactly the way they would have or want it done. Secondly, the person helping often feels the expectation is set too high or not set at all leaving too much room for error so they feel its better to not get involved and set oneself up for others disappointment.
Here are some tips and getting more hands on deck. First, define what tasks you enjoy doing and are good at. This can be from cooking, cleaning to numbers, design, creative project. Then clearly define the areas and tasks that trip you up and slow you down. Now find others with opposite talents to trade with. I will make dinner for your home and mine if you can review my spreadsheet. I will work on your web site if you can help me with my marketing. You get the idea. Now you are attacking more issues quicker and working within a team.
In my personal and business life I have created different teams to help me stay focused and I offer each person on the teams the same commitment and reciprocation. Amilya’s business team, my children’s team, health team, spiritual team and so on is how I begin to see the people,e in my life who offer their help.
Often people go to one person for all the advice, nurturing and feedback. The mistake with that thinking is that one person can not be all things to you You will set your self up for failure. Don’t ask the person you feel is a great parent how to build your business. Don’t ask your trainer at the gym how to throw a dinner party. Stay focused with clear goals from clearly defined people and let those people know you are counting on them for defined knowledge.
Remember to relinquish some control and allow others to help you and be prepared to assist them with their needs as well. “Play it forward, pass it back,” commit this phrase to memory and make it your mantra. Offer help to others you could use help from and ask them to join your team if only on a part time basis to give you the relief you seek. Be patient and watch as your “team” starts to develop.
Never quit, your success is closer than you think..
Amilya
PS. You can learn more about Amilya on her web site, http://www.Amilya.com. And when you are ready to make the entrepreneurial jump, make sure you check out some of the priceless information and inspiration at http://www.LuckyNapkin.com, or plan to attend our Lucky Napkin Live Event, March 20, 2008 in Scottsdale AZ. Lucky Napkin is the country’s premiere “Venture Catalyst” company, an entrepreneurial catapult “Where Great Ideas Launch.”
Dan P.
Frustrated in Washington.
Dear Dan,
A) I honestly believe most people want to help. The reason they usually don’t is a problem on both ends. Firstly the person needing help has no clue what they really want someone to do and are so controlling that they can’t let others help if the person doesn’t do it exactly the way they would have or want it done. Secondly, the person helping often feels the expectation is set too high or not set at all leaving too much room for error so they feel its better to not get involved and set oneself up for others disappointment.
Here are some tips and getting more hands on deck. First, define what tasks you enjoy doing and are good at. This can be from cooking, cleaning to numbers, design, creative project. Then clearly define the areas and tasks that trip you up and slow you down. Now find others with opposite talents to trade with. I will make dinner for your home and mine if you can review my spreadsheet. I will work on your web site if you can help me with my marketing. You get the idea. Now you are attacking more issues quicker and working within a team.
In my personal and business life I have created different teams to help me stay focused and I offer each person on the teams the same commitment and reciprocation. Amilya’s business team, my children’s team, health team, spiritual team and so on is how I begin to see the people,e in my life who offer their help.
Often people go to one person for all the advice, nurturing and feedback. The mistake with that thinking is that one person can not be all things to you You will set your self up for failure. Don’t ask the person you feel is a great parent how to build your business. Don’t ask your trainer at the gym how to throw a dinner party. Stay focused with clear goals from clearly defined people and let those people know you are counting on them for defined knowledge.
Remember to relinquish some control and allow others to help you and be prepared to assist them with their needs as well. “Play it forward, pass it back,” commit this phrase to memory and make it your mantra. Offer help to others you could use help from and ask them to join your team if only on a part time basis to give you the relief you seek. Be patient and watch as your “team” starts to develop.
Never quit, your success is closer than you think..
Amilya
PS. You can learn more about Amilya on her web site, http://www.Amilya.com. And when you are ready to make the entrepreneurial jump, make sure you check out some of the priceless information and inspiration at http://www.LuckyNapkin.com, or plan to attend our Lucky Napkin Live Event, March 20, 2008 in Scottsdale AZ. Lucky Napkin is the country’s premiere “Venture Catalyst” company, an entrepreneurial catapult “Where Great Ideas Launch.”
Q & A - Connections
Q) Amilya I have caught several of your episodes on “The Big Idea” I love seeing a real world successful woman sharing her knowledge. How do I make the “right” connections to get my business to where it is profitable enough for me to quit my bill paying job?
Kat C.
San Diego, CA
A) Dear Kat,
This is a big question to answer completely in a small space so let me give you some starter points to think about to get you moving in the right direction.
First off, you need to know exactly what that REAL bill paying number is for yourself personally and also for the actual business expenses per month, only once you have identified these numbers will you be able to start to develop the proper plan to leave your job and focus on your business full time.
As far as connections, the “right” ones are probably closer than you think. First off identify clearly who and what kind of people can help you build momentum in your company. Remember to think of this from all angles; who can help you internally with operations issues, who can help you build your brand and sales and who can help you check and balance your numbers and budget?
Now start to examine your personal rolodex and make a secondary list of their professions, education and hobbies of all of your most important contacts. Begin having confidential conversations with your most trusted contacts and tell them what you are looking for and take accurate notes. These conversations will reveal to you a second level of connections that you will be able to tap into by leveraging your primary relationships. Just make sure when you are asking questions to ask the proper question to the most qualified source, (don’t direct your accounting questions to your plumber)
Once you identify the people who can assist you the most don’t be afraid to ask for their help and secure their assistance. Then readjust your breakeven numbers accordingly to account for the savings in time, productivity and hard costs. Remember to always remain sincere in your confidential conversations and never betray the trust of your connections by going around them or using them without giving back. Make this activity into a habit and I assure you that you will continue to grow your rolodex along with your sales, and soon you will be leaving your “bill paying” job and moving forward with your dreams.
Never quit, your success is closer than you think..
Amilya
PS. You can learn more about Amilya on her web site, http://www.Amilya.com. And when you are ready to make the entrepreneurial jump, make sure you check out some of the priceless information and inspiration at http://www.LuckyNapkin.com, or plan to attend our Lucky Napkin Live Event, March 20, 2008 in Scottsdale AZ. Lucky Napkin is the country’s premiere “Venture Catalyst” company, an entrepreneurial catapult “Where Great Ideas Launch.”
Kat C.
San Diego, CA
A) Dear Kat,
This is a big question to answer completely in a small space so let me give you some starter points to think about to get you moving in the right direction.
First off, you need to know exactly what that REAL bill paying number is for yourself personally and also for the actual business expenses per month, only once you have identified these numbers will you be able to start to develop the proper plan to leave your job and focus on your business full time.
As far as connections, the “right” ones are probably closer than you think. First off identify clearly who and what kind of people can help you build momentum in your company. Remember to think of this from all angles; who can help you internally with operations issues, who can help you build your brand and sales and who can help you check and balance your numbers and budget?
Now start to examine your personal rolodex and make a secondary list of their professions, education and hobbies of all of your most important contacts. Begin having confidential conversations with your most trusted contacts and tell them what you are looking for and take accurate notes. These conversations will reveal to you a second level of connections that you will be able to tap into by leveraging your primary relationships. Just make sure when you are asking questions to ask the proper question to the most qualified source, (don’t direct your accounting questions to your plumber)
Once you identify the people who can assist you the most don’t be afraid to ask for their help and secure their assistance. Then readjust your breakeven numbers accordingly to account for the savings in time, productivity and hard costs. Remember to always remain sincere in your confidential conversations and never betray the trust of your connections by going around them or using them without giving back. Make this activity into a habit and I assure you that you will continue to grow your rolodex along with your sales, and soon you will be leaving your “bill paying” job and moving forward with your dreams.
Never quit, your success is closer than you think..
Amilya
PS. You can learn more about Amilya on her web site, http://www.Amilya.com. And when you are ready to make the entrepreneurial jump, make sure you check out some of the priceless information and inspiration at http://www.LuckyNapkin.com, or plan to attend our Lucky Napkin Live Event, March 20, 2008 in Scottsdale AZ. Lucky Napkin is the country’s premiere “Venture Catalyst” company, an entrepreneurial catapult “Where Great Ideas Launch.”
Q & A - I Got No Cash...
Q) What if I don’t have any money to get started?
A) I think I hear this more often than I can count and trust me when I say ,”I get it.”, I know what it is like to not have the funds to do the things I want to do. With that being said most of the stories I have read about the entrepreneurs that have built some of today’s most well know brands went through some very creative financing in the beginning, maxed out credit cards, took money from student loans, borrowed money from friends and family and I even read about a garage sale to raise funds.
So when people say they don’t have money to get started... it causes me pause... not because I believe that you don’t need the proper funding to launch your idea, but it shocks me how quickly people want money from others before they have put any money in of their own.
As an investor I have never thrown money at an idea that the inventor did not have his own cash into. How much can you really believe in your idea if your not willing to fund it the fist baby steps to at least prove the concept?
The reality is the start up phase is usually more soft dollars than hard. Doing the research, spending time on the patent sites to see what else is out there that could be seen as similar, making a prototype or sketches even out of cardboard and tape if need be. Many, many things can be done and structured to "get started"
When I hear "I don’ have the money to get started" I really hear an excuse for why you have not gotten started. One of the strongest traits an entrepreneur needs to have is creativity and trust me that trait comes in handy each and every day. The world is trained and conditioned to say "NO" and "No" is when your job as the entrepreneurs, inventor or idea dreamer needs to begin.
Unless your Big Idea is to create a new rocket to travel to Jupiter, more often than not you will not require much money to gather the resources to research it, develop a prototype, create a name and brand concept and demonstrate that to potential buyers. At minimum start there, and uncover weather people will actually purchase it before you ask anyone for money or before you mortgage you home to go for it...
Amilya Antonetti will be addressing this and dozens more of your questions about your Big Idea in person at her keynote address during Lucky Napkin Live, March 20th 2008. To learn more about it and to purchase tickets click here:
http://www.luckynapkinlive.com
A) I think I hear this more often than I can count and trust me when I say ,”I get it.”, I know what it is like to not have the funds to do the things I want to do. With that being said most of the stories I have read about the entrepreneurs that have built some of today’s most well know brands went through some very creative financing in the beginning, maxed out credit cards, took money from student loans, borrowed money from friends and family and I even read about a garage sale to raise funds.
So when people say they don’t have money to get started... it causes me pause... not because I believe that you don’t need the proper funding to launch your idea, but it shocks me how quickly people want money from others before they have put any money in of their own.
As an investor I have never thrown money at an idea that the inventor did not have his own cash into. How much can you really believe in your idea if your not willing to fund it the fist baby steps to at least prove the concept?
The reality is the start up phase is usually more soft dollars than hard. Doing the research, spending time on the patent sites to see what else is out there that could be seen as similar, making a prototype or sketches even out of cardboard and tape if need be. Many, many things can be done and structured to "get started"
When I hear "I don’ have the money to get started" I really hear an excuse for why you have not gotten started. One of the strongest traits an entrepreneur needs to have is creativity and trust me that trait comes in handy each and every day. The world is trained and conditioned to say "NO" and "No" is when your job as the entrepreneurs, inventor or idea dreamer needs to begin.
Unless your Big Idea is to create a new rocket to travel to Jupiter, more often than not you will not require much money to gather the resources to research it, develop a prototype, create a name and brand concept and demonstrate that to potential buyers. At minimum start there, and uncover weather people will actually purchase it before you ask anyone for money or before you mortgage you home to go for it...
Amilya Antonetti will be addressing this and dozens more of your questions about your Big Idea in person at her keynote address during Lucky Napkin Live, March 20th 2008. To learn more about it and to purchase tickets click here:
http://www.luckynapkinlive.com
Q & A -How Do I Protect Myself?
Q) Should I get a patent on my Big Idea?
A) I think that there may be huge misconceptions about this topic. I am going to try and address Patents here to help us all get a better understanding of what patents do and don’t do, what they cost (generally) and when to get one.
The most important thing to know about a patent is that they are only as good as the money, resources and time you have to defend and protect your idea or claim.
You can have a patent on something but if you are fighting someone with bigger, better and more money and resources... guess who usually looses. Why? Because eventually you will exhaust your funding or resources and quit and unless it is ironclad, blatant rip off with a clear picture of a well funded, easy to get to company as the target, no lawyer will take the case on contingency and hope to make their money when the case settles. And we all know lawyers can become very expensive.
There are companies who make their fortunes on the backs of other entrepreneur’s R&D waiting for a hit product and knocking it off quickly and producing a similar one at a cheaper price regardless of any patents. They usually have an army of lawyers instead of research and development budget and their strategy usually is to wear you down in court for as long as it takes to exhaust all of your assets then make you settle for pennies. It this fair? Heck NO. Does it happen? Yes, all the time.
So when I read so many emails and letters from people saying that they can’t or won’t talk about their idea because they are waiting to pull together enough $$ to get a patent, it causes me a bit of pause. Unless you have redesigned the human genome and anticipate winning the Nobel prize, for most ideas with patents It is usually very easy for a competitor to tweak an idea just a little to get around it.
I could list you off a dozen examples of products that are virtually the same but with a small engineering difference therefore allowing them to compete for the same customer in the same space. My belief is that a patent provides you with tangible proof to your claim of ownership so that you can begin a discussion, or a fight to stake claim on what is or was yours. But it is still up to you to prepare, defend, and rally the correct players, resources and money for that fight and in most cases that money could usually be better spent in marketing, advertising, PR or business development.
That said, I would still encourage anyone with a truly BIG idea to have a conversation with a great IP attorney and investigate the options. Any credible attorney worth their salt will absolutely tell you if you are wasting your time before you engage them in the process. Finally If you would like to save some money you can do some research about patents on your own by visiting the US Patent and Trademark Office online at www.USPTO.gov – patents - search
Below is a general look at patents, their protections and general costs. As with all advice, use it as a baseline but I encourage you to keep digging until you arrive at the solution that works best for your own personal situation.
Provisional Patents- allow you 1 year to work on an idea/product/concept while you are still developing it but this shows proof of concept.
The cost depends on the complexity of the idea and information to be related to the patent office. $1-3 K should handle a bare bones draft. However, after filing a complete provisional patent application, no additional work needs to be done during the year. If you make significant improvements in your idea before the year expires, just expand the first filing and re-file with the US patent office.
Utility Patents- a more complicated patent that takes longer and normally takes several passes through the EXAMINER at the patent office.
This can run from 10K to 50K based on how much research and communications between office and attorney have to happen.
Budget about $5,000 to 10,000 for the utility patent application, formal drawings, and extra paperwork. The negotiating back and forth with the patent examiner may go to $10,000-30,000. At the end, there is the issue fee to pay.
Design Patents. A simpler patent process, but also the easiest to get around. These can cost as little as 2-5 thousand dollars. This protects only the decorative aspects of your product, not the functional aspects.
Mailing yourself a copy of the idea and not opening the envelope does NOT protect your idea. It is inexpensive enough to file a provisional application and that is necessary, except at large companies with systems to create records of inventions.
So after hearing all of this are you more confused or less? The bottom line is that while a patent does provide you with rights afforded by law to the ownership of your big idea, even if you get one there are no ‘patent police’ who will rally to your cause to protect you. It will still be up to you to fight it out in court and prove your case to a judge before any money will be awarded. So consider cafefully the options before you before diving head first into a patent. In many cases, just plowing ahead and selling your great idea into the marketplace is a far wiser decision than waiting until you feel protected by a patent which you may not have the cash left over to defend even if it is infringed upon.
Special thanks to Barb Luther, patent attorney extraordinaire and a member of the Lucky Napkin Board of Experts for her contribution to this answer. Both Barb and Amilya Antonetti will be addressing this and dozens more of your questions about your Big Idea in person during Lucky Napkin Live, March 20th 2008. To learn more about it and to purchase tickets click here:
http://www.luckynapkinlive.com
A) I think that there may be huge misconceptions about this topic. I am going to try and address Patents here to help us all get a better understanding of what patents do and don’t do, what they cost (generally) and when to get one.
The most important thing to know about a patent is that they are only as good as the money, resources and time you have to defend and protect your idea or claim.
You can have a patent on something but if you are fighting someone with bigger, better and more money and resources... guess who usually looses. Why? Because eventually you will exhaust your funding or resources and quit and unless it is ironclad, blatant rip off with a clear picture of a well funded, easy to get to company as the target, no lawyer will take the case on contingency and hope to make their money when the case settles. And we all know lawyers can become very expensive.
There are companies who make their fortunes on the backs of other entrepreneur’s R&D waiting for a hit product and knocking it off quickly and producing a similar one at a cheaper price regardless of any patents. They usually have an army of lawyers instead of research and development budget and their strategy usually is to wear you down in court for as long as it takes to exhaust all of your assets then make you settle for pennies. It this fair? Heck NO. Does it happen? Yes, all the time.
So when I read so many emails and letters from people saying that they can’t or won’t talk about their idea because they are waiting to pull together enough $$ to get a patent, it causes me a bit of pause. Unless you have redesigned the human genome and anticipate winning the Nobel prize, for most ideas with patents It is usually very easy for a competitor to tweak an idea just a little to get around it.
I could list you off a dozen examples of products that are virtually the same but with a small engineering difference therefore allowing them to compete for the same customer in the same space. My belief is that a patent provides you with tangible proof to your claim of ownership so that you can begin a discussion, or a fight to stake claim on what is or was yours. But it is still up to you to prepare, defend, and rally the correct players, resources and money for that fight and in most cases that money could usually be better spent in marketing, advertising, PR or business development.
That said, I would still encourage anyone with a truly BIG idea to have a conversation with a great IP attorney and investigate the options. Any credible attorney worth their salt will absolutely tell you if you are wasting your time before you engage them in the process. Finally If you would like to save some money you can do some research about patents on your own by visiting the US Patent and Trademark Office online at www.USPTO.gov – patents - search
Below is a general look at patents, their protections and general costs. As with all advice, use it as a baseline but I encourage you to keep digging until you arrive at the solution that works best for your own personal situation.
Provisional Patents- allow you 1 year to work on an idea/product/concept while you are still developing it but this shows proof of concept.
The cost depends on the complexity of the idea and information to be related to the patent office. $1-3 K should handle a bare bones draft. However, after filing a complete provisional patent application, no additional work needs to be done during the year. If you make significant improvements in your idea before the year expires, just expand the first filing and re-file with the US patent office.
Utility Patents- a more complicated patent that takes longer and normally takes several passes through the EXAMINER at the patent office.
This can run from 10K to 50K based on how much research and communications between office and attorney have to happen.
Budget about $5,000 to 10,000 for the utility patent application, formal drawings, and extra paperwork. The negotiating back and forth with the patent examiner may go to $10,000-30,000. At the end, there is the issue fee to pay.
Design Patents. A simpler patent process, but also the easiest to get around. These can cost as little as 2-5 thousand dollars. This protects only the decorative aspects of your product, not the functional aspects.
Mailing yourself a copy of the idea and not opening the envelope does NOT protect your idea. It is inexpensive enough to file a provisional application and that is necessary, except at large companies with systems to create records of inventions.
So after hearing all of this are you more confused or less? The bottom line is that while a patent does provide you with rights afforded by law to the ownership of your big idea, even if you get one there are no ‘patent police’ who will rally to your cause to protect you. It will still be up to you to fight it out in court and prove your case to a judge before any money will be awarded. So consider cafefully the options before you before diving head first into a patent. In many cases, just plowing ahead and selling your great idea into the marketplace is a far wiser decision than waiting until you feel protected by a patent which you may not have the cash left over to defend even if it is infringed upon.
Special thanks to Barb Luther, patent attorney extraordinaire and a member of the Lucky Napkin Board of Experts for her contribution to this answer. Both Barb and Amilya Antonetti will be addressing this and dozens more of your questions about your Big Idea in person during Lucky Napkin Live, March 20th 2008. To learn more about it and to purchase tickets click here:
http://www.luckynapkinlive.com
Q & A- Who Do I Trust?
One common question I have received over and over is " How do I know whom I can trust with my Big Idea?"
The text book answer to this question is to protect yourself at all times, demand non disclosure agreements before talking and chronicle and commemorate every conversation you have about your big idea. Like most things they teach you in school though the reality is quite different. In practice, there really isn’t anyway to fully protect yourself from someone taking your idea and doing something with it, nor will it be easy to get any one of any real business substance to sign an NDA just to discuss your idea and you can chronicle and commemorate all you want but if you don’t have the money and lawyers to go after the people who steal from you, it really is irrelevant. So I really have to tackle this question from the perspective of the word trust.
Trust is a common theme in our lives and unfortunately the longer one lives, it seems that more jaded one gets and trust becomes harder and harder for most.
After having both good and bad things happen to me over my business life my conclusion is that "bad" people do bad things and if they are in your life they will do their damage no matter how much you try to protect yourself. So how do you know whom to invite into your journey... my answer is instinct and research.
It amazes me how many people do not use the tools around us. I encourage you to spend some time researching the people you reach out to. A person’s past is a very good predictor of their future. It’s not hard to find out what people do in their lives, the Internet and social networking has really opened up a ton of resources. People who have good intentions and fly straight have examples after examples of "doing right or good" in their lives.
Can some con artist fake it... Yes... and for those cleaver devils even some of the smartest people get taken... But if your belief is somewhat like mine that everything both good and bad happen for a reason and that is to prepare you for the wonderful things ahead than you will inevitably move forward regardless of your trust issues, knowing that it will all work out in the end.
Trust me, many bad things have come my way and nearly knocked the wind out of everyone around me. I have many journals filled with heart-wrenching things that people have done in business and in life as I had to "learn as I go" in the journey to success. My "instincts" have gotten very good and when something doesn’t feel right no matter what the facts say I follow my gut... I suggest that others do the same.
My thought on when the bad things happen is simple. Make sure you take everything out of the experience and suck out every last lesson so that "the world" doesn't throw it back to you to learn again.
When I sit and chat with people as I speak and teach across the country It amazes me how many "lesson" keep coming someone’s way ... bigger and louder until they GET IT, learn and make the life corrections needed. Once again confirming we are all in more control of our lives then we give credit.
As Donny said on one of the shows we did together (not a direct quote) ... You have to put it out there and move forward with your life and what you want out of it and not get hung up on what others will or will not do since you have NO control over others. I live my life " trying to do good" and have found that in the long haul "good" comes back. The "bad" is there only to remind me how great "good" feels :)
Amilya Antonetti will be addressing this and dozens more of your questions about your Big Idea in person at her keynote address during Lucky Napkin Live, March 20th 2008. To learn more about it and to purchase tickets click here:
http://www.luckynapkinlive.com
The text book answer to this question is to protect yourself at all times, demand non disclosure agreements before talking and chronicle and commemorate every conversation you have about your big idea. Like most things they teach you in school though the reality is quite different. In practice, there really isn’t anyway to fully protect yourself from someone taking your idea and doing something with it, nor will it be easy to get any one of any real business substance to sign an NDA just to discuss your idea and you can chronicle and commemorate all you want but if you don’t have the money and lawyers to go after the people who steal from you, it really is irrelevant. So I really have to tackle this question from the perspective of the word trust.
Trust is a common theme in our lives and unfortunately the longer one lives, it seems that more jaded one gets and trust becomes harder and harder for most.
After having both good and bad things happen to me over my business life my conclusion is that "bad" people do bad things and if they are in your life they will do their damage no matter how much you try to protect yourself. So how do you know whom to invite into your journey... my answer is instinct and research.
It amazes me how many people do not use the tools around us. I encourage you to spend some time researching the people you reach out to. A person’s past is a very good predictor of their future. It’s not hard to find out what people do in their lives, the Internet and social networking has really opened up a ton of resources. People who have good intentions and fly straight have examples after examples of "doing right or good" in their lives.
Can some con artist fake it... Yes... and for those cleaver devils even some of the smartest people get taken... But if your belief is somewhat like mine that everything both good and bad happen for a reason and that is to prepare you for the wonderful things ahead than you will inevitably move forward regardless of your trust issues, knowing that it will all work out in the end.
Trust me, many bad things have come my way and nearly knocked the wind out of everyone around me. I have many journals filled with heart-wrenching things that people have done in business and in life as I had to "learn as I go" in the journey to success. My "instincts" have gotten very good and when something doesn’t feel right no matter what the facts say I follow my gut... I suggest that others do the same.
My thought on when the bad things happen is simple. Make sure you take everything out of the experience and suck out every last lesson so that "the world" doesn't throw it back to you to learn again.
When I sit and chat with people as I speak and teach across the country It amazes me how many "lesson" keep coming someone’s way ... bigger and louder until they GET IT, learn and make the life corrections needed. Once again confirming we are all in more control of our lives then we give credit.
As Donny said on one of the shows we did together (not a direct quote) ... You have to put it out there and move forward with your life and what you want out of it and not get hung up on what others will or will not do since you have NO control over others. I live my life " trying to do good" and have found that in the long haul "good" comes back. The "bad" is there only to remind me how great "good" feels :)
Amilya Antonetti will be addressing this and dozens more of your questions about your Big Idea in person at her keynote address during Lucky Napkin Live, March 20th 2008. To learn more about it and to purchase tickets click here:
http://www.luckynapkinlive.com
Q & A: Starting Over
Q) “I was thrilled to see you on “the road to CES” I have attended several events where you were a keynote (NABOW and Woman Success) and your wisdom and advice has always been easy for me to incorporate into my career.
My question is how do leave a career that I have spent 20 years in to start all over for myself? Marcia W. San Francisco, CA Dear San Francisco,
A) It sounds like there is a “fear” you have created about leaving 20 years of hard work to start all over again. But instead of facing the picture head on, let’s change the angle that you are looking at your “20 year career” verses the blank slate you see in front of you. Begin by filling in the blank slate with all that you will take with you from your 20 year career. Make a list of the contacts and connections you have made and how they may be used in your new venture. Try to think about all the connections you made and examine how they could be of help to you as you jump-start your new opportunity.
Reflect upon the knowledge you have developed from your 20 years that will be instrumental in your new opportunity; What do you know about business now that you didn’t know then? What mistakes have you witnessed in your career and how can you prevent them? What role have you played inside an organization? What people do you need to surround yourself with to attack a problem from multiple angels? What are your strengths and what are your weak areas? I believe the more time you spend looking at all the tools, knowledge and connections you already have the more the fear will disappear and a new found entrepreneurial confidence will immerge and you’ll realize how ready you really are.
Never quit, your success is closer than you think. Amilya
PS. You can learn more about Amilya on her web site, http://www.Amilya.com. And when you are ready to make the entrepreneurial jump, make sure you check out some of the priceless information and inspiration at http://www.LuckyNapkin.com, or plan to attend our Lucky Napkin Live Event, March 20, 2008 in Phoenix, AZ. Lucky Napkin is the country’s premiere “Venture Catalyst” company, an entrepreneurial catapult “Where Great Ideas Launch.”
My question is how do leave a career that I have spent 20 years in to start all over for myself? Marcia W. San Francisco, CA Dear San Francisco,
A) It sounds like there is a “fear” you have created about leaving 20 years of hard work to start all over again. But instead of facing the picture head on, let’s change the angle that you are looking at your “20 year career” verses the blank slate you see in front of you. Begin by filling in the blank slate with all that you will take with you from your 20 year career. Make a list of the contacts and connections you have made and how they may be used in your new venture. Try to think about all the connections you made and examine how they could be of help to you as you jump-start your new opportunity.
Reflect upon the knowledge you have developed from your 20 years that will be instrumental in your new opportunity; What do you know about business now that you didn’t know then? What mistakes have you witnessed in your career and how can you prevent them? What role have you played inside an organization? What people do you need to surround yourself with to attack a problem from multiple angels? What are your strengths and what are your weak areas? I believe the more time you spend looking at all the tools, knowledge and connections you already have the more the fear will disappear and a new found entrepreneurial confidence will immerge and you’ll realize how ready you really are.
Never quit, your success is closer than you think. Amilya
PS. You can learn more about Amilya on her web site, http://www.Amilya.com. And when you are ready to make the entrepreneurial jump, make sure you check out some of the priceless information and inspiration at http://www.LuckyNapkin.com, or plan to attend our Lucky Napkin Live Event, March 20, 2008 in Phoenix, AZ. Lucky Napkin is the country’s premiere “Venture Catalyst” company, an entrepreneurial catapult “Where Great Ideas Launch.”
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Amilya Shines As CNBC Big Idea Expert
Have you heard the news? Our own Lucky Napkin founding partner Amilya Antonetti was named a Big Idea Expert by Donny Deutsch. You have got to check out The Big Idea site on CNBC and see Amilya in action. We've included a link to the page http://www.cnbc.com/id/22801925
All of us at Lucky Napkin are proud of Amilya for her contributions to the entrepreneurial community through The Big Idea and truly grateful for the generosity of Donny and the entire Big Idea Team who have continued to show unending support for our Lucky Napkin vision.
They truly embody the spirit of what they preach and if your not already a fan of the show, then you better get your TV tuned in and your TIVO recording because every night you can get an up close and personal, slap in the face, thumbs up, enthusiasm lifting ,confidence building shot in the arm from Donny and his never ending stream of big idea thinkers and growing entrepreneurs. And now to add even more flavor to your day, when your not in front of the tube you can even surf your way to The Big Network and gather more insight from Amilya Antonetti and the other incredible business experts who have all volunteered their time to reach out and help aspiring entrepreneurs on their journey.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/22801925
All of us at Lucky Napkin are proud of Amilya for her contributions to the entrepreneurial community through The Big Idea and truly grateful for the generosity of Donny and the entire Big Idea Team who have continued to show unending support for our Lucky Napkin vision.
They truly embody the spirit of what they preach and if your not already a fan of the show, then you better get your TV tuned in and your TIVO recording because every night you can get an up close and personal, slap in the face, thumbs up, enthusiasm lifting ,confidence building shot in the arm from Donny and his never ending stream of big idea thinkers and growing entrepreneurs. And now to add even more flavor to your day, when your not in front of the tube you can even surf your way to The Big Network and gather more insight from Amilya Antonetti and the other incredible business experts who have all volunteered their time to reach out and help aspiring entrepreneurs on their journey.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/22801925
Welcome to the Lucky Blog
Welcome, fellow entrepreneurs, evangelists, capitalists, investors, inventors and all around great idea thinkers. You've reached the official-unofficial blogspot for the founders of LuckyNapkin.com.
Here you will find a veritable cornucopia of fresh minded thinking on all things "great idea" related. Fortunately for us that leaves lots of room for interpretation and doesn't bind our proverbial hands. So you can expect almost anything here from the mundane to the sublime and everything in between. After all we are entrepreneurs and by definition that means we are a bit off tilt. So sit forward in your seat, lets your eyes scan feverishly back and forth across the screen and try to take it all in, I think you'll agree we have a lot to offer.
And don't forget to stop by the main site at http://www.luckynapkin.com, peruse the content, read the shameless self promotion and then submit your great idea.
Here you will find a veritable cornucopia of fresh minded thinking on all things "great idea" related. Fortunately for us that leaves lots of room for interpretation and doesn't bind our proverbial hands. So you can expect almost anything here from the mundane to the sublime and everything in between. After all we are entrepreneurs and by definition that means we are a bit off tilt. So sit forward in your seat, lets your eyes scan feverishly back and forth across the screen and try to take it all in, I think you'll agree we have a lot to offer.
And don't forget to stop by the main site at http://www.luckynapkin.com, peruse the content, read the shameless self promotion and then submit your great idea.
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