Next Action

Angelique LaRue is an awesome SXSW planner and partner in crime.  One of the most prepared folks I know at the event, Angelique starts early checking out food, brand marketing panels, event and music spaces.  She advises to know what's on the schedule and adjust before 30 days out - in case you want to stay extra and change your hotel reservation.

SXSW is much more than a giant party! Try to find latest greatest what's new and trending. How?

Angelique will tell you how to properly hack your schedule - don't save everything to the last minute and hope that serendipity will save the day.  Plan a month out and check all the official and unofficial sources as you get closer to SXSW time - and sign up to events early! Even if you have a plan, have backups.  Keep an eye on events on Adweek and searching SXSW on Twitter - Google alerts are your friend.

Optimize your energy - go to sleep early - in bed by 11 -  and pace yourself: morning meetings and breakfasts (yes people wake up in the morning), make sure that the people coming with you have an invite or  +1's.  

Angelique runs one of the most helpful SXSW planning groups with over 2000 people in the group.  It's a great crowdsourced way to plan your SXSW and have a built in base of people to go around with.

Find Angelique on LinkedIn and Twitter and the SXSW Interactive 2019 Networking group

Lynae is a wondrously disciplined event catalyst.  She's boiled down the art of going to places like SXSW to a science and brings a wealth of knowledge on how to figure out the best sessions to attend - and which you could always watch later.

Some speakers use the same speech year round - look for the people that shine and come prepared for SXSW and will answer your questions and be interactive! We walk through how small business owners may have the habit of walking you through a pitch vs an enjoyable and knowledgeable event - no shame in walking out of those!

Let's talk energy! Be a memorable looking person with a current photo on all your socials and hey, be a morning person and be effective with your time! (Bonus points if you can be a night owl too).

Check Lynae out at @lynaecook and the  #BTSPodcast

Cleve Mesidor is an awesome source of knowledge and relationships in the world of crypto and blockchain.  

This will be Cleve's 2nd SXSW and since her first time, a lot has happening in the ever expanding world of crypto.

This is the first year that SXSW has an official track for crypto and blockchain - and Cleve will be speaking as well!

New to the crypto discussion? Not a problem, Cleve and I spend a lot of time speaking about how it will impact SXSW this year from a beginner level.

Check Cleve out on Twitter @cmesi and http://www.mylogos.io/

Wesley Faulkner really knows how to work a room at SXSW.  If you were at SXSW a few years ago, armed with a few discount cards and a $35 Where's Waldo outfit, he outshined some of the biggest brands and budgets.

Outfit or not, Wesley has a magnetic and caring personality and has a great way with words.  It was a pleasure to have him on the show as he shares ways of being authentic and his expectations at his new role as Developer Relations Advocate for IBM Systems.

Genuine excitement is something you can't fake - and as Wesley says - let kindness be your currency.  Listen in for more!

Check Wesley out on Twitter at @wesley83 and https://developer.ibm.com

Jeff Powers runs Geekazine, a company that started in the podcasting space which has been evolving in live streaming and tech coverage so he's always scouting for great interviews. Over the 6 years he's been coming, he has a keen eye for the different tech companies making a splash on the scene.  We discuss different event venues and hotels that have been on the rise.

Jeffrey and I talk about where to get video content and fun event activations such as Game of Thrones and one of the best kept secret s in the lounge arena - the Mercedes Techset lounge.

We round off the show talking about how the on demand scooter market should help people get around easier - excited to see how this shapes up!

Check out Jeff at https://geekazine.com

Brian Penick is a great way for us to start off our SXSW podcast special series!

This will be Brian's 12th SXSW - what's even more interesting is he started on the Music track - as a performer! Brian's moved on to the Interactive and Venture Capital World and he and I discuss some really useful tactical tips about which are the best hotels, coffee and food hangouts, and our favorite secret spots.

Check Brian out:

https://brianpenick.com

http://loud.vc/

Jon Lee had lots of early success.  Then, he listened to the crowd and did what everyone says to do for content.  He was consistent, did all the posts, all the videos and most of this isn't generating new business.

If you spend enough time on social media, you might even feel depressed watching everyone be "successful," lots of unsolicited advice, and all the while where they are telling you you're killing it, they won't hire you.

Should Jon continue? Maybe.  But before he does, I suggest some inbound tactics on LinkedIn and the importance of a global audience seeing his great work and also not give as much away for people to steal.

Jon's at the point of thinking of giving up entrepreneurship and getting a job.  We talk about LinkedIn and the relationship economy.

If you were Jon, what would you do?

Check him out at http://thecontentmarketingking.com

Our next guest, Michael Phelan and I agree that the economy is likely heading for a down cycle. Fast.

So what do you do in a down economy? Don't follow the crowd. Why is it that so many people - especially in B2B - put out a ton of content, hoping it will lead to meetings and sales?

Michael shows us that everything we know about content is wrong. He's pioneered a magnet marketing approach to prospectively target those who'll buy from you and do the content marketing step at the end!

Check Michael out at https://www.gotomarketpros.com/

Sticker Mule is a fascinating company.  It's become so powerful that it's the go-to place whenever you think about buying custom stickers online.

What's even more fascinating is that they have built a cult-like following with little to no press.  Unless you really dig around, you might not even know who the founder is.

Enter Anthony Constantino.

Anthony shows that you can run a successful internet company and be in your small hometown and not have to go to places like Silicon Valley.

Join us on this episode as we examine Anthony's reasons for coming into the spotlight, how he became more comfortable with speaking through comedy, and where he's going next with personal branding vs the brand.

Check out Sticker Mule at https://stickermule.com

Joe Apfelbaum is a source of inspiration to many.

He's been on a 95 pound weight loss journey and is making his way into the hearts and minds of everyone waiting on the LinkedIn sidelines, but is afraid to engage.

Joe's bringing passion and precision to the masses and has super specific goals on how building these relationships online and offline will take his already super successful Inc 500 featured business, Ajax Union, to new heights.

So how do you help the guy that's already got everything? Introduce him to worlds that haven't already seen him!

One of Joe's goals is to speak at 50 venues this year.  

He used to be afraid of public speaking and now he's great and polished!

He has a mission to help 1,000 entrepreneurs go from frustration to mojovation and beyond his LinkedIn reach is looking to get 50 speaking engagements for the year, many of focused crowds of 50-100 entrepreneurs and business owners alike.

In this episode, we speak about SXSW and how it could be a good fit - if there's enough time to time to jump in for a day or 2 or not. Listen in for our mutual struggles for going there for the long haul!

We talk about using the relationship economy to seek out becoming known at key events.  Joe is like me in that I don't want to travel far, so we also talk about focus in the local area.

Check Joe out at - https://www.ajaxunion.com/