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Rise to Success Story: In Depth with the Billion Dollar Host Forbes Riley
Today on The Rise To The Top: Ready for a ball of energy? If you’re like me, you love learning from stories of success…in every industry. Today is a 360-degree-in-depth conversation with fitness entrepreneur and billion dollar host Forbes Riley. We discuss so many big topics, including the art of pitching, launching a product even when everyone says you are crazy, branding yourself, and so much more. And…a special tour at the end of the show. Get ready to get fired up.
I use RISE partner Wistia for video hosting because they rock. Check ‘em out.
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Read More »Vanae Tran
It’s all in the delivery! I have been successful at delivering content in a fresh and engaging way – increasing customer loyalty, building communities, and engaging with an audience.
I’m also super good at: video marketing, social media, branding, blogging, and disco dancing.
Read More »Inside The Shark Tank: Exclusive Interview With CEO & Founder of FUBU Daymond John
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About Today’s Guest, Daymond John:
Today’s guest, Daymond John, is a mogul in every sense of the word. He is the CEO & Founder of FUBU (a multi-billion dollar brand) and a shark on the fantastic ABC show Shark Tank. Now he is making a transition into the world of business advice, giving his expertise and experience and working with all types of brands – from NBC Universal’s Miss Teen Organization to celebrities Pitbull and Ne-Yo.
I was lucky enough to track down Daymond before the season finale of Shark Tank this Friday (May 13th) on ABC at 8 PM EST to talk about the world of television and what he is up to next.
And in REALLY cool news, Daymond wants to give every single RISE viewer/listener a digital copy of his book Display Of Power: How FUBU Changed a World of Fashion, Branding and Lifestyle (Thanks Daymond). All you have to do is text “sharktank” to 90210 and it is yours.
Enjoy!
-David
Read More »Daymond John
A young entrepreneur, an industry pioneer, a highly regarded marketing expert, and a man who has surpassed new heights of commercial and financial success are just a few ways people have described Daymond John. Over the last 20 years, Daymond has evolved from one of the most successful fashion icons of his generation to one of the most sought after branding experts, business, and motivational speakers in the country.
Daymond’s creative vision and strong knowledge of the marketplace helped him create one of the most iconic fashion brands in recent years. FUBU, standing for “For Us By Us”, represented a lifestyle that was neglected by other clothing companies. Realizing this need in the marketplace, Daymond created the untapped urban apparel space and laid the groundwork for other companies to compete in this newly established market.
Daymond grew up in the community of Hollis, Queens, quickly becoming known as the birthplace of the new genre of music called Hip-Hop, with acts like RUN DMC and Salt-N-Peppa rapidly making names for themselves. Being surrounded in this influential neighborhood helped spur the inspiration for his clothing line that would ultimately change the fashion world.
His first foray into the apparel market came when he wanted a tie-top hat he had seen in a popular music video but could not find one for a good price. With the sewing skills he had learned from his mother, Daymond started making the hats for himself and his friends. Realizing he was on to something, Daymond made a sizeable order of the tie-top hats, sold them on the streets of Queens one day, and made $800 in just a few hours. There was a buzz about Daymond’s products that simply could not be ignored.
Based on that early success, Daymond recruited some of his neighborhood friends and FUBU was born. They created a distinctive logo and began sewing the FUBU logo on all sorts of apparel, including hockey jerseys, sweatshirts and t-shirts. The brand hit a tipping point when Daymond convinced Hollis native and Hip-Hop superstar, LL Cool J, to wear FUBU for a promotional campaign. This was the catalyst behind the entire Hip-Hop community supporting the new brand and instantly giving it credibility. In need of start-up capital to keep up with demand, Daymond and his mother mortgaged the home they collectively owned for $100,000. Soon, the home was turned into a makeshift factory and office space.
FUBU gained even more nationwide exposure when Daymond and his partners traveled to the industry trade show Magic in Las Vegas. Despite not being able to afford a booth at the event, the FUBU team showed buyers the distinctively cut, vibrantly colored sportswear in their hotel room. The company came back to Queens with over $300,000 worth of orders. FUBU soon had a contract with the New York City-based department store chain Macy’s, and it began expanding its line to include jeans and outerwear. A distribution deal with Korean electronics manufacturer Samsung allowed their designs to be manufactured and delivered on a massive scale. With the brand transcending into the mainstream markets, FUBU recorded annual sales of $350 million, placing it in the same stratosphere as designer sportswear labels such as Donna Karan New York and Tommy Hilfiger.
In 2009, John joined the cast of the ABC entrepreneurial business show, Shark Tank, produced by acclaimed TV producer Mark Burnett. As one of the “Sharks”, Daymond and four other prominent executives listen to business pitches from everyday people hoping to launch their company or product to new heights. Investing his own money in every project, Daymond becomes partners with the entrepreneurs helping turn their dreams into a reality. Millions of viewers tune into the show as Daymond demonstrates his marketing prowess and entrepreneurial insights.
Due to the increasing amount of requests from major companies, Shark Branding was formed to provide companies with the marketing insights that have made Daymond’s companies successful over the years. The firm consults companies on innovative strategies to connect with their consumers more effectively by associating with the world’s most influential celebrities, musicians, and personalities. Whether it’s activating a celebrity endorsement or integrating product in a music video, companies rely on Shark Branding to utilize Daymond’s contacts and relationships to produce real results and sales.
Daymond entered the literary world with his first book Display of Power: How FUBU Changed A World Of Fashion, Branding And Lifestyle which tells the story of his awe inspiring journey and provides a roadmap for those who aspire to succeed in business and in life. Daymond followed up his with his second book, The Brand Within: How We Brand Ourselves, From Birth To The Boardroom, which examines the loyal relationships companies seek to establish with the public by attaching celebrities to their brands and the instantaneous impulses consumers exhibit when purchasing a product. Drawing on his cutting edge experiences in the fashion business, as well as his hard-won insights developed as a sought-after marketing consultant to trendsetters and tastemakers, the author argues that branding relationships have now seeped into every aspect of our lives.
In recognition of his contributions to fashion and the face of American business, Daymond has been celebrated with some of the most prestigious awards including: Brandweek Marketer of the Year, the Advertising Age Marketing 1000 Award for Outstanding Ad Campaign, Crain’s Business of New York Forty Under Forty Award, and Ernst & Young’s New York Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
Read More »A Conversation With The Candy Queen: Dylan Lauren On Building An Empire Of Sweets
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About Today’s Guest, Dylan Lauren:
Dylan Lauren has become synonymous with luxury candy. The daughter of famed fashion designer Ralph Lauren, Dylan took a passion for candy and created Dylan’s Candy Bar, the largest candy store in the world. She also has a really cool coffee table book, Dylan’s Candy Bar: Unwrap Your Sweet Life (Amazon link). I was lucky enough to hunt down Dylan to take a break from her empire for a chat on The Rise To The Top (this was her first time on Skype…always an adventure).
In This Interview:
-A discussion on the decisions Dylan made.
-How she turned a passion into a business.
-Why she decided to go with a retail store.
-Why she uses her name in the branding.
-…and much more.
Connect With Dylan (and tell her you saw her on RISE!):
THIS EPISODE IS EVER-SO-PROUDLY SPONSORED BY:
Ecamm Call Recorder For Mac: For the side-by-side Skype interviews, I use Ecamm Call Recorder. Best $20 ever spent. You can watch exactly how I use it and which settings I use right here. You can pick it up right here. It also comes with all kinds of cool tools so you can make an MP3 out of the video and convert it for the Internet. Neat.
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Have You Seen These Episodes?
- RISE #170: Getting Over Getting Screwed: A Conversation With Danielle LaPorte
- RISE #169: From Chief Seafood Officer To High-Tech Dentist: How The World’s Smallest Companies Are Tapping Into Technology With Phil Simon
- RISE #168: Dissecting The Life Of A Business Entertainer With Barry Moltz
- RISE #167: The Man Behind Moolala: The Company Taking The Internet By Storm
- RISE #166: The Realities Of Working For Yourself With Kevin Miller
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Reminders & News:
You can join the 100,000+ RISE enthusiasts and catch new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday, featuring interviews with a unique guest on TheRiseToTheTop.com, as well as iTunes (video and audio) and now on your television via Roku and Connected TV.
Connect With David & Hop Into The Conversation:
Book Update: It’s here! Smarter, Faster, Cheaper: Non-Boring, Fluff-free Strategies for Marketing and Promoting Your Business is officially on sale! You can grab the first chapter for free right here, and you can buy it on Amazon or anywhere books are sold.
Read More »35 Female Visionaries You Need To Know
Maybe it is the women’s studies major in me (yes, actual degree…up on the wall), but I feel like women just don’t get enough credit in the business/entrepreneurial world. As entrepreneurs. As business owners. As creative marketers. As big thinkers. As innovators. As world-changers. Their industries and roles are diverse: media, marketing, inventors, bloggers..and even a film maker. Some of the women below you might have heard of…others maybe not, but they all have similar qualities in common including success, drive and passion.
My advice? Get to know them. Look ‘em up. Connect with them on Twitter. Visit their blogs and websites. Buy from them. Learn from them. It will be worth it.
In no particular order…
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1. Ali Brown – Ali International
Why? Her story and teachings. Ali went from struggling to pay rent to now one of the most recognized and successful female entrepreneur personalities (with a multi-million dollar company to boot, including mentoring, training, and even a magazine). |
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2. Alexis Martin Neely – Family Wealth Planning Institute
Why? Alexis has redefined an industry historically dominated by old white men: Law. She built a million-dollar practice by destroying the billable hour. Interview with Alexis on kicking the law industry in the pants. |
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3. Patti Stanger – Millionaire’s Club
Why? Not only can Patti find you a date, but her strong personality as The Millionaire Matchmaker has captivated men and women across the country as a result of her hugely successful show on Bravo. |
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4. Dani Apted Schlottman – St. Louis Aces
Why? As a sportspreneur, Dani has brought an interesting twist to the St. Louis Aces (professional team tennis team). Instead of marketing just to tennis fans, she has been able to bring in the big crowds by marketing the events as a high-class cocktail party. Sweet. |
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5. Stephanie Bagley – VaynerMedia
Why? You have to love a woman in sports. Steph has been instrumental to the NHL’s success in social media. Also, you have to admire someone that has taken a deep passion (hockey) and turned it into a promising career. Interview with Steph on how the NHL is tapping into social media. |
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6. Anita Campbell – Small Business Trends
Why? Anita has created a small business empire (and started it before really anyone was paying attention to small businesses online). With partnerships with companies like HP and a viewership in the hundreds of thousands, Anita is one to admire. |
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7. Maxine Clark – Build-A-Bear Workshop
Why? The old saying is ideas are cheap, execution is priceless. Maxine took an idea for custom-made bears and has now turned it into one of the world’s most successful toy companies. |
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8. Amy Cosper – Entrepreneur Magazine
Why? Amy took a love for red pens and has turned it into a dream career. Not only has she revamped a brand, but she has brought it brand new life and appeal for the 21st century. |
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9. Gini Dietrich – Arment Dietrich
Why? Some in the PR world innovate, while others fizzle. Gini puts the awesome in innovate (that doesn’t really make sense, but you know what I mean). As a leader in the public relations space, Gini has built a passionate following and booming business. |
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10. & 11. Mindee Doney and Julie Pickens – Little Busy Bodies, Inc.
Why? From idea to over 3.4 million in sales, these two mompreneurs have modeled what it takes to raise a family AND launch a product. Interview with Mindee and Julie on the story of Little Busy Bodies, Inc. |
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* Information combined with above |
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12. Sarah Evans – Sevans Strategy
Why? Sarah has the goal of one day owning the St. Louis Cardinals and if her rise to success is any indication of the future, it just might happen. A web 2.0 junkie and PR/marketing rock star, Sarah has become an online influencer, visionary, and rock star. Interview with Sarah on how she went from unknown to influential. |
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13. Donna Fenn – Upstarts!
Why? Donna took on quite a topic in her fantastic book, Upstarts!: Gen Y entrepreneurs. Through conducting hundreds of interviews, Donna has inspired many to create companies and also get in the head of the text-messaging generation. |
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14. Dixie Gillaspie – Dixie Dynamite Coaching
Why? She has coached some of the best (including “The Nametag Guy” Scott Ginsberg). Dixie is also the master of connections. She is just one of those people who REALLY seems to know everyone. (Very old school) interview with Dixie on building your network. |
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15. Ishita Gupta – fear.less
Why? Ishita is literally kicking fear in the face through her digital magazine start-up focusing on stories of overcoming fear. Knowing Ishita, it will be a smashing success. |
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16. Kelly Hamilton – ALIVE Magazine
Why? Media visionary Kelly Hamilton co-founded the unique ALIVE Magazine the way any good entrepreneur does it: With zero experience. Now revamped for the digital age, ALIVE has become a staple to St. Louis’ young and fabulous. |
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17. Tara Hunt – The Whuffie Factor
Why? Anyone that talks about whuffie (defined as social capital) has to be on this list. Tara’s book is a fantastic glimpse into the social media world…before it became a buzzword. |
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18. Shama Kabani – The Marketing Zen Group
Why? Success couldn’t have happened to a nicer person. Shama has built an incredible personal brand in the marketing industry and also has built a booming online marketing business (as well as authoring a great book: The Zen Of Social Media Marketing). |
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19. Jessica Kim – BabbaCo
Why? You won’t find the bubbly Jessica Kim wearing “Mom jeans.” Jessica has instead made a name for herself through a line of clothing and accesories for the chic mom. |
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20. Amber MacArthur – MGI Media
Why? Amber has built a huge name for herself (as a speaker, author, show host and more) in the extremely-male-centric world of tech. From Canada, the northern entrepreneur continues to build an incredible brand. Interview with Amber on her new book Power Friending and becoming known in the tech world. |
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21. Amy Martin – Digital Royalty
Why? Trivia question: Who was responsible for teaching Shaq how to tweet? How about the driver of the massive social media presence of the UFC? Answer: Amy Martin. |
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22. Kate McEachern – Cupkates
Why? Now it seems everywhere you turn, there is a food truck selling everything from pasta to hot dogs. While we might not be able to pin down the very first food truck, Kate McEachern was certainly one of the early ones with Cupkates, her mobile cupcake truck in San Francisco. |
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23. Dafna Michaelson – 50 in 52 Journey
Why? Her incredible journey going to 50 states in 52 weeks to find America’s problem solvers and idea generators (wow!). |
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24. Amber Naslund – Radian6
Why? The Radian6 marketing queen and online influencer is now an author (The NOW Revolution just hit bookshelves with co-author Jay Baer). Amber is proof you can still be a rock star while working for a company. |
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25. Kim Overton – SPIbelt
Why? From fitness trainer to entrepreneurial fitness maven, Kim not only took action on an idea for a unique product, but is thriving and growing. The story is just amazing. |
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26. Melissa Pierce – Life In Perpetual Beta
Why? Experience…overrated. Melissa, with no film experience, set out on a quest that combined technology and living an unplanned life. Her documentary is now being released to the world. |
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27. Laura Roeder – Roeder Studios
Why? Laura couldn’t get in with the big corporations, so the young entrepreneur has now turned to small businesses (her true passion) by helping small business owners become rock stars. |
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28. & 29. Suzanne Tucker & Ria Sharon – My Mommy Manual
Why? In a crowded marketplace, Ria and Suzanne always find a way to stick out…even if it means putting on their PJs on camera. |
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30. Pamela Slim – Escape from Cubicle Nation
Why? Escaping your own cubicle and then teaching others to do the same? Brilliant! |
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31. Liz Strauss – SOBCon
Why? Not only is Liz one of the most influential (non-celebrity, as she says) bloggers, but also the founder of the largest business blogging conference: SOBCon. |
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32. Vanessa Van Petten – Radical Parenting
Why? You might have caught her as the Youthologist on The Real Housewives of Orange County, but Vanessa’s story goes much deeper. No need to imagine writing a parenting book from a teen’s perspective, that is one of many things on Vanessa’s impressive resume. |
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33. Elena Verlee – Cross Border Communications
Why? She has created a dream situation for herself in the great white north: multiple six-figure businesses…all from the comfort of her home. Say bye-bye water cooler. |
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34. Tamar Weinberg – Techipedia
Why? Another lady in the tech game. Author, writer, blogger and awesome human being, Tamar Weinberg has a knack for building community (and she can teach you how to do it too). |
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35. Jenni Pulos – Flipping Out
Why? Because Jenni rocks and little known fun fact: Bravo’s popular Flipping Out was actually her idea. |
Enjoy meeting these ladies. They might just change your life.
Who would YOU add to the list?
Read More »Not Your Grandfather’s Marketing Tips and Tricks
Creating buzz for you and your business without spending a fortune. From event marketing, creating brand ambassadors to becoming an expert in less than 30 days, you will throw your pleated pants out the window with these fresh tactics. Come join UHY Advisors as we have the CEO/Host of The Rise To The Top on ABC and Creative Opportunities Specialist David Siteman Garland share with us how to market while you sleep and gain more clients than you could ever imagine.
You will learn:
• 5 killer tactics that take less than 5 minutes to make your buzz more attractive
• The secrets of self-branding and how it will attract more clients
• Easy-to-follow no-fail strategies and resources to make YOU an expert in your field
• How to create a massive marketing footprint online even if you aren’t a techie
RISE BIG Freakin’ Idea Lunch
There are only TWO RISE Lunches left this year (I know, I want to cry and jump off a building too…).
And this one is gonna be a big one. Hence the name…RISE BIG Freakin’ Idea Lunch.
Who is this for? People who love big ideas. New ideas. Innovators. Entrepreneurs. Forward-thinkers. Freelancers. Artists. Creatives. Up-and-comers. People who hate to be bored. Awesome people (like you).
Who is this NOT for. If you hate big ideas, amazing people, great energy and delicious food. Or you are in love with the “same old, same old” St. Louis networking events packed with fluff, stuffiness and people throwing business cards at each other like ninjas. If that is the case…than carry on, carry on.
Here is what you can expect:
Three impactful speeches. Big ideas.
A delicious lunch (right from the chef’s mouth, “Lunch includes a great salad, Mushroom Risotto and a Chocolate Hazelnut Bar dessert”). Yum.
A room filled with stupendous people.
Space is extremely limited (maximum 50 people or 72 puppies) so procrastinating on this is not recommended (or encouraged).
Oh yeah…who is speaking?
Master The Mingle: How to have great conversations at social events
Speaker: Sam Foxman
Sam is the Senior Partner/Creative Director at Contemporary Events. Sam Foxman has produced some of the most notable events in St. Louis. His eye for design, quality entertainment and technical expertise has made him one of the most sought after event planners in the city, and one of the top planners in the country. Foxman is responsible for the day-to-day operations of Contemporary Events as well as the creative direction of each event. Some of Sam’s early accomplishments include the launching of the Sprite.com brand in New York City, producing a ten-city tour for Rolling Stone Magazine, producing a five-city tour for The American Music Awards and creating branding events for Albertson’s Grocery Stores.
Take A Stand: How manifestos and mantras can transform your business from ordinary to incomparable
Speakers: Ria Sharon and Suzanne Tucker
Ria Sharon and Suzanne Tucker are co-creators of MyMommyManual.com, a business that started as just another mommy blog and is now a multi-media platform for parenting resources. Learn how Ria and Suzanne’s investment in defining who they are has created a unique and unrivaled brand.
Expanding Your Network: The Art of Digital Schmoozing
Speaker: David Siteman Garland
David Siteman Garland is the founder of The Rise To The Top (the #1 non-boring resource for building your business, smarter, faster, cheaper) and the upcoming author of Smarter, Faster, Cheaper: Non-Boring, Fluff-free Strategies for Marketing and Promoting Your Business. He was once told he was funny by a random person on the street and world has been paying for it ever since.
See you there!
Read More »Chris Ducker
In his own words:
I’m a 20-year sales, marketing and PR professional originally from the UK and an entrepreneur at heart. I’m also the CEO of the Live2Sell Group of Companies, a thriving total business outsourcing provider based in Cebu City, Philippines, with almost 200 full-time staff working for me at this time – this also includes our Virtual Assistant company, Live2Care.
I started my blog after seeing an incredible amount of interest in relevant posts on my personal blog and wanted to focus more on the individual aspects of embracing and living what I like to call a Virtual Business Lifestyle (VBL), such as being a true entrepreneur, generating passive income streams, utilizing outsourcing and becoming super-mobile!
Through my business entities and various other partnerships, I help small to medium-sized business owners and entrepreneurs grow their business empires and maximize their personal production through various forms of outsourcing and business automation, branding and growth strategies.
The big thing for me is that I’ve never liked to be handcuffed to my desk. So, I’ve started to spend more time out of the office, working remotely at coffee shops, beach resorts (there are a lot in the Philippines!) and various other locations. All gradually aiming towards achieving my goal of becoming a full-time Virtual CEO.
I’m a member of the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals and author of two successful eBooks “Business Growth and the Outsourcing Lifestyle” and “Saving the Day, the Virtual Way”. Both give a birds-eye view of outsourcing and how to utilize it to create an awesome lifestyle.
I love the virtual business lifestyle I am building for myself. Throughout the course of my career, I have spent thousands of hours sitting behind desks, hundreds of hours on the telephone and more late nights and weekends ‘in the office’ than I care to count, or remember.
Although I am a businessman and a hard working entrepreneur, I am also someone that values the ‘really’ important things in life, more and more as I get older and perhaps a little wiser…!
Read More »Laura Roeder
Laura Roeder is a social media marketing expert who teaches small businesses how to create their own fame and claim their brand online. She is the creator of Creating Fame and Your Backstage Pass to Twitter.
She resides in Venice Beach, California where she video blogs, makes frequent trips to the library and volunteers with local middle schoolers.
Laura has been a speaker at numerous influential industry conferences including, The South by Southwest Interactive Conference, Online Marketing For Women Entrepreneurs, The Social Communications Summit and Blogher, discussing social media marketing marketing, technology, and personal branding. Laura has been quoted in the Los Angeles Times and CNET and has contributed to many influential online publications such as ProBlogger, Eben Pagan’s blog, CopyBlogger, and many more.
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Today’s RISE Recommends
Rise Recommends
Here are some cool products and services that get The Rise To The Top seal of approval.
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