What did they say? I bet it was something along the lines of “Because I am passionate about x” or “I wanted to take control of my life”. Being an entrepreneur will definitely give you the freedom to choose what you work on and how you do it. It gives you a chance to get something moving that can push you to personally grow and could possibly change our world; however, there is always two sides to every coin.
Most entrepreneurs don’t enjoy normal working hours or offices. In fact, there is a huge emphasis on crazy things like 18-hour days when you undertake a startup. Entrepreneurs or entrepreneurial-minded individuals like to attempt to hack their current productivity level. If you are this way, maybe you can relate. Studies in work behavior, though, have shown that after a certain point, productivity can drop off. Productivity expert and Entrepreneur, Laura Stolk is quoted saying,
“You see employee output start to fall after 55 hours of work a week – in fact someone working 70 hours a week has the same productivity as someone working 55 hours over a longer period of time.”
Research shows that working extra hours reduces performance of an employee by 20-28% on an average. Major decline was faced by Financial Markets experts, who are not supposed to work more than 6 hours a day. All the financial markets roughly operate for 6-7 hours a day only because of employee productivity.
So how do you balance it? It’s tricky to find the sweet harmony between a little R&R and the work that must get done. The sweet spot is completely different for everyone. One common theme of successful entrepreneurs is their ability to set goals in both their career and personal lives and because everyone has different goals, no two balanced lives are the same. Setting goals helps you to be very clear on what you want, so you can say “yes” or “no” to the appropriate projects and tasks.
A key to balancing is being on the same page as those around you so they know what to expect from you! Talking with your family members, boss, and employees to set clear parameters around your career goals and metrics is important. When you know what you want in your home life versus your career, you’ll be able to avoid distractions.
Another key is to delegate the tasks that take a significant amount of time. Can someone else do it more effectively? If so, hire or delegate! This could include data entry, administrative support, bookkeeping and accounting, marketing, etc. In order to avoid overloading yourself, you have to defeat the “DIY disorder”.
Founder of YouMail, an intelligent call management software, Alex Quilici, suggests focusing on being totally present during any blocks of time you get to spend with your family, such as driving your kids to school, or enjoying the conversation around the holiday dinner table. “Turn off your cell phone and be engaged in the moment” he says. “Don’t be thinking about the next thing for work either. High quality time with family is what really matters.” Involve your family in the work you are doing if they feel up to it. If your business has a t-shirt, give them one! Give them a chance with your product. This will help them understand what you are doing. They may also provide valuable feedback.
We all need a vacation once and awhile but sometimes we can’t get out of answering phone calls, emails, and dealing with the daily needs of our business while “relaxing” on the beach. It may not be the best option to step away from your responsibilities completely but attempt to find the right mixture of work and play for you. John Saddington, an independent app developer that works for Apple has an interesting perspective on this issue.
“Down time shouldn’t be some reward for the work that you have done but, I think, it should in reverse. Your work should be the reward for taking the time required to get your mind, body, and spirit right with the rest of your own individual world”
CEO and Founder of a company called IWearYourShirt, Jason Zook, felt the burnout plague after 700+ days of working without a day for himself. The company creates creative videos for different companies on a daily basis which required nonstop creative thought. He managed the impressive feat of working for over two years before deciding to take Saturdays off. Even then, that wasn’t enough.
“I couldn’t recharge my batteries completely on one day per week, especially after 730+ days without a break. Plus, those Saturdays became an attempt to try to get ahead of the game, so I ended up working anyway.”
In 2013, the company closed for good, and Jason found the time he needed to recover. After weeks of sleeping troubles, creative blocks, and missing out on opportunities because he lacked energy to follow through, Jason gained a new perspective on the precious commodity of time and energy. There’s nothing enjoyable about burning yourself out, and it takes a lot of time and energy to bounce back from. If you can find the time to rest and recover now, you’ll be better off for it in the long run.
Abraham Lincoln once said “If I had six hours to cut down a tree, I’d spend the first four hours sharpening the saw.” This elegantly puts this concept in perspective. The idea is this: If you are cutting down a tree with sharpened saw, you’ll get the job done faster. Taking the time to sharpen the saw (i.e. break from your work in order to recover) brings less work in the end than if you had continued sawing with a dull blade (i.e. working without rest).
Finding work/life balance for yourself will take some experimentation, but learn from the mistakes of others: don’t work every day without a break, don’t ignore your health or your relationships while you build your business, and try to separate your business’s success from your own self-confidence.
Tangible Solutions is a local Dayton startup we have been following since their start in 2013. They have focused on 3D printing, 3D scanning, and engineering design services. Many of their customers are in the commercial, defense, and education industries. Since 2013, they have offered a wide variety of manufacturing solutions for every operation and can offer a diverse range of materials ready to tackle any application you need. On top of these services, they are also developing course curriculum for numerous educational settings.
Today they have announced that they will be adding a 3D metal printing to their services. The laser was made by ConceptLaser which “shares the vision for building a “small factory” that supports the principles of Industry 4.0: automation, digitization and interoperability of various technologies within a factory. Concept Laser was the first and only 3D metal machine manufacturer to share a complete and tangible plan of helping organizations achieve industrial, serial production. We believe their technology roadmap will only make 3D metal printing more cost effective and flexible”, says Adam Clark and Chris Collins, Founders of Tangible Solutions.
By: Austin Rains, Marketing Associate at DTG
Sabitha Anisetti, Founder & CEO of Cubester, has been busy setting up for the release of Pocco, their first product, in the early part of 2017. Sabitha has said that they have already lined up several customers, including businesses in the Dayton area and some along the coasts of the US. Pocco is a productivity maximizing device and has been in development as the next tool that helps manage workplace distractions and allows workers to really focus on one thing at a time.
Sabitha attributes her success to support of the local Dayton business community, which she describes as “tight knit”. Cubester now has 10 employees preparing for the launch of the their new product and with the help of some local Dayton organizations like Boucher & Boucher Law Firm, Dayton SCORE, and the Entrepreneurs Center, the Cubster team has had help pitching to investors and bringing the device to market. Dayton Tech Guide even featured Sabitha at one of our Early Risers.
Now you can see Sabitha and the Cubster team share their product at Dayton Catalyst.
Dayton Catalyst is a community-wide event bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, community leaders and supporters from across the nation to learn, engage and celebrate technology startup opportunities in the Dayton Region. With Venture Capitalists coming in from around the world, Pocco, and the rest of the presenting startups, will have a chance to connect with key industry professionals and get the chance to win investments. Pocco realizes the valuable connection that Dayton Catalyst can bring to their company and is very much looking forward for their opportunity to take the next step.
The Wright Cup – Ohio’s only provider of locally roasted coffee beans that are delivered directly to your door! Ohio’s greatest coffee beans from all over the state of course. They have searched long and far for the very best that Ohio’s coffee roasters have to offer and packaged it into four 2.75 oz bags. This is the perfect gift for those coffee lovers in your life. Start your subscription today!
Pig of the Month – Another amazing subscription service that can be directly shipped to your home from a startup right here in Dayton. Depending on the subscription you choose for that meat-lover in your life, they could receive a bacon of the month, or BBQ meat of the month. The bacon of the month flavors subscription could range from BBQ rubbed to Bloody Mary! In the BBQ of the month subscription you could receive some best sellers like Memphis style ribs, juicy pulled pork, or Applewood smoked brisket. Is your mouth watering yet?
City Seed Delivery – This Company can bring fresh, hormone-free, antibiotic-free, non-GMO, products directly to your doorstep. Anything from fresh produce to a variety of dietary essential oils can be hand selected for you and then conveniently brought to you. Their farm-to-home convenience makes eating a truly nutritious diet so simple! Consider subscribing and get the weekly “staples” that your family purchases like milk, eggs, meat, produce, and pantry items. You will always get the best ingredients, and the most nutritious food, all while helping support your local Dayton/Cincinnati economy!
Fronana – Who doesn’t like ice cream? Sometimes it is hard to put the pint down. What if there was a delicious alternative option to a cold favorite? Fronana is healthy and delicious frozen treat that is made completely out of bananas and serves the same as ice cream. It contains no dairy, gluten, added sugar or artificial ingredients. The product is naturally sweet by the natural sugars from fruit! You can find a pint practically in any part of Miami Valley. They are sold at several Dorothy Lane Market, Kroger, Dot’s Market, and Fresh Thyme locations. They sell pints in the Columbus and Cincinnati areas, as well.
Galatune – Do you have a gamer in your life? Are they getting tired of the same old card game that has been on the market for a while now? Galatune is an anime battle tabletop card game set on the fantasy planet of Lyra. The United World Government maintains peace and prosperity through the monopoly of advanced ancient technologies, but utopia comes at a steep cost. Will you join with the government to protect unity, or will you join the rebels and fight for freedom and independence? Decide where you stand on the future of the planet as up to five players face off in exciting fast-paced battles where all players take their turns simultaneously! Great game for first-time gamers or serious pros! Easy-to-Learn, impossible to master! Pre-order your decks today!
Noxgear – It’s dark outside and all you want is to hit the road for some well-deserved miles. For safety, you are supposed to wear a bulky and uncomfortable safety vest so that light reflects off of you and the local drivers know you are there. Ditch the vest and invest in the products sold by Noxgear. Paired with high quality 3M reflective materials the Tracer360 is the perfect, lightweight replacement for your bulky and uncomfortable safety vest. Wear it over a t-shirt to hit the road and avoid the heat on summer nights or over your favorite high visibility running jacket in the fall and winter. The Tracer360 is an essential addition to your cold weather running gear or cycling gear. They even sell one for your dog, if you like to take Fido for a run with you.
Written by: Austin Rains, Marketing Associate at DTG
Last Thursday The Neon, an independent movie theater in downtown Dayton, was filled with the entrepreneur stars of our startup community for our exclusive screening of GENERATION STARTUP–a newly released documentary that takes us to the front lines of entrepreneurship in Detroit.
Directed by Academy Award winner Cynthia Wade and Academy Award-nominated Cheryl House, the film celebrates risk-taking, urban revitalization, and diversity while delivering a vital call-to-action. After the film, we asked the movie-goers to join the social media campaign and write what #RedefiningSuccess and #LearningToFail means to them. You can see all of their photos below!
If you want to excel to the next level, or succeed in your field, you must find a way to be comfortable with the uncomfortable.
It may not feel great in the moment, but some discomfort in your personal and professional career is a great way to foster personal development. If you are looking for a way to improve your performance, creativity, and overall learning, put yourself in a tough situation and don’t be afraid to feel uncomfortable. Try to do something that you originally thought you could never do. Explore the unknown, no matter how unclear the road may be ahead.
Hanging within the same routine, day in and day out, makes you feel as though you have complete control and while this may be true, it unintentionally dulls your sensitivities. According to Psychology Today, “If you’ve got a good routine set up–say a morning routine of breakfast-exercise-shower-dress-commute, you’ve freed yourself from a lot of small decisions that could slow you down or capture valuable brain-space that you’d prefer to use for something else. You can now go on autopilot and still accomplish your goals.” In this way, paradoxically, a good routine can be freeing. But alternatively, getting into this autopilot state can prevent you from getting out and doing something different. You may miss out on an experience that can change your life.
Some routines are great until they are basically obsolete. In The Power of Full Engagement by Jim Loeher and Tony Schwartz, it is said that stress actually has vital role to play as a part of our growth as human beings.
“Any form of stress that prompts discomfort has the potential to expand capacity physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually so long as it is followed by adequate recovery”.
Think hard about your passions and how you could bring a unique perspective to that passion. What kind of skillset could you bring to the table that might set you apart? I think the need to get out of our comfort zone is even more true when you’re building a startup. Ben Yoskovitz puts this well:
“Don’t start a company as a tech person if all you want to do is code. If all you want to do is code, then get a job coding. Starting a company means doing a lot of things you’ve never done, and a lot of things you won’t be comfortable doing. Get used to it. Make the uncomfortable comfortable.”
You can also do this in your personal life and on a scale that fosters personal development. Let’s say, for instance, you are not comfortable speaking out in front of large crowds. By stepping out of your comfort zone and speaking to large crowds, or simply speaking out more in the next meeting, you can give yourself a massive amount of confidence in other areas of your life. This is why we should have many areas where we stretch ourselves and explore what is unknown. The more you stretch, the further you go.
So what are you doing to feel uncomfortable? What are you doing to get out of what you know and get comfortable with what may be uncomfortable? Send us what you are doing via Twitter or Facebook! We would love to hear how you get out of your comfort zone and the difference it has made in your business or life.
Written By: Austin Rains, Marketing Associate at Dayton Tech Guide
Exciting news surfaced over the weekend! Dayton-based startup, GlobalFlyte Inc., has been awarded a $100,000 grant by The Third Frontier Commission. They will begin using this money to license the technology that it owns, as well as some valuable marketing research and technology prototyping. Their aim with the use of the funds and the opportunities that it brings, is to get their products for emergency responders and systems out to market faster. They are currently working in collaboration with several emergency management organizations in the state in the Dayton, Cincinnati, and Columbus regions, and use communication technologies which originate from the Air Force Research Laboratory.
December 9, 2016
8:00 am – 1:00 pm
Dayton Masonic Temple
If you were around North Main Street at any point on the morning of Oct. 14th, you probably noticed the line of people outside of the Victoria Theater. Most of them wrapped in their fall jackets, anxiously waiting for the TEDxDayton team to open the doors to the 4th annual Dayton TED conference. As the doors began to open, people bustled into the theater to get their complimentary coffee and breakfast. People began mingling and networking over coffee all morning.
“People want to have challenging conversations about where we’re headed, and they’re looking for new ideas. This event brings new perspectives to the table and asks questions we haven’t thought to ask” said the Co Chair of TEDxDayton, Ron Rollins in a press release earlier in the week. Needless to say, he was correct. People took their seats and began preparing for the day.
Many talks throughout the day inspired people to begin tweeting and using the #TEDxDayton2016. At multiple points throughout the day, #TEDxDayton2016 was the number 2 and 3 top trending hashtags in the nation! Lots of talks and performances were given throughout the day, coming to a total of 24! Everything from privacy law to Islamiphobia was discussed on the stage. Every speaker seemed to engage the audience and bring their thoughts and feelings to life. If you haven’t ever experienced a TED talk in your life, I encourage you to take a look at TEDxDayton’s website and see their talks from previous years. This year’s talks will not be available to the public until later in the year.
Awesome first talk by Scot Ganow from @FICPrivacy! Great start to #TEDxDayton2016. #knowledgeispower
— Dayton Tech Guide (@DaytonTechGuide) October 14, 2016
Scot Ganow, an Attorney in the field of Privacy Law spoke on privacy and how it’s changing in our technological world.
The United Nations has declared use of the internet a human right. Tyler Back of @mitosiscreative #TEDxDayton2016 #FunFactFriday pic.twitter.com/eQ2Lzq2Ae3
— TEDxDayton (@TEDxDayton) October 14, 2016
Tyler Back spoke on the internet of everything at TEDxDayton2016.
He learned 3 things: Purpose, Gratitude, and Self-Discipline. Inspirational! Robert Owens at #TEDxDayton2016. #KnowledgeIsPower #Change pic.twitter.com/6xMPSW5tUU
— Dayton Tech Guide (@DaytonTechGuide) October 14, 2016
Robert Owens engaged the audience by speaking on the 3 principles he lives his life by: Purpose, Gratitude, and Self-Discipline.
Overall, TEDxDayton is getting bigger and bigger every year. It’s bringing in people looking to be engaged with other thinkers,doers, and people who want to change their community.
Written By: Austin Rains, Dayton Tech Guide Marketing Associate
What if there was a technology that could analyze the “twittersphere” in our world? One machine that could look through every hashtag or tweet on a certain topic. Well, there is, and it’s called Twitris.
Twitris allows you to see what is trending in any part of the world, at any time and in a much more in-depth way. Cognovi Labs, currently has this technology and is using it to predict and analyze the social media web on current important topics, specifically, in the state of our nation’s politics. Cognovi Labs was launched in February of 2016 in Dayton, Ohio and is an IKOVE Venture Partners Startup Nursery™ portfolio company. According to the Cognovi Labs website, Twitris provides a“Side-by-side comparison of sentiment and emotion analysis of [a] brand and [its] competitors.”
“Twitris is a licensed technology and based out of Wright State University” says James Mainord, COO at IKOVE Venture Partners. It was created by Dr. Amit Sheth, an educator, researcher, and entrepreneur. He is the LexisNexis Ohio Eminent Scholar, an IEEE Fellow, and the executive director of Kno.e.sis, which is a multidisciplinary Ohio Center of Excellence in Biohealth Innovation involving computer scientists, biomedical researchers, and extensive clinical collaborations.
In the earlier portion of May, 2016, Cognovi Labs began a Brexit monitoring campaign. They began looking at the various indicators to predict the outcome of the Brexit vote: Sentiment, volume, and emotion. On the day of the election they witnessed a consistent sign of a pro-leave movement. “It was about a 60/40 split early on in the day, and about 4 to 5 hours later we saw that the leave movement won” explains Mainord. By collecting and analyzing social media data they were able to better predict the outcome of the Brexit vote.
Cognovi Labs is now following the U.S. Presidential Election, and has been since October 2015. “Most recently, we have been following the V.P. Nominations…we can look at the sentiment on Trump and Pence, just as we can see the same for Clinton and Kaine,” Mainord stated. “At the last couple of debates we have been observing the trends of certain topics versus actual candidates, like Syria or healthcare.”
So what is Twitter sentiment telling us so far about the candidates and who is most likely to take the White House?
Check out the Twitter emotions as they were observed during the first two debates:
December 9, 2016
8:00 am – 1:00 pm
Dayton Masonic Temple
Written By: Austin Rains, Dayton Tech Guide Marketing Associate
Who hasn’t heard that networking is one of the keys to success? “Its not about what you know. It’s about who you know” was coined to re-frame, exactly, this point. Even though this is one of the most important things you can do, it seems many people have no clue where to start!
We have scoured the internet in search of the top things you need to know about networking to take your career to the next level. In today’s extremely competitive market, effective networking is a tool that could tip the scales in your favor. In the words of Sonia Sotomayor, “To succeed in this world you have to be known to people.” Every relationship you build has the potential to change your future, so here are 5 tips on how to get out there and network like it’s your job!
If you have never actively attempted to network before, it can be an extremely intimidating process, but don’t let that derail you. The bottom line is this: the more you do it, the better you become. Begin by attending casual events, with a little more laid back or relaxed feel, like Pints & Preneurs. In these settings there is no hard expectation for you to be at the top of your game or for you to have your pitch on deck. Start simple conversations and ask lots of questions so that you can listen and learn about people. No one likes the Dictator who completely hijacks every conversation and makes it all about himself or herself, so be mindful of how much give and take you bring to the table.
To quote Business Network “Networking is a contact sport. You have to get out and connect with people”. Unfortunately, networking tends to an activity that is outside of many people’s comfort zone. For this reason, many individuals will find one “friend” in a networking event and stay glued to that person for the entirety of the event. Let go of your nerves! Not only are you diminishing your chances of making a valuable connection by being a social chicken, but odds are you’re also diminishing your friend’s chances, as well, so relax, breath, and then get to work connecting with new faces.
Its hard to think that you can accomplish meaningful networking behind a screen, but with the turn of the century it’s hard to avoid the inevitable social media movement. The key to using this strategy is to remember that social media is just that–social. Common etiquette dictates that the material you post should be conversational, thought-provoking, and/or engaging in nature. Effectively market yourself on your own accounts by focusing on your strengths and showcasing what you want people to know. Be real and be authentic. Want to connect with specific people? Informally introduce yourself by engaging with their posts.
Maybe you have a passion and a drive that sets you apart, or perhaps you have a skill that really puts you ahead of the crowd. Whatever it may be, make it yours and own it! Don’t sell yourself short by not sharing your impressive accomplishments. Yes, we’re giving you permission: go brag a little bit about yourself! Confidence is a positive attribute that attracts people. Beware, though! There is a very fine line that can be crossed. If you feel like you’re bragging a little too much, you’re probably right.
Everyone is going through different things at different times and you may feel as though a person is not being as receptive as you want them to or they’re being a little “aloof”. This is okay! Not everyone is going to connect with you right off the bat. This sometimes boils down to nothing more than people’s current situations. They may be having an off day or feeling sick, or maybe they didn’t get their coffee or perhaps they’re going through a break up. Do you get where we’re going with this? Understand that you aren’t always going to liked by everyone–regardless of how much you want to be–so don’t take it personal. If you don’t connect with someone, tactfully excuse yourself from the conversation, regroup, and strike up a conversation with someone else. Who knows? Maybe the next time you circle back with them, they’ll be more receptive and engaged.
Here at Dayton Tech Guide we believe that connectivity brings opportunity! There are things happening all the time that you may have been missing out on. If you’re unsure of where to start, don’t feel like you can’t ask your community. And if you’re in the Dayton community, be sure to check out our events calendar and see what we have to offer!
Nothing is stopping you. Get inspired, get connected, and be your own change!
Written By: Austin Rains, Dayton Tech Guide Marketing Associate
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