I feel like a kid on Christmas who just found out they are going to Disney.

Earlier this week I received some awesome news, that I would be attending TED 2012 in Long Beach, CA 02/26-03/02.  I am very excited to have an opportunity to attend one of the most inspirational events on the planet.  It has been a dream of mind to attend TED.  I follow the conference every year online and share the videos on my blog.  It is going to truly be an honor to be in the room with some of the brightest and most influential people on the planet.

The next step is to speak at TED.  Trust me it is not a manner of ‘if’ but ‘when’, I think big!  I look forward to representing Detroit at TED 2012 in Long Beach, CA.

To follow the conference use hashtag:  #TED

On Wednesday, February 8^th at the Oakland County – State of the County address I was selected as the inaugural recipient of the L. Brooks Patterson Elite 40 Under 40.  Nearly 400 of the brightest minds in Oakland County were nominated and for me to emerge as the winner was an honor.

Oakland County is one of America’s most affluent counties, which makes the significances even greater.  Here is a quote from Brooks about the elite 40, “The members of my ‘Elite 40 Under 40′ represent where Oakland County

is headed tomorrow: charging into the knowledge-based economy, providing strong leadership, and engaged in improving the quality of life in our region,” said Patterson in his 2012 State of the County address.

State of the County Address [Video]: http://bit.ly/soc2012

I See Opportunity

Here is my thought about the ‘Elite 40’ award, “this honor will not just be an update on my Linkedin profile but will serve as a platform to work with Brooks and a county with a technological DNA and a passion to be a leader in the knowledge-based economy.  “What makes this award different than other 40 Under 40 type awards is that programming is being developed to engage the leaders that were selected.

My goal is to help position the honor as a platform that will create real measurable change.  Since this is the first time the award has been given there is a blank page and I plan on helping to write what the platform can be and mean to me and future winners. I think it is possible to have a beauty pageant like platform for young business professionals that is gender neutral.  This will challenge the winner to use the calendar year to impact the region with the access and reach from the platform.  My question is why can’t the L.Brooks Patterson Elite 40 Under 40 Re-Define the future?

Hitting the Goal Running

I have real ideas that align with the metrics and mission of Oakland County and I started making calls and setting up meetings the day after I received the award.  I am very excited about rolling up my sleeves and getting to work.

Photos of the Events

[Photo Credit @Mlive and Jeff Wattrick]

[Elite 40 Group Photo]

[Elite 40 Finalist:  Kerrie Benno, Hajj Flemings and Lena Koretzky]

The inaugural L. Brooks Patterson Elite 40 Under 40 Contest committee selected me as a finalist from a pool of 400 nominees.  It is a hugh honor and one that I don’t take lightly.  This contest provides a tremendous platform and creates a great opportunity to make an impact in the lives of many in SE Michigan and statewide.

I was recently featured on Flashpoint on WDIV Channel 4 with Devin Scillian as one of four panelist talking about the, Future of Detroit.  I am firmly cemented in investing the Michigan.  Listen to my thoughts about the future of Detroit.

Link to the Video: http://bit.ly/news4hajj

How to Vote for Hajj:  http://bit.ly/vote4hajj  (Voting ends 02/01/12)

Come and join me at the Skyline Club in Southfield for lunch and a lively discussion about the CNN documentary and the Detroit Entrepreneurship community.

Event:
CNN’s Black In America 4: The New Promised Land: Silicon Valley Discussion
and The Detroit Entrepreneurship Community with Hajj Flemings

Date and Time:
Wednesday, January 25
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Location:
Skyline Club
2000 Town Center Suite 2800
Southfield, MI 48075

Cost: $18 (Includes Lunch)

Visit us on the web: www.TheSkylineClub.com

I was recently featured in CNN’s fourth installment of “Black in America” which focused on my journey in Silicon Valley and the tech startup that I  worked on.  I will share my experience and incite of being in Silicon Valley and the startup culture. The conversation will integrate the Detroit’s Entrepreneurship community and how startup thinking can impact our economy.

With the unemployment rate in the state of Michigan as high as 11.1% in 2011, the startup community is going to be a vital part of creating new jobs and attracting and retaining young talent in the state of Michigan.  $18+ per person (includes lunch!) Business dress code applies. Major credit cards accepted.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Red Tails the movie opens Friday, January 20, 2012 and tells the story of World War II heroes, ‘The Tuskegee Airmen.’   The movie is produced by George Lucas the creator of the Star Wars who has spent 23-years of his life and $58 million of his own money to make this movie happen.  The reason is that Hollywood would not finance an intellectual movie with an all black cast (there are no caucasians in any of the major roles.)

Red Tails Movie Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpA6TC0T_Lw

Why Supporting Red Tails is Important?

If opening weekend sales of Red Tails are a failure this could be catastrophic to black film producers, which is a point that George Lucas makes.  Hollywood will extrapolate that if George is not able to get support than how will a black film producer with a smaller budget and support base produce profitable films.

5-Ways to Support Red Tails

1. Purchase a ticket opening weekend (Jan 20-22, 2012) even if you don’t attend. (The most important way)
2. Tweet about it and use the hash tag: #redtails
3. Follow Red Tails the movie on Twitter: @RedTails
4. Like the Red Tails Facebook Page and leave a comment.
5. Encourage all races to view the movie it’s an educational movie about our country’s history.

See you at the movies!!!

On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered ‘I have a Dream’ one of the most influential speeches in American history.  This 17-minute speech is etched in the minds of millions and is still being talked about 48-years later.  Today we are here to celebrate the life of Dr. King and his idea of what a ‘Dream’ really means.

According to Webster’s dictionary, dream is defined as: (1) a strongly desired goal or purpose or (2) a visionary creation of the imagination.

An idea or dream in and of itself is useless; the value comes in the execution.  I love the fact that this speech and Dr. King’s life have served as an inspiration to me and countless others.  In closing I want to challenge you as I challenge myself with this closing thought . . .

‘Dream Big, but execute bigger’!

How would you define economy?  Most people would use the historical definition, which according to Wikipedia is the economic system of a country or other area.  Recently, the term has been used to define sectors of the economy in the digital age:  Creative Economy, Sharing Economy, and Reputation Economy, to name a few.  The common thread is that they all operate within larger economies that are fueling economic growth in a world that is shrinking because of global connectivity.

Let’s now look at the startup economy, which is an economic sector of multiple local economies the most prominent being Silicon Valley, Boston, and New York City.  These areas have a unique subculture that governs how its ecosystem of angel investors, VCs, veteran entrepreneurs, lawyers, and startups operates.   In all three of these areas you will find striking similarities in their values, rules of engagement, distribution of capital and how ideas are launched.

Think Globally.  Act Hyperlocal.

Economies contain three basic tenants: (1) production, (2) distribution and (3) consumption. What is your place? Answering this question allows you to understand how you can contribute to the economic well-being of the community you live in and position yourself for success.

Why are local economies important? A locally owned independent company returns about 75% of each dollar spent back to the community. One dollar spent at a locally owned business will return five times that amount within the community through employees’ wages, city taxes and purchase of supplies at other local businesses. You want to think globally and develop ideas that are scalable, but act hyperlocally and test your business model out in your home base.

Sector or Subculture?

There is a vibrant economic model in Silicon Valley that centers around the startup culture that many markets are looking to replicate. You will continue to see cities like Boulder, CO, Detroit, MI and Austin, TX increasing their efforts in the startup space.  What I find interesting are the qualities and characteristics that are associated with this subculture.  This subculture I believe will impact the people who need to position themselves for the jobs, careers and business opportunities of the future in a very significant way for jobs and companies that don’t exist today.

The startup economy will be a driver in how Millennial’s (Gen Y) pursue their career aspirations as they change the workplace:  recruiters are using more social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn to recruit a younger demographic which was published in a 2011 report by Jobvite.

What Can We Learn from Startups

Here are a few things that we can learn from startups.

1. Tap a Global Talent Pool:  Work is being done virtually, remotely, in the darkest corners of the earth and it is happening 24/7. The startup community has nailed the value of tapping talent globally to execute ideas and bring them to market.  They are changing what the term workplace means.

2. Collaboration is Better Than Being a Lone Wolf:  Startups are sharing space, ideas and resources to more efficiently launch ideas and to cut cost.

3. Networks Are Greater than Resumes:  In the startup economy your network is far more valuable than your resume.  It is one thing to list all the great companies you have worked for and all the great things you have done.  But can you tap your network, one of the thousands of people you are connected to get your next job opportunity.  For example a very prestigious non-profit reached out to me to speak at an event they are having.  To validate me they didn’t ask for a resume they contacted people within my network that I had done business with, with going through me to validate who I am.

At the end of the day your personal economy (how you generate revenue) will be impacted by the startup economy subculture.  This hyper-connected community of digital natives, startup founders, and entrepreneurs is changing the way the rest of the world lives, communicates and does business.

Please leave a comment and share what you have learned from the startup community!

“In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.” - Andy Warhol

We all have a story!  But not all stories are equal.  The opportunities of the future will go to those that are able to communicate their story in an inspiring, experiential, and informative way with a specific call-to-action.  A transmedia experience will be the norm not just for the media giants and big brands, but for working class people alike.   In a digital world the power of good storytelling becomes more significant because of how fast information spreads.  People are wired to make an emotional connection with stories in a way that could never be realized without them.

Stories should do the following: (1) convey a clear persuasive message, (2) create a memorable experience, (3) organize your information and (4) must be purposeful and informative.

Four Tips on Pitching Your Story

1. You are Always Pitching

How do you pitch your idea?  There is a lot of content online that will share with you the top tips on pitching. Some of the key tenants when you pitch are: (1) identify the problem that you are attempting to solve, (2) attack a real problem that is worth solving and (3) identify big enough market to justify going after.  Also, remember two things: (1) anytime you present or apply for a job you are always pitching yourself and (2) you cannot always control the environment or the conditions of where and when you pitch your idea.

2. Take a Multi-Channel/Format Approach

We use to think of stories in the form of hardbound novels.  With the growth of social and digital technology and the adoption of e-readers:  Kindle’s, iPad’s; blogging/micro-blogging platforms: WordPress, Tumblr, Blogger, Posterous, and Twitter; video: YouTube and Vimeo; photo-sharing platforms: Instagram and Flickr it is easier than ever to share and consume content on Smartphone’s, tablets, and laptops.  This requires content to exist across multiple platforms and in various formats.

3. Brevity is Key

Brevity is always important, which is one of the key things we have learned from Twitter.  People love to share creative, interesting, and value content in small chunks.  So, start to think in sound bites, this makes content more sharable and social and encourages people to share it with their network.

4. You are the Main Character

Every good story has a well-defined main character.  In business it is important that the main character is likeable.  Likeability is key when you are looking to establish strategic relationships.  It is critical to communicate your superpowers so that people know what you do well.

Case Studies

Two of my favorite storytellers are Nick Felton and Nancy Duarte.

Nick Felton a New York City designer who creates annual reports of his life with data and Nancy Duarte runs the leading presentation company in the country, which is based in Mountain View, CA.  Nick tells stories with data and Nancy tells stories with slides and both have built viable businesses around storytelling.

Nick Felton – Co-Founder of Daytum

Nicholas Felton spends much of his time thinking about data, charts and our daily routines. He is the author of several Personal Annual Reports that weave numerous measurements into a tapestry of graphs, maps and statistics that reflect the year’s activities. He is the co-founder of Daytum.com, and currently a member of the product design team at Facebook. His work has been profiled in publications including the Wall Street Journal, Wired and Good Magazine and has been recognized as one of the 50 most influential designers in America by Fast Company.

Nancy Duarte – Principal at Duarte Design

Skilled CEO of Duarte Design, inspired presenter, and gifted educator, Nancy Duarte is a sought-after speaker whose own presentations live up to the expectations established in her books. Audiences leave inspired and firmly grasping new VisualStory™ tools that transform the way they communicate.

Action Items to Work On

You should be able to pitch your story in the following ways:

(1) Elevator Pitch

(2) 30-Second Video

(3) 120-Characters in Twitter

(4) One sentence

(5) Website ‘about’ page (2-3 short paragraphs)

(6) Resume

(7) LinkedIn profile

(8) Photos that visually communicate who you are

(9) Avatar profile photo

(10) Social Media profile bio’s

Stay relevant!

No more resolutions.  Just one question!  In our personal and business lives we all have limited resources, but the same amount of time.  We all have 24-hours in everyday!  With new potential projects being pitched to us, business opportunities coming across our desk, and social media stuff filling our walls and inboxes how will you spend your time?

In 2012 shorten your list and focus on your #12in12 with laser focus!  I would love to hear your #12in12!

Do you exist?  The context of my statement is not do you have a pulse and is blood pumping through your veins, but where and how do you exist.   Everybody has a footprint. It validates your identity in the real world, it can position you as a thought leader, it provides information about you and represents the size of your online and offline presence.   The real question is what information can people determine about you by reviewing  or engaging you within your footprint?  The word footprint is definited as an impression, mark, or something that identifies.  In the real estate industry you commonly hear the phrase: ‘location, location, location.’

In the Startup You Economy I will refer to, ‘location, location, location’ as:  (1) mental, (2) digital and (3) geographical real estate.  Let’s now dig into the three types of real estates.

1. Mental Real Estate

The average person will be exposed to over 3,000 marketing impressions per day.  People are bombarded with information everyday.  In 1970, Alvin Toffler popularized the term, ‘Information Overload’ in his 1970 book, Future Shock. In Wikipedia the term is defined as, ‘the difficulty a person can have understanding an issue and making decisions that can be caused by the presence of too much information.’  One of your goals should be to establish a strong enough brand that cuts through all the noise and to establish a strong signal with the customer you are targeting.  You overall goal is own a slice of mental real estate in the mind of your end customer so when they need your solution you become the first and only option in their mind.

How do you start to accomplish this goal?  I recommend establishing 3-5 touchpoints (points of engagement) with people that you are looking to develop a business relationship with.  The touchpoints should be across multple mediums/platforms: face-to-face meetings, email, video/TV, written blog post or presentations.  There are various levels of engagement with each medium.  Over time your target customer will become more comfortable with you because they will learn more about you with each point of engagement.

2. Digital Real Estate

24/7.  Every second of every day knowingly or unknowingly we are making impressions that will positively or negatively impact our personal and business brands. We live in a global economy that never sleeps so there is always somebody looking at your online presence and making decisions on whether they want to do business with you or to establish a business relationship based upon their first impression.  One of the key benefits of the social web is that it eliminates geography and reduces the time that it takes to do business with someone.

Key Points

• Think in Sound bites:  Make sure your tweets are 120-characters with links and content that people want to share.  Create short blog post which allow you to post more frequently versus ong blog post infrequently.  Quality is always first, but you want to have more impressions.
• Create a Content Development Strategy:  Your strategy sould include your blog and microblogging sites (i.e. Twitter).  Part of your content development strategy should include sharing photos via a photo sharing app like instagram that captures the moment. and allows you post visually and more regularly.
• Media Ready About Page:  Your about page should be media ready:  (1) written in the third person that provides links to your current media (TV and articles)
• Online Hub: Establish an online hub that you own (i.e. http://hajjflemings.com) and drive all your traffic to.

• Social Content: Make your information social and sharable (i.e. Facebook Likes, Twitter Meme’s, and other share buttons.)
• Multiple Platforms: Information should be available across multiple mediums and platforms (YouTube – video content, WordPress – written blog post, and Facebook and Google Plus – status updates)

3. Geographical Real Estate

The third location is geographical real estate.  You have probably heard the term Hyperlocal.  Hyperlocal marketing centers around a clearly defined physical community that you target and are a part of.  Every single person should look to position themselves in their own local market, for me that is Metro Detroit.  You want establish yourself as the go to person.   When your local media needs a subject matter expert someone with deep domain knowledge you should be the first person they call.

In the Startup Your Economy hyperlocal marketing is at the epic center of individual business leaders/entpreneurs establishing themselves as thought leader in their geographic location.   So when the national media is looking for cool stories within your market, they seek to identify people who have done a good job locally. The problem is that most people want to be national stars but you position yourself nicely from a local standpoint you can create a tremendous amount of national exposure.  The reverse is very difficult to do unless you get a big break.

Key Point:  Think about your points of differernation within your local market.  How do you position yourself?  For example, Phil Cooley owner of Slow’s Bar B Q is not just a resturant owner, he is now consider a, ‘Revitalization Avodcate’ because of the the impact of his resturant in the city of Detroit.