Steve Monas, Serial Entrepreneur and Author of Shoestring Venture

What do you do when you get a song stuck in your head? For serial entrepreneur and Shoestring Venture author Steve Monas, the answer is simple. Move to Hawaii.

Originally from the Ukraine, Steve and his family escaped religious oppression in the late 70’s, starting a new life in sunny San Diego. Not long after, the 8 year-old kid with a stuttering problem (who, incidentally, barely spoke English) could be found selling his wares on the streets of La Jolla. Undeterred by cultural and social obstacles that defined much of his early life, Steve went on to found and successfully run a multitude of businesses after his ambitious first days street vending in California.

There was the girls’ surf/skate/snow line “Lucky Girl”, a variety of internet-based businesses, books and websites on internet dating, and the recently published Shoestring Venture – The Startup Bible, co-authored with Richard Hooker, an in-depth resource guide for anyone on a budget brave enough to start a venture of their own. By cramming all the resources accumulated over his past decades in business, Steve is doing his best to satisfy one of his passions – helping other entrepreneurs.

In the time since I interviewed Steve just a couple weeks ago, he added another new business to his ever-growing entrepreneurial plate, a taxi service on the island of Kauai. Which brings us back to Hawaii and that song…..

1.  You moved to Hawaii recently on a whim. Does that describe the way you have lived your life to this point?

I wish. Yes, I did pick an island and just moved. I wanted to do something different. It all started with a song by Ziggy Marley (Beach in Hawaii), then I saw the movie Benjamin Button, where he says:

“#8. For what it’s worth: it’s never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.”

I believe in all these things. I looked at my life, realized that I had nothing holding me in a certain place. My book Shoestring Venture: The Startup Bible is being referenced at Rutgers Business University, and has amazing 5 star reviews on Amazon as being the most detailed and best business book that you will ever need. I am helping people, finally! Now I need to follow my own advice and work anywhere in the world (for now places that have a Costco). I love the island of Kauai. Everything has worked out well so far, and I am meeting some of the most interesting people that shine the Aloha spirit.

2.  Why do you love helping other entrepreneurs? Wouldn’t life be easier with a little less competition?

It wouldn’t be as fun….Entrepreneurs are the innovators of the world. Without them, we, as humanity would not move ahead. I am happy that my purpose in life is to inspire others to be their best and produce their passion. There is nothing like seeing someone create something that makes people’s lives easier or more enjoyable.

3.  Which venture were you most passionate about in the start-up phase? Which has given you the most lasting satisfaction?

I loved everything that I had tried. Whether it was writing a business plan about a coffeehouse / juicebar when I was 16 to having girls in the surf / skate / snow market get stoked on the Lucky Girl clothing that I had created. The satisfaction is getting praise for your product or service. The lasting satisfaction is knowing that even if it didn’t succeed, at least you tried, picked yourself up, dusted yourself off, learned from any mistakes, and start all over trying something new.

*This reminds me of a joke….Two kids get placed into two separate rooms both with a big pile of shit right in the middle. After 3 hours, the door gets opened to the first kid, and he is crying. The guy that opened the door asked the kid why he was crying? The kid answered that he was left for several hours with a big pile of shit. Next the guy opened the door to the other kid, and couldn’t see him anywhere. All of a sudden, a head pops out from the middle of the pile of shit, and the guy asked him “What are you doing in the pile of shit”, the kid answers “With all this shit, there has to be a horsy around here somewhere…” —being an optimist or resilient, is also a lasting satifisfaction, not everyone will hit a successful product or service on the first try.

4.  Did your early childhood in the Ukraine affect the type of business person you have become?

I think that I was too young and living in a communist country. I was 5 years old when I moved to San Diego from Odessa, Ukraine. The year was 1979, and we had to be invited, we couldn’t just leave. The agreement between the US and Russia, was to help move Jews (from repression) to the United States. My dad was a Professor of Physics at the University of Odessa, and my mom was doing accounting for the railroad. It was not easy to get a Visa out, but after three years, we finally did.

5.  Describe your first entrepreneurial experience and how it shaped your future.

Before my first entrepreneurial experience, I was playing around with my first computer, a Commodore 64. There was a limited amount of things that you could do with this 64K computer. I did have a Lemonade stand game. Then I put theory into practice, by selling lemonade. How American from an Émigré! That’s where the journey of success started and there is no destination…it is a blast!

6.  What do you enjoy most about owning your own business?

What don’t I? Its just fun doing, creating, and evolving an idea until it becomes real. And if you can make a living doing something that you are passionate about, even better! The other thing, is hearing people praise your product. That’s huge.

7. Describe the person who would best complement both your life and your business.

I am not sure if I want someone who complements my business. I would rather be with someone who is passionate about doing whatever they enjoy doing. I live my life, she lives hers, and when we are together, it’s just magic. We are best friends. When we are not working, we enjoy doing similar things, by not even thinking about it. To much to ask for? Perhaps…It takes two to tango and compromise.

8. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Enjoying my entire family (wife, kids, parents, sister, etc.) and doing something different. I am not even going to speculate on what type of business or if I will be running for an office (or in an office), it’s not as fun. And the journey continues….

Steve’s Bio:

Steve Monas is a serial entrepreneur currently living in Koloa, Hawaii (The Garden Island of Kauai), where he enjoys an active lifestyle and is working on various Web projects. Having just launched ScourEvents.com, he has just started a film and fitness video startup that has just introduced its first DVDs on the market.

Want to connect with Steve? Email him, follow him on Twitter and Facebook…or just buy the book!

Melinda Massie, President and Founder of Melinda Massie Events

“Because less than fabulous is just unacceptable.” -Melinda Massie Events

Need an event planner who can deliver affordable luxury, “fabulousity” on a budget and who believes that details are everything? How about one who can dance circles around you while she does it? If you live in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, Melinda Massie is happy to help – and you may even get to see her dance.

President and Founder of Melinda Massie Events, 34 year-old Melinda was born and raised a Texas girl. After receiving her degree in Advertising and Public Relations from Texas Wesleyan University (by way of Austin College), she went on to work as…(you guessed it)…a professional ballroom dancer. Starting with Swing, and then moving on to Salsa (after the infamous GAP ad over-crowded the dance floor), Melinda spent three years polishing her steps before realizing it was more of a hobby than her ultimate career goal. A move to event planning for the Ft. Worth Zoo was just the thing, as Melinda had enjoyed a taste of social planning while working as a promotional assistant for her college radio station.

Fourteen and a half years of event planning later, Melinda knew one thing – she could do it all herself. Utilizing the experience she gained from planning roughly 80 events per year at the zoo, Melinda formed her own planning company, Melinda Massie Events, in September of 2008.

So, if for your next event you require luxury, style, and someone else to work out the details, Melinda Massie has you covered. Just don’t be surprised if she asks you to dance.

1.  With so much experience planning events, why did you wait so long to start your own business?

Starting my own business was never really something I thought about.  I was always told I should, but I never wanted to.  Being an independent planner always seemed like this daunting and impossible task.  However once I decided to do it, it was the only think I could think about.  It can still be daunting at times, but no longer seems impossible.  My extensive experience in all types of events has given me significantly better preparation to be able to take on anything.  I wouldn’t have that if I’d started this business earlier.

2.  How has the recession changed event planning, or are people still partying like its 1999?

Events are still happening, but we’re “reining it in” so to speak.  We’ve traded in the grandiose displays in favor of stylish minimalism.  All of life’s celebrations – i.e. weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, etc. – still happen no matter what the state of the economy is.   The biggest difference now is that we’re challenged with creating something that is still lush and elegant with a smaller budget.

3.  Describe your most sensational low-budget party and how you pulled it off.

I did this really fantastic, casino themed 30th birthday party.  We held the event in the small private room of a nightclub.  Staging the party in a nightclub saved us the cost of a DJ so I could put the majority of budget into casino set-up.  We had black jack, roulette and an illusionist for the entire evening.  The ambiance of the room was great so it only needed a hint of decoration.  I created casino candles using mini votives, surrounded by dice and placed inside the center of small, clear glass globes.  I set these out all around the room to add a great glow and additional atmosphere.  Total spent was just over $700 and the guest of honor said it was the best birthday party she ever had!

4.  What advice do you have for those who cannot afford a professional planner?

Make the list your very best friend.  When I ask potential clients what have they liked and disliked about previous events they’ve attended, almost every single one of them mentions being at a disorganized party.  Lists help prevent this.  So many details are involved with planning a party and they generally come with many different deadlines as well.  If you’re working with multiple vendors and/or are hosting your party in a venue, they all come with varying different policies that need to be followed.  Write everything down in one place.  Make a time line of when things need to get done.  Stick to the lists.  When you open any of my client files, the very first thing you see is a list of each and every detail pertaining to their event, grouped by facet of the party – set-up, catering, entertainment, florist, etc.  Creative party ideas abound on the internet, but embracing the list is what will keep your head on straight and sanity in tact if your details try to become overwhelming. 

5.  What is your dream event to plan? To host?

For me, the dream event to plan versus the dream event to host are two very different events.  My dream event to plan would be something like you’d see on the TV show “Behind the Bash.”  Events that are spectacular, elegant and have people talking for some time to come.  I love putting tiny details and unexpected quirks into beautiful events.  I see a roving party with cocktails in one space; a formal, seated dinner in another space and dancing in a third area – each area having coordinating, but completely different atmospheres.  However, my dream event to host is a small dinner party for 6-10, possibly 15-20 people.  I really got into cooking a couple of years ago and have become quite good at it.  However, my home is too small to accommodate dinner parties, which is why that’s what I would love to host.

6.  Describe the person who would best complement your life and your business.

The ideal person would be equally as driven and passionate in his own career as I am mine and follow his talents.  Active, social and loves good food.  Has to be comfortable in black tie and going to a lot of openings/events.  But most importantly, we can be ourselves with each other and support and encourage each other in our various accomplishments, goals and dreams.

7.  How has being a female entrepreneur empowered you?

In a word – unstoppable.  There really isn’t anything that compares to taking what comes naturally to you, turning it into a career and then into your own business.  If you can do that and do it well, there really isn’t anything you can’t do.

8.  Where do you see yourself in 10 years

I usually don’t set long range goals for myself because you never really know where you’ll end up.  If I’d been told as little as 1 ½ to 2 years ago that I’d have my own business right now I wouldn’t have believed it.  However, I could easily see myself planning and consulting nationally.  I’m sure wherever I am in 10 years is exactly where I need and want to be.

Melinda’s Bio:

Melinda Massie is the President of Melinda Massie Events and Consulting, a full service event planning company that specializes in luxurious, stress-free events with a personal touch.   Her career started in 1995 when a friend asked a simple question, “Will you help me?”  From there, the seed was planted and a passion has grown.  Events include: benefit rock shows and festivals, guest appreciation events for car dealerships and dance studios, intimate and beautiful rehearsal dinners and wedding receptions and fabulous company picnics.  She has also worked behind the scenes to pull together presidential fund raisers and even put together a Cirque de Soleil style show from scratch.

Melinda attended Austin College in Sherman, TX and has a degree in advertising and public relations from Texas Wesleyan University in Ft. Worth, TX.  She is also a former professional ballroom dancer.

Want to connect with Melinda? Follow her on Twitter and Facebook!

Colin Wright, Founder of Colin is my Name and Exile Lifestyle

Don’t let the open gates fool you, Colin Wright is in exile. OK, so not a torturous one. More of a self-imposed exile that currently includes sunning himself in Buenos Aires and eating empanadas, while still enjoying a full income from Colin is My Name, his growing sustainable design business.

Taking along only the essentials (MacBook Pro, boxer shorts, and a sense of adventure), Colin took his business on the road this year in a social experiment he calls the “Exile lifestyle”, detailed on his blog of the same name. Every four months, readers will vote on a destination country where Colin will live and work until…well, until he comes back. By focusing only on the 20% of work projects that generate 80% of his income, Colin has reduced his work week to a mere ten hours, leaving the rest of his days open for new experiences and chance encounters, in whichever locale his readers see fit.

During my interview with Colin, I had to kick myself for being too lazy and technology-averse to set up a Skype account so we could speak “face to face”. By phone, I expected to hear the voice of a semi-cocky, fair-skinned white kid having his first international experience while making more money than I deem any 24 year-old to be worth. Instead, I was connected to the gravelly voice of a young man whose Brady Bunch baby-face may have already gained the perspective that only a few rough nights in a strange country, or maybe even a little food poisoning, can give you.

Either way, I am certain the exile experience will be that of a lifetime, and the gates back home will remain wide open for Colin’s return. Until then, baby-face, you may want to stick with Peanut Butter.

1.  What do you wish most for your “Exile lifestyle”? To achieve a specific goal (i.e. writing a book), or to have some intangible experience or enlightenment?

The main reason I decided to move forward with the Exile Lifestyle project is that I realized I had lots of experience with books and education and business and technology and so on, but little or no experience traveling, seeing the world and meeting people who have had radically different life experiences than I have. I guess you could say I’m looking for enlightenment, but really I see it as an investment in myself in that each new experience makes me a better person and more capable of dealing with the unexpected. To have a nice big group of engaged readers and a book deal at some point would be excellent, but the thing I’m really setting my sites on right now is becoming a better person in a lot of different ways.

2.  You are allowing blog readers to vote where you move every four months. What destination you will go, regardless?

I will go wherever my readers vote for me to go, with a few caveats. First, there are some countries I wouldn’t be able to get in to (think North Korea). Second, there are countries where civil conflicts or wars are going on (Afghanistan, Congo, etc). I’m game for living in any country in the world, so long as I won’t be putting myself in an unreasonably unsafe situation or fighting for months just to enter the country. Maybe someday I’ll have the experience and justification to visit those kinds of places, but for right now I’ll stick with new experiences that don’t involve wearing body armor.

3.  Do your corporate clients have any problem not getting “real” face time?

‘Real’ face time is such a vague term these days; I can always hop online and do a Skype video chat with my clients, but if you’re asking can they meet up with me in person? No, in person is difficult now that I’m out of the country. They generally don’t seem to mind, though, and in fact most think what I’m doing is pretty cool and have given me their full support (continuing to pass a steady stream of work my way, checking out the blog, voting on where I should go, etc). I have great clients

4.  What did you bring that you can’t live without? What did you forget?

I brought my Macbook Pro, without which I wouldn’t be able to do much serious design and development work. I’ve got a satchel that I use as my day bag which carries my camera, iPod, netbook, Moleskines, etc, though I could honestly do without everything I brought except for the Macbook Pro. I (fortunately) didn’t forget anything, so far as I can tell, though I miss my iPhone quite a bit (sigh).

5.  Is there anything you miss about the US, and what image of Americans do you hope to leave behind?

Peanut butter! There doesn’t seem to be peanut butter anywhere in this whole country, and though I’ve never been a big peanut butter fan, the fact that I can’t have it makes me crave it.

I’m hoping to leave a kinder, more thoughtful image of Americans in my wake, because a lot of people here have a few not-so-nice or not-very-accurate ideas about people from the States (the girls are easy, the guys are either gun enthusiasts or gay, the people live lifestyles like they see on Friends…oh yes, Friends is still very popular here).

6.  You said you have remained friends with all of your ex-girlfriends, and even had a break-up party with your last.  Have you never really been in love, or are you just a nice guy?

I’ve never seen the point of becoming enemies with someone, and especially someone that I really, really like. I’ve been fortunate enough to have some really intelligent, creative, beautiful and talented women in my life, and I certainly don’t take that for granted, or want them out of my life just because the nature of our relationship changes. It’s hard to say about love, because the term has really ceased to mean a whole lot anymore (you LOVE that cake and you LOVE all your friends and you LOVE this and that and on and on), so I’d say that I just try to enjoy each relationship for what it is and not what I or society thinks it should be (which really seems to take a lot of the pressure off, let me tell you!).

7.  Describe the person who would best complement both your life and your business.

Let’s see, she would be someone who is ambitious, motivated, passionate, intelligent, creative, capable, open-minded and charismatic. She’d take care of herself mentally and physically and is looking for the same kind of person as me; a person who would supplement and amplify my life, not someone who will BE my life. There’s got to be a big tolerance (and enthusiasm for) the sporadic and random, and if she has a good sense of style, I’m sold.

8.  Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

By then I hope to have a few bestsellers still on the shelves (virtual or physical) and to have whatever businesses I’m running at that point automated and making lots of money. I’ll have a handful of projects to work on (I’d really like to destroy the current American education system and replace it with something much better and cheaper) and hopefully still taking quite a bit of time to travel. I’ll likely still be seeking out novel experiences and doing things that most people will think are crazy. I’d hate to lose that.

Colin’s Bio:

Born in Northern California and raised in central Missouri, Colin Wright moved to LA after completing a dual-emphasis degree in Graphic Design and Illustration and shortly thereafter started a sustainability-focused design studio, Colin Is My Name. After a year and a half of success with small and large clients alike, Colin decided to take his business on the road, working from and living in a new country every 4 months through his new business venture, Exile Lifestyle, a blog and media company focused on lifestyle design, minimalism, sustainability and mobility.

Colin is currently living in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the readers of Exile Lifestyle are currently voting on what country he’ll move to next.

He’d love to be your friend on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn!

Joy Donnell, Founder of 720PR

If you see this face aimlessly wandering through Southern California, you know Joy Donnell is having a good day. The East Coast transplant and Beverly Hills based PR professional who spends most of her week working to keep her corporate clients happy, describes just that as her ideal day.

While studying for an English degree at William and Mary (with a minor in Japanese cultural studies), Joy imagined a career in international law was in her future. When a friend suggested PR instead, Joy couldn’t think of anything worse. Eventually coming to the realization that with her combination of verbal aptitude and social finesse a career in public relations was the perfect fit, Joy went on to join a large PR firm after college, then out on her own.

A year and a half of freelancing in Atlanta, and one too many humid Summers later, Joy moved to Southern California where she started the boutique branding and public relations firm 720PR. Using her experience working with corporate clients, she teamed up with a partner specializing in celebrity branding, and the pair formed the strong (and all-female) team that runs the firm today.

So, if you see this woman wandering the streets with no map and a carefree smile, don’t worry.  Joy is anything but lost.

1.  Dealing with celebrities and PR, how much of your social life is intertwined with business?

My social life overlaps with my business on a daily basis yet, I don’t mind. A large part of PR is social capital, so I vigorously maintain as well as expand my network. After work cocktails and red carpet events often blur that work/life line, but I love what I do and I love the people in my life. There’s no monotony.

2.  How does your “fundamental interest” in people translate into running a great PR firm?

I like digging into mindsets, seeing how different peoples in different countries think and figuring out how to relay the same message to someone in South Africa as well as Sweden. I think you have to be interested in people if you intend to have a career where you relate to the public. Helping individuals and corporations with their global public perception requires being a bit of a cultural anthropologist.



3.  In college, you also studied Japanese culture. What fascinated you about this area of the world, and what passion, if any, do you still have for it?

Once, my class watched this tape about learned facial expressions. During moments of disgust, the Japanese subject forced himself to smile while the American subject allowed himself to frown and gag. It blew my mind! That was the first time I realized that different societies have different behaviors that are socially acceptable. It eventually opened me to my career in PR.



4.  Why do you love LA, and do you ever miss the East Coast?

All the sunshine, palm trees, and lack of humidity in LA greatly improved my disposition, but I miss the East Coast in lots of ways. I love East Coast food. I miss the charm and hospitality of Southerners. I just don’t miss the weather.

5.  You chose a female business partner. Was that a purposeful decision or just the right person for the job?

It was kismet. Li and I are long time friends and an opportunity to work together aligned once I came to LA. Li was doing celebrity placements and branding, so it made sense to team up. Our collaboration allows 720 to nurture brands while maintaining a PR strategy, so the message the brand sends to the public never deviates.

6. At what age did you decide you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

By the time I was 5 years old I had witnessed members of my own family being successful entrepreneurs. I was never awed by the money or the private planes and such, I was enamored with the freedom. Once I put 2 and 2 together, I knew I wanted that kind of freedom and autonomy. That’s fed my ambition for as long as I can remember.

7. Describe the person who would best complement both your life and your business.

My ideal man is passionate, compassionate, successful and ambitious. One of the things he’s most ambitious about is me and our family. We truly like each other and understand one another. I think at the end of the day you need understanding and common goals, and those things maintain the trust, love, and respect.

8. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Traveling with my family. Being healthy and happy. Sharing what I know about publicity with as many people as possible and empowering those in business for themselves with the skill of self-promotion. I also want a nonprofit that encourages youth to utilize their social power.

Joy’s Bio:

As Founder of Beverly Hills boutique 720 PR, Joy Donnell has aided branding and public relations efforts for corporations such as DaimlerChrysler USA, The Carissa Project and Virgin Re*Generation spokesperson Carissa Phelps, GM, Warner Bros.’ Oscar-nominated film Blood Diamond, and many others. She’s also connected brands to several celebrities including Samuel L Jackson, Patti LaBelle, and Calista Flockhart.

Donnell’s PR advice has been featured in print and online media including best-selling author Mike Michalowicz’ Toilet Paper Entrepreneur and The Social Media Professor while her Hollywood social jaunts have been featured in Genlux and Cosmopolitan magazines.

Want to connect with Joy? Follow her on Twitter and on her blog “Do it in Public”!

So, the people at Pace University emailed me and asked me to post something about their annual elevator pitch contest in New York City with cash prizes this year of over $50,000. I’m pretty nice, so here it is!  (Although the event doesn’t take place until Thursday, December 3 in New York City – the deadline to register to compete is October 16).  All the details can be found HERE.

From the Pace website:

The Pace Pitch Contest is based on the Elevator Pitch concept, popular in the venture capital community. It is an extremely concise presentation of an entrepreneur’s idea, business model, marketing strategy, competitive analysis, and financial plan, which is delivered to potential investors. The premise is that it could be made in a few minutes, should the entrepreneur spot a potential investor on an elevator and have the opportunity to pitch their idea during the brief ride.

At this year’s Pace Pitch Contest, five finalists in the New Business Concept category and five finalists in the Social Venture category will each have exactly three minutes to pitch their new venture idea to a distinguished panel of judges and an enthusiastic audience. In addition to broad participation at Pace, we have been pleased to welcome student competitors from a number of other universities, including Columbia, Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford.

If anyone goes, I wan’t to hear about it!!!

Joe Sale, Creator of the iTie

Is your tie on straight? If it’s over your shoulder, dipped in your soup, or blowing in the wind, you didn’t buy it from Joe Sale. The 31 year-old Florida native created the world’s first necktie that stays perfectly in place during any activity. Yes, even upside down (if that tends to happen to you at work.)

A former account executive for a Fortune 500 company, Joe lost his job in August of 2008. The following day, he went to his lawyer’s office and filed a patent for The iTie, the invention Joe had been working on (and wearing) in his spare time. By November of 2008, the product website was up and the iTie was on its way. Thanks to aggressive marketing and PR efforts, the iTie quickly achieved consistent online sales, media attention, and even had a TV mention by Conan O’Brien-the first of many celebrities Joe hopes to reach.

The iTie. Perfect for your next trip to Chicago, soup-tasting, or office melee. Because you never know when your employees may try to hang you upside down.

1. Does having a straight tie really matter? Wearing a necktie will always be a status symbol that conveys a certain level of distinction and authority. I can’t take someone seriously when their tie is over their shoulder, flipped over or tucked into their shirt. Why would you buy a tie, at often over $200 a piece, for it only to make you look less professional? Now you can wear The iTie and never have to worry about it.

2. You have some incredible sales footage with Billy Mays. Tell us how that came about.

It was really a matter of great timing and utilizing my professional network. I am a member of many entrepreneur and networking groups and received an Email notifying me of a casting call for Discovery Channel’s “Pitchmen”. The next day, I was doing handstands (to show how The iTie stays in place) and knocking over Billy Mays. They were impressed with me and offered to make a short video that I could use on my website. Billy was awesome!

3. Do you have any plans to expand beyond the necktie? (What else would you like to keep straight?)

I am always thinking of new ideas and I write them down (I can’t tell you how many ideas I have thought of, but I can tell you the ones I have written down!). Once I have the time and resources I will start on the best of those ideas. Stay tuned….this is only the beginning of SALE VENTURES!

4. What celebrity or public figure would you most like to see wearing an iTie and why?

It would have to be President Obama. I have pictures of him (on my facebook) with his tie over his shoulder and always see him in the news with his tie out of place. I think it would be amazing if he wore a few and actually mentioned it. That would reinforce his emphasis on entrepreneurship. Then he could order thousands of iTies for the Secret Service!

5. Would Americans be more productive if men still wore neckties to work?  Do you worry the focal point of your business will someday become extinct?

50 million neckties are sold in America every year…last year, none of them were iTies. There is plenty of market share to be had, remember The iTie does more than every tie out there. The necktie will never become extinct, not in my lifetime. Until they stop making suits and dress shirts, there will be ties…correction, there will be iTies!

6. As an experienced salesperson, is it more difficult pitching for your small business than it was for a Fortune 500 company, or do you feel more confident in selling your own product?

There is nobody that knows more about The iTie than me and nobody can sell it better (even though it speaks for itself). I have always enjoyed sales. Regardless of what you sell, if you believe in it and are passionate about it, people will buy it. If your product or service exceeds expectations, your customers will turn into a sales force for you.

7. Describe the person who would best complement your life and your business.

Someone who understands the constraints and demands that go along with starting/running a company. There is a lot of pressure to succeed. Like a relationship, there has to be a solid foundation to build on. Success in life and in relationships takes a lot of hard work, dedication, flexibility and patience…do you know anyone?

8. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I see myself being happily married to my wife. Will have two kids Clarence and Summer, then we will have the whole Sale family! Really, who knows? If I had a crystal ball, I wouldn’t need to be an entrepreneur.

Joe’s Bio

Born and raised in Tampa, Florida, Joe graduated from Florida State University with a degree in Sports Management and was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. Throughout college, he played baseball, football, golf and volleyball, and continues to plays golf on a regular basis. After college, he moved to Boston where he worked at Cheers (yes, I know your name) and has sold everything from car stereos, shoes, life insurance, real estate, technology consulting, and everything in between.

Joe started The iTie after realizing there had to be a better way to wear ties. Wearing a tie every day working for a Fortune 500 company, Joe would see hundreds of people a day with their tie out of place. He started making prototypes of The iTie in his spare time and wore them to work where the few people he trusted to show it to loved the idea. After losing his job in August of 2008, Joe filed the patent within a week, got a website up in November and has never looked back.  He currently lives in Tampa with his yellow lab named Porter.

Want to connect with Joe? Follow him on Twitter and Facebook! You can also check out his special Private Collection here.