Mutant ESCape. Huh? It’s another gorgeous Thursday evening, December 14th, the year 2017 almost at its finale. We weary and overworked small business owners and Entrepreneurs, gather here, once again at our HQ, the historic DTSP wedding venue and event space NOVA 535. This is our ritual, the night we recharge, blow of steam, vent, laugh, cry and share our tales of success and failures. Gathering again for our weekly ESC meeting of biz dev (business development for those not in the know) networking and schmoozing. ESC is quick speak for Entrepreneur Social Club ™. ESC can also be short code for ESCape. Analog or Digital ESCape. Like that necessary evil of a button on the top left of your keyboard. The one we pound on often to stop an impending mistake, or to return us back to where we started.
sales
Entrepreneurs are the Bricks and Mortar that hold our World Together
Entrepreneurs are the Bricks and Mortar that hold our World Together.
So true! Tonight, January 19, 2017, was another gorgeous night here in Downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. Once again at our Entrepreneur Social Club HQ, NOVA 535. Lots of newcomers, many returning champions, smiles and great energy all around. Come join us on another fun and productive night of laughs, learning, drinking, amazing food, and some truly priceless moments! Learn how entrepreneurs are the bricks and mortar holding our world together. Let’s Rock-n-Rolla!
2016 Accomplishments We Are Most Proud Of
As I was wrapping up a pre-ESC business meeting, Shaun Rubrecht, who left 15 months ago on a 30 day trip to Thailand, yup you read that correctly, walked back into the club. Wowzers! Shaun, seated below front left in purple dress shirt, caught the “4-Hour Work Week” bug – if you haven’t read it yet, do so. Also read Entrepreneur Revolution by Daniel Priestly. It is another great book to frame how we Entrepreneurs think and act. Welcome back brother!! Tonight’s (December 1, 2016) theme is “2016 Accomplishments We Are Most Proud Of”. So let’s jump right into the Entrepreneur Social Club hosted again here at HQ – DTSP historic venue NOVA 535.
No Religion No Politics No Liars No Bullies No Thieves and No Racists
Hi I’m Michael Novilla. As I travel the world connecting with my fellow Entrepreneurs, I found that we all need a help and support, so I created a system called the NOVA Way. In 2005 is used the Nova Way to built my hometown St. Pete our own unique world-class event space called NOVA 535. In 2009 created a charity, the Entrepreneur Social Club, and now I also own and operate DowntownStPete.com, where everyone goes for the Best of what’s Local in DTSP. Again I’m Michael Novilla. So that is my general social pitch, a quick way of describing me and my enterprises. We always spend about 20-30 seconds each pitching the group (always seated here at ESC, it’s a fun casual SOCIAL club, not a boring seminar with people standing up and droning on and on and zzzzz…) after I’ve explained the Entrepreneur Social Club Rules.
No Religion No Politics No Liars No Bullies No Thieves.
Our group is like a big welcoming family. We are TOUGH, but in the kindest of ways. We are here to help and love and support you and your enterprise(s)…
Sushi Night at Souzou Downtown St. Pete
Sushi Night at Souzou Fusion Restaurant Downtown St. Pete
Tonight, Thursday June 16, 2016 we are off-site at Souzou Fusion Restaurant, located at 435 5th Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Call (727) 823-4050 for reservations. Typically we are at my historic wedding and event venue NOVA 535, but tonight NOVA is booked for a private affaire, a glamourous wedding ceremony and reception. So we’ve ventured out to my pal Mike Harting’s (owner of 3 Daughter’s Brewing) swanky spot Souzou for our meeting, dinner and drinks. A night filled with sushi and sake! Compi!!
Why we should not discount our pricing
Tonight we are delving into “Why we should not discount our pricing when asked by a prospective client.” Aside from the fact that it’s irritating – like when you’re in Outback Steakhouse and you offer them $15 for their $23 Ribeye. Huh? My mortgage holder, tax collector and insurance men would laugh in my face if I suggested 15% off. When you agree to give a client a discount, you are undermining your business, value and reputation. You are now open to negotiating everything, including the value you place on your time and efforts. Once you know, really know your costs and value, then you set your pricing to where it needs to be at and that’s that.
Entrepreneurs Stick Together in Sickness and in Health
Entrepreneurs stick together in Sickness and in Health. Tonight we shared that we’re creating a series of live events here at NOVA 535 called “St. Pete Healthy Lifestyles” while our favorite John with a “Z”, haha, Jzon, has made much progress into his speaking publicly to those also afflicted with MS. We Entrepreneurs, dreamers, visionaries, creators, risk-takers are the ones who push evolution forward, the problem solvers, we who make our world a better, smarter, nicer place to live work and play! That’s why we meet weekly, every Thursday night from 6pm to 8:30 pm, followed by dinner and (more) drinks here in beautiful Downtown St. Pete (also known as DTSP). Speaking of dinner, tonight here in beautiful Downtown St. Pete DTSP we visited the delicious Italian Restaurant, Il Ritorno , owned by hubby and wife team, Erika and David. IL Ritorno is located at 449 Central Ave #101, DTSP, and I’d strongly suggest making reservations via (727) 897-5900, as they are usually quite busy. We rolled in about 9pm, fully lubricated and ready for the 2nd half of our ESC weekly adventure! Oh do read on!!
Lucky Night at NOVA 535 with Dinner Drinks at Queens Head
Thursday March 17, 2016 aka St. Patrick’s Day, was, as these publicly celebrated holiday are, a meeting attendance wildcard. It’s uncertain how many people show up each week for the Entrepreneur Social Club, aka the ESC, as we don’t require any registration. Just show up to downtown St. Pete venue NOVA 535, and enjoy! With these ‘minor’ holidays (we’re closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas, for example) you never can tell who’s gonna show up. I had just literally got off the plane from Las Vegas Catersource 2016, and it was a bit of a late start, then my fellow Entrepreneurs joined in for our weekly fix. And what an excellent night it was. I’m calling this story. A Lucky Night at NOVA 535 then Dinner and Drinks at The Queens Head. Yes I know the English and Irish aren’t historically pals, but Tracy the owner of the always fun and delicious The Queens Head was in attendance, so our restaurant choice tonight was easy peasy!
Make Money Selling Your Friends
Selling your friends!
In Também Consulting I offer consulting on the SuccessFactors Learning Management System. The business is a Professional Services business based entirely on relationships. It’s all about acquiring resources (people) and putting them to work. Selling your friends!
Companies involved in this work partner up and sign agreements that whichever party brings in a resource owns the relationship with that resource. The other party cannot do a direct contract with that resource. It’s clearly defined relationships.
Sales in the 21st Century – It’s Not About You!
There is an impression that the world of sales has suddenly changed, leaving most businesses out in the cold wondering what happened to their revenue. In actuality, this couldn’t be further from the truth. If you had been watching carefully, this was the inevitable conclusion of all that has come before. The fact that a few years ago we were calling it Sales 2.0, is a clue that this is a progression, not a spontaneous appearance. One thing that is true, sales looks nothing like it did 20, 10, or even 5 years ago.