DFW Nouveau. 2013 to Present.

You’ve more than likely been a part of an event I’ve led (Dallas Startup Week, Dallas New Tech, BigDOCC (the 8 other spinoffs technically count as there were zero when I started the first two), Ignite DFW, Player’s Lunch, the “tunnel tour,” or you’ve at least heard my name attached to DFW and startups. It’s appeared in Dallas News, D-Magazine, Dallas Business Journal, Launch DFW (of course) and many others outside of the region. I’ve mentored and judged at The DEC, Startup Weekend, Lean Startup Machine, and dozens of other events.

None of this happens in a vacuum. When I first arrived in 2013, remarkable people welcomed me. Gabriella Draney Zielke started it all, Trey Bowles, Jennifer Conley, Joel Fontenot, George Barber, Matt Himelfarb, Matt Alexander, Pam Gerber, Daniel Oney, and many, many more helped the new guy from Boulder understand what was here, and who was doing what. That’s community. Every one of them: “How can I help?”

And that’s the “startup” side of my life. I’ve also been entrenched in the homelessness conversation: a dozen 40+ people meetings at Dallas City Hall that produced the Commission on Homelessness, and of course Dignity Field. I was the President of the Cedars Neighborhood Association (2015-2017), and routinely meet with people about my ideas in solving poverty issues. That too has landed my name in the press.

But that’s 2013 to present. To understand why I’m leaving you have to understand the full story. Some of you have heard this, hang in there, I’ll make it quick.

Early Dallas: 1994 to 2006

My good friend Bracken and I built several internet things in Dallas in the 1990’s: Apartments On-Demand (1994), Coupons On-Demand (1995), Classifieds On-Demand (1996), and finally sold one in MeetMeOnline.com (1997-1999). We did this with no support, no formal education (business, technical, etc.). In fact, we didn’t know a soul building anything like this in the 90’s. It was just us, building. I also ran Intelligent Networks, and zerologic corporation – both Apple related technology consulting companies (1993-2001). There are at least a dozen other experiments that never succeeded/got traction.

Boulder, CO. 2006 to 2013

While building HyperSites (in Dallas, 2001-2007), we decided to move the operation to Boulder, CO. We’d end up selling it in Boulder in 2007 (coincidentally, to Dallas based investors). That’s an important point, but the Boulder story doesn’t end there. Later came Callisto.fm (2010 to present), which evolved into Epic Playground (and MediaGauge). I also dabbled with GrillM (2009), Michael’s Garage (videos produced in my garage on how to build PCs from scratch), four podcasts (Boulder Open Podcast, Three Insight, Blipcasts, and OS Perspectives) and produced This Week in Techstars w/ David Cohen. I took over BOCC (2010) and started DOCC (open coffee clubs).

But Boulder was different. The power and confidence of being a part of that community was something that I hope everyone feels at some point. Sure it had its pain points (right Andrew?), but over all the experience was like getting a PHD in “startups.”

In fact, Andrew Hyde is one of the most influential people in my life. He gave of his time and energy constantly to help foster the very things I remember as great. He started Startup Weekend. By that, I don’t mean Startup Weekend Boulder. I mean Startup Weekend, period. He launched Boulder Startup Week, which I’d later implement in Dallas, and hundreds of others would all over the world. He also ran the largest Ignite event ever, in Boulder. But I digress.

Techstars would have a tremendous impact as well. Not just because two of the founders had committed a little money to the HyperSites round if we could get a lead (didn’t work out), but because that accelerator would bring in 10 new teams to Boulder every year, feeding the ecosystem with new blood. Eventually, it would have a more direct impact as my team and I went through Techstars Cloud in 2012.

Exodus 1.0

Over the course of the seven years in Boulder, several of its high profile members would leave – Andrew Hyde, Matt Galligan, Micah Baldwin, Rachel Ryle… and many more. Many of the teams that came in for Techstars would leave too, going back to their home towns, or on to other adventures.

How does the community respond with changes like this? There’s the natural “OMG, everyone’s leaving! What are we going to do!?” reaction. There’s the “I guess they weren’t committed to the community, man!” response. And the “Who needs them anyway, this place rocks!” response.

Something remarkable happens in a strong community though, as we’d come to find out. Other people step in, and step up. People that have played a role increase their visibility, and become the next change agents. New events, new relationships, and new opportunities for serendipity. Growth happens.

Today.

Instead of casting any doubt on the state of the DFW startup community, I’d encourage you instead figure out how to step up and take an active role in building the next version. Don’t just go to events, participate. Don’t just talk about a startup idea, build it. Don’t complain about things, take actionable steps to fix them (see The Five Why’s). Every strength and weakness in this community starts with you, dear reader. Be a part of something. Make it better by participating. Reporters/journalists, focus on the great things, and not the obvious drama… we need more from you. Use your power for good.

Back to us, and the fact that we’re leaving Dallas. The “why” is actually quite simple. Frankly, it has nothing at all to do with the Dallas Startup Community, and has everything to do with the fact that Heather and I want to do something epic. We want to travel the country in an RV for a few months, to experiment with a truly mobile lifestyle. We want to build a mini (550 sq. ft.) home by hand, and we want to be near Disney World when we do it. Remember, Heather is a Disney travel planner. But the bottom line is that we want to get the most out of life – today.

Heather and I wish you the best, and we’d be thrilled to have you along for the adventure. If you’ve ever dreamed of selling everything and hitting the road… follow us as we do exactly that: EpicMini.life. It might just inspire you to do the same.

Heather and I have been fascinated with smaller for a while. We proved we could do it when we moved from 3,400 square feet in the burbs to 1/2 that in The Cedars. We’ve arranged our lives around reducing our overhead, not increasing it. We are focusing on fewer “select” things. We took a trip in October with nothing more than a backpack each, including our tech, clothing, and toiletries. Flawless.

All of this talk has become more than a conversation, and we’d like to share what we have in store for 2017. I promised late last year that changes were coming, and it’s finally time to share the full scope! It’s a doozy.

We’ll be hosting a Facebook Live feed on Saturday at 5:30PM Central, and we hope you’ll join us. Many of you have reached out with specific questions about how you can make changes in your lives to live better with less, so we’ll leave plenty of time for Q&A too if the need arises!

Join us? This link will automatically point to the right place at 5:30 PM Central.

Listen, I was the king suburban champion just 5 years ago, walking through brand new $750k houses thinking to myself “One day!” Oh the things a big exit could buy. Toured the Aston Martin dealership, got his card. We’re taught to want more, bigger, better, faster. It’s the north star on the path to success. My dreams were big, and it all centered on FUM: “Fuck You Money.”

“Who wants to come with when I rent out Mugello or Misano for a track day with MogoGP bikes at our disposal? Or take the helicopter for lunch in New Orleans?”

What is FUM? Loosely, it’s never having to answer to anyone for anything about anything. You’ve made so much loot that you can do whatever whenever. You “can’t possibly” run out of the fuel of life… money. It affords a lavish and care free life. FUM’S grand appeal to me, in retrospect, was autonomy. Ok, sure, maybe “lavish” was a nice idea, too.

Let’s look at practical autonomy. The kind of autonomy that doesn’t require 80 hour work weeks for decades to build a unicorn.

First, both Heather and I have crafted incomes that don’t require us to be in a physical space for any extended period of time. For me, maybe that means a meeting here or there as Epic closes larger and larger customers. Heather’s professional life centers around entertainment and Disney travel planning, so at most it’s a trip to a park or learning up close and personal about a newly remodeled Disney cruise line.

Second, a smaller footprint means that we can live in a smaller space, and if you take that to a logical conclusion, it may eventually mean a mobile scenario, or an even smaller permanent space. Today we live in about 1,650 square feet. In Flower Mound, we had 3,500, our largest ever. The goal is to get to a point that we can live in 350 sq. ft., comfortably. Things, when looking through the lens of autonomy, have a strange way of becoming a tether.

Third, with an intentional footprint as small as we’re aiming for, the income we’ll have will go much, much further as compared to traditional American lifestyles: “The American Dream.” Imagine being able to put 75% to 80% of your income into investments, savings, and “entertainment.” How long before your vision of autonomy becomes reality?

This is the path we’re exploring. We’re not looking for permission, we don’t have employers to ask, or schools to clear it with. We don’t have any of the traditional tethers. What we’re building toward is autonomy. You can do this too… and we’re here to pass on what we’ve learned.

Here is my take, in no particular order:

You already know, intrinsically, what your next career path will be. It’s the thing you wake up thinking about, and the thing you think about while you’re doing your current job. It’s the thing you talk to your friends about, non-stop.

If you’re looking at practicing medicine (Dr., nurse, dentist, etc.), your path into college/university is already set – and that’s a good thing for all of us, frankly. But before you commit, you can learn more than you ever wanted to know about the human body with many free resources available. Think of it as a deep dive/trial to see if you really, really like it.

If your path is lawyer/attorney, you may need to move. Pick a friendly state (one that doesn’t require a JD (Juris Doctor degree) or Doctor of Law degree, to take the bar) and study. Lots. See this article in Slate to begin with, then the resources below for courses.

Find (or start) a meetup group in the subject area. This will get you close to people in the field, in a friendly, non-pitchy way. You get to learn from them and see what the culture is like. A meetup group can mean the meetup website, or another association/in person meetings.

Look at maker spaces for opportunities to learn about subjects: from woodworking to lasers to 3d printing and welding, circuit boards, electric cars, hydroponics… so much more. You’ll meet some great, very passionate people already in the field. If, for example, you’re interested in welding, many maker spaces have the hardware and classes to teach you the fundamentals. You can supplement this with YouTube or many of the resources below, and practice in the maker space on your own time. As you get better at it, find a local shop that will let you apprentice.

Use social networks to find people already in the field of interest, and ask for 30 minutes of their time to learn more about the practical side of the business and their function. What classes did they take, and what would they do differently knowing what they know now? People love to share, especially if they’re passionate. It’s one of the most valuable aspects of higher education, and this is method is free (well, you should pay for the coffee or lunch).

Assuming you have the desire, and the aptitude, the simplest career change is to doing something “online.” This can be learning to code, online marketing, WordPress development, or anything having to do with turning what you know (not what you “do”) into money. It’s not for everyone, nor is it a silver bullet, but it’s the most direct.

One last note. If you’re crafty, you can find the classes required for a degree. Then, using the resources below, take the classes (free in most cases) and achieve the equivalent education (and sometimes certified) to the degree you’re seeking. No, you won’t have the degree, but you’ll have the education, and that’s a big help when making a career change.

[ask] If you enjoyed this post and found value, please share it. Thank you! [/ask]

Resources:

• Dallas Maker Space
• EDX
• MeetUp
• iTunes U
• Coursera
• Lynda
• Free Code Camp
]]> https://friendmichael.com/Blog/how-to-change-your-life-foundations.html Wed, 20 Apr 2011 03:52:54 +0000 http://www.friendmichael.com/?p=12 I hope you've enjoyed reading the “How to change your life” series as much as I've enjoyed writing it. If you can think of anyone that might benefit from it, use the ShareThis widget at the bottom of each post. If we can touch one person, or help them through a tough spot, it'll be amazing.

Birthdays are something nearly everyone celebrates. Sure, another year of life is important. As cool as it is though, I think we should be celebrating another year of learning, experience, and understanding of how the world works.

If our guardians succeeded across those many birthdays, we have a pretty good idea of how things work, how to manage money, and how to get along with others. We should have a good base of nutritional knowledge, and a fantastic understanding of right from wrong.

This is where todays discussion begins. We all know what needs to be done (budgeting, health and nutrition, etc.), and of course we know right from wrong. So why do many choose for one reason or another to set these things aside? Maybe it's philosophical, maybe it's money, heck it could be anything. But is the excuse good enough?

Navigating life is complicated at times, but it's important that we make decisions that promote a lifestyle of integrity, health, and prosperity. Think about it. Every decision you make affects your life either directly today, or will affect it in the future.

An example might be that your go-to meal at the burger joint is a double cheeseburger with fries and a coke. The better decision, and the one we all know is the better one at a burger joint, is to make it a single with a side salad and a non-soda drink. Why don't more people do that?

Another example is that you're sitting down to find something to watch. You stroll through Netflix and Hulu, but come up “empty.” So instead of hopping on Bittorrent to grab a copy of the latest Hollywood blockbuster, why not pick a movie from the DVD case? Or hop on over to Amazon, VUDU, or iTunes to rent one? There's even Red Box. That's the right decision, but why don't people do it?

I believe that a high quality life is built on a foundation of good decisions, integrity, and leadership. From now on, make every decision as if your life depends on it. Because in the long run, its quality does.

If you found value here, please share it with others. Together we can make a difference.

]]> https://friendmichael.com/Blog/qa-how-do-you-live-frugally-with-a-sense-of-grace-and-abundance.html Fri, 15 Apr 2011 19:50:41 +0000 http://www.friendmichael.com/?p=13 This is a great question sent from a friend on Facebook. I thought it was important enough to share here.

“I am curious as to how you think a community can be encouraged to live frugally without forfeiting a sense of grace and abundance. Your thoughts are appreciated.”

The answer is a matter of perspective, in my opinion. The law of attraction and the abundance theory are really beliefs. Attraction is to bring the things you want into your life by providing them persistent, positive focus (“Think and Grow Rich,” “The Secret,” etc.). Abundance, at its core is simply the opposite of scarcity, both of which are perceptions.

Look at it this way: everyone should want to “attract” a strong sense of calm and abundance with your finances. Budgeting and frugality are not contradictory with that desire. Instead of approaching them from the perspective of scarcity, approach them from the perspective of abundance.

Don't focus on squeezing every penny out of the “little money” you have. Instead, focus on telling the wealth you're building specifically where you want it to go. The problem with most people's finances is that they have no idea how or where their money is being spent. Be a good shepherd.

Other people's perceptions of our actions cause us to do, or not do silly things in life. We buy new cars because it makes us look wealthy. We buy new houses with payments far beyond reasonable so we look wealthy and affluent. I'm here to tell you that your perception of your actions is what matters most. Grace is in your heart. If you know deep within that you're doing the right thing for you (and your family) then that will become apparent to those around you.

I hope that helps.

If you found value here, please share it with others. Together we can make a difference.

]]> https://friendmichael.com/Blog/why-i-listen-to-podcasts-and-why-you-should-too.html Thu, 23 Dec 2010 23:39:17 +0000 http://www.friendmichael.com/?p=17 As many of you know, I'm an avid podcast listener. If you've met me in person, you probably noticed the bluetooth stereo headphones around my neck – they're there solely for podcasts. I listen to 15 to 20 shows per day – covering a variety of subjects – innovation, technology, startups, marketing, and personal finances to name a few.

Without a doubt, podcasts have been a major influence in who I am as a person, and have played a key role in shaping in my life. From keeping up to date on the latest geek news, to learning how to manage money and win financially. There's content for every interest.

I hear from people all of the time that they can't listen to podcasts because podcasts require “too much focus.” They can't work and listen – they find themselves focusing on the podcast content rather than their work: “It's too distracting.” Podcasts are often relegated to those times when they can focus on the content – running, in the car, on trips, on the bus, etc. Those are certainly great times, but I think they're missing out on some wonderful content.

My secret, and the reason I'm able to listen to so many shows per day? I've taken the Brad Feld approach to reading and have applied it to listening to podcasts: “Be willing to skim.”

Put another way, I have choices for ambient background noise. I can ignore the random noises and conversations going on around me, I can choose to listen to music to cover them up, or I can intentionally choose put amazing/educational/inspirational content there.

It works really, really well. I find that subconsciously, when something crosses my ears of particular interest, I naturally tilt the focus more toward the podcast. If it's really good, then I'll note it and listen to it in the car – when I can give it more focus. If it's video, then at home on the big screen is more logical.

I believe so much in this listening behavior, that Callisto.fm was born. With it, you choose a channel of content (technology, food, marketing, whatever), and click play. Callisto.fm then plays podcasts related to the channel one after another, much like talk radio. You can even search for a phrase like “iPad News” and play the results.

It has always been the mission of Callisto.fm to help other people experiment with podcasts, to find great content, and to introduce others to my way of listening.

If you're ready to give it a shot – if you're ready to paint the ambient noise canvas with useful, entertaining, and educational content – start today. Start with Callisto.fm's channel browser and let me know what you think.

Can you listen to podcasts if you give yourself permission to focus on work, and allow podcasts to fill your ambient background?

]]> https://friendmichael.com/Blog/how-do-i-create-a-budget.html Sun, 19 Dec 2010 02:57:25 +0000 http://www.friendmichael.com/?p=18 Here's an insightful question: Do you tell your money where to go, or do you wonder where it went?

Inspired by a recent conversation with a dear friend of mine, I thought I'd share my thoughts on “normal,” money, and a budget.

My wife and looked at each other a few years ago and decided that we made too much money to be living paycheck to paycheck (which is normal). We made some serious decisions (I unloaded my prized 2003 Nissan Murano (and its $800/mo total expense!)) to accomplish our goals.

First, further insight on normal:

• A car payment (or two averaging $400/mo each)
• $10,000 in credit card debt
• $60,000 in student loans
• An annual household income of $48,000
• Living paycheck to paycheck.
• No budget what-so-ever.

I must be missing something, but when I see “normal” it looks frightening, and completely overwhelming.

Here's a bit of wisdom I wish I'd received in my twenties: budgeting isn't about scrimping/conserving and the concept of scarcity. It's quite the opposite really. A good budget of the next two weeks – everything coming in, and everything going out, will help you master your personal finances. It'll also give you the necessary view – that of abundance.

The bi-weekly budget is simple: one column with money coming in, and another with money going out. Total to two, and if you have a surplus, apply that toward your smallest debt. If you don't have a surplus, clearly the budget needs work. It's ok, it's this insight that you need.

One of the common mistakes we make when budgeting is trying to plan for the perfect month. When was the last time you had a normal month? Do you really spend $75 on auto maintenance every month? You won't spend $100 on clothing every month, but you may in the next two weeks. Likewise, rent or your mortgage payment happen at the end of the month (I pay on the last day of the month, before it's due), so you don't need to account for it at the beginning.

Try it, it's very, very simple and provides an amazing amount of insight into your personal finances.

If you have questions, I'll be happy to help.

]]> https://friendmichael.com/Blog/what-is-americas-plan-b.html Sat, 18 Dec 2010 03:58:55 +0000 http://www.friendmichael.com/?p=19 Today's Plan A is: a spiraling national debt, armed forces that power the planet's peace, a political system built on maintaining the status quo, and an increasingly polarized populace – unwilling to entertain opposing ideas. We've arrived here, not by strategic planning or by any long term direction, but by default.

We live in the greatest country in the world, second to none, with no second choice near. But our collective global blindness is frightening. We were once the inspiration the world needed, a shining democracy, and the world's destination for creativity, innovation, and education.

Every single one of us, no matter our political affiliation, is responsible for Plan A. No matter your religious beliefs, skin color, sex, or education level, you've played a part in our arrival at this precise point in time. It's never too late to fix it, but it'll require one heck of a change in our entire societal fabric.

The problem starts with the career politicians that drive the “democratic” process. They're mostly former attorneys with deep insight into how the “System” works. The've spent decades building the process, whether in school, or in practice. And most of all, these people know how to stay in office once elected. They've built their careers, sometimes from humble beginnings, and have along the way lost touch with not only themselves, but those that brought them to power.

Any system that encourages camaraderie with power is predisposed to corruption and subsequent failure. Weak personal constitutions, a lack of integrity, and the proliferation of American excess within our “leadership” have led us here. It's said that money and power amplify your inner being – politicians are no different.

It'll be an incredibly long road, but if we're to fix the broken machine (the corruption, lobbying, foreign policy, our national debt, etc.) it has to start at home, with our children. It starts by teaching our children a modern set of core values – from truth and reason, to financial responsibility, to understanding that all things are possible with curiosity, and an education. Work and play with your kids – encourage them to dream and create. Encourage them to try. Let them fail, even if the result is blood.

We must lead by example, as parents, friends, and citizens. Live every day with integrity, kindness, passion, and financial precision. Live a healthy life, free of gluttony, debt, credit, leases, and the excess that was “The American Dream” – as for most, its quest has been anything but.

Reach within, and bring forward the absolute best in your life, and be believe enough in yourself to leave the rest behind. You can only influence the future – embrace that fact, and stop building your future on the past.

Associate only with people that provide a positive influence, and provide guidance to those in need. Sometimes it's a conversation, though likely it's by example.

If you take nothing else from this post, just remember this: you have the power to change everything in your lives, every minute, of every day, and that my friends is truly “The American Dream.” Plan B is you.

Inspired by We've Only Got America A, by Thomas L. Friedman, of the New York Times.

]]> https://friendmichael.com/Blog/hacking-starbucks-cheap-and-free.html Fri, 08 May 2009 21:29:20 +0000 http://www.friendmichael.com/?p=37 There are very few people that spend as much time in a Starbucks as I do – somewhere between 20 and 40 hours a week. There are lots of reasons I choose to spend that much time in a Starbucks, and I'll cover those in another post. This post is about saving money while there.

The Gold Card
Last year, Starbucks started a preferred customer program called the Gold Card. It's a simple proposition: buy the Gold Card for $25 per year, and get 10% off of every purchase. The math is easy… if you spend $250 per year at Starbucks, you'll at least break even. For me, this would be a simple decision, I spend that in no time at all. (Truth be told, I was invited in to the program, so my Gold Card was free.

The Gift Card
Starbucks also started a rewards program with the standard Starbucks cards last year. If you register your gift card online, you get several benefits. The important ones for this post are 1) free refills and add-ins, and 2) Two hours of free WIFI per day as long as there's activity on the card. Oddly the Gold Card doesn't offer free refills, so you need both to really gain.

Starbucks, by policy refills americanos with drip coffee only. If you make friends with the baristas, you can often have them “refill” an americano because it's easier.

Here's the trick
I use the gold card to make the initial purchase to save the 10%, and the Starbucks card for free refills. I have my gold card set to refill when a minimum balance is reached, and use it to pay for everything. That includes my initial coffee, and any food items I buy. This also makes tracking my coffee/Starbucks purchases really easy.

My preferred drink is a decaf americano, but this works for drip coffee too. I used to get a venti (the largest size), roughly twice a day. That's $5.54 per day, and the drip refills are free. Since refills are free, I decided to drop down to the smallest size, the “tall” size, which is $2ish before the 10% discount ($1.80 after). That means I'm saving $1.94 or 35% on my coffee drinks total per day all told.

Of course my savings are larger since I usually buy a food item in the morning. (FYI, the lowest calorie decent item on the menu is the Oatmeal, and it's $1.65)

Decaf refills in the afternoon
Starbucks recently changed to decaf drip on-demand in the afternoons. This sounds like a pain as you would have to wait for drip coffee to brew for your refill. In fact, it's a good thing, since making an americano is easier on the barista than getting a fresh pot of decaf going. Nine times out of 10, I'll get the refilled americano if I just ask for it.

WIFI
The rule with a registered Starbucks gift card is that you get two hours of free wifi. The funny thing is that the limits aren't enforced as far as I can tell. So, for $5 one time on a gift card, and as long as you use the card (free refills count!) you get wifi at Starbucks.

AT&T WIFI service
Unlimited monthly service on the AT&T wifi network is $20/mo. That is a GREAT price if you spend anywhere as much time as I do in a Starbucks. Generally speaking, the reliability of the internet at a Starbucks on the AT&T network is incredible, and fast. This is the main reason I go to Starbucks so often… my business is the web, so it needs to be reliable. Indie shops, as much as I love them, come nowhere close.

I recently found a service called Boingo. It gives you access to all of the same locations as the $20/mo AT&T plan, for $9.95/mo. Why wouldn't you spend $10/mo for unlimited access at 75,000 locations? You would, go do that now.

Summary
Starbucks is in business to make money, I understand that, and these tips will not break them. There are plenty of people buying $5 drinks to more than make up for it.

If you have any other tips or suggestions for saving money at Starbucks, I'd LOVE to hear them. Leave a comment below!

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