Improve with Improv at #INBOUND15

Dave Delaney has spoken at many different companies and events everywhere.  From LinkedIn Marketing, to other specific topics, Dave has also moved into the world of Improv.  

Where most people first think of shows such as Who’s Line It Is Anyway” there is also a basic, but great lesson, that helps us understand how improv can also help us with our personal lives.

Improv allows you to be a better listener.  By being a better listener, you are able to network better, as well as keep a fresh perspective of everything that is going on around you.  Being a listener allows you to do a few important things when having a conversation with someone.

L.I.S.T.E.N.

• Look Interested
• Look at them in the eye
• Don’t get sidetracked by other things that are going on around you. 
• Make them the center of your attention
• Involve Yourself By Responding
• Respond back with saying such as “tell me more!” or “That sounds amazing, what else did you do?”
• Stay On Target
• Let the other person do all the talking
• Keeping on track makes a more meaningful conversation
• Test Your Understanding
• Repeat instructions to make sure you are 100% on the same page as everyone else.
• Evaluate The Message
• Take the message and think to make sure you truly understand what the person was talking about.  Make it more meaningful.
• Neutralize the Feelings
• When people share the same feelings, there is no imbalance.

Aziz Ansari - #INBOUND15 Keynote Recap - The Inbound Marketing Guide for Modern Relationships

Aziz Ansari, what a funny guy!  Mostly known for his comedian type role in his stand up career as well as his roles on TV series such as Parks and Rec, Aziz also is a New York Best Seller for his book, Modern Romance, An Investigation.

During his Keynote at #INBOUND15, Aziz cover many aspects of his new book, and also added a bunch of laughs to the 14k person crowd!

The keynote touched on changes over time of relationships, both how they get started, and the overall goals in life.  Where people used to get married to become adults and move out of their parents house, now people are endlessly searching for true love.  Many couples (1 in 3) now utilize some sort of online dating to see their options.  

Example: Tinder.  

Tinder is the swipe left, swipe right mobile application to if you like someone based on their photo or not.  This application has taken the world by storm but also has been given much scrutiny. However, if you think about it, this application is just a virtual way of doing what everyone has been doing for their entire lives!  Even before technology!  When you walk into a bar, each person walks in, scans the people who are there, and immediately categorize the people there into “I would possibly date you” or “Not a chance”.  

Another difference that Aziz highlighted in his book is that how you interact with people changes depending on your age.

Example: How to Contact Someone after a night at a Bar.  Method: Phone Call

• Older than 50: Call me… I don’t text.
• Age 32: Wow, he/she is calling me on the phone. How thoughtful and mature.
• Age 22: Why are he/she calling me… this is weird… text would be better

Overall, the keynote was very interesting, and a great way to start the morning!  Throughout the day #INBOUND15 has a plethora of workshops on inbound marketing topics.  For more information, visit www.inbound.com to find out more about this amazing conference.

Also, for updates and more photos, follow me on twitter! @celdridge8

Keypoints, Quotes, and Interesting Facts from the Keynote:

• Aziz Ansari’s new book is basically the inbound marketing guide to getting laid.
• #INBOUND15 is not a conference, its a movement.
• 1 of 3 couples found each other based on some sort of online dating.
• Older couples got married to get out of the house, while now people are endlessly search for true love.
• Don’t use the word “texty” in a text message to a person you want to go on a date with
• People will cancel plans over the phone via text because it does not take feelings like a phone call does.
• Plan more interesting dates - Coffee dates are to general and do not spur conversation like a Monster Truck Rally would.
• The Inbound Team has the smallest water cups for their speakers…  (You needed to be present that it to be VERY funny)

New Hampshire - The Silicon Valley of The White Mountains

Startup Ecosystems are Everywhere

Silicon Valley is the worlds premier location for startups.  Of course, when we think of Silicon Valley we immediately think of buzzwords such as Facebook, Y Combinator, Google, developers who live in mansions, and of course, LOTS and LOTS of venture capital...

However, there has started to be a large change in the way that startups figure out what geographical startup ecosystem they would like to be a part of.  Of course, Silicon Valley is the cream of the crop in regards to a best possible startup ecosystem, but besides the money available and the "vibe" of Silicon Valley, there are other things to consider before packing up your bags and relocating yourself to Southern California.  In fact, there are many places that are highly competitive in regards to providing what Silicon Valley offers all around the world!

The location I would like to point out today is New Hampshire.  New Hampshire's startup scene is starting to boom, and the progress can easily be seen in locations such as Manchester, Portsmouth, Durham, and Nashua.  New Hampshire has a great startup vibe, and also is home to many fabulous education resources, accelerators, and incubators.

New Hampshire is home to many top IT startups such as Dyn, who are all working at creating a much larger startup ecosystem in New Hampshire!

Crowdsourcing... a startups diamond in the rough that is available to everyone

Everything these days has to do with the idea of "crowdsourcing".  It is an ingenious way for someone small to be able to grow something big with the power of the internet.  Whether you are just looking for more impressions, growing an awareness campaign, to getting your startup off the ground, the use of crowdsourcing over the past few years has taken large leaps.

Through the use of these types of tools found below, anyone has power to harness the internet and go from a small splash in a pond to a tidal wave in days and not years.