I must admit I love the Skullcandy story, but I think the story you shared about inventing the strapless snowboard binding is better! Pumping your college money into the promos that ended up causing the worn fingers that were the genesis of your binding invention is classic entrepreneurship! It’s such a good story I’m sharing it below.

Your passion for creating products that are useful and cool at the same time make them winners.

Rick Alden, the founder and CEO of Skullcandy, shares his entrepreneurial starts when he launched the Snowboarding Jam Event Series back when he knew everyone with a snowboard on a first name basis. While having to replace defective binding straps, Alden had the inspiration to invent a “strapless” snowboard binding. Alden shows off his first prototypes and tells about his first ride without straps. Later he sold the company to Ride Snowboards for 50 percent cash and 50 percent stock.

This presentation is a keynote from the 2007 Young Entrepreneur Summit in Salt Lake City where Alden shared his passion for starting and building businesses. Also watch a second recording where Alden talks about the genesis and brand creation at his latest company, Skullcandy.

Other interviews with Rick Alden are available on RockyMountainVoices.

Happy to work with w/ Bruce or Cyd to pull off a geek event any day. Of course I’m the only one geeky enough to have a blog (that’s also setup on my own domain…with a self install of WordPress).

Cheers. Here’s to all the geeks that helped bring Godin to SLC!

P.S. While I’m at it, if the geeks are looking to bring other marketing experts to town, I’d love to hear from Al Ries or Laura his daughter (my favorite book on marketing is still “Positioning“). He used to visit us at SalesLogix every year for a “review and tune-up” on our marketing strategy. It was like being in the room with the marketing god.

I think back on how my use of computers has changed. My computer used to open with a flashing cursor. I had to insert disks to load programs just to “begin” to create something — mostly word processed documents or spreadsheets. Now I turn on my computer to connect to the web. To read or experience what others are creating. If the web isn’t there, my computer is less valuable to me.

Today my computer is a communications hub. I post to my blog and read others. Create podcasts and update my podcast subscriptions. IM an associate sitting as his/her desk in another city. Check on email — although I do more and more of this on my phone. Google for items. I even join conference calls through Skype.

I like the computer of today much than yesterday (and that’s not just because it a 5lb sleek aluminum Apple laptop). I like to be both a publisher/creator and a consumer of content. Networking with others has made my computer far more valuable.

First, I’m working with Cydni Tetro, Kip Meacham, and Tim Kapp on a podcasting gig, Rocky Mountain Voices. Not a job, but an adventure! We have been out recording people — I’ve recorded Andrew Hartsfield from WiLife, Lee Gibbons from Podango, John Furrier from PodTech.net. Our goal is to foster the community with more visibility using the power of social media like Podcasting, blogging, and video blogs.

We hosted a Meet-Up Party to launch our affiliate relationship with John Furrier’s PodTech Network. We held the Meet-Up in the lobby of the building where vSpring Capital / Wasatch Partners / and CenterShift are located. It was cool. We ended up with about 115 people attending. Sponsors included Yahoo, NextPage, vSpring, Wasatch Venture Fund, Printsmart, MediaRain, Omniture, Card Access. Food and drink by Loco Lizard. Music by Mike Masse. Lots of pictures of the event are on my Flickr account.

Finally, I worked out and announced a transition plan from Agilix by the end of the year. I’m looking forward to using more of my marketing, business development, partnering, and creative skills in a new gig.

L to R: Paul Sherer, John Furrier, Cydni Tetro,
Kip Meacham, Brad Baldwin (me), Tim Kapp

Technorati Tags: Agilix, Podcasting, Podtech, Utah

His wife sent me a nice movie today. Take a minute and put life in perspective as you watch this.

The Dash Movie

Matt sold two homes for me. If I return to Scottsdale, he’ll be the man who gets my business.

Three things that Matt brings to the table — that I wish all my real estate agents had:

1. Market knowledge — Matt buys and sells so many home that he truly knows the market value of a home in the North Scottsdale area. Matt does his homework. He knows how to price your home.
2. Marketing — Matt marketed my homes. He didn’t just post a listing on the MLS. He held open houses, networked with other agents, contacted a list of buyers and sellers who had bought from Matt before. We had plenty of traffic to allow for the top dollar.
3. Sales skills — I spent 5 years working with sales people in the Sales Automation industry. I learned what good salespeople do. Matt controls the sale. He negotiated to my advantage. He communicates and provides insight into how to make a good decision.

We had a great time with Matt, Joni, and their boys tonight. We had a BBQ where Matt grilled some 100% pure organic beef — yummy. We putted on the putting and chipping area. Shot some hoops on the sports court. We even took a few splashes in the pool.

Matt and Joni’s pool and yard

Golf putting, chipping, and practice area

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