Rise Underground: The Rise To The Top Entrepreneur Blog
The Rise To The Top: Entertaining, Energizing and Empowering Entrepreneurs

You remember your dear old friend the bank don’t you? Yes, as an entrepreneur we do use a bank as opposed to shoving precious pennies under the bed (you do use a bank…right?). But did you know that there is MUCH more a bank can do for you and your business besides just opening a checking account?

Especially in these tough economic times, every penny counts and at a recent The Rise To The Top event, Patrick Bowen (Senior Vice President at BancorpSouth) led a discussion along with Eric Griffith and Rebecca Edwards (also from BancorpSouth) about maximizing your relationship … Read More »

Rise Undergound: The Rise To The Top Entrepreneur Blog
The Rise To The Top: Entertaining, Energizing and Empowering Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneur Resources. Entrepreneur Education. Everything Entrepreneurship.

President of Creative Entourage Elizabeth Erickson stops in to discuss design, websites, and a cold day in St. Louis. Rise at Nite is the exclusive after hours show of The Rise To The Top featuring uncensored interviews and other goodies.

In this episode:

1. Integrity in the design industry.

2. Keeping up with design technology.

3. What makes a well-designed website.

And Elizabeth’s question to you: “What is your favorite designed website and why?”

Click below to leave your comments!… Read More »

We Are Here To Help Entrepreneurs: Lessons From This Week

Rise Undergound: The Rise To The Top Entrepreneur Blog
The Rise To The Top: Entertaining, Energizing and Empowering Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneur Resources. Entrepreneur Education. Everything Entrepreneurship.

Whew, what a week. A fun-filled, ridiculously tiring, and rewarding week.

Here is the thing, I designed The Rise To The Top because I felt there was a HUGE need for programming, events, and resources for both young entrepreneurs and the young-at-heart. And of course this doesn’t just apply for entrepreneurs but those that are entrepreneurial (love forward-thinking ideas or would like to one day start their own company) or those that simply support entrepreneurship.

I’m extremely touched by the amazing, passionate, excited and genuinely … Read More »

Help Us Reveal Social Media Myths

Rise Underground: The Rise To The Top Entrepreneur Blog
The Rise To The Top: Entertaining, Energizing and Empowering Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneur Resources. Entrepreneur Education. Everything Entrepreneurship.

Social media isn’t just for the youngsters in skinny jeans, right?

This Tuesday I will be giving a keynote speech to GO! St. Louis, a great organization that is helping educate out-of-work professionals looking to get back on their feet.

Normally when I’m approached for speeches, it is on a variety of topics involving entrepreneurship or connecting with Generation Y or media/marketing; however, in this special case they want me to speak about “Maximizing Social Media” which got me thinking about a few different things.

First of all, … Read More »

5 Reasons Dan Aykroyd Rocks The Entrepreneurial World (and has a shout out for TRTTT)

Rise Undergound: The Rise To The Top Entrepreneur Blog
Entrepreneur Resources. Entrepreneur Education. Everything Entrepreneurship.

Dan Aykroyd is best known of course as an incredibly talented actor with works ranging from Ghostbusters to Saturday Night Live and one look into his accomplishments leads to an endless list of awards, movies, and television greatness. Entrepreneur is not a word you would necessarily associate with the Canadian-born actor….until now.

Dan stopped into St. Louis a bit this week and his agenda was quite different than what you might expect. He was here letting the Gateway City in on two of his new ventures: Crystal Head Vodka and … Read More »

Rise Undergound: The Rise To The Top Entrepreneur Blog
Entrepreneur Resources. Entrepreneur Education. Everything Entrepreneurship.

Find Your Passion Niche: Money Follows Passion And NOT The Other Way Around

If you aren’t passionate about your business, you are screwed. No sugarcoating or group hug on this one.
This is core belief and something I’ve witnessed rings true in my interviews and meetings with the most successful entrepreneurs. 

Money follows passion and not the other way around

Think about that for a second. Money follows passion but not the other way around.

Lets say you are an accountant. Trust me nothing wrong with being an accountant. Shout out to my accountant Earl! But lets say you really don’t like numbers but are … Read More »

Rise @ Nite Episode #3: The Sage Stops In

Can an entrepreneur be successful and not be a great salesman? Why do one-page sales letters work? How is technology changing selling?

This week's guest on The Rise To The Top, Gill Wagner has seen it all in sales and is bringing honesty back to a profession known for being…well…a little dishonest.

Besides catching Gill on Episode #7 “Bringing Selling Back” on The Rise To The Top currently playing on ABC (and will be up online in a little over the week), we have a special treat as Gill stuck around for some extra uncensored fun on Rise at Nite.

In case you haven’t checked out the episode, we would … Read More »

Dinner and Discussions: Third Helping

Are you ready for this?

Get ready for the third helping of Dinner and Discussions the most unique event in St. Louis as part of Bank On This! The Rise To The Top Event Series presented by BancorpSouth. Join co-host Elizabeth Erickson (Creative Entourage) and I on Wednesday, March 25th at Sub Zero Vodka Bar (George Clooney's new hangout in St. Louis) for a guaranteed-awesome, energetic, and inspiring evening.

See past events

Live Passionately! – David Siteman Garland – The Creative Opportunities Specialist and Entrepreneurial Chameleon – http://www.therisetothetop.com

… Read More »

Nothing Beats Face-To-Face Networking

Here is the thing, social networking and social media has made it very, very easy to connect with new people and keep up relationships with those in your network, but nothing really replaces face-to-face contact. People do business with those they know and trust and sometimes it is difficult to know if you can trust or work with someone just because you met them online.

So my advice is to get out there and be hustling. If you aren’t attending at least a few networking events a month, you may be in trouble because you are lacking that face-to-face contact that people crave. Meet new people and deepen relationships with those you already know. Social media … Read More »

Facebook Gets Even More Facey With It

The Rise To The Top Entrepreneur Blog
Entrepreneur Resources. Entrepreneur Education. Everything Entrepreneurship.

Facebook made quite a great call mid-week when they completely revamped "Fan Pages" so now they look and behave similar to your profile page. Soon, news stories about the people/companies/products you fan will show up in your news feed. People want to do business with someone they know and trust and can put a face to…Facebook is now taking that literally.

In my opinion, this is not just going to turn Facebook into a marketing tool, but a freaking weapon.

Personally, I use Facebook to stay connected with friends, talk about business, make connections, have fun, and keep interested … Read More »