During my high school years, I made some fantastic friendships that continue to this day. It continues to amaze me how many high caliber individuals I encountered in one location.
This burgeoning alumni organization promises to provide a rich body of talent and camaraderie to all of it's members.
Besides good company, the WAN will provide the following services:
1. Provide a communication channel
2. Facilitate business exchange of talent (jobs), contracts, and partnerships.
3. Provide helpful resources
Current Tasks:
- Develop literature for new members
- Design a WAN logo/letterhead
- Develop the website
Create a news section
Document member information
Enable intelligent search for networking (sort by profession, graduation year, location, Ect.)
- Affiliate with at least 25% of the "millennial" generation (graduating year 2000-present) by 2009
If you would like to volunteer to help with these tasks, shoot me an email at brian (at) briansoule .com. Let me know how you can contribute to these tasks and I will make you an official part of the organization.
After finishing writing Tip Science; I encountered an entirely new challenge, selling it.
Without doing much research, I set up an account with Google Adwords, and created a sales page. The page did ok without any optimization, but being average is hardly the best strategy.
After researching for a few weeks two resources rose to the forefront, a recorded seminar by the author of Guerrilla Marketing and The book Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely.
Guerrilla Marketing was written in 1983. In retrospect, most advice on cutting edge marketing I've been given over the years can be traced to that lecture. I will be posting a summary in the near future, so check for it on the blog page.
The book Predictably Irrational follows studies in behavioral economics conducted by MIT's Dan Ariely. A very interesting read, I will be posting a summary on it too.
So how will I change my sales strategies?
I will expand Tip Science from a book to a training course; with a training checklist, progress calendar, forum membership, and a course guide.
The price will increase to 49.95, and the course will be free for 30 days.
The sales page will become a helpful questionnaire, instead of a self promotion.
I will add a second item, priced at 129.95 (more on this tactic with the Predictably Irrational summary)
Stay tuned for the results of these experiments.
I have been doing extensive book research in the field (my restaurant) and in scientific journals. My tips have been astounding my coworkers.
The book will answer questions like
How can acting like an ape increase your tips?
What short term investment has a 1,300% return?
How fewer choices mean bigger gratuity.
To celebrate, anyone who has left a comment on my site or signed up for the Soule Opportunity Network will receive a free copy of my book on the release date.
I have just published our logo prototypes in the new Wake Aid product lab.
The lab has a survey/input section where you can give input on our logo prototypes. Anyone who gives their opinion can get a free bottle of Wake Aid when the product launches for consumer testing.
I have started working on my first eBook:
TipScience, how to double your tips using five psychological principles.
You can check out the storefront I have set up at TipScience.com.
I am doing research for the book, (waiting tables) and would like to finish within 20 days. (by June 13th, 2008)
We have opened up wake aid so that anyone who provides valuable work or ideas can be paid for their efforts. It's very cool, and a bit radical.
Check out our announcement,
You are now the CEO of WakeAid.
What do you think?
Eagles Roost started when my boss (Dr. Robert O'Brien of Virtual.MD) decided to move to a new home in Austin. They said the moving company would charge them around $2,800 for move. I jokingly said that I could do it half that price.
That night I checked the figures for a do it yourself job.
1. A U-Haul could easily stay under $200 for the whole project,
2. A few college students would work for $150-200 apiece
3. New Ropes, Boxes, Blankets, and Tape should stay under $500
Four students, a truck and supplies would total up to about $1500 dollars.
Here is a moving estimate for an in town, two bedroom house from Fasrelo.com
Moving from Austin, Texas to Austin, Texas
Estimated Distance: 0 miles Estimated Weight: 11,000 pounds
Estimated Cost: $4,900 - $5,900
That's $1,000 to $4,400 potential profit for one day's work! (or no work at all)
As the O'Briens are family friends, I decided not to charge them more than the job actually cost plus my hourly labor. I called two of my friends, who happened to be eagle scouts and a few Sundays later we were moving furniture into a U-Haul van. Jokingly, we started calling it the eagle scout moving company. We knew plenty of knots and our band of movers managed to move the whole house without any damage to the furniture. The job ended up costing around $750 dollars. Our costs totaled to 26% of the original estimate.
We have completed one other job since then, with similar results. The name Eagles Roost Moving has really stuck as it conveys the trustworthiness that boy scouts are taught from a young age.
The best part of moving is that you get to sleep like a baby after the job. I would love to make this company grow into an Austin institution. I'm looking for good people to be a part of this company. Send me an email if you want to be a part of Eagle's Roost,
or...
Give us a call for your next move!
WakeAid is a product to help those who have trouble waking up. When someone is having trouble getting out of bed, they can grab a bottle of WakeAid from the bedside table and spray directly into the mouth. WakeAid will give them the energy they need to start the day.
We are currently looking for a graphic designer to help us with our Package/Brand.
We have been talking with some nutritional stores including People's Pharmacy and GNC about retail agreements.
Wakeaid.com is up and running. Soon we should have some product images on the site.
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