Angel Investors Network - December 2019

Angel Investors Network - December 2019

DECEMBER 2019

INVESTOR INSIDER

ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF Innovation

What brought me to Angel Investors Network was the opportunity to continue this endeavor of finding new companies with great technologies and products and help them develop their businesses while securing funding. Plus, it allows me to help successful business owners, investors, and executives put their money to work while also helping entrepreneurs. It’s a win-win! This past year has been phenomenal. I help angel investors write checks and, ideally, get solid returns. Angel Investors Network has become the go-to source for entrepreneurs to raise capital and connect investors with those innovators. If you went back in time and asked my post-high school self what he would be doing in 20 years, this wouldn’t be on the list. It’s been an incredible journey, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. No two days are the same — no two companies are the same — and I get to be a part of so many stories. 3 knots to nowhere.” You never know where you’re going in the engine room, and no matter where that is, you’re moving along rather slowly. Every day seems the same when you’re at sea. At Angel Investors Network it’s the complete opposite. We get to be on the cutting edge of innovation, and we get to work with so many entrepreneurs brimming with incredible ideas. I grew up poor, and my circumstances largely shaped my perspective of the world. It blows my mind that I get to help people realize their dreams and investors build their legacy. It’s the kind of thing that benefits everyone. Ideas are coming to life that have the opportunity to change the world for the better, and it all starts with connecting those ideas (and the entrepreneurs who have them) with people who want to see them become reality (investors). It doesn’t get better than that! There’s a saying we used on submarines in the Navy when people asked what our days were like: “Just doing

I joined the Navy right out of high school. It was the year 2000, and I had no real prospects. My father was a self-employed business owner, and I was watching him struggle. I didn’t want to find myself in that position down the line. Eventually, he had to close shop, and it was devastating. On top of that, I ruined my arm in high school. I wanted to play baseball and see how far I could take it, but that wasn’t an option anymore. So, I signed up for the Navy and eventually found myself running the engine room on a nuclear powered submarine. This gave me a great appreciation and understanding for systems, processes, procedures, and quality work. After my time in the Navy, I transitioned into corporate America and became a risk management consultant. I helped companies identify risk and ultimately operate at a higher level. This job brought me to every type of business you can imagine, from day care centers to major IT firms. As my career progressed, it became clear the company I worked for needed to upgrade its technology to better serve its clients. We were quickly falling behind the times. Our senior management tasked me with figuring out solutions to some of our biggest challenges in the field. It was a fantastic opportunity. As a result, I was working with entrepreneurs from all around the world. The job allowed me to connect with our counterparts as I worked to help them run their businesses better and stay ahead of the curve, utilizing technology in new and different ways to serve customer needs.

Veterans Day celebration with my boys, Bryce & Brody at school

“Ideas are coming to life that have the opportunity

to change the world for the better.”

–Jeff Barnes

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Gratitude is a surprisingly powerful emotion. When we share our gratitude for others, it makes them feel good and appreciated. Plus, when we tell others we care about them and are grateful for them, we feel good, too! The holiday season is often referred to as the season of gratitude. While we should always share our gratitude with others throughout the year, the holidays serve as a great reminder to let people know they are in our thoughts. But more than that, sharing gratitude and reflecting on what you are thankful for actually helps you live a happier life!

second wrote about what annoyed them, and the third just recounted what happened over the week.

The results of the experiment were fascinating. The participants who wrote what they were grateful for were noticeably happier, more optimistic, and even healthier than members of the other groups. They focused on positive emotions, and it helped them feel more positive overall. Meanwhile, those who focused on the negative felt worse at the end of the study. A good way to feel more positive is to try this at home. At least once per week (or even once each day), write down a list of 3–5 things you are grateful for in your life. You might keep a journal and pen right next to your bed or your favorite chair. Then, every evening, jot down a few bullet points. Make it a habit. What can you include on this list? Write down the name of a person who positively impacted your day, reflect on a joyous event in your life, or note a few things that went well that day. You can even appreciate that simple but delicious cup of coffee you had this morning. It can be anything that brought a little brightness into your day.

A greater understanding of gratitude can be found in the book “ 59 Seconds: Think a Little, Change a Lot ” by Richard Wiseman. In 59 Seconds, Wiseman cites a study that looked at three groups of people who, over a period of time, wrote in journals. The first group wrote about what they were grateful for, the

An Attitude for GRATITUDE Find Greater Happiness With 1 Simple Habit

f you haven’t capitalized on the holiday season for your business’s marketing campaign yet, don’t worry, because you still have time! Even if you’re still a long sleigh ride away from finishing your own holiday to-do list, you can ensure your business flourishes this season with a few last-minute marketing ideas for the holidays.

Send season’s greetings to loyal customers.

Even if your Christmas or holiday-themed cards don’t mail on time, you can still send personalized emails or social media messages to let your customers know you’re thinking of them this holiday season. Established customers can be responsible for up to 40% of a business’s sales, and your unexpected holiday greeting could keep your business in mind as they go about their holiday shopping. Your customers are already in the holiday spirit, so why not indulge them with some seasonal trappings on your website? Festive holiday touches to your company logo or new webpages recommending holiday gift ideas can go a long way to attract customer attention. You don’t have to be the flashiest display on the block, but showing off your holiday spirit will spread cheer and goodwill. Decorate your website for the season.

Create gift card giveaways or incentives.

Gift cards, even digital ones, are more popular than ever around the holiday season. In one survey, 43% of respondents said they planned on giving gift cards or certificates in lieu of other holiday presents. With 1 in 4 gift cards sold in the last four days leading up to Christmas, these ideal presents make the perfect last-minute marketing tool. Offer gift card incentives or giveaways for your loyal customers. They can make the perfect present for them and, in turn, your business.

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BY KEEPING YOUR FOCUS ON WHAT REALLY MATTERS MANAGE YOUR MIND & BODY DURING THE HOLIDAY RUSH During the holiday season, it’s easy to go overboard. It’s an exciting time of shopping, attending celebrations, indulging in pumpkin spice lattes, and so on. But through it all, we can lose sight of what’s important. Many of us try to do too much in a short amount of time. We load up on obligations mixed with our normal, everyday duties, and it can be overwhelming. We often forget about what really matters most and end up stressed out. Here are a few pointers to help keep you grounded during this hectic time of year:

The other thing I do with my two boys is remind them to be grateful for what they have in their lives. We do this as a game (they’re 6 and 7 years old). Whenever we are driving, we try to spot yellow cars. Since yellow is the least used color for cars, you won’t spot one every few seconds each day, but you will see a couple here and there. Every time you spot a yellow car, go from person to person and state what each of you is grateful for right then! Mine are always excited for “coffee” (aka hot chocolate) when daddy needs to get his morning Starbucks.

Give it a try! You might be surprised by how much happier — and more grateful — you and your family feel!

GIVE YOURSELF ROOM TO BREATHE. You don’t have to take on every obligation that comes your way. Remind yourself that many of “obligations” during the holidays are optional. Take control of your day by saying no and taking breaks when you need to. When you take on too much and don’t take time for yourself, you are at risk mentally and physically. Continuous stress keeps your blood pressure elevated. The American Heart Association notes that heart attacks are most common throughout December and January. There are 33% more coronary episodes during the holiday season than any other time of the year.

Having a blast during an unseasonably warm fall day

When you feel overwhelmed, step away from the rush. Designate a quiet place where you can take a 10–20-minute break. During this break, apps such as Calm or Headspace can be very helpful. These apps can guide you in meditation or breathing exercises, which can do wonders to change your state of mind during a busy day. GET PHYSICAL. One of the best ways to reduce stress and keep yourself grounded is to engage in more physical activity. Exercising regularly is one of the healthiest things you can do for your whole self during this time of year. It helps keep you in shape, reduces stress, elevates your mood, and helps you manage feelings of anger and anxiety.

Veterans Day weekend at the beach with my boys

But you have to make it a habit. Researchers at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland, discovered that taking a break from exercising for a few days to a week can result in reduced mental benefits of exercise. So, set aside 30 minutes a day and you’ll be feeling better all season long. Just remember: Commitment is key. While managing stress is crucial, you also don’t want to lose sight of what matters most. For many of us, that’s family. During the rush of the holidays, it’s easy to overlook your loved ones. This is a time to make new memories,

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UPCOMING Events

PITCH TANK & HERO CLUB MEETING Dec. 9 - Convene NY MASTERMIND INVESTMENT COUNCIL

tell stories around the dinner table, and play board games in the family room. Making these kinds of memories is far more important than taking another trip to the mall!

MEMBERS-ONLY MEETING Dec. 10 - One World Observatory

To Join the AIN Inner Circle, get access to the best deal flow, and succeed at angel investing, go to www.AngelNetwork.com/Investors.

You Can Still Register at: ThePitchTank.com

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What’s Inside: 1 2

On the Cutting Edge of Innovation

Share Your Gratitude and Find Greater Happiness Last-Minute Holiday Marketing Ideas

Don’t Forget What Really Matters Sudoku 3 4 ‘Master Your Motivation’ Susan Fowler’s A Better Way to Think About Motivation

A Science-Based Approach to Achieving More

“You have the power to change your behaviors,” says Susan Fowler, “but to be successful in changing, you need an evidenced-based framework for motivation and techniques for applying it.” In her new book, “Master Your Motivation: Three Scientific Truths for Achieving Your Goals,” Fowler synthesizes her decades of research into a guide that provides such a framework. In the process, she overturns countless widely held myths about what motivates us. Fowler believes the traditional carrot-and-stick approach to motivation (a combination of reward and punishment to induce a desired behavior) results from our perception of motivation as being either intrinsic or extrinsic. “Simplifying motivations into two types presents a conundrum when you aren’t intrinsically motivated,” she writes. “Your only fallback position is extrinsic motivation.” In other words, just by thinking about motivation as intrinsic versus extrinsic, you’ve already set yourself up to fail. To really motivate yourself and others, she argues, you need to think about motivation in different terms. Thankfully for the reader, Fowler defines an alternative framework for motivation. In what amounts to the book’s thesis, she states, “To master your motivation, create choice, connection, and competence.” When you measure motivation across these three factors, which are the result of rigorous academic research

rather than folksy conventional wisdom, you unlock the power of motivation.

It’s not hard to see how Fowler’s framework is much more actionable than traditional motivational

techniques. Creating intrinsic motivation, especially for others, is a mug’s game, but defining choice, connection, and competence is much less ambiguous. If you have team members who you feel lack motivation, ask yourself if their jobs have these three essential traits. Do they have agency (choice) in their work? Do they generate meaning (connection) from what they do? Do they get a sense of accomplishment (competence) from doing something well? If you can’t answer all three of these in the affirmative, you can create a plan for increasing motivation that doesn’t involve empty metrics or meaningless rewards. If you or your team could use a proverbial kick in the pants, the solution might be to ignore those proverbs entirely. “Master Your Motivation” takes a refreshing look at what makes us strive for more. It’s a great addition to any leadership library.

To Join the AIN Inner CirclE, get access to the best deal flow, and succeed at angel investing, go to www.AngelNetwork.com/Investors.

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