bwagy

I’m very fortunate to be able to meet, chat to and hang out with some very cool people.

And I’m forever thinking these are stories which need to be told, not by me but straight from the horses mouth.

So at the start of the year Glenn Williams (Radio host on Kiwi FM) sat down and invited people into the studio to sit down and have a chat with them.  We’ve called it KiwiNation, conversations with inspirational New Zealanders.

First up we have a couple of kiwis, Craig & Linda Martin, who produce an award winning podcast IndieTravelPodcast, travel and world and pay their way with the podcast and their website.  If you like what they’re doing, support them, as they really are doing something very cool.

Over the next four weeks another three shows will be released, so keep an eye out.

Had a few emails recently asking that exact question, so I thought best to publish one post and get everyone up to speed.

• Unfortunately I’ve recently been hacked, so some of my websites (bwagy.tv, bwagy.com, thebestideasarefree.com & this blog) have intermittent issues – please excuse interruption to these.  We’re still figuring out how to stop them.
• I’m still doing The Best Ideas are Free radio segment during RadioWammo on KiwiFM (thanks Glenn!), these are added to a YouTube playlist which you can watch at www.bwagy.tv
• Young & Shand is growing very well, we are adding team members (yay!) – you can keep up to date with the goings on over at the Young & Shand Blog (and main site).  We also have put together a digital strategy workbook if you’re keen to have a play.
• My wedding is getting very close (less than two months now) so yay! Very excited, we have close to everything sorted (mostly thanks to Esther who has organised most/all of it). But just forewarning this will mean some downtime on the blog late November/early December.
• Following that, it also means my next book has had to be pushed back from Q4 this year to early next year.  Please stay tuned, it’s definitely a step up from the last one and we now have a very refined publishing system (so I can publish more frequently).
• Oh and also we’ve been doing a This Week in Digital Marketing podcast (very cool) check it out over here, please subscribe and add to the conversation.
• I am going to do more interviews with business people passing through New Zealand – so if you know of anyone (and can help) let me know and I’ll see if we can organise it.  It’s truckloads of fun and you guys of course get the content.

Thanks a lot guys, appreciate everyone for reading,

-Ben

Now I know many of you (including me) would probably hesitant to engage with someone that calls them a sales coach, however Jack Daly is the real deal, he was Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2006 and has built half a dozen (from scratch) national businesses in the US.

On a recent visit to New Zealand (yay!) I was lucky enough (thanks to the Results.com!) to sit down with him and talk business.  Of which I am really grateful for (thanks guys!).

I’ve shared the YouTube videos below, they’re absolute gold, and gold for everyone.

In effect we’re all in sales, we need people on our side (in personal & professional modes) to help us get going from community work to business, if you have the time please have a listen I’m sure you’ll either get value out of it today if not in the future.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

Part 4:

Thanks again to Results.com & Jack Daly for giving up his precious (and very expensive) time - legends.

I’ve been long organising (and justifying the time) to invest in a podcast for Young & Shand, we’ve finally got it going with This Week in Digital Marketing #1: We can’t help but talk about Facebook.

I’d love your feedback, so give it a watch (and yes iTunes/MP3 versions are on the way) and let me know what you think.

This Week in Digital Marketing #1: We can’t help but talk about Facebook from Ben Young on Vimeo.

I had the opportunity to finally meet Chris Guillebeau in person last night.

(He wrote a testimonial for The Best Ideas are Free).

Nevertheless I thought it was long overdue a mention of his post on the $100 Business Case – definitely worth a read, bookmark and subscription to his blog.

As Chris points out (and the 12 Hour Startup does) it’s all about just taking that first step, giving it a shot, then following your feet.

I’ve had a great start to the year, some time off in Auckland and back home in Queenstown.  It’s been (and still is a beautiful summer).  Here’s a shot from our picnic we had yesterday in St Heliers.

2009 was a year of turmoil (good & bad) but significant change.  2010 marks the year (and decade) to capitalise on these opportunities and I see many people already doing that.  I’ve had a bit of a discussion on the two main trends I see this year in Marketing - watch my first radio show of the year below:

Update: (working youtube link)

I wish you all the best, you can look forward to my second book later this year (taking time off next month to wrap it up), title still in progress.  Also some changes to the blog, international speaking (I might need your help there!) and a few other surprises.  To a remarkable year!

-Ben

I just want to wish a Merry Christmas to you all :)

Whatever, wherever you celebrate I hope you have a well deserved break.

I am definitely looking forward to a break – some great time to unwind.

Also I just want to thank you all for your readership, engagement and participation.  I am humbled by how much the blog has grown this year.

A couple of months back we hit the million mark and now (it’s getting hard to measure) up to 350,000 people around the world engage with my content each month.

Building up from scratch in May 2008 that is tremendous effort (blows my mind).

So thank you again.

Enjoy the break, have some great downtime with your friends/family (I sure will) and I will catch you on the 4th.

-Ben

ps

I am taking time off in February to write my second book and I need your help.  I need some case studies of ordinary products that have had some remarkable ideas which have transformed their product or industry.  If you have any (or can point me in the right direction) email me ben@bwagy.com – will give you attribution.