personal branding

“Write Drunk, Edit Sober”: Kick-start Your Elevator Pitch

Larry Smith on March 16, 2011

The storytelling community I started, SMITH Magazine, is best known for the Six-Word Memoir project, but my core philosophy of telling your story comes down to even fewer words than that: Write drunk, edit sober.

Not that you should actually be drunk (the inebriated writer is a silly, antiquated idea, among other things). Rather, you should just let the words fall out of you, however messily and spastically, whether you’re writing a memoir, a letter, a flirty email, a toast, reports for work, or your Elevator Pitch.

In my class at the Hired Guns Academy, “What’s Your Story: Master the Art of the Elevator Pitch and Harness the Power of Short-Storytelling“, we’ll spend part of our time together “writing drunk.” Read More →

THG @SXSW: Getting Internet Buzz Without Spending a Fortune

Larry Smith on March 9, 2011

How to Create an Internet Phenomenon for Peanuts
Tuesday, March 15, 12:30
Presenter: Larry Smith

Your Twesume
(your resume in 140 characters or less).
“Everyone has a story. I help you tell yours.”

What inspired you to submit your idea?
As I’ve told and retold the origins and subsequent amazing journey of the Six-Word Memoir project, I’ve thought a lot about the reasons it caught on. Whether the audience is members of a youth writing center in Bushwick or 800 big brains at PopTech, there are some clear lessons about why Six Words works so well, and how and why it spread across the world in an organic, authentic way.

Why are you the expert on it?
I created the phenom and have nurtured its growth carefully and obsessively for five years.

Why did you want to speak at SXSW?
These are my people! I’ve learned so much in the years I’ve gone to SXSW, and I’m thrilled to offer any knowledge I can back. Above all, it will just be fun.

Who should come to your talk?
Anyone who loves stories on how things start and grow; anyone who is interested in starting or growing his or her own project; anyone who loves the Six-Word Memoir project and other projects that have gone from nothing to wildly popular without tons of money….

What will people walk away learning from you?
How I did it and how they can, too. If you stick to it and truly, truly love it, it’s quite possible to turn a passion into something that goes viral and even makes a profit.

What do you hope you learn from your SXSW experience?
Same as always: meet new people; fill my head with new ideas; stay up late and get up early; have a blast in Austin.

House Rules: Commenting on the Blog

The Hired Guns on March 8, 2011

We have but one overarching rule for comments: Do not add to the chaos of the universe.

Our new blog is devoted to developing a point of view around the future of work through the lens of the digital creative class. The goal is to deliver some of the best career management writing out there, so that you can take advantage of where work is going, not where it’s been. It’ll also offer an inside look at your fellow guns livin’ the dream and tellin’ it like it is. We encourage you to use the comments to drive conversations to the next level, bounce ideas off our bloggers and each other, and engage in dialogue with your fellow readers.

The one thing that we’ve learned about the DNA of our Guns network is that you are all seriously curious, are great teachers, and are often pretty darn opinionated. We really can’t build this thing without you. Before you set off, guns ablazin’, please read and abide by our very few “house rules”: Read More →

In the News: CNN on Career Longevity

The Hired Guns on March 8, 2011

CNN’s Eliza Ridgeway interviews The Hired Guns founder Allison Hemming to find out what job strategies can make you as timeless as Bruce Springsteen–or David Byrne:

The Steven Tyler-model of career planning is starting to look like the norm in the business world: frequent changes of venue, constant reinvention, and, hopefully, a loyal fan base that sticks with you through it all.

That’s the gist of career expert Allison Hemming’s upcoming presentation at South by Southwest this year. Her DJ-assisted riff on how to “build your brand the rockstar way” on March 15 is part of the glitzy-but-geeky business content that has proliferated at the Austin, Texas-based SXSW festival in recent years. Read more….

How Not to Succeed in Business: Success Is Not An Option

Todd Tarpley on March 8, 2011

There are hundreds of business blogs that tell you how to succeed as a new manager. But there are none that tell you how to fail.

Until now. Read More →

THG @SXSW: Love Lessons from our Avatars

The Hired Guns on March 8, 2011

A number of Hired Guns are presenting at SXSW Interactive this year. This series profiles a few of the proud and the brave. Please tweet and like this story so as a community we can build a little buzz for them.
Avatar Secrets to Real Life and Love
Hashtag: #AvatarSecrets
Friday, March 11, 5:00
Presenter: Ramona Pringle

Your Twesume
(your resume in 140 characters or less):
Multiplatform producer, digital journalist, actor and prof. of new media & film. Gutsy & brave game-world explorer, on a quest for meaning.

What inspired you to submit this idea?
While some people turn to God in their quests for meaning, and others turn to therapy, I turned to video games in search of real-world wisdom.

Why are you the expert on it?
I’ve interviewed hundreds of gamers, and documented every step of my own journey into World of Warcraft, in search of meaning, love and real-world fulfillment.

Why did you want to speak at SXSW?
Games are fulfilling something that people are missing in real life–purpose, a sense of accomplishment… but more than anything, community and connection. SXSW is a chance to share that… and connect.

Who should come to your talk?
Everyone! This presentation will be just as informative, and just as much fun, for people who have never played a game in their lives as it will be for those who play every day… After all, it’s the game-world guide to real-world fulfillment.

What will people walk away learning from you?
People will walk out of the Avatar Secrets presentation inspired and ready to play their way to real-world happiness.

What do you hope you learn from your SXSW experience?
I’ve never been to SXSW before, but I love new experiences. I’m excited to learn from the other amazing panelists as well as from the feedback of people who come out to my session.

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