Chris Guillebeau’s $100 Startup Book Tour

by Michael Good Posted on May 9, 2012

This evening, I went to New York for Chris Guillebeau’s $100 Startup book tour. The meetup was free and only a Chinatown bus ride away, so I jumped at the opportunity to meet Chris and the others that would come out to see him.

I’m certainly glad I did as I came away with some new ideas and was inspired to kick things with my business up a notch. Not only that, I got to meet some people doing amazing things with businesses of their own.

Here are three of those people:

Emily Cavalier kicked the evening off and shared her story with the group of 300-plus people. She got fed up with her unfulfilling corporate job and started a business connecting food lovers and cool businesses to new audiences using food and cocktails.

She splits her time between that business and another one she started, Midnight Brunch. Here, she’s the chef and hostess for a supper club, or pop-up dining experience. Yes, it really happens at midnight!

 

David Streisand started his own business preparing and hand delivering delicious organic vegan meals. It was great to talk to him about this as well as his traveling.

He has traveled on the cheap using Chris Guillebeau’s travel hacking tips and booked flights to Ethiopia and Turkey for less than $30 each.

Tumi Johnson was raised in Nigeria and is a physician as well as a professional dancer. She started a business practicing integrated, holistic medicine and visits her patients in their home.

She explained how this gives her a more complete picture of a patient’s situation and lowers her overhead at the same time.

Question: Have you attended any events or conferences recently? What were they?

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  • http://www.jmlalonde.com Joe Lalonde

    My most recent conference was Catalyst East in Atlanta, GA. It was a great time of gaining knowledge to improve my leadership abilities. Speakers like Dave Ramsey, Jim Collins, and Andy Stanley. We’ve already got our tickets for this year and can’t wait!

    • http://rise365.com/ Michael Good

      Joe, I’ve heard a lot about the Catalyst events and would like to make it to one someday. A friend of mine, Will Laohoo, mentioned he was going to a Catalyst conference this week. I think there are more than one; is that correct?

      When is the one you are going to?

      • http://www.jmlalonde.com Joe Lalonde

        Yes, they currently have three MAJOR conferences and a couple of smaller, one day events. Sounds like Will is going to Catalyst Dallas. The lineup for that one looks stellar. Andy Stanley, John Maxwell, Perry Nobles, etc…

        The one I’ll be attending is October 3-5th. Tickets aren’t cheap but you more than makeup for it in the knowledge you’ll gain, the connections you’ll make, and the free goodies they give away.

        It’s definitely the conference for leaders to attend. Maybe we’ll see you there one of these days?

        • http://rise365.com/ Michael Good

          That’d be great! I’m looking forward to hearing how it goes and what you took away from it!

          Must be good if you’re going back for a second one.

  • http://jwfinancialcoaching.wordpress.com/ Jon White

    Michael thanks for sharing your experience at the $100 Startup book tour! I am looking forward to meeting Chris in a few weeks when he stops by Columbus.

    As for upcoming conferences, I just purchased my ticket for Jon Acuff’s Quitter conference in Nashville, Tennessee coming up in September. It will be the first conference I have been to in a while and I am really looking forward to it.

    • http://rise365.com/ Michael Good

      Jon, you’re going to really enjoy it! Chris spoke for about 20 minutes about writing the book and then there was an open Q and A before he signed some books.

      I’ve heard good things about Quitter conferences. Have you read the book?

      • http://jwfinancialcoaching.wordpress.com/ Jon White

        Michael I read the book last year when it came out and loved
        it! Definitely my favorite book of 2011 and I think it is a must read for
        anybody looking to work in their passion.

        • http://rise365.com/ Michael Good

          Thanks for the review. I’ll put that one next on my reading list!

  • http://www.trailreflections.com/ Chris Peek

    Sound like a great time. How many people were there? I’m considering going to the one in Chapel Hill, NC.

    • http://rise365.com/ Michael Good

      Chris, is was a good time and you should totally go! You’ll be inspired and get to meet lots of cool people.

      I think he said this was the first stop of the tour; there were a couple hundred people there. I got there early enough that I had a seat up front but most of the people were standing filling up the whole book store, balcony included!

  • http://cindyhirch.com/ Cindy Hirch

    My latest and greatest investment was the $49 spend to attend the Chick Fil A Leadercast held on May 4th. It was a day of personal growth for me, an opportunity to network, and listen to some amazing speakers. Some were well known while others were new to me but delivered a powerful message.

    • http://rise365.com/ Michael Good

      Cindy,
      Sounds like the $49 was well worth it! Who hosted the event? It’s my understanding that each satellite location had a speaker in person as well.

      • http://cindyhirch.com/ Cindy Hirch

        We did not actually have another speaker at the satellite event. It was hosted by our church and one of the pastors on staff led the charge, but nothing beyond that. They offered some free books if you could answer some questions from a particular speaker.

  • http://danhefferan.com/ Dan Hefferan

    I can’t wait to read his new book.
    I’ve got a couple projects that i’ll be launching very soon :)

    • http://rise365.com/ Michael Good

      I started the book on my bus ride home last night. I don’t think it’ll disappoint.

      What are the projects you’re launching?

      • http://danhefferan.com/ Dan Hefferan

        sorry for the late reply,
        I’ve been working on a new design initiative where i’m making a daily desktop wallpaper, as well as developing a website for a movement called hustle month- where I’ll be inviting people to join me in a month of getting things done. Be on the lookout! I should have that website up and ready for signups within the next day or so.

        • http://rise365.com/ Michael Good

          Dan,

          Awesome! Let me know about when it’s up. Sounds like something that would be good to be part of.

  • http://www.kevingainey.com Kevin Gainey

    Looking forward to seeing the things you’ll launch, Michael! I just signed up for the Chapel Hill conference on Monday.

    • http://rise365.com/ Michael Good

      You’re going to love it, Kevin! @cpeek:disqus is thinking of going as well. Do you guys know each other?

  • http://www.StrengthLeader.com Deb Ingino

    Sounds like it was a great investment of your time Michael, thanks for sharing their stories!

    • http://rise365.com/ Michael Good

      It was, Deb. One of my goals for this year was to get out and go to more events and meetups like this. It does great for my perspective and gives me great inspiration and ideas.

      Next time I’m up there with a car, I’ll swing out your way and buy you lunch!

  • http://www.hirstcreative.com/ Mike Hirst

    You guys look strikingly alike…

    • http://rise365.com/ Michael Good

      Hmm, how can I use that…? Suggestions?

      • http://www.hirstcreative.com/ Mike Hirst

        Lol, idk if there’s anything I can think of that wouldn’t offend him.

  • http://www.totalfusionministries.org Rob Coburn

    Michael, great post love the connections to story. I would love to connect about the travel details. Our ministry is working on some world projects and that would help tremendously. Blessings as you launch this new phase of your business. Blessings, @missioncoach

    • http://rise365.com/ Michael Good

      Thanks, Rob, and sure thing. Are you referring to David in the post about travel hacking.

      • http://www.totalfusionministries.org Rob Coburn

        Yes. Would love to find out about the travel hacking. We may be ale to use it for our mission teams. Let me know how to get ahold of it if if you can. Thks, @missioncoach

        • http://rise365.com/ Michael Good

          I don’t know a whole lot about it myself, but here’s the resource from Chris Guillebeau: http://travelhacking.org/

          My understanding is that frequent flyer miles are accumulated by opening specific credit cards that give you airline miles as a perk for signing up. If you open up a handful of these cards (many only require a $1 purchase to receive the miles), you can fly for free.

          • http://www.totalfusionministries.org Rob Coburn

            Thanks I will check it out.

          • http://rise365.com/ Michael Good

            Rob, I did notice it says that not all miles need to be acquired by signing for credit cards, however it is the fastest.

  • http://www.180coach.com/ Rob Clinton

    Very awesome, Michael! Love this… sounds like it was all worth it. To see and hear stories from other people like that as well just amazes me… Thanks for sharing this, I’m looking to all the great stuff you’re coming forth with…

    • http://rise365.com/ Michael Good

      Thanks, Rob. It was well worth it! Thanks for your support!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1364766771 Jody Berkey

    Sounds like you had a great time. You inspired me to check it out, so I went to his site and was pleasantly surprised to learn that he’s scheduled to be in our area tomorrow and Friday. We’re going to try and go on Friday. I signed up, and I’m waiting for the email with more details. Thanks for the info.

    • http://rise365.com/ Michael Good

      Sweet, Jody! You and Steve are going to enjoy it. I had a blast meeting Chris and talking to some of the people there.

      Let us know how it was!

  • http://www.fatherofone.com/ Michael Wright

    Cool stuff, Michael! Hanging around the right kinds of people will take you to the right kinds of places.
    The last conference I went to was Catalyst East – always top notch speakers. This October I will be going to Gary Barkelow’s Calling Retreat in Georgia, assuming their schedule holds, instead of Catalyst.

    • http://rise365.com/ Michael Good

      Nice, Michael! I’ve heard great things out Gary’s calling events. I’m sure it won’t disappoint!

      Yeah, it was inspiring to be around everyone there and to hear so many of their stories!

  • http://www.liveitforward.com/ Kent Julian

    Way to live it forward, Michael. Very cool!!!!

    As a side note, i have hair envy Emily and Tumi. Just saying :)

    • http://rise365.com/ Michael Good

      You might be able to get implants. I don’t know though, you swing the bald thing pretty well. :)

      • http://www.liveitforward.com/ Kent Julian

        I actually love my bald head, because as I like to say, God only uncovers that which is perfect!

        But when I see cool, different, expressive hair, I do have a little bit of envy :)

        • http://rise365.com Claudia Good

          hahahaaaha well said Kent!!

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  • http://daddydifference.com/ Ryan Ash

    I haven’t yet, Michael, but this is something that I want to start doing more of. We’re starting with a small trip planned for next month. ;)

    • http://rise365.com/ Michael Good

      Looking forward to it! Weren’t you at an event there in Austin over the weekend?

      • http://daddydifference.com/ Ryan Ash

        I was. It was my first WordPress WordCamp. I don’t have time to implement right now, but I learned some stuff and got some ideas.