They're Talking Nerdy Baby: #NerdsUnite

Holy crap, woke up to a lot of emails this morning ... thanks guys. Alrite, here's a good one ...

Hey dude, first off - thanks for reaching out, and checking us out. Really really really appreciate it.

Secondly, I am going to be absurdly honest ... I am figuring all of this out. If on some days it doesn't make sense, rock on - I'm throwing so much shit against the wall to see what sticks its not even funny. Right now I am in a position where I have nothing to lose. I am milking that to build a pretty solid foundation. The movement isn't about being a product puppet, or even fully sustaining bartering - it was about recognizing my awesomeness. Anyone online can talk about products, and fuck, if they're a good sales person prolly sell a few ... thats not what this was about. My first job was just to launch this site, and brand. That lead me to having to go to some extreme lengths to survive (as anyone else in this space understands) ... so I've had to barter. I am a lifecaster. Period end of sentence. Right now, I am a ghetto ass hustler working in this space round the clock and sleeping in some really gnarly places, and coming up with some VERY clever ideas to get food. It is that simple. I don't receive income from Spirithoods - or any ads on the site. Those are people that support the movement. I came from money, and had a shit ton of it for a while. It bored me. Anyone can get money, but not anyone can have a truly epic adventure. I wanted to see how far I could get utilizing social media. Throwing myself at the world everyday enabled me to have the most INCREDIBLE experiences, and be able to relate to so so so many people in the most intimate of ways. Wouldn't change it for the world .... but I literally forced myself into it - none of it was natural. Also, do you know how insane it sounds to people who want to hire me and my first sentence is, you can't - I can't be bought. I haven't set a market price for anything, because I very honestly just wanted to see how good I was at doing it. Going about that route though, got me a meeting with every CEO that I wanted to. It was incredible, completely resonated with some really really really respectable people.

I don't seem like a real nerd? What does a nerd look like? IMHO nerds are like colors ... there are so many different layers, shades and complexities that the naked eye could never comprehend. Just gotta let it be, man.

I'm not really a spokesperson in the Dove soap ad kinda way; I've just always been this person. I get ABSURDLY passionate about products, or experiences and completely geek out to my friends saying OMG OMG OMG YOU HAVE TO TRY THIS!! I will then in my head break down all of the executable actions in order to get it done ... and then I just do. Super fucking nerdy. Been this way for 26 years. It's always been about the ride for me, and explaining what I am experiencing to as many people as possible so they can hopefully experience something similar.

I will tell you this, I am FASCINCATED by the fact that one person can be so WILDLY honest with the world, and even just by promoting the hustle you are doing anyway - someone, somewhere, is able to help, and then they TOO become a part of your story. Its WILLDDDD how fast things get done. The channels of communication are just WIDE OPEN. Blows my mind. Blows my mind. Blows my mind. That is what this has honestly been all about ... just the people. I really really really read every email, tweet, and facebook message. It takes a lot of time, but you all pour your lives out to me - it just continues to blow my mind how grateful I am for this experience as a whole.

I also recognize at the same time I am in a really really really super awesome position to not really have to monetize. I'm sure yes, eventually, I will want to, but I get free hosting thanks to Squarespace, and I run everything myself. We are a VERY lean operation. Literally ... one person. I do all the SEO, social media marketing, I created this site, did 3 redesigns, 2 domain transfers - its absurd, and I loved it. I built this brand with my bare hands, and I am so fucking proud of it, I get SO excited every day to be alive just so I can watch what I built grow. I don't pay the content providers, they are just happy to be a part of TNTML as a whole. That being said for it to be a sustainable entity I am aware that 2011 is going to have to be very different. I can't keep living like this. I just had to first figure out what worked, and what didn't work. I dunno ... shoot some ideas at me. I'm always game. But right now, I'm just waiting to see whats going on with this pilot. The Hollywood god gets back next week, and we pretty much go from there. I'm pretty excited. Who says I have to monetize this site? What is money? It's paper ... well technically speaking its a fiber ... all I have are people behind us that believe in what we're doing, and what we're about ... and that is celebrating our own awesomeness. I'm just going to go with that, and know that it feels really really really good.

And thank you btw, dude I'm not even kidding you ... the story, the concept, the marketing ... omg omg omg OMFFGGGGGG I am so proud of this pilot its not even funny. It is NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT going to be "Shit my dad says." Dude, all they did was take Willy Shatner and have him recite a twitter feed. I don't like that show, at all.

I have seen "We Live in Public" - and dude, that we are NOT!! I am just a lifecaster - I am telling a story of all these crazy little adventures I get into everyday. That's it. What that dude did with that community and such was just weird. There's no special water, I just really fucking LOVE what I do.

So there ya go! I really have no idea what I am doing because I can't see the entire picture just yet. I know its going to tell one amaaaazzinngggggggg story, but I'm still writing it ... the rad thing that I enjoy though is that everyday I can give you all a sneek peak of whats going on. It's like constantly looking over someone's shoulder. I don't need a job, and right now, I don't even need money; I have social media. I take products to help sustain the existence of it all - dude, spirithoods keep you INSANELY warm!! ... and I just kinda go with it all.

And #nerdsunite?? That's our official hashtag - and I'm a connector. I get really really really excited introducing cool people to cool people under the premise of them just being cool. I love meeting new nerds, and connecting them with other nerds that I know around the world - its my thing, I own it. I literally just hang out with people all day everyday and listen to their stories. Its incredible, and my favorite hashtag evveerrr!! =) =) =)

For real though, thank you for reaching out. I really don't know whats going to be the next step - I just know I have lawyers, and I'm wicked smart ... so whatever is presented to me, I'll just figure out how to manage and move about with my day. I just make myself as accessible to the world as possible, and leave the rest up to like minded individuals finding each other. Running the business of it all could not phase me less. I find it terribly boring, but its what I have to do. I have no doubt in this year I'll just hire someone to take all of that rubbish off my plate, someone who is clearly way more qualified for said business running than myself - I'm just an artist. My job is to show up for life and live it to the fullest every. single. day.

And today? I am moving! YAYY!!! =) Best part about being a minimalist, its really not that bad.

Cheers!!

#nerdsunite

They're Talking Nerdy Baby: #NerdsUnite

Wow. Wow. Wow. I didn't have the internet for a few days while I was up at Big Bear - but holy moly roli poli oli ... thank you guys so much for all the posts, and emails. Finally got a chance to see 'em on a screen larger than my Droid.

Looky looky ...

... so then I went to his site oooffff couurrrsseeeeee ... and here's an exerpt ...

(and dude, don't be afraid. ever. it's the celebration of unapologetic awesomeness ... reemmeemmbbeerr??)



BALLERRRRR!!!! Congrats man! The first step is the hardest to see!! Whoop whoop! Look forward to reading your posts. Dude, try Ustream too. You can download the app on your smartphone and livestream from wherever. Totally works.

Click here to read the full post

TNTML is def going to go through some changes this year to make the actual business part of it more business-ie. So, no worries! =)

Bless your HEART Beth!! Thank you so so much. I wasn't Myspace's first employee ... but I did launch one of the founders of Myspace's start up LiveVideo. I was "PhotoJeNIc" on the social network. So cool! I took all of the lessons that I learned there, and started this blessed little website. Gotta learn what doesn't work before you learn what does!! =)

Here I be.

Wow ... amazing start to the year!! Thanks so much guys for all the posts and all the love.

I very literally put my life in your hands this year, and you guys kept this movement going unlike anything I've ever seen in all my life. I put up a series of highlights from my fav moments on Facebook.

Click here to view the album

I made one decision in 2010 - that I needed to change my life. I very honestly didn't mean for it to go this far, but I wouldn't change it for the world. Here's to an INCREDIBLE 2011!!! WHOOP WHOOP!!

oh yeah and here's my ...

twitter: @JenFriel

facebook: www.facebook.com/jenfriel

find me in a coffee shop (just drop me a tweet please and let me know that youre coming) on Foursquare: www.foursquare.com/jenfriel

Wanna date me? I'm also on OKC: www.okcupid.com/profile/jenfriel

#NerdsUnite

They're Talking Nerdy Baby: #NerdsUnite

Wow wow wow ... looky looky the tweet I just got ...

RAD RAD RAD RAD RADDD!!! This was so rad! Thank you Brooke!

Dude, studying at Strasberg was one of the most intense experiences of my life. I loved it! I stayed for a year and was even invited into the advanced acting classes - which were for real, were incredible. My favorite teachers were Robert Castle and Irma ... one name for a whole lotta woman. I think everyone should take a few acting classes in their life if for nothing else to explore human nature. I had so much trouble understanding the notion of "just being" until this year - but now it makes just so so so much sense. It all clicked. We pick up so much on what is going through the actor's head based on the simplest of cues. We are far more intelligent than we give ourselves credit for.

So awesome.

Congrats on recognizing your unapologetic awesomeness! So glad to have you as part of the family.

Much love and many blessings on the new year.

xoxo #nerdsunite

and PS. are you kidding? I read EVERRYTHINNNGGG. Always have, always will. So post away! Just make sure you tweet it to me so I'll see it. hehehe

Click here to read Brooke's post

They're Talking Nerdy Baby: #NerdsUnite

Looky, looky, the email I just got ... it says AND I QUOTE ...

Hey Jen,

First off, I want to say that I think your story is amazing.  It truly is an innovative idea that be copied (or at least attempted) for years to come.  Way to blaze the trail for fellow nerd/marketing hybrid robots.  Thank you.

About me:

My name is XXXXXXX. 

Like your story's beginning, I am approaching my 25th birthday (Monday), also known as my quarter-life crisis.   I have been working from my laptop here in San Diego for almost every day over the last 15 months.  The work is great, the flexibility is awesome, but going to different coffee shops as getting my scene change fix just hasn't been cutting it.  I am desperately seeking an adventure. 

A fellow friend going through a life stalemate (will soon be turning 30 and just got laid off), is planning to do hike the Appalachian trail this spring/summer. 

I'm not sure how familiar you are with the trail, but basically it's a 5 month hike from Georgia to Maine.  I've decided to join him.

As someone who's been camping a total of two times in my 25 years, the experience should certainly be that adventure that I'm seeking.  I tell all my friends I'm doing it because I want to grow a beard.  The sad part is I'm only half joking.

To the point:

Funding is a problem.  Apparently escaping society is way more expensive than one would think.  I was under the assumption we could just survive off of berries and honeycomb on the trail.  Imagine my heartbreak when I was informed it doesn't work that way.  Tents are way too expensive.  Apparently REI is the outdoorsman Gucci.

I come to you, because your story has made it apparent that you are the pre-eminent guru in social media based sponsorship. 

Questions:

Do you have any suggestions on places to start to ask for funding?

What sort of commitment do the companies require in exchange for product/service?  (Being in the woods may make Twittering difficult at times)

Do you have any creative ideas to garner a businesses interest in this particular regard?

Do you like e-mails that drag on entirely way too long?

Thanks for your time Jen.  It really means a lot.

Best,

XXXXXX

Wow, first off - thank you. I really really really appreciate the email, these things keep me going. Second of all, you have to understand when I started, I had no idea where it was going to go. I didn't intend initially for it to go this far; I just wanted to be happy and continually do things I enjoyed doing. Giving up everything I owned was easy for me, as back in 2007 - I had lost everything that I had owned in a massive cockroach infestation. YAYYYY urban living!! That was just my first step - give it all up again for a fresh start and to be able to adopt a fresh perspective on things so I could figure out what I needed. Necessity is a funny thing, we all think we need a lot - but that is just the human brain wanting to tell us to horde horde horde. What you require most for an adventure like the one you are describing is a shift in consciousness. I did a LOT of soul searching, and questioned a LOT about what life really is, versus dealing with the people that are just trying to sell us stuff. I'd suggest your first step is to just start there, before approaching your funding. What you think you need versus what you ACTUALLY need are two VERY different things.

Then, I'd suggest not writing a business plan or anything for sponsorship - those are a total joke now a days, just rally your friends together to support your blog. Create a site (tumblr is great! or blogspot - and both are free. Just secure $10 for the domain, way easier to direct the traffic), with an About Us page outlining exactly what you are going to do, and document your search for funding in real time. People are inspired by action, and it also freaks people out when you do it so publicly ... the ones that are going to bite, bite faster once they think someone else can snatch you up. The majority of things sponsors will look at are Facebook likes, and Twitter followers. I almost never even get asked for analytics anymore - the followers and likes are WAY more important to these people now a days. When you infultrate someone's social media stream, you're catching them in a more passive, but incredibly effective way as it is a constant contact approach. They have to actively click unfollow or unlike to make you go away versus just not clicking on your page which oh yeah! they have to be reminded to visit anyway.

Once you get some of your friends on board, just start blogging - updating people on your status etc. For your twitter page, I'd suggest building the brand around your own personal twitter as its just easier to keep updates. For TNTML, I just kept @JenFriel as the main twitter contact. I couldn't bother updating a main "brand page" in addition to my personal, its such a total waste of energy. Just keep it real.

Kickstarter.com is also AMMMAAZINNGG!! A lot of my friends have had luck on there to raise funding. Maybe you could run a campaign on there and streamline it as well on the website. Whatever you wanna do! Up to you!

Remember, "When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."

We look for stories like this in social media. We all WANT to help. The more honest and humble you are with your story, the more people will just fall from the sky offering to help. It is amazing.

Furthermore, I find that the more you are willing to take risks in even offering for people to help, the faster the project in general grows as those that have helped take ownership of your story as well. Greatest time to be alive evvveerrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!! Hands down.

As far as what companies ask for in return for sponsorship, that's up to you. I don't accept any terms. I'm kinda a nazi on it as I am for nothing but unapologetic awesomeness. I don't accept money, so I won't accept bullshit. If I like your product, I'll talk about it - if I don't I won't. I'm not a corporate puppet, I'm just someone who wants to live life and document it as fully as possible. So that's totes mcgotes up to you amigo! Just be careful, as some of those companies will eat you alive. I'd just tell them that you'll integrate the product into your life as much as possible. Period. End of Sentence. These people are usually so excited to have ANNYYY involvement in social media that you'll at least have some wiggle room to try some stuff out.

All my love, and all my heart dear friend on your adventure. I can't WAIITTTTT to hear how it goes! And lemme know when you get all your pages established, I'll totally like 'em and suggest 'em to my friends.

xoxoxo #nerdsunite

 

They're Talking Nerdy Baby: #NerdsUnite

OMMMMMGGGG!! This email totally just made me cry. W2g! GEEZZEE!! But for reals, thank you. This is exactly why I do what I do ... read on!

Wow. BLESS YOUR HEART!! Thank you SOOOOO much babe for the email!!!

Holy crapsicles, way to make me cry.

#NerdsUnite INDEED!!