Our "Positivity Guru"!- Glenn Hodgson

My sister Erin (just graduated Wharton Business School) and I are now working together…I could NOT be more THRILLED!!!

So…these days we are on a path to bring green energy to the world and provide solutions the global fuel, energy and ultimately economic issues.  We are on a path to put more than $12M together in funding for a venture to make that possible.  We are also on the path to get this done in less than 45 days.

How is it possible?!!!  Given THIS economy?!!!!….Utilizing strategies for success- we have developed a system for ourslves to achieve our spiritual, physical, mental and economic goals.  As key to this strategy- we have agreed to focus on where the opportunities are as opposed to things feeling “good or bad”.

We debated amongst ourselves how to involve the people around us to be in support of and help us grow this goal.  We decided that KEY to this strategy- is that we needed someone who exudes confidence, calmness, love, fun and opportunity.  Someone who would remind us of when we were taking things too seriously or offering us a different POV when we got to weighed down with current scenarios.  From this- we decided that it was time to deem Glenn Hodgson- our “Positivity Guru!”….to take this role. Fortunately for us- he accepted

Meet our POSITIVITY GURU!- Glenn Hodgson.  he is a pro skydiver/instructor and master golfer (good for doing business deals!).  He is an expert at keeping things simple, effective and fun- and when things are about to get too serious?!- he reminds us that anything is possible- its simply a matter of doing it (utilizing simple strategies he helps put in place for us)….

Here is tip #1 to raising $12M- HIRE A POSITIVITY GURU!!!! we can help you find one - call 480-650-7848 (www.gamechangeventures.com)

Have a GREAT day

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Here is the last report from the Sweet Leaf Tea Rooftop Party. Notice how we are admiring the awesome lighting show right before the Tornado hit North Austin and we then had to quickly leave the rooftop and head to another party! So cute, little Sis gives a shout out to Sweet Lea Tea thanking her for calming her during the storm while a gust of Tornado almost blows us off the rooftop!!! LOL

iV, Erin & Ashley

BIG Hugs and thank you to Lyn Graft (LG) and Ashley Montgomery for inviting us to the party for all the Sweet Leaf Team as they were such great hosts and I LUV LUV LUV their product. You can totally see why they are such a great company because they have awesome people that work & play hard and it looks like they love what they do. Plus they can party in any situation – Tornados and all!!

Happy Mercado, iV & Erin Vanderveldt & Sweet Leaf Beer Pong

AND!!!! I cannot wait for everything that is going to be seen this summer on Sweet Leaf TV — make sure and stay tuned for a ton of great content from them as my awesome Producer, LG, is going to lead the charge and help them produce the best TeaV Network on the Planet!!! (I really think he is doing it for free half & half all summer – his fridge is totally stocked with that stuff!) He has asked me to come back this summer and do some TeaV reporting for them so looking forward to more Roof Top Parties (minus the Tornados please!!! xoxo… iV

David Smith, Craig Steckbeck & iV pre-Locks for Love Cut

Me & Little sis Erin Vanderveldt filming my David Smith interview

While I’m at the Sweet Leaf Tea party celebrating all their awesome employees accomplishments, I get to drink some rockin libations of Half & Half Sweet Leaf Tea spiked w/ Tito’s Vodka. Right before the tornadoes hit on the Austin area I get to chat with David Smith who co-founded Sweet Leaf with Clayton Christopher. What a COOL story!!!  His first JOB!  here’s how to do it….(sound is a bit hard to hear, but hey- its a Flip Camera outside before a tornado)….The picture at the beginning shows my stud MBA sister Erin Vanderveldt as I start it off the interview and then put the camera in her hands and finish off the interview.

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When we started the interview, the skies were a beautiful golden blue, but by the time we ended it (5 minutes or so), it quickly turned black as a Tornado actually hit in the background!! Double Yikes!!!! Man did we get out of there Fast!! Happy was telling everyone the party was moving – you didn’t have to tell us that – it was crazy winds starting to build. Wow!!! What a party!!!

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Happy Friday Everyone!!! Part #2 of my visit to the Sweet Leaf Tea Rooftop Party to celebrate Macy’s last day before MBA school at RICE, Brian graduated, Craig super art director’s hair & beard all-gotta-go for “Locks of Love” and a BIG reason to drink some Tito’s Vodka & Sweet Leaf. Whooohoooo!!!!! Here is the beautiful Ashley Montgomery, art director at SLT, giving us the inside scoop as we watch stud Field Mktg Rep Happy Mercado killin’ it on the SLT Beer Pong table.

They are such a cool company with awesome people and a stellar product!! My producer, Lyn Graft, is creating Sweet Leaf TV for them that is launching this summer — YOU see all the things they have planned!!!!!! So exciting — You can learn more about it by following the new twitter account they created via @SweetLeafTV

The party was rocking till this Tornado started heading to Austin – hd to move it inside after the crazy storm moved in!!! Wait till you see that video coming up soon. For Reals on the Tornado!!!!!

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Just back into Austin and made the important first stop- to the Sweet leaf tea crew …check out the GORGEOUS view!…these people know how to put on a roof top party

BEFORE: With April (my stylist) and Maggie my assistant getting ready

AFTER: April works her magic!

Hi all!  I dont know about you but i LOVE “BEFORE AND AFTER” scenarios…I was just getting ready to write another blog and thought I would do a SHOUT OUT to our entrepreneur ROCHELLE RAE, who is based in Austin TX and taking over the GLOBE with her line of cosmetics!  If you are lucky enough to be in Austin- you can stop by her shop or have her and/or her team of professionals do a makeover (or get you ready for that big event). She also travels if you have the extra coin to bring her along!  (COME ON BIG MONEY!!!- I NEED ROCHELLE TO TRAVEL WITH ME!!!) 

In any case- check her out!!!  Also- if you tell them that we are friends- you will receive a 10% discount!  LOVE THEM!  So try out some of that GOLD DIGGER (my personal FAVE- lip liner and gloss that you will be HOOKED on for life!).  To call the shop the number is 512- 320- 8732 and if you put “FoIV” (Friends of iV) in the comment box when you check out you will receive the discount!!!

Have fun and keep it rockin you amazing entrepreneurs!!!!!  Send me your story!  I would love to write about what new things I LOVE out there in the entrepreneurial market!!!

xoxoxo

IV

With Corey Kossack, Managing Partner GCV and Author of "eBay Millionaire or Bust"

Hi all!  Happy week!  okay- we make it happen because we are machines!!!!  FOR REAL!  We don’t sleep.  We hardly eat. We run on water.  lol…okay- kidding …not really- PEOPLE!!!….ANYONE CAN MAKE ANYTHING HAPPEN WHEN YOU KNOW YOU ARE A GAME CHANGER!  Like Buffett said- NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE IT HAPPEN!

The two questions asked a lot about “what is it I REALLY do” and “how I make things happen”.  Of course we say “Entrepreneur. Rainmaker. Adventurer.” and I love all that.  And I DO think of myself as an Entrepreneur, Rainmaker and Adventurer.  That said?…i like to REALLY think of myself as a Game Changer.  You know- the one that others tell “that is impossible”, or “we can’t DO that”- or any other nay say- I simply like to create inspiring ideas that make money.

here is what I really do.   I help people make things happen that other people think are absolutely impossible.  And I create pretty things  (art, beautiful skydives, value added relationships that create money, Entrepreneurs Are Sexy tees, riding motorcycles in a way that enable you to beat Alanis Morrisette on the track (yes- I am SUPER proud I did that AND beat her coach too)…- you know- pretty things ….

Here is how my world breaks down:

1)  I am Chief Synergy Officer for H2 Technologies & Energy

2)  I aggregated my investments into a portfolio “Game Change Ventures” and help my portfolio companies (www.gamechangeventures.com)

3)  I talk to a lot of people around the globe about how to be a GAME CHANGER through my media initiatives (like www.ontheroadwithiv.com)

4)  MISCELLANEOUS …skydive, ride bikes, read a ton, talk really fast when i do talk, listen to what others have to say, you know- just STUFF!…i LOVE being around creative, thoughtful people who have solid integrity and a genuine interest to do good in the world and make money for themselves and others doing it.  I JUST LOVE IT.  

So what I do is help people.  I don’t help just anyone.  I help people who are MOTIVATED.  Who will BUST WALLS to make things happen.  WHO ARE THOSE PEOPLE THAT EVERYONE ELSE THINKS “there is no way in hell you will pull this off”…and then I work with them to “make it happen” .  Who are these people?!  They are GAME CHANGERS.  They are the people no one expects who change who we think about life, the world, business- anything.  

Once we team with Game Changers- we leverage our network to MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.  At H2, I spend most of my time here.  Corey Kossack runs the new firm- www.gamechangeventures.com.  I set this up originally to be a place that would handle my portfolio of investments when I went to H2.  In the process of setting up Game Change Ventures what happened?  More business.  and Corey- the 25 year old wunderguy who launched his first biz his junior year in collage and made a MILLION BUCKS his first year(and went on to write a best selling book to teach others how he did it “eBay Millionaire or Bust”) – is now spearheading helping these other companies in the portfolio do the same….and for my media initiatives?  I have Lyn Graft www.lgpictures.com and Change Carpenter www.essentialeventtechnologies.com handling all the growth there.

So what do you do if YOU are going to be a Game Changer?…(there is actually a process to all this and if you want to learn more- of course please feel free to contact www.gamechangeventures.com)

1)  Determine that you ARE in fact, a Game Changer (and if you don’t think you are?  your probably not.)…once you have decided this?  Then seriously time to ROCK IT.  I will be blunt.  You could die tomorrow.  So could I.  So I have absolutely no time to waste because i have a lot i want to do.  So get on with it.  Seriously.  Make it happen!

2)  Find a mentor who has done what you want to do.  Then ask them for thier help.  Figure out what you can do to help them in exchange.  and when you ask for their help?  Don’t waste their time.  If you are ready?  You will ROCK IT and they will love it.  so be ready when you ask.

3)  When people tell you that if you want something to happen- you need to do it yourself?  Well?  its true.  No one can make your dream happen but you. Why?…because they have their own dreams they are making happen.  Now- where things start “flowing?”…is when you team up with people who have synergistic dreams to yours….then you work together and make everyone’s dreams a reality.

4)  Most people will tell you “no”.  So the faster you get through those “no’s” and find the “yes’ss” you are in business.  So don’t even worry about naysayers.  Its easier to say NO then it is to say YES…because Yes’s imply that people have to DO SOMETHING.  No’s means that everyone can go their own way scott free.

5)  Relationships are the key to everything.  And just KNOW that sometimes- you are going to screw up.  Everyone does.  The faster you become the success story?…the faster all those mistakes are appreciated and then jotted down as “if he/she can do it?!…then I CAN TOO”…and you are one of “those stories”

6)  GO BIG.  For reals.  Again- life is short- have fun with it- and who cares what anyone else thinks!!!…do you think RedMcCombs, Tim Sanders, Tim McClure, Richard Branson, Howard Shultz REALLY care about what anyone thinks?  NOOOO!!!!- they are having too much fun doing what they love, overcoming challenges and doing the things everyone else talks about!

7)  Do a financial MONEY check.  its fine if you have a buck or a million bucks to work with.  Just know and stay within what you are comfortable with…there is ALWAYS money to work with but when you can’t pay your bills (I KNOW you know what I am talking about)- that becomes crippling
HAVE FUN!

I am SO HAPPY to have all of you to join me on this amazing ride …I am here for you- so if there are things I can share with you about the entrepreneurial lifestyle, money raising, selling, marketing you name it- please let me know and it might be my next blog topic!

xoxo IV

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Hi all!….so I got back from new Orleans this past Sunday.  It was a GREAT trip.  Lots to learn there.  How to eat great food, how to enjoy great entertainment but most of all…all the ways you can make a buck!  From artists on the street, to carriage drivers, bead sellers- and then ROBOMAN!!!!

Truly- you have to see this.  At first glance you might think this is just another guy doing his thing.  HOWEVER…I was in new Orleans for 5 days.  Roboman was on his perch everyday.  I watched what he was doing and found myself totally impressed with how this one guy- working to make a buck- is performing his street gig.  I mean- CHECK OUT THAT OUTFIT!  For reals!…and you know?!…he doesn’t make a move unless you pay him.  I sat there and watched tourist after tourist pay him money to swing around for 30 seconds.  Dollar for 30 seconds?  2 bucks a minute? $120 bucks an hour?  (okay- lets say he dances for 30 minutes- okay $60 bucks and hour).  WHO KNOWS WHAT ROBOMAN makes.  but thats not the point.  The point is- don’t ever let creative block stop you.  Its possible to do anything and make a buck  Roboman proves it

So thank you ROBOMAN for giving me my blog topic and mental mind candy to have fun with.  WOW…what IF Roboman made $120 and hour!???!  some of us are in the WRONG biz.  (think about the merchandising opportunities!…) …take care all and GO FIND YOUR INNER ROBOMAN!!!! xoxo IV

Peter Himmleman - Creator Furious World

Okay- i pray to god that this goes through…this HAS to be one of the COOLEST things ever! (if not, go to http://www.ontheroadwithiv.com to watch

A few weeks back, Peter Himmelman was on my show and I just LOVE him.  He is an award winning songwriter/ producer etc. and host of the weekly show www.furiousworld.com.  So what he did was absolutely AMAZING.  So he is on my show and being the fabulous entrepreneur that he is- he WRITES A SONG ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCE BEING ON THE SHOW!!!…so what am I going to do with this great piece of artistry?!….I am going to PROMOTE IT TOO! Watch Below:

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So as I am about to put this blog together it made me realize- if you EVER want to promote yourself- WRITE ABOUT SOMEONE ELSE- and let THEM do the talking for you!  People like me will of COURSE continue to promote your work (we do it already through our great stories about DIY entrepreneurs at www.ontheroadwithiv.com)- and HERE AGAIN we write about the ideas we learn!  So WHO do YOU know that you admire and how can you help them?  I guarantee- you write about them and they will spread the message in thanks!

So thank you Peter Himmelman for continuing to share your gift with the world and to be on my show.  we all love you- big big hugs….IV

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Hi all!  Just wanted to send a quick hi from New Orleans! If you haven’t been back since Katrina- COME!  They are working hard on rebuilding but as you can see in the video- still have work to do on getting people back into the city.  restaurants in the airport still close at 6PM and shops around the french market close in early evening (not enough business).  They are still the same in terms of spirit, great food, great drinks, great music and a wonderful CAN DO SPIRIT!  So come join us in New Orleans! xoxo and happy weekend!