1-30-2014 Lunch Ripple, Social Media Predictors, Network after work

This day was a busy one.  At lunch I went to an event called the 8 minute ripple. The event was put on by a guy named Steve and he had a great speaker named Harry Lakin.  Harry talked about hiring capacity.  He pointed out that many tests are misused.  He contends that the ipsative tests where you get forced answers are great for team building but not good for capacity building.  He does and OMS questionare that takes 5-10 minutes.

Harry Lakin gave a great talk

Then the Ripple started.  This is where you break off  and you talk to people about whatever questions are on the projector.  You don't talk business you don't talk about what you do.  You just talk about what is on the screen.  The concept is that you need to build a relationship and then you can establish a business relationship.  Normally you just talk business with everybody and that is the only thing you know about them.  I thought it was fun and went well.

Then we were off to social media predictions.  This was a very nice talk about the future and the a lot of the talk focused on how the young people are leaving facebook and the social media landscape is much more fragmented than ever.  They talk about focusing in on a good solid conversation and paying attention to the top social networks and "sticking to your knitting"  Use a common sense approach.

Many times I hear that the kids are leaving because their parents are on facebook.  My contention is that young people use lots of social medias and each for it's own best uses.

After the social media predictions we went over for a happy hour to discuss more about social media.  These guys use tools that cost thousands per month and they get really in depth.  It was nice hearing what they can do and I am sure that these tools will be available for us to use in the future for much cheaper.

After that I went over to the Networking after work social event.  It was a lively place and I talked to several interesting people and I got a bunch of cards.

1-29-2014 Meetup at Capital Factory and Trivia

We worked all day at home and then Eric went to a meetup called "startup scene in Austin uncovered".  Cara went and got our trivia game started at Toasties subs.  We met up and took second place (mainly because not many people played)  We won 15 bucks!

Damon?  He laid out the startup scene in Austin

1-28-2014 Green Drinks at TreeHouse in Austin, TX

As it turned out, I (Cara) went to my first Green Drinks event in Austin while Eric was at his first class at the Tech Ranch.  It was at TreeHouse, which is an amazing home improvement store that focuses on green solutions.  I was so pleased to find store sections like "Solar Power", and "Non-Toxic Paint".  Amen!  (We really need one of these in Indianapolis.)  I enjoyed the presentation and met several really cool people, and I'm sure I will see them again and stay in touch with them.

The group started fleshing out, and people were enjoying free drinks from Dripping Springs Vodka.
(Thanks Dripping Springs - the cocktails were yummy!)

Find green stuff to clean your home, take care of your dog, and much more.
(The solar power section is in the distance.)

Sarah Talkington (engineer at Austin Energy) gave a nice data-filled, yet humorous, presentation about Austin Energy's
new Power Partner Thermostat Program.  If you buy certain Internet-connected thermostats (like from Nest or Ecobee)
then you can enroll it in their energy saving program and get $85.

TreeHouse actually has this huge space in the center of their store that is dedicated to hosting all kinds of
green-focused events, meetings, classes, etc.

1-28-2014 techranch classes begin

Last year in Austin we found out about a place called the Tech Ranch.  It is led by a passionate guy named Kevin Kohm. He has put on 22 8 week startup classes.  The purpose is to connect you with 20 other people like you and then work together to work through exercises designed to help you visualize what your next steps need to be.

I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into and after the first night I see that I have bitten off a great deal.  My goal is to just listen carefully and do what I am told.

Class is breaking up

1-24-2014 c-boys heart and soul

On Friday we ventured out to a new club that is supposed to have really good music.  We ended up hearing a really really good band (name to be substituted later).  They really played their hearts out and they put a unique twist on the covers that they sang.

the downstairs of c-boys features a stage and a dozen tables

the upstairs has a hipster vibe

I think there was a modest cover here, but I am not exactly sure.

1-16-2014 BASHH (big ass social happy hour)

Once per month they hold a BASHH networking event.  This time it was at the Brew Exchange in downtown Austin.  http://brewexchangeaustin.com/   They have an interesting way to sell their 100 + beers.  Each beer is divided into a class like Lager, IPA, etc.  Then as you buy a beer then the price goes up while the prices go down for the poor selling beers in the same category.  It is interesting, but you really never know what the beer will cost.  There is a ticker and a board, but who really studies it?  During happy hour the beers are much cheaper.

The ticker tells what a beer costs and the cost of a beer is always changing.

After BASH we went to Chinatown for some karaoke.  We didn't sing, but enjoyed ourselves none the less.  When we got to Chinatown we were greeted by over 100 sorority girls....and they were really pounding the sake and beers.

I learned that college girls like to pee in groups of 6-10

1-14-2014 Meetup at The Capital Factory

This meetup was at the Capital Factory and was  a meetup for Maker.  Maker is where students get together for 8 weeks of intensive soup to nuts programming coursework.  When they emerge they are ready to be developers.   This meetup highlighted some of their efforts.

I must say that I was very impressed by their enthusiasm and the product that was produced.  It really makes you think about going and learning to code myself.

Before the meetup we ate at Ancho's and the review is posted here