To Mom, for the faith.
To Dad, for the mindset.
To Barry, for the spark.
CONTENTS
Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behavior. Keep your behavior positive because your behavior becomes your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny.
MAHATMA GANDHI
I n 2007, the world was different. We were only six years removed from 9/11, and America was still trying to find its footing. Then came the financial crisis of 2008, commonly referred to as The Great Recession. During that time, there were a lot of discussions about whether or not it was a good idea to start a company. There were two very distinct viewpoints: It was either an especially good time or an especially bad time, depending on who was making the argument. While some saw an unstable economy and a consumer-base more intent on saving than spending, others saw cheaper labor costs and reduced competition.
When I decided to launch TechStars, I wasnt weighing the pros and cons of whether or not 2007 was the best time to start a company. I simply saw a need in the Boulder startup community, so I went after it. TechStars has since become one of the largest tech accelerators in the world. The TechStars network has incubated hundreds of companies that have collectively raised over a billion dollars in venture capital and created thousands of jobs. In an environment categorized as catastrophic, TechStarsand its portfolio of companieshave thrived. So its either always a good time to start a company, or always a bad time. Your choice.
The cornerstone of TechStars has always been its mentorship, and the strength of our network. Jesse was in the first class in 2007, and Im glad hes part of the family. His book is full of insightful remarks, but the following quote might be the most telling. He says, Simple truths are often the most elusive, overlooked, and forgotten.
Heres a simple truth thats core to Jesses message: Our decisions make us who we are. The lines between success and failure, friendship and missed connection, happiness and unhappiness, barrier and breakthrough, are far thinner than we might imagine. Our mentality, and the decisions we make based on that mentality, play a huge role in our trajectory through life. Wherever you go in life, I hope youll let the principles of the Connection Algorithm guide you.
David Cohen
TechStars Founder and CEO
November 2014
T he Connection Algorithm was self-published. It's now a #1 bestseller on track to generate $20,000 per year in passive income. Other part-time authors are doing far better than me, earning six, or even seven figures per year. Here's the best part: We're not writing because we have to. We're writing because we want to. This wasn't possible ten years ago, but the publishing industry has changed. People are finding unparalleled freedom and wealth through writing, and you can too. My forthcoming book, Authorpreneur , will show you how.
If you've ever dreamt of using your knowledge for more than just a paycheck, Authorpreneur is for you. And you're in luck, because you can reserve a pre-release copy at no cost by visiting www.jtev.me and joining my mailing list. It's honestly that simple. No strings attached.
Authorpreneur will change the way you think about writing, but it will also prepare you to thrive in the entrepreneurial era we find ourselves in (even if you don't want to become a fulltime author). To give you unparalleled insight into the world of publishing and entrepreneurship, I've spent the past year conducting in-depth interviews with some of the industry's best and brightest. Here's a sampling:
- Brad Feld Author of the Startup Revolution series, managing director of Foundry Group (over $1 billion under management).
- Taylor Pearson Amazon #1 bestselling author of The End of Jobs .
- Rob Walling Founder and CEO of Drip, serial entrepreneur, author, podcaster.
- Rohit Bhargava Wallstreet Journal bestselling author of five business books, founder of Influential Marketing Group.
- Chandler Bolt 21 year old entrepreneur, running a seven-figure business for self-publishing. Author of five bestselling books on Amazon.
- Simon Whistler Creator of Rocking-Self Publishing , a popular podcast that explores the world of self-published books. After interviewing over 100 successful indie authors, Simon has a wealth of knowledge in this space.
...just to name a few.
Are you curious about the benefits of writing a book, but too overwhelmed to get started? I can relate. I made plenty of poor choices with my first book, and wasted thousands of dollars. Authorpreneur demystifies the process so you can avoid those same mistakes.
Inside, you'll find various tools and techniques you can use to guarantee a polished manuscript, a timely launch, and maximized profits (without the headaches). It's jam-packed with field-tested resources, including the email template I used to secure an endorsement from Tony Horton, detailed production timelines, guidelines for crafting a winning outline, software recommendations, tips for creating a professional design on a budget, and much more.
To reserve a free copy of Authorpreneur , just go to www.jtev.me and join my mailing list. I've poured a lot of energy into this, and I know you're going to love it. Cheers, J
PS. To get even more free bonuses, like access to my private community of like-minded hustlers, connectors, entrepreneurs, and big-thinkers, please visit:
www.jtev.me/tca
Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.
JOHAN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE
I 'm always amazed when I scroll through the contacts in my phone or my email account. Mixed in with family members and college friends are the names of high-profile CEOs, prominent venture capitalists, congressmen, and millionaires. Im thirty-one years old. How did I do this? How did I build relationships with such powerful people at such a young age? Am I a genius? No. Do I have a special, God-given talent? No. Was I born into power and wealth? Not even close.
So, who is responsible? Should I thank the cofounder who took me on the wild ride of building a multi-million dollar company from the ground up? Should I thank the manager who introduced me to my cofounder? What about the VP who hired me to work at his thriving startup, or my most influential advisors and professors in college? How about my parents?
I am forever indebted to these people and I thank them often, both in my prayers and in person. Theyve undoubtedly contributed to my personal growth and good fortune. But theres an important underlying truth to consider: Although theyve been instrumental in shaping my life, it has always been my decision to interact with them and learn from them. The relationships Ive made, while integral to my development, are still a function of my own choices .
This realization is powerful. It means we dont need to possess a God-given talent or be born into wealth to do amazing things. We can simply expect to do amazing things and act accordingly. Ive been doing this for most of my adult life without realizing it. This mindset, and the path that inevitably unfolds from it, is my gift to you. I call it the Connection Algorithm.
The Connection Algorithm is the great idea that keeps you up at night. Its the hobby you cant ignore. Its the conference youve always wanted to attend. Its the blog post that changed your life. Its the investor who funded your project. Its curiosity, courage, failure, and success. In a word, the Connection Algorithm is a mindset , and this book will teach you how to harness it and use it to your advantage.
