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Dear HBO, Please Keep ‘Silicon Valley’ Real!!!

Kelli Richards May 19, 2014

Startup life is a hot topic in Hollywood right now. From Joshua Michael Stern’s “Jobs” to the Amazon original series “Betas” there’s an undeniable appeal to life in Silicon Valley for those both inside and outside the startup bubble.

Of course, Hollywood is famous for exaggerating or overlooking important aspects of reality for entertainment purposes, but so far, HBO’s “Silicon Valley” looks promising. Despite the dramatic plotline and startup stereotypes, the show provides a mostly accurate portrayal of entrepreneurial life and may even help demystify some aspects of startup culture.

ID-10014351Can ‘Silicon Valley’ Avoid Hollywood Startup Myths?

“Silicon Valley” follows the lives of near-genius, socially awkward computer programmer Richard Hendrix (played by Thomas Middleditch) and his friends as he attempts to launch his company in the star-studded world of Silicon Valley.

The show was inspired by the real-life experiences of director Mike Judge, who was a Silicon Valley engineer in the ’80s. Living up to his “Office Space” brilliance, Judge carries the mindset of the tech community to the small screen and introduces a number of well-cast (if stereotypical) characters we can all relate to: that bright but socially awkward programmer and the naïve entrepreneur with a lot to learn.

“Silicon Valley” seems like a winner so far, but the question is whether it can avoid falling prey to a lot of the common myths Hollywood likes to perpetuate about startup life.

Myth 1: A good idea automatically equals success.

When all you read about are the multibillion-dollar success stories, it’s easy to think that success is a sure thing if you have a good idea — or that good ideas are immediately rewarded with plentiful funding.

In reality, it’s not that simple. The venture capital world is complicated, and there’s a lot of competition to secure funding of any kind. A good idea needs a good plan, a good team, and a lot of luck. And even with all those things, failure is all too common.

Myth 2: Genius and social skills are mutually exclusive.

In shows like “The Big Bang Theory” bright, technology-obsessed characters are often stereotyped as socially awkward geeks. Or, as we saw in “The Social Network,” brilliance in Hollywood often translates to arrogance, self-importance, or standoffishness on-screen.

While there are plenty of antisocial geniuses, tech shows distort reality. Succeeding in Silicon Valley is not for wallflowers. By and large, entrepreneurs must be bright, motivated, and willing to listen and learn, as well as equipped with good social skills.

Myth 3: It’s easy to put together the perfect team.

Television shows often give the impression that it’s easy to pull together a highly skilled, highly compatible team right off the bat. But in the real world, there’s no casting call for the right skills and the right temperament. The perfect team isn’t just sitting around waiting for your breakthrough. The right people can be challenging to find and motivate to join the team. Your team’s chemistry relies on a combination of referrals, trial and error, and luck.

Shortly into its debut, “Silicon Valley” has done a good job of presenting a microcosm of the real Silicon Valley, especially for first-timers. And it’s popular for a reason: To those outside the startup bubble, it’s a fascinating world with a mysterious way of doing business. Anyone who has spent time in the tech industry will see where Judge gets it right, and anyone who hasn’t will find themselves more informed about the realities of Silicon Valley.

But the truth is that startup life is not particularly glamorous or mysterious. It’s not about fancy campuses or billion-dollar algorithms — it’s about bright, motivated people who work very hard every day to make an impact on the world.

 

Until next time,

Kelli Richards
CEO of The All Access Group, LLC

 

PS, The right mentor should also have the right CONNECTIONS to move you forward. Be sure to ask who they think they can bring to the table around advisorship, possible collaboration and even funding.

 

Originally posted: https://www.forbes.com/sites/85broads/2014/05/06/dear-hbo-please-keep-silicon-valley-real/

3 SEEMINGLY OBVIOUS TECH MERGERS WE’RE STILL WAITING FOR

Kelli Richards May 12, 2014

THESE TOP COMPANIES DO BIG THINGS SEPARATELY; IMAGINE WHAT THEY COULD ACCOMPLISH TOGETHER.

 

ID-100217410One of the best parts of working in the tech industry is having a ringside seat to watch heavyweights like Google and Apple duke it out for market share and to be the first to develop the next big thing.

When tech titans acquire smaller, hotter companies or struggling enterprises that have been around the block, the result is often an exciting jolt of innovation and a threat of a bold industry upset.

When Google acquired Nest Lab this year for example, it was great for business and the consumer. Google had a vision for Nest as a game changer in the smart home category, and Nest enjoyed a long list of benefits. Google accelerated Nest’s strategic initiative, took it off the market to prevent its competitors from acquiring it, and boosted its own brand appeal. Nest was young, sexy, and desirable–an image that Apple has dominated for years.

Likewise, Facebook acquired Instagram in April 2012, when it was extremely small, for $1 billion–inheriting a rock-solid user base and carving out a larger chunk of the social sphere.

Successful mergers drive the tech industry forward and make new devices and services accessible to the average person. In the case of Nest, it made the young company able to reach more consumers with its clean tech initiative, and Instagram’ following quadrupled to more than 150 millions monthly active users after its acquisition.

There are several tech giants that have been dancing around some promising acquisitions for a while now, and I think I speak for everyone when I say they just need to do it already!

1. APPLE ACQUIRING DISNEY OR NETFLIX

Everyone knows that Apple has a huge war chest to buy relevant companies, and of course they’ve employed it several times over the years.

While Apple devotees around the world were disappointed to learn an Apple-Tesla merger was not in the cards for Elon Musk (at the moment, anyway), a more likely scenario is that Apple will try to acquire a major content company like Netflix or Disney in the near future.

Of course, Disney would be a big catch for Apple. The brands both embrace creativity, innovation, and delivering an amazing customer experience. In a merger, Apple would be able to ship the long-awaited Apple TV with access to ESPN, Pixar movies, and other Disney content. Consumers would have access to a much broader content library largely on-demand in the cloud, and Bob Iger and Tim Cook would be a dynamic duo that could boost shareholder confidence and inject innovation into both brands.

Netflix boasts a similar advantage of on-demand streaming and high-quality original content. An acquisition would reinforce Apple’s commitment to a seamless customer experience by offering a completely integrated content ecosystem. Owning a major content company would give Apple greater leverage when negotiating other forms of movie, TV, and sports content and make it virtually unstoppable in the media space (beyond its existing bench strength).

2. AMAZON ACQUIRING RADIO SHACK OR BEST BUY

Amazon has long expressed a desire to have a retail footprint, and Radio Shack and Best Buy both need a savior.

Brick-and-mortar electronics stores can’t match Amazon prices, but people still want to go into a store to play with the products or speak with a knowledgeable representative. Most people will go to Best Buy to kick the tires, then turn around and buy a product for less on Amazon.

It makes perfect sense that Amazon would want to offer the best of both worlds. Jeff Bezos has expressed the idea that he would be interested in physical retail locations, but only if Amazon had a “truly differentiated idea.”

What better way to accomplish that goal than to acquire a chain of established stores and existing real estate in local neighborhoods?

3. SAMSUNG OR GOOGLE ACQUIRING FITBIT

These companies are focused on innovation, delivering seamless data integration across all their devices, and creating functional, stylish products that consumers rely on daily.

The race for the ultimate wearable is on, and both Google and Samsung have thrown their hats into the smart watch solutions ring.

Samsung released its Gear Fit fitness tracker in April. The verdict is still out about Gear Fit’s performance, but if it’s not a blockbuster success, Samsung may want to consider buying Fitbit to knock out its chief competitor. Samsung would also gain Fitbit’s audience, technology, and great customer experience.

Google hasn’t come out with a smart watch yet, though the Google Gem is rumored to be almost ready for market. The Gem is reportedly clunky, so it may fail to take off simply because it’s too large and unwieldy. The ability to offer consumers the sleeker Fitbit may appeal to Google, especially because it would take the company off the market for Apple or Samsung.

Industry behemoths will only make a move to acquire another company when they see the potential for huge returns (or a threat from a partnership with their competitors).

These players are primed to disrupt the industry together, and these acquisitions would also bring exciting changes for the consumer. These companies already provide a great customer experience individually–just imagine what they could do together.

 

Until next time,

 

Kelli Richards, CEO of The All Access Group.

 

PS, The right mentor will also have the right CONNECTIONS to move any effort forward. Be sure to ask who they think they can bring to the table around advisorship, possible collaboration and even funding.

 

Originally posted: https://www.fastcompany.com/3029955/3-seemingly-obvious-tech-mergers-were-still-waiting-for

 

What are the 5 Best Steps to Deepening Your Relationship with a Mentor?

Kelli Richards May 5, 2014

ID-100235440Once you’ve chosen a mentor, or accepted a mentee, and established the ground rules of working together, the pressure is on to keep the conversation productive and relevant. After you’ve built a solid rapport, consider using these unconventional questions to deepen and advance the conversation into new areas of insight:

 

1. What qualities do you look for in the people you hang out with? Have you ever heard the saying that you are the average of the top 5 people you spend time with? A top performer knows that their time is valuable and not to be wasted on people who don’t help them become better in some way. If you can start a conversation with those you mentor about what they look for in others, you will get a 10,000 foot glimpse of the qualities they are trying to develop within themselves.

 

2. What values are you committed to? Having values at the center of your business is invaluable. In fact, one of the little-known secrets to Apple’s success is its unwavering commitment to challenging the status quo. Strong values such as these provide grounding and direction whenever you are faced with a new problem or opportunity. Spend some time defining and exploring a time when remaining true to their values required a mentor or mentee to embrace extra work or strong personal or professional sacrifice.

 

3. When is breaking the rules okay? Rules exist for a reason, but a top performer knows that many rules regarding “the way things are done” are simply a product of social construction, and no heads will roll if you break them. Why not ask for the story of a time when your mentor or mentee decided to break a rule in their own business and how it panned out. How did they evaluate the risks and benefits? Would they do anything differently today?

 

4. How do you keep your feelings from clouding your decision-making? Humans are far from purely rational beings, and yet we’re expected to make hundreds of decisions every day from a place of logic and reason. Top performers recognize the powerful role emotions play in tough decisions and develop constructive habits to raise their own awareness. Talk this over for a while to gain more insights into both parties.

 

5. How do you challenge your underlying beliefs or assumptions? While it’s not easy to prevent emotions from clouding one’s judgment, it’s even more challenging to recognize when you are operating from an assumption that may not be true. Top performers know that they don’t have it all figured out; the most successful people actively seek out new perspectives that challenge them to grow. Talk about how each of you challenges underlying beliefs and stringencies.

 

Until next time,

Kelli Richards
CEO of The All Access Group, LLC

 

PS, The right mentor will also have the right CONNECTIONS to move any effort forward.  Be sure to ask who they think they can bring to the table around advisor ship, possible collaboration and even funding. If you’d like to discuss mentorship with me and learn more about my own connections and process, please reach out by email.

 

Important Security Measures for Small Businesses

Kelli Richards April 28, 2014

Screen Shot 2014-04-23 at 12.58.22 PMWith business data breaches becoming a common story on the evening news, small businesses need to be vigilant about securing their systems and technology to protect their customers and their operations. Symantec’s 2014 Internet Security Threat Report found that web-based attacks, targeted attacks and the number of breaches all significantly increased in 2013 and one in eight websites have a liability vulnerable to attacks. Make your business data difficult to access and manipulate so criminals move on to easier targets by knowing how data breaches occur, minimizing risk and regularly monitoring security.

How Data Breaches Occur

Equifax Personal Solutions Senior Vice President Scott Mitic cautions companies that data breaches aren’t just happening by anonymous hackers in cyberspace. Although breaches do occur this way, companies are also vulnerable to security breaches from physical access to sensitive confidential information. Physical access to systems can be by employees who use databases, vendors or outsourced IT service personnel who are onsite to perform work. A company’s website or interface are opportunities for hackers to try their hand at finding weaknesses in security that they can exploit to get further access to business financial data, employee data and customer data. Red flags that indicate data breach activity include missing company equipment such as laptops, smart phones, or tablets that may have sensitive data and suspicious phone calls about employee remote access to systems or password resets. Reports from systems monitoring programs or services about unauthorized access attempts help small businesses know when their systems are being targeted so they can increase security measures.

Minimizing Risk

Adam Levin, writing for Forbes on “How to Prepare Your Small Business for an Inevitable Data Breach,” recommends taking proactive security measures rather than waiting until something occurs that puts your data at risk. He recommends doing the following:

  • Implement security policies and procedures and put someone in charge of maintaining compliance with them.
  • Train employees on your security policies and procedures and about security issues such as phishing emails that try to get them to reveal or reset passwords and not leaving unsecured physical files or devices unattended.
  • Limit and monitor access to systems and databases and put someone in charge of doing so, along with assigning someone secondary responsibility for checks and balances.
  • Put financial systems on a separate, isolated computer than other systems in use.
  • Use an outside security audit for regular review of systems threats.

Regularly Monitor Security

Make security a top priority with regular, ongoing security monitoring. Conduct and document frequent network penetration testing to determine if there are ways to get unauthorized access and fix any vulnerability as soon as you become aware of them. Automate security alerts for unusual activity on your systems to be able to take action right away. Identity theft protection software, such as LifeLock, can protect your personal and business information and monitor all of your data. Make it a mandatory policy to regularly install all new security updates on all equipment, even smart phones and other hand-held devices your employees bring in to work. Take care with vendors and require them to follow the same security policies and procedures as your company. William Hughs, Guest Blogger for the All Access Group, LLC

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PS: If you’re building a team to move your best projects forward, remember that the music to making it all work is your mentor. A powerful mentor should be an ally who sees your vision, a leader who brings the very best people and advisors, and a clear picture of how to get from starting point to end game. If you’re looking for that, I’d love to have a conversation with you.

 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamlevin/2014/02/13/how-to-prepare-your-small-business-for-an-inevitable-data-breach/

 

Kelli Richards

 

 

How to Build a Strong Relationship with Your Mentor?

Kelli Richards April 21, 2014

ID-100211451There is nothing more valuable for your personal and professional growth than finding the right mentor to guide and challenge you. But working with a mentor is not a transaction; it is a relationship, and as with any relationship it can be easily destroyed if you don’t take good care of it. Here are 8 things you can do to build a strong and productive foundation with your mentor:

1. Develop clarity around WHY you want a mentor. Before you meet with your mentor, ask yourself what type of help you are seeking and what qualities you hope to find in a mentor. Are you looking for someone with an entirely different skill set from yours? Someone who will call it like it is, even if it hurts? Knowing your own reasons for seeking a mentor will help you establish meaningful goals together.

2. Be OPEN and TRANSPARENT. You must be completely honest with your mentor about every aspect of your career – your hopes and fears, your strengths and weaknesses, your ideas, goals and highest aspirations. Your mentor will be able to have meaningful insights to enable him or her to propel you forward.

3. Set SMART goals. When creating goals, make sure they’re SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound. Review your goals every so often to make sure you are on the right track. If not, revisit and realign.

4. Decide when and how you will COMMUNICATE. Meeting regularly and face-to-face, or communicating mainly through phone and e-mail; once you’ve established what form of communication will take, don’t forget to discuss duration and frequency.

5. Be PREPARED for your sessions. It means coming to the conversation with a specific focus and a list of key questions. Be punctual, well organized, and ready to give a brief update on recent progress. Don’t hesitate to propose an agenda for the conversation.

6. Build TRUST and RESPECT. Mentoring is a sacrifice for both parties, but especially for the mentor. Be respectful of their time, boundaries and other priorities in life. Do everything you can to avoid trust-breaking behaviors.

7. Be RECEPTIVE to criticism. Your collaboration is mostly for your benefit, so it is vital that you never take it for granted. Be open and receptive to feedback as well as criticism.

Finally, keep in mind that your mentor is likely to give a lot more than you do in the relationship. Focus on the relationship, not the results, and always make sure to express often that you value and appreciate your mentor’s guidance.

 

Until next time,

Kelli Richards
CEO of The All Access Group, LLC

 

PS, The right mentor should also have the right CONNECTIONS to move you forward. Be sure to ask who they think they can bring to the table around advisorship, possible collaboration and even funding.

 

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The Next Big Thing: Apple WWDC

Kelli Richards June 11, 2012


It’s no surprise to see Apple race on, barely missing a beat since Steve’s passing – leading global innovation as it has this new millennium.

In just a few hours the next Apple WWDC (Apple WorldWide Developers Conference) will take place. A stage that has announced true global game changers, like the iPhone and the iPad.

In the end, right now it’s still about the App store.  With 600,000 downloadable games, magazines and productivity tools, Apple is the application leader.  But the others are not far behind. As quoted in Bloomberg earlier today, “The success of Apple’s App Store has helped create an economy for downloading mobile applications that will reach $58 billion in sales in 2014.”

Surely, Apple will continue App dominance – and its track record of suspense and big announcements at WWDC. Will we see the next iPhone? News on OSX Mountain Mountain Lion?A new social platform? The next “Big Thing” that none of us have even contemplated before?  It’s hard not to wonder where Apple goes from here, without Steve Jobs at the helm… but we’ll find out in just a few short hours.

This is, in fact, a question I ask over and over in my upcoming eBook on Apple, “The Magic and Moxie of Apple – An Insider’s View.”

“… So where does Apple – a company that started out as two guys making and selling circuit boards out of their garage, which transformed into one of the biggest international technology companies in the world – go from here? Following the loss of Steve, that question seems challenging to answer. As we know all too well, Apple has seen itself rise and fall from grace before and reinvent itself more than once, and the company is counting on the fact that it’s cemented its place at the top so profoundly that nothing will stop it from continuing to grow. Continually releasing new products (and upgrading the old) may do this, but fundamentally, what direction does it take next? The iPhone, iPad, and iPod have already seen several generations of upgrades. What groundbreaking innovations will propel Apple in the same way that the iPod, iPhone, MacBook Air and iPad did? The answer to that question isn’t what new product will they come out with, but rather who will be dream it up without Steve? … ”

Like many of you, I’m eagerly awaiting iOS 6 and Mountain Lion – which brings some of the most popular features found on other Apple products to the MAC, such asGameCenter, notes, etc. A personal favorite is that Mountain Lion will send messages to anyone on an Apple product – so you’ll be able to begin a message on your MAC and pick it back up on your iPhone or iPad later on. We’ll see today what else Apple has in store for us – the world of believers, creators and brand advocates.

And although the race continues without Steve to lead the pack – only his company to carry on the dream – it will not be easy to watch WWDC without him taking the stage.

Kelli Richards, President and CEO
The All Access Group, LLC

PS: If you’d like to pre-order a copy of my book, “The Magic and Moxie of Apple – An Insider’s View,” please go to https://allaccessgroup.com/?p=2287.

 

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Kelli Richards June 11, 2012

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Digital at it’s Best: Live From Daryl’s House

Kelli Richards April 16, 2012

Today’s world is fickle, and one of my favorite examples of success during this digital revolution and how digital is bringing new audiences to the best performers of our time is Live From Daryl’s House, started by Daryl Hall in late 2007.  This is music discovery at its best, with Hall taking a simple idea and turning it into web gold. Hall recently said of the show, “I had this idea of playing with my friends and putting it up on the Internet.”  What could be easier, right? Certainly the response has been huge.

In fact, the show has become almost iconic, with applause coming in from a long list of leading names in the industry, including Rolling Stone, SPIN, Daily Variety, CNN, BBC, Yahoo! Music and influential (and hyper-critical) blogger Bob Lefsetz.  This is exactly what veteran artists need to be creating in order to reinvent in the digital age and gain new audiences (and influence) through vibrant collaborations with both established leaders in music and new performers.

Daryl Hall has had a rich and varied career, working with virtually all of the great musicians of modern popular music, as well as entering into new relationships with the best of the latest generation of artists. So far, episodes have featured superstars like Smokey Robinson, Rob Thomas (of Matchbox 20), Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek (The Doors’), Train, Nick Lowe, K.T. Tunstall, Gym Class Heroes’ Travis McCoy, Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump, and soul legends The Blind Boys of Alabama – as well as with newcomers such as Nikki Jean, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, Canadian techno-rockers Chromeo, Bay Area singer/songwriter Matt Nathanson, and highly touted tunesmith Diane Birch.

He’s also featured my own close personal friend, Todd Rundgren, several times, most recently at Rundgren’s home in Kauai, Hawaii, where they performed a rousing 7-song set, including an amazing cover of the Delfonics’ 1970 hit, “Didn’t I Blow Your Mind This Time.”

Daryl Hall and Todd Rundgren have known one another since their early days inPhiladelphia, and the gig in Hawaii included an old-fashioned traditional Luau Show, burying a pig in the dirt, serving up some poi, hula dancers and a special performance with local musicians of “Bang on the Drum.” Said Rundgren, “It’s always great when friends come all the way out here to visit, but it’s even better when they come to play.”

Hall’s latest collaboration has been with up-and-coming artist Allen Stone, a virtual look-alike for Daryl himself (in both image and musical philosophy).  In fact, that collaboration went so well that Stone is now touring and working with Hall and Oates.

Hall has had an illustrious career, with six #1 singles with collaborator John Oates, including “Rich Girl” (also #1 R&B), “Kiss on My List,” “Private Eyes,” “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do) (also #1 R&B), “Maneater” and “Out of Touch” from their six consecutive multi-platinum albums—’76’s Bigger Than Both of Us, ’80’sVoices, ’81’s Private Eyes, ‘82’s H2O, ‘83’s Rock N Soul, Part I and ‘84’s Big Bam Boom. The era would also produce an additional 5 Top 10 singles, “Sara Smile,” “One on One,” “You Make My Dreams,” “Say It Isn’t So” and “Method of Modern Love.”

Live from Daryl’s House is being shown weekly in over 80% of U.S. homes in the nation’s top 200 media markets, as well as all of the top 10, including New York, L.A., Chicago, Dallas and Houston. The show also recently won the 2010 WEBBY Award in the Variety Category.

Daryl’s longtime manager, Jonathan Wolfson, and I are working on getting Daryl on my popular weekly digital radio show, All Access Radio.  I’ll keep everyone posted when we finally get a date set. You can sign up for his Newsletter at https://www.livefromdarylshouse.com/emupdates.html

Kelli Richards
President and CEO
The All Access Group, LLC

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Kelli Richards Interviews Evan Lowenstein, Founder of StageIt!

Kelli Richards April 10, 2012

Join me for a great Q&A with Evan Lowenstein.

Click here to listen: Evan-Lowenstein-Interview

Recently named to Digital Media Wire’s list of 25 Execs to Watch in Digital Entertainment for 2011, Evan Lowenstein launched StageIt with the goal of creating a web-based platform that would empower artists to deliver and monetize interactive live experiences.

Most recently, Lowenstein founded and served as President of HookUp Feed, a premier social networking and mobile marketing company whose clients include The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, American Airlines, Domino’s Pizza and Cold Stone Creamery.

Previously, he hosted USA Network’s Character Road Trip, a weekly series providing viewers with a peek into the greatest “characters” the country has to offer. Lowenstein was also a recording and touring artist with pop/rock band Evan and Jaron who scored three Top 40 hits, including the Top 10 song Crazy For This Girl.

StageIt is a unique service, answering the pain artists face in a music industry that literally changes and redefines itself every single day. In only six months, StageIt has hosted amazing artists, such as Jerrod Neimann, Chris Young, Plain White T’s, Jaron and the Long Road to Love, Debbie Gibson and Korn.

Kelli Richards
President and CEO
The All Access Group, LLC

A Discussion with Jim Griffin and Bill Patry, the Father of Copyright at Google

Kelli Richards April 6, 2012
(Click Image to See the Entire Interview)

Recently, at DMW‘s Digital Music East, industry leader Jim Griffin sat down with Bill Patry of Google and valiantly sought to stake out a solution to tangled web that is copyright. What we got, however, was a rich insight to what makes Bill Patry click and how he became known for his $1500 – 6,500 page treatise on copyright law.  Known as the Father (or wicked stepfather) of Copyright, depending on where you fall on the issue, Bill Patry was surprisingly vulnerable and honest throughout the interview. He described himself as a “vegetarian, left-wing Jewish guy,” and one could almost think he was nothing but simple attorney, with a passionate love for music, who tripped and fell into a law degree.

Being first and foremost always a journalist, Jim Griffin came to this fireside chat with Patry with his foundation firmly in place, having interviewed many of Patry’s colleagues (and adversaries) over the years. Patry led off assuring Jim, and the crowd of industry heads who filled the auditorium, that he’s only one voice in a team at Google who are focused on the copyright dilemma.

The discussion started off with Patry sharing his start as a music major in college who went on to bring that love for music into his views as a young attorney entering the copyright arena. He added that his hope was, and is, always to protect the rights of all parties in music – from creation to production to distribution.

This love for music showed time and time again through the interview, as Patry highlighted snapshots of his life and career by quoting obscure songs (for instance, “Drop Kick Me Jesus,” which poetically showcased his time in Texas). As an aside, to evidence what an offbeat guy Patry is, he collects the mouthpieces of famous clarinet players.

He went on to discuss his base clarinet and his fierce loyalty to obscure base clarinetists, like Squonk. He spoke eloquently about the struggles of passionate, obscure musicians (like clarinetists) who will simply never be signed. He asked the crowd, rhetorically, “How do they make a living?”

Jim Griffin, who is arguably one of the most learned and nicest people in the entire industry, led the conversation back to Patry’s early days in law, asking how a music major ends up running copyright at one of the largest companies in the world.  Patry shared that he won an ASCAP contest writing about copyright (partly because he was the only one in that particular category). His paper, “Copyright and Community Property,” won the contest, and the Journal of Copyright Society published it later that year. Thus began the long, winding road to Google.

At the end of the interview, Jim Griffin smiled and asked, “So then what was the linchpin that brought you to Google?” Patry laughed in response, shrugging, “I was in private practice and sucked at it.”  

While I wish they had covered more of where copyright is headed over the next decade, entering what will no doubt be Web 4.0, 5.0, etc., this was a chance to see more of the person who intends to solve a copyright issue that as of now, pits publishers, creators and consumers against one another at every turn.

Final thought, Jim Griffin’s quote from Ben Sheffner (of the MPAA), often an opponent to Patry in the copyright debate, is worth noting: “About Bill Patry: People on my side on today’s copyright debates often see our opponents as head-in-the-cloud cyber Utopians… Unfortunately for us, we can’t dismiss Bill Patry, one of our worthiest opponents, that easily… While we in the entertainment industry often bristle at his conclusions, we frequently consult his masterful treatise… we respect him and are glad to have his voice in the debate.”

Kelli Richards
President and CEO
The All Access Group, LLC

Kelli Shares a Fireside Chat with Jim Griffin, Digital Music & Tech Visionary

Kelli Richards April 2, 2012

Kelli is thrilled to interview Jim Griffin, entertainment tech visionary & one of the sharpest minds in digital music. You can hear the entire interview at Jim Griffin Interview with Kelli Richards.

Jim Griffin is the Managing Director of OneHouse, a company dedicated to the future of music & entertainment delivery.

Jim is focused on accelerating the pace of scholarly research thru collaborative tools and open access to knowledge. He started & runs Choruss LLC, incubated by Warner Music Group, and successfully led the team that built a new model for sound recordings: Sharing music with flat-fee access to unlimited downloads for students.

He also ran the tech dept at Geffen Records for 5 years (distributing the first full-length commercial song on-line, by Aerosmith). He is often a keynote speaker or moderator (Internet Summit, Giga Conference, Comdex, CES, Webnoize…) and lectures at business schools (Harvard, USC, UCLA, Berkeley). He also serves as an expert witness in digital entertainment.

This is a powerful Q&A and well worth the 30 minutes. Comments are definitely welcome!

Life and The Love We Make

Kelli Richards March 16, 2012

Working at the crossroads of music and technology, and being a talent producer for a couple of decades now, I’ve had the opportunity to work with a long list of amazing artists. The most meaningful interactions are often the unscheduled, random conversations that just seem to happen randomly. Some of those occur behind-the-scenes at events like Pollstar, where I got to shoot the breeze with my childhood idol, Davy Jones – who spent that entire conversation asking about my work, my family and sharing his own human, fun-loving side. He was an amazing soul and is definitely missed by all of us, as colleagues, and by me, as a friend.

Sadly, Davey Jones wasn’t the only friend I lost recently.  The amazing Ronnie Montrose also left us after a long struggle with prostrate cancer.  Ronnie was the lead guitarist for the band Montrose, and worked with a long list of great artists, including the Neville Brothers,  Sammy Hagar, Herbie Hancock, Van Morrison, The Beau Brummels, and the legendary Boz Scaggs, among others.  Ronnie and I also met at the Pollstar Awards, where I booked him as a presenter. He was a great guy and we shared several powerful conversations about what he could do in the digital space and we left off looking forward to maybe working together.  Ronnie’s warmth and sincerity are definitely missed, and remembered.

Moments of remembrance seem to be all around me lately.  While I was in New Yorkfor Digital Music East a few weeks ago two colleagues and I visited the 9/11 Memorial – a tough morning for all of us. Afterward, we talked about the amazing love that followed that day, and I shared my experience with Paul McCartney at the Adopt-a-Minefield Concert (a cause supported mightily by the late Princess Diana).

I was privileged to share a personal moment with Sir Paul after he performed “God Only Knows” and “Let it Be” with Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. Paul drove up himself in his black Mercedes before the event and we shared our experiences about many things, including his personal relationship with 9/11. I myself was headed to New York only a few days before 9/11, but cancelled the trip. Had I gone, I was scheduled to return on Flight 93 – the flight that crashed in a field in Pennsylvania.  A million times I have considered this close call with awe and gratitude, to say the least.  Paul shared his own amazing story with me.  He was on his way to London to celebrate his daughter Stella’s 30th birthday that very morning and was literally taxiing on the tarmac at JFK when the first plane hit the North Tower of the World Trade Centre, and when all air traffic was grounded, McCartney’s plane was ordered back to the gate.

Basically trapped in NY, Paul decided over the next few days to create a benefit concert, and the “Concert for New York City” was born. It was graced with a long list of stellar musicians (all personal friends of McCartney), including Elton John, David Bowie, Pete Townshend, Eric Clapton and Mick Jagger, among others. (An amazing documentary by Albert Maysles called “The Love we Make” followed McCartney around New York those few weeks before the concert, which happened only five weeks after the attacks.) One of the most notable moments in the film shows Paul standing on the stage at Madison Square Garden in an FDNY T-shirt. When he sang Yesterday in front of hundreds of firefighters and police officers, most of whom had all lost friends and relatives, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

Some days, I know we’re all led to the tears when we lose someone we love or celebrate difficult anniversaries, but I think Paul McCartney was definitely right when he shared “I just thought we could help with the music.”

Kelli Richards
President and CEO
The All Access Group, LLC

**************************************

Kelli Richards March 12, 2012

 NIC ADLER, The Roxy Rebirth!

I’m very excited about my recent interview Nic Adler on All Access Radio!  Nic is a band manager, promoter, and restauranteur who has been at the helm at the infamous Roxy Theater on the Sunset Strip in Hollywoodfor almost 15 years. He’s also become a leading name in social media, using Facebook and Twitter to revitalize not only The Roxy, but the entire Strip!

Nic is also the co-producer of the Sunset Strip Music Festival, which draws over 30,000 music fans to the city every August and celebrates the Strip’s legacy as it highlights some of music’s newest talent. Nic has definitely blazed his own trail as a social media innovator and entrepreneur. Through his leadership and expertise Nic managed to save the 37-year old Roxy from extinction by revitalizing it with a social media program that has catapulted him to the no. 1 music venue in the world on Facebook and Twitter. He altruistically extended his community-driven program to the neighboring businesses on the Sunset Strip and spearheaded the community collective known as The Social Strip.  He’s been featured in the NY Times, NPR, LA Times and others for his social media insights and accomplishments.  Nic and The Roxy have been the recipient of countless awards over the years including City Beacon Award for West Hollywood, AOL Best Venue in Los Angles, and VH-1 Rock Honors Website of the Year – and we’re happy to have had him as a guest on our show. You can hear the entire interview at https://bit.ly/Nic-Adler-THEROXY.

Sign up for my newsletter to get updates on all of my upcoming interviews.

Kelli Richards
CEO of The All Access Group

NEW DIGITAL ECONOMICS SILICON VALLEY – Executive Brainstorm & Innovation Forum

Kelli Richards March 2, 2012
On March 27-28, 2012 at the Marriott Hotel, Union Square, San Francisco, the next installment of New Digital Economics – ‘New Business Models & Growth Opportunities in a Hyper-Connected World, is coming to Silicon Valley.  The executive brainstorm uses STL Partners’ acclaimed interactive format, ‘Mindshare‘, and includes new research and case studies from today’s converging marketplaces within 4 co-located events: Digital Economy 2.0, Digital Commerce 2.0, Digital Entertainment 2.0 & Digital Things 2.0.

The All Access Group has secured a 50% discount for our members. Simply enter code: VIP3273 on the online registration form or contact the event organiser: miriam.dennis@stlpartners.com for details.

Kelli Richards
President and CEO
The All Access Group, LLC
**************************************

Press Release: Kelli Richards, Expert in Music, Technology and Digital Distribution to Speak at Capital Club

Kelli Richards February 29, 2012

Kelli Richards, Expert in Music, Technology and Digital Distribution to Speak at Capital Club

Cupertino, CA  Kelli Richards, a thought leader in digital music and entertainment, and one of only a few select members of The Futures Agency and Alan Weiss’ Master Mentor Program and Thought Leadership Summit, has been invited to be an esteemed guest and presenter at the Silicon Valley Capital Club.

Located in beautifulSan Jose,California, the Silicon Valley Capital Club is a private business, social and dining club that is truly without rival inSilicon Valley and the surrounding Bay Area. With its spectacular 360-degree views from the pinnacle of theKnightRidderBuilding in the heart of downtownSan Jose, the Silicon Valley Club offers the perfect ambience and well-equipped facilities for both business and social gather.  The Women’s Luncheon Series at the Capital Club highlights women speakers from a variety of backgrounds and industries.  It also provides the opportunity for top business leaders to build strong relationships and develop a network of connections.

Kelli Richards is a true trailblazer in the digital music, entertainment and technology worlds with more than twenty years of senior-level leadership experience.  With a unique talent for connecting innovators in technology with creative leaders in entertainment, Richards is a highly sought-after consultant, mentor, speaker, producer, coach and author, As the CEO of The All Access Group, Richards and her team facilitate powerful strategic business opportunities in digital distribution between technology companies, established artists and celebrities, film studios, record labels, and consumer brand companies to foster new revenue streams and deliver compelling consumer experiences.

Prior to founding The All Access Group, Kelli served in senior roles at Fortune 100 entertainment and technology companies, including Apple Inc., where she launched Apple’s earliest focus on music and drove all music initiatives during her 10 years with the market leader. She also served in senior-level leadership capacities at EMI Music as an A&R exec, and at Silicon Graphics (SGI) where she helped launch Silicon Studio, the company’s entertainment division. She developed PatroNet, the first Internet-based artist subscription service with rocker partner Todd Rundgren in the mid-90s – and helped to launch the entire digital music revolution.

A frequent speaker and panel moderator at digital music and entertainment industry conferences globally, Kelli has also been an acclaimed talent producer of a wide range of award shows, epic concerts, and celebrity fundraiser events for over 25 years.  She co-produced a celebrity fundraiser event to support the UN’s “Adopt-A-Minefield” initiative featuring Paul McCartney, Brian Wilson, Stephen Stills and hosted by Jay Leno. Additionally, she was a 20-year talent producer behind the BAMMIES, and remains a long-time talent executive and co-producer of the annual Pollstar Concert Industry Awards.

Kelli Richards has co-authored two books, including the critically acclaimed “The Art of Digital Music:  56 Artists, Visionaries & Insiders Reveal Their Creative Secrets.”  Her newest eBook, “Taking the Crowd to the Cloud – Social Media for the Music Industry,” reached #1 on Amazon in several categories. A true renaissance woman, Kelli is also a Certified Integrative Life Coach trained under best-selling authors and coaches Debbie Ford and Alan Cohen.  She lives inCupertino,CA in the heart of theSilicon Valley.

# # #

Kelli Richards, CEO
www.AllAccessgroup.com
Email:  Kelli@AllAccessGroup.com

 

 

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David Butler: Investor, Advisor, Designer, Brand Strategist

David Butler brings over 25 years of experience as an investor, advisor, designer and brand strategist to his current role as Vice President of Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Coca-Cola. Joining the company as its first global head of design, David successfully led the design-driven turnaround of an $80M brand, prompting Fast Company to name him a “Master of Design” and Forbes to elect him to their “Executive Dream Team.” Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-david-butler

My Favorite Book of 2015 for Entrepreneurs

December 14, 2015, Inc. These cutting-edge, scalable trends are attracting not only lots of investment, but also great talent — which are two of the key drivers behind any successful startup. Read the entire article here: https://www.inc.com/kelli-richards/my-favorite-book-of-2015-for-entrepreneurs.html

How to Pay Attention to the Whispers When Vetting a Connection?

kinds of distracting, time-consuming, and expensive legal dealings, which were a big drain on my business–and on me, personally.

Though it took a long time, I ultimately prevailed in that case, but it was a painful experience and one I’d like to help others avoid. Trust me, no small business owner needs that kind of angst.

Jay Samit: Disrupt You, Master Personal Transformation (Part II)

There are very few people who have worked as successfully across as many industries as Jay Samit has, and he wanted to share that knowledge and help people on their journey. That is why he wrote the bestseller Disrupt You, Master Personal Transformation, Seize Opportunity, and Thrive in the Era of Endless Innovations. Throughout this book, Jay explores the importance of personal disruption. “You really have to say, what is limiting you in this limitless world?

Jay Samit: Disrupt You, Master Personal Transformation (Part I)

Jay Samit is the CEO of See Change International, a leading multi-screen video services company. A dynamic entrepreneur, Jay is widely recognized as one of the world’s leading experts on disruption and innovation. Described by Wired Magazine as having the coolest job in the industry, he’s raised hundreds of millions of dollars for startups, sold companies to fortune five hundred firms, and has transformed entire industries.

Gail Zappa: Tireless Champion, Wonderful Friend

Gail, the wife of musician Frank Zappa, was a role model and a tireless champion on behalf of her husband and children for many years and has been a protector of Frank’s estate. She was compassionate, extremely smart and creative advocate and champion, and over time, she became an outspoken advocate for artists to retain their rights and their masters.

Spotify Could Go Away Overnight And No One Would Care

November 9, 2015, Hypebot.com Although Spotify was able to get its foot in the door early, the presence of companies like Apple Music, Amazon Prime, and others means that the historically un-profitable streaming service either needs to find away to differentiate itself from the competition or risk crashing and burning. Read the entire article here: http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2015/11/spotify-could-go-away-overnight-and-no-one-would-care-.html?curator=MusicREDEF

Spotify Could Go Away Overnight And No One Would Care

Although Spotify was able to get its foot in the door early, the presence of companies like Apple Music, Amazon Prime, and others means that the historically un-profitable streaming service either needs to find away to differentiate itself from thecompetition or risk crashing and burning.

Cynthia Kersey, the Unstoppable Woman

So few people really take the risk to live their dreams, play full out with passion & commitment, and create true impact and legacy during their time on the planet. Cynthia Kersey is definitely one of those rare individuals. Cynthia is the Chief Humanitarian Officer of the Unstoppable Foundation (hyperlink?), whose mission is to ensure that every child on the planet receives access to the life-long gift of education. Just read that sentence a few times and stand in awe, right? That’s a mission worth getting out of bed for each morning!

Influencers on a Plane: 3 Ways to Strike Up Great Conversations

Whether you meet people who end up providing new business opportunities, find great new friends, connect with someone influential, or simply reconnect with established colleagues, with the right mindset, you can improve your business just by striking up a conversation on the road.

3 Signs It’s Time for a (Professional) Breakup

A leader is more likely to feel weighed down by professional negativity and anxiety, which can lead to a loss of self-confidence and reduced productivity–and can even bring the business to a grinding halt.

What’s the Difference Between a Coach and a Mentor?

October 15, 2015, Forbes Women We hear a lot about coaching and mentoring — for good reason. As Zig Ziglar famously said, “A lot of people have gone further than they thought they could because someone else thought they could.” Read the entire article here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/ellevate/2015/10/15/the-difference-between-a-coach-and-a-mentor/

Why It Pays to Identify and Approach Mentors in the Professional ‘Cafeteria’

October 7, 2015, Entrepreneur At times, the workplace “cafeteria” resembles a middle-school lunchroom, with heightened stakes and competitors striving for power in lieu of popularity. Who sits where, and why? Read the entire article here: https://www.entrepreneur.com/growing-a-business/why-it-pays-to-identify-and-approach-mentors-in-the/249748

Rob Tercek: Speaker, Innovator, Strategist

  Robert Tercek’s unique views on managing innovation are sought by organizations around the world. His motto is “Inventing the Future.”  He is passionate about inspiring audiences to seize their own destiny by thinking creatively and taking decisive action. Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/category/Technology  

How Amazon Shows the Need for a Tech Industry Workforce Revolution

September 18, 2015, Inc. Business is not about being cutthroat anymore; it’s time for the tech industry to re-evaluate the perks being offered to workers. Read the entire article here: https://www.inc.com/kelli-richards/how-amazon-shows-the-need-for-a-tech-industry-workforce-revolution.html

4 Characteristics of Trailblazing Entrepreneurs

September 4, 2015, Inc. Trailblazers don’t just see a need in the market — they create new markets, and they forge their own paths to get where their outsized visions tell them they need to go. Read the entire article here: https://www.inc.com/kelli-richards/4-characteristics-of-trailblazing-entrepreneurs.html

The Art of Taking Vacation for Entrepreneurs

August 14, 2015, Inc. Although circumstances will understandably make it challenging to get away sometimes, the point is not just to get away physically, but to also distance yourself mentally.

4 Ways a Great Advisor Can Protect Your Investment

August 7, 2015, Huff Post Women Last year marked the highest annual total of venture capital funding since 2001, and with $47.3 billion in investments, this represents a 62 percent year-over-year growth. Read the entire article here: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/4-ways-a-great-advisor-ca_b_7957254/amp

Wearable Technology – Where Fashion & Fitness Converge

Think of the obvious first, like fashion electronics. Whether it’s FitBit or the Apple Watch that just hit the scene, or Jawbone, or any of these things that are now considered fashion accessories – but they are primarily fitness accessories that give you information in real time about what’s happening with your body and your activity level.

Why Advisors Are Worth Your Equity (and How to Find a Good One)

July 24, 2015 Inc Magazine Think of these advisors as business sherpas: People more experienced than you who help you navigate and climb the startup mountain. Read the entire article here: https://www.inc.com/kelli-richards/why-advisers-are-worth-your-equity-and-how-to-find-a-good-one.html

Jim Griffin

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-jim-griffin

Nick Adler

“This is a quote by Nick Adler” Nick Adler single handedly saved the Hollywood Sunset Strip and saved way more than The Roxy. Listen here for the story! Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-qa-nic-adler-of-sunset-strip-music-festival

Tom Keifer

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://jeeni.com/track/kelli-richards-interviews-tom-keifer-of-cinderella

Tom Silverman

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-tommy-boys-ceo-tom-silverman

5 Secrets to Building High-Yield Partnerships

Forming strategic partnerships not only creates a powerful reciprocal network, but also propels you toward your goals, exposes you to new insights and optimizes the time and energy you invest in relationships. And these advantages work both ways.

Michael Solomon

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-michael-solomon

Will Tidal Make Waves In The Music Industry Or Get Washed Out?

May 25, 2015 Tech Crunch In late March, when a group of A-list musicians gathered in Manhattan to show support for Jay Z’s new music streaming service, Tidal, expectations were sky-high. Read the entire article here: https://techcrunch.com/2015/05/25/will-tidal-make-waves-in-the-music-industry-or-get-washed-out/

Greg Estes

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-greg-estes

Wild Bill Stealy

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-interviews-jw-wild-bill-stealey

How to Make Money By Talking to Cool People

According to a survey KnowledgeStorm and Universal McCann conducted, 65% of business and IT professionals listen to podcasts for personal and business purposes, and 60 percent interviewees said whitepapers and analyst reports would be more attractive in podcast form.

4 Ways to Make the Most of Your Mentor-Mentee Relationship

In a climate where there’s no free lunch, it’s easy to assume there’s a hidden catch. But if you feel this way, it’s because you don’t understand how mentorship helps your mentor. Did you know that training and advising mentees is a powerful way for your mentor to gain leadership skills and team-building experience? And that mentees often help their mentors understand things in new ways through feedback, communication, and interpersonal skills?

Streaming and Beyond: Apple Will Lead the Way to the Next Music Experience

Listeners now control the entire experience. We can listen to our favorite artists or songs at any time and on any device. Streaming has even made the listening experience social. Services such as Spotify are integrated with Facebook, allowing listeners to see what their friends are listening to in real time, making it easy to discover new music.

Peter Bregman

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-peter-bregman

Is It Time to Spring Clean Your Business? Here’s How to Do It

April 3, 2015, Inc. Spring cleaning is about starting fresh. By applying this mindset to your business, you can return your business to a healthier, livelier, and more profitable state in no time. Read the entire article here: https://www.inc.com/kelli-richards/is-it-time-to-spring-clean-your-business-here-s-how-to-do-it.html

Can Apple’s Interactive Digital Music Solution Refresh the Music Industry?

Few artists are likely to follow in U2’s footsteps with the same strategy after the backlash from iTunes users, but when a challenge emerges in the market, we can always look to Apple to lead with the most creative solutions. The “Songs of Innocence” maneuver was Apple showing its hand: The solution to diminishing music sales could be an interactive digital music approach.

Dr. Judith Orloff, New York Times Best-Selling Author

Transforming the face of psychiatry, Judith Orloff MD asserts that we are keepers of an innate intuitive intelligence so perceptive that it can tell us how to heal — and prevent — illness.Yet intuition and spirituality are the very aspects of our wisdom usually disenfranchised from traditional health care. Dr. Orloff is accomplishing for psychiatry what physicians like Dean Ornish and Mehmet Oz have done for mainstream medicine — she is proving that the links between physical, emotional, and spiritual health can’t be ignored. Dr. Orloff is a New York Times bestselling author and is on the UCLA psychiatric clinical faculty. She specializes in treating empaths and sensitive people in her Los Angeles based private practice. She has spoken at medical schools, hospitals, the American Psychiatric Association, Fortune Magazine’s Most Powerful Women Summit, and alternative and traditional health forums — venues where she presents practical intuitive tools to doctors, patients, and everyday people. In response to her work, The Los Angeles Times calls Dr. Orloff “a prominent energy-based healer.” Dr. Orloff’s latest book “The Empath’s Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People” (Sounds True, 2017) is an invaluable resource to help sensitive people of all kinds develop healthy coping mechanisms in our high-stimulus world without experiencing compassion fatigue or burnout. Then empaths can fully embody their gifts of intuition, creativity, and compassion. Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-dr-judith-orloff

Turn Up Your Volume: 5 Big Moves Entrepreneurs Can Learn From Music Moguls

When you think about it, there are multiple ways that the music industry reflects what you’re trying to accomplish as an entrepreneur. Music rewards innovation and originality–finding “the next big thing” is a mantra you both share–and you both aim to immerse customers in rich and compelling experiences, right?

Peter Dekom

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-peter-dekom-0

5 Critical Lessons in Mergers and Acquisitions From the Apple-Beats Deal

Mergers and acquisitions are notoriously complicated, clumsy, and fraught with bad feelings when they’re not executed carefully and strategically. Often, leaders fail to communicate, which derails productivity and leaves employees worried about their jobs. Companies also tend to struggle to manage customer integration, branding, and media relations during the transition.

Alan Weiss

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-alan-weiss

How to Harness Power Like a Celebrity

While there is such a thing as “overnight success,” most celebrities work hard over a long period of time to reach their powerful status. Here are three strategies of the stars that business professionals can use to make a difference in the world and do things that truly matter to them:

The Super Connector’s Guide to Making Powerful Business Introductions

As an entrepreneur, you understand the importance of having a strong network. What many people don’t understand is that it’s not always who you know, but what you do with those connections, that matters. Throughout my career, my extensive network in Silicon Valley has allowed me to create intros for startups seeking funding for their ventures and secure celebrities like Jerry Seinfeld for corporate events. But I haven’t done this by connecting with a bunch of random people on LinkedIn; I’ve nurtured these relationships through the power of reciprocal networking. If you aren’t actively looking for ways to make valuable introductions for your connections, your network isn’t as strong as it could be. Here are a few ways to make winning introductions that will lead to lucrative long-term opportunities for you and your connections. How to Make a Powerful Business Introduction When you start making business introductions in person, it can feel a bit awkward. But the key to a successful connection is a clear understanding of what each individual has to gain from the relationship. If your connections don’t see an advantage to meeting the people you suggest, they’ll be skeptical of your intent. A proper business introduction immediately erases confusion among mixed groups of people. It sets the stage for respectful interactions and eases the otherwise uncomfortable first conversation. Always introduce the person with more authority first. Adding explanatory statements after saying each person’s name will also get the conversation flowing naturally and provide context. These can be simple statements such as their job titles. When introducing one person to a group, announce that person’s name and identifier, and introduce each group member in the order they’re sitting or standing. Connecting people who offer complementary services is a great way to promote mutually beneficial relationships. You can also offer to let people you respect sift through your LinkedIn connections and facilitate these meetings to add value. Tips for Navigating the Uncomfortable Email Introduction Making introductions in person usually feels less forced than sending emails out of the blue, but it’s not always feasible to get the two people you want to connect in the same place at the same time. This is where email introductions come in. When emailing your connections to establish an introduction, make sure you always: Ask for permission first. Explain the value proposition for each party meeting the other, and ask if they’d feel comfortable with you making the connection. Mention whether they’ve met before. People often forget brief meetings, and the reminder can save them some embarrassment. Make haste slowly. Good introductions require careful preparation. Think through how both parties could benefit from each other, and spell it out in an email. Hurried, ill-planned emails can have a negative impact on these burgeoning relationships–and your reputation. Encourage the conversation. You never want to start an email thread, only to receive no response from either party. To avoid this social disaster, urge both people in the email to arrange a time to talk in the near future. Make action steps clear. Be straightforward in your email, and outline what the specific next steps should be. Solid introductions always come down to adding value for other people. When you set up a long-term cycle of promoting mutual wins, you position yourself as a credible and trustworthy business connection. Establishing a reputation for facilitating great relationships is the best way to increase your chances of success, no matter what field you’re in. And as this cycle of reciprocity continues throughout your career, the referrals, invitations, and unique experiences will start pouring in. This article was previously published in Inc.  To your best success,   Kelli Richards, CEO of the All Access Group, LLC   PS: Subscribe to my FREE All Access Group Newsletter https://bit.ly/AAGNewletter   PSS: Listen to an entire library of intimate discussions with industry visionaries https://bit.ly/AllAccessPodcastSeries (Priceless)  

5 Unlikely Music Legends With Great Advice for Entrepreneurs

February 25, 2014, LinkedIn Articles As an entrepreneur, it’s important to keep your ears open for helpful advice — especially when you’re new to the game. Read the entire article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140225155053-9638-5-unlikely-music-legends-with-great-advice-for-entrepreneurs/

Know When to Hold ‘Em, Fold ‘Em, and Walk Away in a Business Deal

In high-stakes poker, managing your emotions is just as important as the hand you’ve been dealt. In order to emerge with your mortgage intact, it’s vital to have an effective poker face.

Business negotiations require a similar approach. Letting your emotions rule your decision-making process can be catastrophic, but failing to seek a win-win situation can be just as dangerous. With that in mind, how can you maintain your cool and, ultimately, your control of the situation?

In this article, Kelli Richards explains how to stay level-headed when the chips are down.

Jeet Singh

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-jeet-singh

How Writing a Book Can Advance Your Career

What’s more, writing a book is a great way to establish you as a credible industry expert. You can create a brand platform for yourself, increase your market value, differentiate yourself from competitors, and discover new ways to grow your authority in your field. But before you can add the title “published author” to your resume, you need to invest some time and energy in planning, crafting, and publishing your unique message–and understanding how the publishing world really works.

Steve Rubel

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-steve-rubel

Roberta Medina

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-roberta-medina

5 Simple Steps to Schedule Your Week for Business and Personal Success

As an entrepreneur, attending to your work is essential for building your business. But creating a balanced life is the key to sustained success in the office and at home. Aim to structure your time so you can meet both personal and professional obligations, then establish, communicate, and maintain healthy boundaries so you can actually live the lifestyle you desire. It’s doable!

6 Surefire Tactics That Will Ignite Client Referrals

January 15, 2015, Inc. Here are six strategic ways to ask for referrals and grow your business exponentially. Read the entire article here: https://www.inc.com/kelli-richards/6-surefire-tactics-that-will-ignite-client-referrals.html

5 Reasons Developing Confidence Is Critical to Your Success

Confidence is essential to your success and that of your business — in fact, it’s vital to everything you do in life. In my own career, confidence has been a pivotal skill and strength I’ve needed every step of the way, especially in the male-dominated tech and music industries.

Just Because You Have 500+ Connections Doesn’t Mean Your Network Is Healthy

January 9, 2015, Inc. The best way to build solid connections is to earn a reputation of being a person who adds value for others in virtually every interaction you have with them.  Read the entire article here: https://www.inc.com/kelli-richards/just-because-you-have-500-connections-doesn-t-mean-your-network-is-healthy.html

12 Affirmations For The Struggling Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs are an optimistic lot. Naysayers might say “naïve.” But they have to be. Odds are against their success, but those who do succeed will provide for their families, solve customers’ problems, and possibly change the world in a big way.The best entrepreneur, therefore, has a healthy confidence that “I’ll be the one person in a thousand who makes it big.”

4 Things You Can Do to Personalize Your Brand Like the Celebs

Between Google and social media, it’s become simultaneously easier and more difficult than ever to maintain your brand image. With a few keystrokes, anyone can learn just about anything about you. On the other hand, if you can cultivate what your audience will find, you can influence your brand image and how others perceive you.

How to Create Your Own Industry to Fit Your Strengths

By leveraging my core strengths and skills and combining my backgrounds in entertainment and tech, I’ve molded my own brand and carved a unique career path for myself. Having been a talent producer for award shows, cause concerts, and celebrity fundraising events for three decades, I’ve developed a very large network, connecting musicians, actors, comedians, and tech innovators with the corporate world to create performances and campaigns.

How Writing a Book Can Advance Your Career

December 12, 2014, Inc. A book can be a powerful tool for advancing your career and establishing yourself as a brand and as an industry leader. Read the entire article here: https://www.inc.com/kelli-richards/why-or-how-writing-a-book-can-advance-your-career.html

The 4 Most Important Reasons You Need to Become a Mentor

When you decide to mentor someone, you really have no way of knowing how far she’ll go. Whether you shape the next great entrepreneur of our time or help someone achieve her dreams, you’ll make a difference–and that’s all that matters.

Ann Wilson

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-ann-wilson-of-heart

5 Reasons Developing Confidence Is Critical to Your Success

December 5, 2014, The Huffington Post Confidence is essential to your success and that of your business — in fact, it’s vital to everything you do in life. Read the entire article here: https://www.ellevatenetwork.com/articles/5870-5-reasons-developing-confidence-is-critical-to-your-success

4 Things You Can Do to Personalize Your Brand Like the Celebs

December 4, 2014, The Huffington Post Between Google and social media, it’s become simultaneously easier and more difficult than ever to maintain your brand image. Read the entire article here: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/4-things-you-can-do-to-personalize-your-brand-like-the-celebs_b_6148030

5 Simple Steps to Schedule Your Week for Business and Personal Success

December 1,2014, Inc. As an entrepreneur, attending to your work is essential for building your business. But creating a balanced life is the key to sustained success in the office and at home. Read the entire article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/5-simple-steps-schedule-your-week-business-personal-success-richards/

5 Conversation Tools For Nurturing Your Relationship With A Mentor

We’ve all longed for a classic mentor-mentee relationship at some point in our careers. We want someone who is savvy and seasoned. We want her to provide the perfect insights and career advice that will help us reach our goals. We want someone who will guide us to our destination.

Cynthia Kersey

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-cynthia-kersey

Michael Van Himbergen

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-michael-van-himbergen

The Secret Weapon of Billionaire CEOs and Wildly Successful People

If you’ve hit a wall, it might be time to hire a business coach. Sometimes no matter how passionate you are about your business, it takes an outsider’s perspective to see where the company is lacking and identify areas for growth. And that additional insight and shift in perspective can take moments but make a huge difference in your results and the outcome.

The 4 Most Important Reasons You Need to Become a Mentor

November 20, 2014, Inc. When you decide to mentor someone, you really have no way of knowing how far she’ll go. Whether you shape the next great entrepreneur of our time or help someone achieve her dreams, you’ll make a difference — and that’s all that matters. Read the entire article here: https://www.inc.com/kelli-richards/the-4-most-important-reasons-you-need-to-become-a-mentor.html

Become an Effective Delegator

Delegation doesn’t come naturally to everyone–especially workaholic entrepreneurs. Recognize your #strengths. Tackle the things you love or do very well yourself, and then #DELEGATE the duties that slow down your productivity or otherwise aren’t a good use of your talents and time. Acknowledge and reward others for their strengths. Delegating is not only a way to decrease your workload it’s a way to channel your productivity and expertise! To read https://www.inc.com/kelli-richards/the-ultimate-guide-to-delegating-for-entrepreneurs-who-hate-delegating.html

How to Create Your Own Industry to Fit Your Strengths

November 7, 2014, Inc. Your new industry has to reflect you because whether you’re a “collaborator genie” or a “green-energy explorer,” you’ve got all the makings of becoming your own unique brand of superhero. Read the entire article here: https://www.inc.com/kelli-richards/how-to-create-your-own-industry-to-fit-your-strengths.html

The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Delegating

Is your to-do list a mile long? Do you spend your day in meetings and bring your work home with you because there aren’t enough hours in the workday? Do you feel as though the weight of the entire company is resting on your shoulders?

4 Ways to Make the Most of Your Mentor-Mentee Relationship

October 31, 2014, Inc. If you’re skeptical about why a mentor would want to partner with a mentee, it may be because you don’t have a plan in place to make it worth her while. Figure out what you have to offer your mentor, and do everything you can to provide that value. Read the entire article here: https://www.inc.com/kelli-richards/4-ways-to-make-the-most-of-your-mentor-mentee-relationship.html

Do you have a strong network, or do you just think you have a strong network?

Do you have a strong network, or do you just think you have a strong network?

Many entrepreneurs believe it’s who you know that matters, but what’s even more important is what you do with the people you know. By working to introduce and connect your connections, you can build a more lucrative network that can lead to further opportunities for you. By establishing a reputation as an effective facilitator of great relationships, you increase your chances of success.

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