A moment comes in ones life where we need to stop and reflect. Asking questions like, “where we’ve been, where we’re going, and what needs to change” are all good things to ponder. The last twelve months my life has had it share of ups and downs, leaving me with the feeling of not knowing what is right side up.

Here is a recap of top 6 events that has affected my professional career over the last year.

(1) Baby on the way, due next month, 9/14
(2) Attempted to remake our company brand, Integral Impressions, but later ‘we’ decided against it.
(3) Started SDBloggers meetup, and watched it grow to over 150 members
(4) Seriously pondered moving to San Francisco, but decided to stay in San Diego
(5) Founded another startup, helped secure funding, and resigned 8 weeks later
(6) Parted ways from long time business partner Chris Abad

With all these recent events leaving me somewhat discombobulated, I thought I would seek therapy the best way I know how, by blogging.

Here goes… oh, and excuse the lack of organization and jumbled sentence structure. (If you’ve read any of my previous work, you’re probably used to it by now).

Given these recent changes, I feel more confident than ever in the direction my career and company are headed. None of this would be possible without support from all of you. I must thank my family, friends, and colleagues for continuing to be the foundation I build my ideals upon.

These last 12 months have taught me more than any other year in business. I’ve learned key lessons that I am convinced, can’t be taught, but rather experienced. Here are just a few I’d like to share:

* Community matters
If you are building a website, product, application, or just playing with Lego’s, you need to build a community around your creation. If you don’t know why, you should add the following bloggers to your reader: Community Guy, Jennifer Van Grove, or Chris Brogan.

* The difference between venture funded startups and self funded companies is focus.
VC funded companies are focused on adoption and growing the user base, while trying to figure out a way to make a profit. Self funded startups are focused on cash flow and profits while trying to figure out a way to grow adoption.
I like the politics of the later, even though it means self funding often leads to slower growth rates, and limits the pool of ideas you can pick from. A blog that I really like that touches on this dichotomy is TonyWright.com

* How becoming a new father affects your perception of business
If you’re a Dad, you know what I am talking about. If not, I won’t bother explaining it to you. Here is a hint though: sleep, stress, love, and leadership.

* The importance of a leader
You can’t have management by committee. All organizations need one leader to exercise their best judgement and make strong decisions. Too many cooks in the kitchen means that no one eats! Not even the cooks.

* The power of bloggers and blogging
I find it odd that I have gotten more out of blogging than ever before, at the same time the influencers talking about how blogging is dying. For me blogging has been my ‘foot-in-the-door’ for just about every door I’ve wanted to pry open. Ideas form, get vetted, and implemented, via my blog- and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

* Social media is really about sharing experiences
I’ve been seeing a divide between the early adopters that use the latest social networks, and, lets says, the people that use MySpace. All of us share a common bond of wanting to share our experiences with others. At times, some of us even ‘over-share’. Either way, I’d like to see the classic ‘Ford vs. Chevy’ pissing contest die, as it relates to social media/networks. Don’t be elitist because you use Facebook or Twitter and others don’t or won’t. The world has much bigger issues to address. Like how to shut up Loren Feldman. Thinking about social media as shared media has been a big eye opener for me.

Thanks for reading this and allowing me to share my thoughts with you. As my knowledge and network continues to grow everyday, and my experience along with it, I am fueling my drive to chase the next plateau of my career. If you have a similar story you’d like to share over coffee, I am always interested in listening and meeting new people. Just hit me up: matt@integralimpressions.com or post a comment on my blog.

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Apparently StartUp Weekend got some pretty good press coverage over the weekend. They were on the Nightly News and CNBC.

These characters look very familiar. = ) It was like Internet buzzword bingo: Entrepreneurship 2.0, iPhone App, Ruby Conf, Google, eBay, VC

If you’d like to see StartUp weekend in San Diego, please be sure you vote for our city.

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According to wikipedia:
The concept of “Money Dance” is that the male guests pay for the privilege of dancing with the bride. Customarily, the best man begins dancing with the bride, pinning money onto her wedding gown or putting it into a purse, which she carries especially for the purpose.

Here are my 5 reasons why the ‘money dance’ is similar to raising VC funds for your company:

1. You’re never sure how long to dance or how much to give
2. You either get way too much money, or not enough… it is rarely just right
3. No one really wants to do the money dance, but it is very necessary to pay for the ensuing honeymoon and start up expenses of your relationship
4. People wait a long time for this day and when it comes, some tend to focus on the little things that stress you out and not the big picture
5. A line begins to form of participants willing to give you money, but only after you get a couple donations rolling in

Those who’ve raised venture capital know that there is a careful ‘dance’ you need to choreograph. At some point, you will have to jump out of your comfort zone, all the while, you’ll need to act natural. Good luck not stepping on anyone’s toes!

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Thanks to all our San Diego Tweeps that joined us for the #SDBloggers MeetUp.

• @nrek – Enrique Gutierrez
• @viss – Dan Tentler
• @jbruin – Jenn Van Grove
• @gwaveconsulting – Melani Gordon
• @gebl – Gabriel Lawrence
• @declan – Declan Flemming
• @richandcreamy – Richie Edquid
• @tonybalsamo – Tony Balsamo
• @mokolabs – Patrick Crowley
• @dominicdamian – Dominic Damian
• @hober – Ed O’Connor
• @kirinqueen – Erin O’Connor
• @ducksnorts – Geoff Young
• @mattsurfs – Matt Browne

Watch San Diego Tweepsfor info regarding the #SDTweetup.

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