The think (here) Blog

If you are a new/struggling entrepreneur or simply need help getting that idea off the ground, maybe it is time you think more like a "t(h)inker".  With that in mind, Tt(h)B is proud to introduce the first "Featured t(h)inker": Bradley Will. 

From his website:

Bradley Will is the founder of Social Media Altitude and a self-proclaimed “gnarly entrepreneur”.  Finding himself sick of the traditional “interruption” marketing approach to business, he was drawn to social media, visualizing the potential to create and engage communities.

In addition, he recently kicked off his latest project Unstrapp'd with this post (just one day before Tt(h)B's first post).  Bradley is the perfect example of what it means to be a "t(h)inker" and the community he has created is a perfect reflection of that.

As you will see, Bradley's unique perspective coupled with the drive and ability to actually get things done has served him well.  With so many self proclaimed "marketing gurus", "web2.0 experts" and "social media evangelists" creating nothing but noise in the blogosphere, it is refreshing to find an entrepreneur who actually has the experience and is willing to share without bombarding his community with spam. 

Below is the transcript of an email interview with Bradley from Nov. 20 in its entirety.

T(H)- What are the three most influential books that challenged the way you think as an entrepreneur?

Bradley- 1. The Go-Giver by: Bob Burg and John David Mann
2. Aspire! Discovering Your Purpose Through The Power Of Words by: Kevin Hall
3. The Power of Now by: Eckhart Tolle

What are your two most effective brainstorming techniques?
Taking a shower or going for a run. I usually think the best when I am involved in some sort of activity. Otherwise, I like to use mindmaps. They help me organize my thoughts in the way I think…randomly.

When and where are you most productive? Why?
I am most productive in the evenings and under pressure. When I have a deadline, I always get the job done. Also when working in groups. I love it because we can achieve so much more and there is a sense of accountability where you cannot let the team down.

What do you think is the next big trend in the business world?
Caring and transparency. I think the social web is forcing that upon us and will cause many businesses to be exposed. Also, I think the crowdsourcing concept is fascinating, like what Threadless and 99designs have put together.

What do you think is the next big trend in the Social Media world?
Going mobile. I am not as big on following the trends, as I should be. I think having smart phones and the ability to produce content from wherever becoming mainstream will be the future. And what if we could send tweets from our phones without even typing, instead talking. That would be cool and make us even more lazy. “Man can’t this guy keep it under 140 characters?”

As an entrepreneur, what tool do you wish you used more or utilized better?
My ears. I spent a lot of my life as a know it all. I realized that you we should never miss a good chance to shut up. By throwing your hands up and saying I know nothing at all allows us to continue to learn and grow. There are so many people out there willing to teach their secrets. The funny thing is that we go around thinking we already know what we are doing and repel the very people that could help us. Listening is totally underrated.

Have you ever "Scuttled the Boats"? What was the outcome?
Oh yeah, I did a 5-figure social media course launch without having a course. Not that I didn’t know what I was doing, because I have been teaching it for a while. It was just all in my head. We developed the lesson plan as we went along. Pre-sell people. Pre-sell.

What entrepreneurs are on your radar?
Gary Vaynerchuk & Carlos Marin
I always am keeping my eye on young entrepreneurs. You may not think I am watching, but I am. I am always looking to support great talent.

Who do you think is changing the face of business, as we know it?
Gary Vaynerchuk flat out. If you don’t know him, go watch my interview with him and you will see why.

What is the one thing entrepreneurs should t(h)ink more about?
Entrepreneurs should think less and take more action. Paralyzation by analyzation is a deadly disease. We get caught up in our own thoughts thinking if it is a good idea or not and it will just end up passing us by. Carlos Marin always says to me, “sloppy success is always better than perfect mediocrity.”  I think the ability to adapt is a million times more important than perfection.

Thanks for your time!

Great Questions Jason. Thanks!

If you, or someone you know, is a shining exapmle of what it means to be a "t(h)inker" and would like to be considered for a position as a "Featured t(h)inker" contact Tt(h)B by email at jmarkow (at) gmail (dot) com [use subject: "t(h)inker"] or by phone (using the "Get Connected" feature hosted by Google in the upper right hand corner of this page).