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UPDATE: We raised around $2500 on the night of the dinner and online. Thank you for your support.

Okay this is really last minute, but if you can make it everyone wins!

Tonight, October 23, 2007 from 4 pm to 10 pm, Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano (Salt Lake City, UT) is holding a benefit dinner and anyone can attend.

They will be serving Spaghetti Pomodoro with a salad for just $10 and all the money will be going to this young family. They will also be accepting donations to help with medical costs.

About two weeks ago a close friend of our family was paralyzed in a car accident in Salt Lake City, Utah. He is permanently paralyzed from the chest down. He’s the father of two (with one more due in 2 weeks), they’re twenty-somethings, recently married, and in need of your help.

Today, The Morning Zoo on 97.1 ZHT radio announced the benefit — THANK YOU.

Anyone is welcome. All are invited. Blog it. Email it.

Thank you for your support.

Join us this Thursday, September 27 for our monthly Blogger Dinner.

It’s free. It’s fun. And first-timers are always welcome.

Where:

Applebees
123 E. 12300 S.
Draper Utah
(801) 495-4460

Blog it. Invite You List. Show up.

I received a tweet (from my twitter group) that Guy Kawasaki was speaking in Utah thanks to Doba.com so I immediately looked into it, confirmed my availability, punched in my credit card (from my mobile - [nice touch Doba

The next morning I received a call - caller id says it’s from Doba.com. I found this interesting considering I don’t do business with them. So I answered assuming it was a confirmation call only to find a young-sounding, very scattered voice asking me if he could answer any questions about Doba.com and what my interest was in their website.

I was shocked, to be honest. I’ve heard great things about Doba, having never dealt with them before. Keep in mind it wasn’t that they called me or even that they would want to introduce their business to me - I’m a business owner so I understand how marketing works. I just didn’t expect Doba to assume I had signed up “for more information” when I had actually paid to hear Guy speak. They had no idea who I was (or why I was on their list) and it seemed very unprofessional. To say nothing for the fact that the caller was so confused that it left both of us speechless. It was very awkward.

Then this morning two more tweets come across that Doba is spamming those who signed up for Guy’s talk. I never received an email, but maybe my awkward phone call prompted Doba to soft-sell through email - an even worse approach IMO.

I only write this blog to make sure that Doba hears about it - I know you’re listening.

I’m not anti-Doba, and I’m excited to hear Guy speak. You should probably sign up as well cause it’s only $10. Visit here for more.

To be clear, I still hear great things about Doba and I know they intended for good things. I just believe they failed miserably.

The first Utah Facebook Developers Garage has just ended and it was very informing and mind-boggling.

Thanks to all involved, Phil Burns for putting it together, Twelve Horses for sponsoring and providing the room, Richard K. Miller, Jesse Stay, and Joseph Scott for presenting, and everyone for the pizza, snacks, and Dr. Pepper.

Join us next time by following the Facebook Developers Garage or contact Phil Burns.

As many of you know, Phil801 and I had our head shaved by Seth Godin back in May. For a few days I played with the idea of keeping my head shaved since I was getting compliments on how it looked. Of course, most of those where from people who knew me and were probably just being nice. Plus my wife was anxious for my hair to grow back. She didn’t like my new look.

The morning after the Seth Godin event, I received an email from Todd Greene, Owner of Head Blade, of which Seth mentioned in our video. Todd heard from Seth and had already seen our videos on YouTube (all within about 14 hours of the event). I love Web 2.0.

Anyway, he was writing to see if I needed anything and to thank me for the mention in my blog, YouTube post, flickr account, etc.

I wasted no time in writing back and asking for some swag. I love swag. Especially cool swag. And these guys have cool swag. Anyway, he responded and a box arrived the next week. However, I let it sit all this time because I’ve been busy (and since I didn’t keep my head shaved) I wasn’t able to use most of the product.

All this time I intended to give it to people who would actually use it, but I wanted pictures of it all and a blog about it first. After all, Todd deserves it for being so great in getting on the ball and reaching out to us.

Since tonight is our monthly Utah blogger dinner, I’m bring the Head Blade swag to share with my fellow Utahns. The razor is going to Thom, who shaves all the time, and stickers, pens, and head lube for everyone (those who need it), but the bag and t-shirt are going to James.

Thanks again to all involved. This was truly a killer experience! Thanks to Todd (Head Blade) for being so cool. Thanks to Seth for being… well… Seth.

After a couple months off, we’re finally getting a bunch of bloggers together again to recap Summer 2007.

Come join us this Thursday, July 26 at 6 pm at:

Goodwood BBQ
133 E 12300 S
Draper, UT 84020
(801) 495-4840

A new restaurant this month after several requests for new food.

• Overwhelmed
• Too many ideas; not enough time
• Embarrassed to find my wife blogs more than I do
• Redesigning my redesigned Brides Club site and adding new features
• Creating and proposing several ideas for Brides Club; trying to make one stick
• Setting up a new corporation
• Working to find off-shore workers; or at least cheap labor on Elance
• So far, I’m impressed with Elance
• Studying Craigslist for marketing purposes.
• Fighting blog spam and installing new plugins
• Shopping for a new car
• Making final family vacation plans
• Getting ready to have my 3 nephews in town for 10 days
• Hey, I even rode my bike this week.

Seeing Seth Godin in Utah was excellent and I recommend meeting this man someday. He was here to promote his new book, The Dip, and shared his great insights with us in Q & A afterward.

The WordMob street team did a great job and the event was very well organized considering we’re all volunteers.

First: a big thanks to Seth for shaving our heads.

I have so many things I want to share, and I hope I don’t leave anything out.

Read the notes, reviews, and recaps, of yesterday’s meeting:

• The Main Event of the day - Seth Godin in Salt Lake City
• Yin and Yang: the (almost) catastrophe with Seth Godin
• Seth Godin: The Dip
• Follow Up To Seth Godin’s Visit
• Follow-up on Seth Godin (& Networking) From Yesterday
• Utah Bloggers Chime in on Seth Godin’s Visit
• My Wish Came True: Meeting Seth Godin
• Great afternoon with a marketer that doesn’t lie
• Review: Seth Godin in the Salt Palace
• Seth Godin Goes On a Balding Rampage in Salt Lake City

Big thanks to our sponsors:

• Twelve Horses
• Overstock.com
• Bateman IP Law Group
• Backcountry.com
• Connect Utah

Check out Head Blade, as Seth mentioned in the above video, for all your head shaving tools and creams. Also this great video, HeadBlade’s Top Ten Reasons why Britney shaved her head.

I’m sure there’s more information to come and you can always check out Tag Jungle to follow the blog storm.

Lastly see the final photos of my shaved head.

UPDATE: Seth Godin After Party in Salt Lake City, Utah

I spent all morning passing out flyers, talking to people about Seth Godin and getting new stickers for my car to promote the event here in Salt Lake City, Utah.

We have been able to get the word out in a big way and hundreds of people have pledged and are planning to be at the event. But we have more room and we’d love to fill the Salt Palace for Seth Godin.

Go to wordmob.com for more details.

Last night we held yet another Utah blogger dinner in Draper, Utah. There were 12 in attendance and a few others who couldn’t make it at the last minute. You know who you are.

We completed geeked it when Phil pulled out his extension cord and surge protector and ran it down the middle of the table because he had been on the road all day.

We talked about so many things from business and politics to raising children and education to business and personal goals to business practices and seo. It was so interesting that many of us were there until 10:30 pm. Of course, the others would have stayed if they could have, right?

For anyone reading this, please join us next time.

Here’s the details:

WHO: Everyone is invited

WHAT: Bring any discussion on your mind

WHEN: The 4th Thursday of each month

WHERE: Applebees in Draper, Utah (on 123th just off I-15)

WHY: For fun, duh.

TIME: 6:00 pm

EXCEPTION in May 2007: We’re looking to have Seth Godin in town (read: Seth Godin to Shave Heads in Utah in May 2007 and 13 Reasons Seth Godin Should Come to Utah) and may substitute our monthly dinner for that event. Please pledge today to hear Seth speak in Utah.