Review: The Art of Entrepreneurship - Toronto 2014

Live it. Dream it. Do it.

The following are closing remarks curated by our host, Ron Tite based on the presentations by Eric Ryan, Chris Guillebeau, Debbie Travis, Alexis Ohanian, and Gary Vaynerchuk at The Art of Entrepreneurship in Toronto.

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Be in the right place. At the right time. With the right offer.

What a day. We learned that business – aka selling shit – is about depth. We learned that Entrepreneur is French for “Has ideas. Does them.” It’s  someone who will work 24 hours a day for themselves opposed to working 1 hour a day for someone else. But that dedication isn’t enough. How do you start it? How do you build it? How do you grow it?
Start with what you have. Coming up with great ideas is easy. Coming up with your values is easy. Writing down what you want to do is easy. Doing it and sustaining it is entirely different. Ideas are worthless. Execution is everything. And luck, my friends, has nothing to do with it.

Freedom is what we want and value is how we achieve it. And you don’t need to open a factory, just open your laptop.

Don’t play house. Find your passion. Figure out if you have a good idea.
Surround yourself with the best. After all, others can steal your ideas or steal your products. But they can’t steal your culture. And they can’t steal your relationships.

Admittedly, no one has any idea what they’re doing. So just… trust your gut. Be authentic. Be helpful. Be balanced. Be happy.

• Be in the right place. At the right time. With the right offer.
• Market in the year you live in.
• Have a sense of humour.
• Think “yes and”, not “yes but…” And on that note, say yes to the doughnut.
• Don’t care about your competition. Care about your people.
• Reality isn’t a solution. So…
• Embellish. Lie. Hustle.
• Create from scratch.
• Make great stuff.
• Marry a team player.
• Embrace risk. Embrace mistakes.
• Attack monsters, not villains.
• Experiment with pricing.
• Stay in your lane.
• Protect the daisy.
• Inspire advocates.
• Sleep your way to the top. But remember, sex is like marketing. Only losers pay.
• Keep it weird because weird people change the world.
• We’re all in this together. So let’s all make the world suck less.

Live it. Dream it. Do it.

image courtesy of Mira Budd Photography

Looking fwd to hosting #theartof Entrepreneurship today at the Convention Centre in Toronto. Great lineup + panel.

October 7, 2014

Backstage at #theartof in Toronto. @methodguy (standing next to me) is the opening act, going on in 2 minutes. pic.twitter.com/v0Gn6xKoum

October 7, 2014

"Weird people change the world." - @methodguy #theartof

October 7, 2014

@MktgTalentInc Favourite takeaway thus far = culture is the key from @methodguy @TheArtOf

October 7, 2014

@methodguy Here is your photo :) At @TheArtOf #Entrepreneurship pic.twitter.com/ZeHMZ7kYV8

October 8, 2014

Love focus on psychographic vs demographic @chrisguillebeau #theartof

October 7, 2014

Relationships are your greatest asset. Use strategic giving. | @chrisguillebeau #theartof

October 7, 2014

"Women must be like push-up bras - uplifting and supportive. Make us all look better." @Debbie_Travis #TheArtOf pic.twitter.com/NTISMUU4Vl

October 7, 2014

@Debbie_Travis loved the presentation looking forward to reading #NotGuilty #TheArtOf pic.twitter.com/MUVcv5dsD1

October 7, 2014

so much inspirational energy came out of the audience @TheArtOf Entrepreneurship conference-honoured to be a speaker pic.twitter.com/9GAIMBTcUL

October 7, 2014

Love this from @alexisohanian #theartof #entrepreneur pic.twitter.com/YgDBvDLZGU

October 7, 2014

The second you care about your competition, you stop innovating and start imitating. - @alexisohanian #loveit #soagree #beoriginal #TheArtOf

October 7, 2014

Bane, cats and Beyonce? I'm pretty much in love with @alexisohanian #TheArtOf

October 7, 2014

Gary V. is in the house! #theartof pic.twitter.com/YGVjLWpMeD

October 7, 2014

@garyvee love the fact that you secretly "want to lose it all"! Keeping it real #hustle4life #TheArtOf

Sleep your way to the top. But remember, sex is like marketing. Only losers pay.

October 8, 2014

#TheArtOf living in #Canada. Inspiring #entrepreneurship in my home and native land. See the rise of the strong and free. #truenorth

October 7, 2014

Here you go @alexisohanian - loved ur talk at #TheArtOf! Wonderful meeting a fellow doodler! pic.twitter.com/6Jf2AFGEl9

October 7, 2014

Had a blast @TheArtOf. U were an awesome, maplesyrup-scented crowd, #Toronto. Great to finally see @garyvee operate! pic.twitter.com/GN5GPErQ2g

October 9, 2014