Chapter 11 Bankruptcy is something that many companies have faced over the past few years especially with the change in the economy. The grueling process is not easy, very tedious, and one mistake could cost you. Logan and Company formed in 1990 understanding the serious lack of resources that existed. Doing what an entrepreneur does best, Kate Logan found something that was missing. It was an area that she could capitalize on and has been doing so wildly successfully for over two decades. We asked Logan a few questions to learn more about Logan and Company, what success means to her, what makes her passionate about it, some advice for aspiring entrepeneurs and lots more. Enjoy!

How did you decide to open Logan and Company and when? Explain what Logan and Company is exactly.

In 1989 I had been working for a turnaround consulting firm for about five years, and was feeling very burned out. I decided to make a change, so I quit and took some time off. After a few months of catching up on sleep, soul searching and speaking with former colleagues I decided that I would open my own company in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy field. Logan & Company provides administrative services to debtor-in-possession Chapter 11 corporations, doing what the Bankruptcy Court system used to do before the age of the mega-cases. We act as agent of the Court, docketing claims, noticing creditors and tabulating the ballots of the Plans of Reorganization, among other things.

What are your goals for Logan and Company?

We recently celebrated our 20th Anniversary in 2010. My goals for the company now are very different that they might have been five or ten years ago. As the bankruptcy field has changed over the last twenty-five years, I have worked hard to adapt and keep up with the technological changes that are inherent in any 21st century company. Now, as Chapter 11 seems to be changing once again, even perhaps being on the downward slope, I am looking at the future of being a service provider in wider field of information technology. What has made Logan successful is constantly adapting to the rapidly changing environment of corporate finance, troubled companies and technology. I suspect that the Logan & Company of ten years from now will not resemble the company I run today.

How has your initial plan for Logan and Company changed since you founded it?

I don’t know that I had a long term vision of what the company would eventually become. Much of my initial focus was on solving the immediate challenges of what was happening on any given day. I’ve been really good at thinking on my feet by adapting and adjusting our methods as the economic environment shifted, solving problems that could not have been predicted. Although the means by which we provide our services has changed, using ever more advanced technology to get the job done, essentially we are still providing customer service to our clients as best we know how. So although the methods have changed, the goal remains the same: provide the best service in the most efficient cost effective way for troubled companies.

What does success mean to you?

I think success is a multi-pronged thing. At the end of the day, are your clients satisfied, are your employees happy, can you pay your overhead and still have enough to invest in the future? If you can say yes to those questions most or all of the time, I think you can count yourself as successful. And if the monetary benefits that come with success have given you more time to spend with the people in your life, that’s the cherry on top.

Plans to eventually sell Logan and Company?

There have been offers over the years. I guess it comes down to the fact that I like running my own company, being my own boss and being able to structure my own time. I don’t think I could ever work for anyone else again, so if someone offered me a fair value that did not include me going along with them, I would consider it. But I am not ready to retire just yet. Maybe once my children are grown and gone spending more time in the garden will be a possibility.

Why will companies choose Logan and Company over competitors?

I think the relationships we have built in this industry over twenty years have provided us a great reputation. I am always re-encountering people in a professional context that I may have worked with ten or fifteen years ago. And they always remember us well. Which isn’t to say we haven’t made mistakes – which we have learned from – but the bonds you make with people in stressful situations, the late night, caffeine fueled rush to make a deadline – those are things people remember, and have served Logan & Company well.

What about Logan and Company makes you so passionate about it?

I think there is something to be said for building something that has your name on it. When the final analysis is in, whether for good or ill, I can feel proud not just of myself, but of my whole team. We provided services to troubled companies that in most instances were able to get back on their feet, keep their employees working, who in turn provided services to the greater economy. In some instances, we had clients who were old reputable companies that did not survive. I think this happened because they were not able to change their business model and adapt to the times. I’ve seen a broad spectrum of companies in many industries both fail and flourish, so in many ways I feel I have had inner access to the massive shift from a 20th century to a 21st century business model. That has been an exciting thing to witness.

What advice can you offer to an aspiring entrepreneur?

Start with what you know, ask advice from those who know more, and keep reinvesting back into your company. Running your own business will require a lot of your time: late nights, weekends, shortened (if any) vacations. So remember to take time away, enjoy the other aspects of your life, your friends and family. You should enjoy your work and the business you are building, but make sure that’s not all there is to your life. Enjoy your incremental successes and be sure to share that with the people who helped you along the way.

Thank you for the wonderful interview, Kate!!

Civil Twilight is a three-piece rock band from Cape Town, South Africa. Relocating to Los Angeles in August, 2005,  brothers Steve (singer/bass/piano) and Andrew McKellar (guitar), and Richard Wouters (drums) established a significant following on the west coast.  The band’s notoriety has grown organically sharing the stage with acts that have included Evanescence, The Bravery, Amos Lee, The Fratellis and Los Lobos, among others.  The trio recently relocated to Nashville, and has begun touring extensively east of the Mississippi, building a legend as they have in South Africa and Southern California.

Civil Twilight released their self-titled debut album on April 6, 2010 on Wind-up Records.  In early 2009, Wind-up released the album digitally with 11 tracks.  The band recorded an additional three songs for the album to hit stores this spring.  The 14-track album includes their hit single “Soldier” and the iTunes Single of the Week “Letters from the Sky,” which was added to the soundtrack for the 2011 movie ” I am Number Four.”

Civil Twilight’s immersive repertoire is becoming a favorite among music licensing executives and television producers.  Their track “Human” appeared on the post-Super Bowl special episode of House on Fox and on CBS’ Without a Trace.  Additionally, “Letters From The Sky” was featured as the audio-bed for the season finale promo of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles on FOX.  Their songs have also been placed on One Tree Hill, Harper’s Island and across a variety of VH1/MTV shows including Celebrity Rehab.

“There are so many levels to this band and so many bits of their brilliance that draw you into each song individually and don’t let go.”

– Hybrid Magazine

I recently got the privilege to have an interview with band member Richard Wouters:

What is the origin and the significance of your band name Civil Twilight?

We have always been fascinated with flying and aviation imagery. When we were looking for a band name we decided to look through some aviation terminology and we came across the term Civil Twilight. I guess we just liked the sound of it and the imagery attached to it. The idea of being suspended between night and day, not quite dark and not quite light. It happens at dawn and dusk, when the sun is just below the horizon. The beginning of day, or the beginning of night.

 What inspired you all to form the band and make music together/ who are your major music influences?

We started playing together when we were kids back in Cape Town. We weren’t really a band back then but we all knew each other when we started and began writing songs together at an early age. Back then our inspiration was mostly British and American rock bands like Oasis, Radiohead, The Verve, Doves, Muse, The Strokes, Nirvana,The White Stripes and some pop and R&B like Michael Jackson and Lauryn Hill, even some old school jazz. More recently our tastes have broadened to include a more American folk, hip hop, R&B and electronica.

 What has been your favorite show/or favorite venue Civil Twilight has performed at?

I really like performing at the 9:30 club in DC and the TLA in Philadelphia. We always have good shows at those places. Also, the Grand Ballroom and the Fillmore in NYC are great ones.

 Describe the writing process for your music/ do you write your own songs?

Yes, we write our own songs. Steve, our singer, writes some of them on his own and some are more collaborative, where we’ll all get together in a room and play off each other and throw ideas around.

 How has your music evolved since you first started playing together?

Hopefully it’s matured and the lyrics have got better I think. We’re about to make a second album so we shall see. I think the songs will be shorter than on the first album!

 What has been your biggest challenge as a band?

It seems like we’ve had many. Coming to America was a big one. I think staying together is always a challenge for any band, even though we get along pretty well, it’s still challenging working so closely with other people and having to learn to respect everyone’s opinions and ideas even when they differ from your own.

 What is your ultimate direction for the band/ do you have any goals?

Our main goal has always been to make the best music we can and do everything to the best of our ability. We got into this for the love of creating and playing music and we strive to keep that passion alive and bring it to every show. In terms of musical direction, we don’t really have any set ideas… Just keep ourselves excited about what we are creating and believe in what we are saying and doing.

 What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?

Make sure you really love playing music. Find others who are equally as passionate and focus on making music that excites you. Make the music that you want to hear, not what you think other people want to hear.

 Anything you would like to say to your fans?

We think we have amazing fans, we really do. We just finished our first headlining tour of the US and were overwhelmed by the response and appreciation of our fans. So, thank you.

www.civiltwilightband.com

www.myspace.com/civiltwilightband

Letters from the Sky (Official Video)

A graduate from Boston University’s School of Management, Alex Hodara began his real estate career during his freshman year of college. Alex quickly found a niche renting apartments to students of the university, later founding the Hodara Real Estate Group in his junior year.

At 23, Alex and this agency now focus mainly on investment sales and property management. It is through these sales that Alex has become one of the youngest and most successful real estate brokers in the country. Recently, he was named by Bloomberg Businessweek, as one of the “Top 25 Entrepreneurs Under 25.”

Alex has also started a web-series, “Making Moves,” which follows him and his team as they deal with the day-to-day of developing their careers, getting through school, and traveling the country, helping other young entrepreneur’s develop their businesses. “Making Moves” is currently being developed for a reality series and is slated to begin production Fall 2011.

Why get into real estate, especially just having started at a prestigious school like Boston University?

I have always been very entrepreneurial. For example, in high school I started a business where I imported poker chips from China and sold them on a self-made website. When I started classes at Boston University’s School of Management I wanted to put the skills I was learning in the classroom to work, so I decided to get my real estate license. I did not have a car so for showings I actually took a cab each time. I spent about $2500 in cab fares that year and pretty much went broke, but I knew if I stuck with it I would ultimately succeed, which I did. Also, there was this cute girl Megan on my dorm’s floor that I wanted to impress, so I thought having my real estate license would be cool. I was right!

How are you able to broker these sales at such a young age?

I have proven a track record for five years, I have a lot of press to back me up, and most importantly I have found a niche that sells itself. The properties that I am finding for my clients are very high yielding due to high rents and low prices, have low to no vacancy, jointly and severely bound leases, and cosigners. Also, I have an established property management company that manages a multimillion dollar portfolio, so investors can feel at ease that we are not just selling them a property and walking away with a commission, we are managing that property for them and will be held to the returns we are representing.

So how has 2011 been? I know the market is still pretty shaky.

I have sold a little over $14 million of real estate so far, which is more than the yearly totals of the majority of the agents who made the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS “30 Under 30” list.

Why did you create the show, “Making Moves” and where is the show going?

I created to show to inspire entrepreneurs to make moves of their own. We hope to get a show on national TV one day. We have been signed by celebrity talent manager Charles Lago, who manages Josh Flagg from Bravo’s “Million Dollar Listing”, to develop a reality television show based around our story. We are currently in talks with LA based production companies interested in the project, and I’m looking forward to start production this fall.

GetYourBizSavvy has interviewed the entire “Making Moves” team and has followed their web series since the first season. Check out our video interview with the team here.

For more information about Alex Hodara, please visit www.facebook.com/watchmakingmoves or www.watchmakingmoves.com. For press inquiries, please contact Amber Blanchette of Polimedia Entertainment at ablanchette@polimedia.ent.com.

City Pudding is an online magazine gaining a ton of hype and quickly building its brand. The magazine, which is led by a passionate and driven leader, Jason Holzberg, is collaborating with top websites, hosting large events, and definitely making its mark as an online presence. We wanted to sit down with Jason and learn more about him and City Pudding.   In this interview we also learn about the City Pudding business model and why people fail according to Jason. Check out the interview and don’t forget to visit New York Pudding and become a fan on facebook .

Tell us about yourself, your background?

I come from a sales & finance background, but my passion has always been in nightlife promotions and event production. I was highly involved in event coordination for greek life and private events when I was in college at Towson University. My partner Sean Fetcho also comes from an extensive sales background.

Tell us about the City Pudding project?

City Pudding is an evolving hybrid of online magazine, video production and event production company.  Our mission is to supply each city with an evolving source of upscale lifestyle and entertainment. New York Pudding is the first city we had up and running and since then we have built up a team in Miami and we are currently working on Philadelphia and Los Angeles as our next two sites.

What were you doing before this venture? Why did you stop?

Before this venture I was working in private equity & capital leasing projects. It was a very lucrative industry for a while until the recession hit us and then I was forced with a choice…Another position within the finance community or take the bull by the horns and grab hold of my own destiny. And that destiny lies within the Pudding.

What are your goals for City Pudding?

To be in at least 10 major markets within the next 5 years. I believe in the famous adage here that “if it works in NY…it will work anywhere.

If I wanted to start a City Pudding, what are the steps I need to take?

Have a great idea that is unique and don’t stop pushing towards your goals. If you are going to stay online with your business model, you need a talented web programming team that’s creative. Additionally, you need start-up capital, content producers, and a growing network of people that believe in what you are doing and can provide you with constructive yet vital feedback.

What is your business model? How do you monetize what you’re doing?

The business model tree we have has a few different branches. The first one is traditional digital advertising. Display advertising has been a major advertising component for some time, but with the growth of video online, it has opened the revenue possibilities to the pre-roll or video advertisements. Another way we monetize is through our video & event productions. We offer venue reviews that are at superb quality and the ability to market them out across the web. We also produce and host events that are different from our competition. One of which we have coming up is a charity flag football tournament where we raise money for children’s cancer research. The majority of the money goes to beating cancer, but we churn a profit as well to help keep us swimming in pudding.

How have you gotten people interested in City Pudding and grown it?

When we started New York Pudding we were very in touch with our readers as we still are now. We want readers to feel like they can communicate with the people behind the content so that way we know what the people want to see and read. The aspect of the Pudding that has got people hooked in is the videos and the events. People look forward to events we produce which have a track record of being wildly fun, different and economical. Besides the charity flag football we have had a yacht party, numerous nightclub parties, fashion shows and we are currently planning our first annual Pudding Wrestling tournament which will also raise money for children’s cancer.

Why do people fail?

They give up when things get difficult. In the first year or two of a new business things are just really tough. Let me repeat this. The first 12-24 months really are difficult and beyond taxing on your stress levels. But you need to think long term and take on the mentality in the beginning that there is no level of difficulty that is going to set me back. The ancient Greek warriors understood this idea. When Grecian armies landed on their enemy’s shore, the first order the commanders gave was “burn the boats.” And it is just that mentality you have to take on with something like this…no turning back – there will be no surrendering.

What does success mean to you?

To me success means the self-utilization of the most priceless asset in the world…time. To be able to make your own schedule and have that type of career flexibility is priceless. How many people really get to say that? Success means being able to provide your loved ones with timeless moments. I am one of those people that will always have a chip on their shoulder to work harder, be smarter and to overall just get better as a person. My partner Sean who is a close friend along with my business partner is the exact same way, so in that regard there is a strong mutual respect. It’s like Michael Douglas says in the original “Wallstreet”, Greed for life, love, money and success is good.

What advice can you offer to someone stuck in an office hating their job?

Quit tomorrow. No I am just kidding. Everyone needs to make a living and grow their financial security to open up options for themselves in the future, but if you don’t ever take a stab at living your passion…well than you will definitely be full of regret one day in my opinion. You can always find yourself back in that 9-5 office, in a cubicle, taking shit from your manager and breathing the same day-in day-out later on in life if you have too, but why not roll the dice and take a shot at living the dream? Your dream…and that dream is different for everyone. For me and Sean, that dream lies within the growth of the City Pudding empire.

“Our mission at Grows Up is to build a global family-friendly marketplace that supports Mompreneurs and growing businesses everywhere.” - Stephanie Robesky

Entrepreneurs creating businesses to help other entrepreneurs…AWESOME. “Grows Up is an online marketplace that showcases and sells unique, high-quality baby and kids goods – directly from the makers to you.” They carefully select their boutiques from smaller production line manufacturers to give Moms the best variety of original clothing, toys, books, and goods for their children and themselves. It’s a niche concept that really focuses on those entrepreneurs out there with a passion for creating for mothers and their children. The founder, Stephanie Robesky, is an experienced dot commer who has worked at Skype, Sega, and Netscape. We had a brief interview with Stephanie to get a better idea about Grows Up, her experiences, and asked her for some advice for fellow entrepreneurs.  Enjoy…

 How’d you come up with the idea for Grows Up?

 I became interested in the Mommy market when I was looking around and seeing that all of my friends were having children.  I began to notice that there were a lot of Mompreneurs around.  My background is in e-commerce, so I have always had an interest in marketplaces so I thought it would be fun to create a marketplace that is specifically for children’s clothing and goods.

 What are your goals for Grows Up?

To become a destination site for all things kid, including e-commerce and community.  

How has your initial plan for Grows Up changed since you founded it?

There have been several changes in our initial plan.  When we started, we were looking more into the secondary market for used children’s goods and we have changed that plan to focus on the marketplace concept.

What does success mean to you?

Success means to me that we have built a great company and a great product that serves its customers so that they want to keep coming back and also tell their friends about us.

Why will companies choose Grows Up over competitors?

We think that we are uniquely positioned for customers to choose Grows Up over competitors because we are helping to promote other Mompreneurs. We choose our sellers from companies that have their own unique story.  We believe that other Moms will want to support the businesses that we choose because they are sustainable and eco-friendly.  For Moms by Moms!

What about Grows Up makes you so passionate about it?

I am most excited about meeting and helping out the growing business community of women entrepreneurs that we host on the site.  There are so many inspiring stories that they have shared with us and it makes me thrilled to be able to help foster a community that can support them.

What advice can you offer to an aspiring entrepreneur?

My advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is to just get out and do it.  Sometimes when I have thought of all that needs to be done, I have been completely overwhelmed, but I have found that by focusing everything into much smaller, easily achievable goals that really helps to lighten the load on your stress levels.

Please check out GrowsUp.com
Like them on Facebook
Follow them on Twitter

Two New York City guys with a passion for entrepreneurship. Corporate life wasn’t the place for them, so they found an alternative. Evin Schwartz and Drew Austin are the co-founders of Campus Socialite, a fun online source for college students and alumni. We sat down with Evin and Drew to learn more about Campus Socialite and their story. Enjoy…

Tell us about Campus Socialite in your own words.

The Campus Socialite is the perfect mix of bedlam and sophistication that make up college students life’s. I associate this title with the influencers on each campus that spark trends both in and out of the classroom.

When did you start Campus Socialite?

The Campus Socialite was started in May 2009 by myself and my partner Drew Austin. We actually created the site to drive traffic to our companies concierge service for college students. Both of us were writing for the site and working on the concierge service at the same time, after the first month we realized people were really attracted to the college voice we were projecting and shifted complete focus to The Campus Socialite which was one of the hardest moves to make but worked out for the best.

Why did you start it?

Both Drew and I have always had the entrepreneurial mind frame and knew we were not meant for the 9-5 lifestyle. We had the best college experience one can ask for and decided to merge our profession with our passion and thus The Campus Socialite was born. I feel as though I have the best job in the world…my friends constantly remind me of that when they see pictures from our campus events.

What experience did you have working on the web?

Out of college I worked as the Marketing Director for a Real Estate firm. I created all social platforms for the company and got my real first experience in the blogging world which was extremely beneficial when launching TheCampusSocialite.com

Is Campus Socialite your full-time jobs?

Yes, both Drew and I realized how big of an undertaking it was to start a corporation with even bigger dreams of making it what it is today and had to go all in. We were both working corporate jobs in New York and traded that lifestyle in for the entrepreneurial roller coaster which has been the best ride of my life. I have to thank my family and friends who have been extremely supportive throughout the process and could not have done it without them.

Picture from the Blitz and Beatz Tour

What have you done for promotion?

We are constantly throwing campus events around the country with our student ambassadors which has really spread our brand. Our biggest promotion comes every Fall semester with our own campus tour called the Blitz & Beatz Tour. We target the biggest college football games around the country for a twelve week concert and tailgate series. While producing these events we are able to spread our companies brand as well as other companies and products looking to engage the college audience. We have begun planning our 2011 Blitz & Beatz Tour and I can tell you its going to take campus events to an entirely new level.

What are your goals for CampusSocialite?

My goals for The Campus Socialite are simple, when you think college you automatically think Campus Socialite. Within the next five years my ultimate goal is to become one of the major players in the college marketing realm and think we have laid the groundwork to meet that goal.

If you were given 1 million dollars right now, what would you do with it?

Is that an offer from GetYourBizSavvy? Honestly, I would allocate a good portion of it towards staffing the company with experienced employees. The rest would be used for some internal technology which we feel we would see a huge return from if properly funded, but your going to have to put up the money to find out what it is.

Why do people fail?

I can’t speak for most people because failure really depends on each individuals situation in life. I know for a young company like ours, learning on the fly and overcoming past mistakes have presented the biggest challenge. I believe if you can not learn from past mistakes failure is imminent.

What does success mean to you?

Success to me means waking up everyday and being truly excited for what lies ahead and ending the day knowing that you made a difference in some way. If you are happy with your lifestyle it doesn’t matter if you sell sun glasses on the beach or are the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, as long as you are satisfied with your lifestyle and can handle the responsibilities associated with it.

What advice can you offer to someone hoping to start a blog/website?

My biggest piece of advice I can offer is to surround yourself with people who share the same passion as you and do not let anything hold that passion back. Do not be afraid of failure because from failure comes a valuable learning lesson that you could have never experienced without taking the risk.

Check out Campus Socialite
Become a fan on Facebook
Follow them on Twitter

What is Tweak.com?

With no requirement for creative or technical skills, users can create print-ready artwork with choices of hundreds of thousands of designs, in just a few minutes. The company has created proprietary technological solutions to allow this groundbreaking technical revolution and has built a considerable creative team to scale the range of content. The Tweak.com library is the largest range of customizable creative design available globally.

Jerry Kennelly, Tweak.com Founder

Prior to launching Tweak.com, Jerry Kennelly founded Stockbyte and Stockdisc, two companies based in Tralee, Ireland that captured 10% of the global royalty-free stock photography market in ten years. In April 2006 both companies were sold to Getty Images (formerly GYI) for a consideration of $135 million. Kennelly’s companies produced the highest pro-rata profit and profitability per employee in this worldwide industry.

Today, Kennelly is passionately working on Tweak.com, a project that has been in his mind for many years. With his immense entrepreneurial success, their is little doubt in anyone’s mind that Tweak.com will be a smashing hit. Entrepreneurs and business people have a great opportunity here receiving the utmost quality and professionalism without breaking the bank. Enjoy the interview with this serial entrepreneur as he explains his experience with Tweak.com, what success means to him, what makes a great entrepreneurs, and offers some very valuable advice.

How’d you come up with the idea for Tweak.com?

I’ve been in the publishing and creative business since the eighties and always figured that people would love to have control for themselves.

Just a few million people in the world understand the craft of design and have access to the high quality software applications that are needed.

So I thought it would be so much fun for people with no design skills to create the images  they really love for their own businesses.

And have all the world’s best professionals give them a great start with wonderful design, stunning image and compelling copy.

What are your goals for Tweak.com?

To be the premier global source of creative design and print. To offer the most relevant selection of advertising and marketing materials specifically around the needs of small business owners.

How has your initial plan for Tweak.com changed since you founded it?

The core ambition is just the same as when we started, but our plans became more and more ambitious. It became very clear to me how much we could make life better for small and medium business owners.

When we got into the detail there was so much complexity that we had to deal with. What was really difficult was simplying this complexity and delivering customizable design in an interface that’s easy for everyone to use.

What does success mean to you?

Knowing that Tweak has made life better and easier for entrepreneurs everywhere. That’s a bigger buzz than money could ever give you.

Plans to eventually sell Tweak.com?

I’ve nurtured this dream for 11 years, spent the last three years creating it. I think there’s so much fun we can all have with Tweak that I can’t imagine myself letting go of this baby!

You’ve been so successful as an entrepreneur. In your opinion, how can someone become a great entrepreneur?

You really only get known as ‘a great entrepreneur’ after the fact. Success, jobs and wealth are all just outputs. An entrepreneurial journey starts as a desire to create something great and to change lives. So, I think it’s really  important that people focus on areas they’re really interested in. Then you’re never working, just seeing how you can make something you’re really passionate about work better. And it’s easy to spend lots of time and inspire other people to help create your dream.

Why will companies choose Tweak.com over competitors?

Because we make them look better in print and do it at a really fair price.

What about Tweak.com makes you so passionate about it?

The fact that we’re about to empower many millions of people to do something they’ve never been able to do before and that we are certain to improve the design standards for so many people.

What advice can you offer to an aspiring entrepreneur?

Always look at your business from the outside in – as a customer. Think long term – appreciate that every transaction from a customer is building your relationship. And finally – always do what you say you are going to do.

Thanks Jerry!
Be sure to check out Tweak.com
Check out the Tweak.com Facebook page

Marshall Mathers is one of the most controversial, yet influential artists of all time. The 38-year-old rapper from Detroit is not afraid to say what’s on his mind, as well as bring fans into a glimpse of his dark past through graphic lyrics. He is currently nominated for 10 Grammy Awards this Sunday which is no surprise since he dominated his competition in album sales in 2010. Eminem’s fans range from all age groups and to many parent’s concern, their children and young teenagers idolize him.

Annie Reed is fourteen years old, and is one of Eminem’s biggest (and shortest) supporters. “I think I was 5 or 6 years old when I first heard Eminem,” Annie confessed as she explained her desire to write a biographical article about her favorite rapper in her school newspaper, Cavalier Corner. Annie’s newspaper instructor told her she could write the article if she could score an interview with the infamous, Marshall Mathers.

The task at hand seemed impossible, but Annie knew just where to begin. Becoming a fan at such a young age, Annie rememebered that Eminem records on the Universal/Interscope record label and hunted down his spokesperson, Dennis Dennehy. She emailed him her request for an interview, and he responded the following day. Dennehy admitted he had never seen a girl as brave as Annie, and that, “we thought Em would really enjoy doing it, too.”

Annie axiously awaited the phone call, interviewing questions in hand. Eminem did not let down the fourteen-year-old as the phone began to ring. “Hey, Annie, how you doing,” was the first thing he said to her. The two began a friendly conversation over different subjects, and Annie began to feel more relaxed saying Eminem, “sounds just like he does on his albums.” Eminem explained how he became serious about rapping at age 15, and revealed ”Lose Yourself” as his favorite song to perform live. He reserved himself when his drug problem was brought up and stated he, “didn’t want to make the interview too dark for middle school kids.” Along with revealing how he learned from his mistakes, Eminem told Annie he has been clean for over 18 months.

Annie’s story landed her the front page of her school’s newspaper, and had her instructor saying, “I’m so proud.” She managed to snag one of the most sought after celebrity interviews, and Annie cannot wait for the paper to be published so everyone can stop asking her about it. So who’s her next big star? “Michael Phelps. I love him too,” she states. Exclusive Eminem Interview

Luxury Laces are popping up everywhere. Seriously…EVERYWHERE. Celebrities are rockin’ them and anyone up with trendy new fashion is too. Sitch has a rosary necklace on at all times. Pauly D was seen wearing these in Miami during Season 2. Lil Jon and T.I. are just a few other big name people with Luxury Laces. GetYourBizSavvy is obviously always keeping up with the freshest of the fresh, so we had to hit up Luxury Laces and get an interview with the person who started it all. His name is Jeff George and this dude is a hustler. He’s got a great story, taking this company from nothing to something that is growing at an unbelievable pace in only a matter of months. Who knows how big this company is going to get. Let’s get into this interview… Find out all about Luxury Laces, how it got so big, what’s coming, and about Jeff George, the genius behind it all. Enjoy and go grab some Luxury Laces.

When did you start Luxury Laces?

Feb 2010

How’d you come up with the idea?

I first came up with the “Laces” which I patented immediately. I had a love for jewelry and sneakers and wanted to find a way to put gold chains on any sneaker. I developed a component that fits in the shoelace eyelet, which held the chains. From there I designed a whole line of “Shoellery”

Next I wanted to add an accessory to match the sneakers or wear with it. So I designed and developed an Iced Out Rosary Necklace which when I designed it, it was first of its kind.

What makes Luxury Laces awesome?

It is completely unique.. The shoelaces are truly one of a kind and definitely switch an ordinary sneaker into something you can go out to a club in.  As far as the Rosaries and Accessories, they are also a one of a kind piece that cannot be found unless from luxurylaces.com. We have kept it this way to keep the company exclusive. Once you make a purchase from Luxury Laces you become a part of the family. Even the ones who have not had the money to purchase yet but have been supporting since day 1 also are included. Luxury Laces wants to build a fan base that can grow along side our company, which will continue to bring the hottest fashion (jewelry, accessories and clothing) to the public year in and year out. I want to continue to stay on the cutting edge of design and be one of the people looked at for “whats hot” every year.

How did you get so many celebrities to wear Luxury Laces?

I grew up in Providence, Rhode Island and am a friend of DJ Pauly D. He first saw the sneakers and Rosaries and was in love with them. He took a pair of sneakers with laces, and Some of the Rosaries to film Jersey Shore 2 Miami. In the meantime, I was invited by GBK Productions to go to the BET Awards where I was backstage with all of the celebrities and was included in the Official Celebrity Gift Bag. I met every nominee and gifted each one. From there I built relationships that continue to grow daily. I just traveled around the country and to be honest my personality is what brought me to really meet these people. The product spoke for itself so they had no problem to wear it and be photographed, but they liked me as a person, which is most important.

Did you have to pay any of the celebs to wear the Laces? I know The Situation likes to charge a lot to promote products and businesses like this?

No… I have never paid anyone to wear Luxury Laces. Pauly D did it as a friend as my first celebrity who I thank for putting my product on a huge show like Jersey Shore.  As you know Mike The Situation is now seen wearing Luxury Laces all the time and promoting it. The Situation and I met in Los Angeles at the Jay Leno show. I was invited there by a mutual friend of ours. I had never met Sitch before, but as soon as he saw the rosaries and I met him, he really became interested in the company.  In the months to follow we became good friends and the relationship between Luxury Laces and Mike was a perfect match.  I worked with Mike and his brother Marc Sorrentino of MPS Entertainment to create a deal where Mike would be a partner in my company. Currently Mike and I are both CEO’s of Luxury Laces.

What were you doing before Luxury Laces?

I was working for my father in a family jewelry importing business. I always wanted to have my own business and it just came to me one day, the company name , the designs, everything.

Can you talk about when you first started Luxury Laces, in the very beginning. What was that like? What were you doing to get it going? How hard was it?

I mentioned some of this in earlier answer. It was very hard. Once I had the concept I had to have all the samples manufactured. Then I had to travel and just put myself out there. Working 24 hours a day with a goal to accomplish.  I always felt this was going to be good since day 1. I didn’t start to sell my product until July of 2010. So this is still brand new.

What’s next for you and Luxury Laces?

Continue to bring the hottest trends in fashion and we have a whole line of jewelry and accessories being released in addition to the products we already have.  I will be back at BET awards this year and you will see Mike Situation and I promoting this company all over the country through appearances and different events. My goal is to build as big of a following as I can for this company.

What advice can you offer to an aspiring entrepreneur?

Just never stop dreaming. If you feel that you have it in you to become someone great, then don’t let anyone stop you. Just work hard and if you fail 99 times you might make it happen the 100^th, so don’t give up.

Thanks Jeff! Everyone seriously go back and read that advice. Simple, yet some of the best advice offered by an entrepreneur here at GetYourBizSavvy.

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First Sammy Adams, now G Curtis. First Round Records really knows talent when they see it. There is so much to say about this young rising star who has many goals and all the motivation and dedication in the world. We wanted to sit down with the young Usher sounding star and get a better idea of what it’s like to live in G Curtis’s world. Continue Reading