Govathon Solves Real Problems in Atlanta

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Govathon wasn’t just another hackathon. Real problems were addressed. Solutions were created in which all Atlantans can benefit. From Friday February 22 to Saturday February 23, developers, designers, and government officials came together to address issues facing the city of Atlanta. On Friday night 19 teams were formed, each tackling a specific area. In less than 20 hours, these teams developed innovative websites and applications to help make Atlanta a better place to live.

govathon-logo

Every major technology hub has a city government that supports and welcomes innovation. With Atlanta’s first Govathon, Kasim Reed is embracing the technology talent that abounds in our city. The concept of a civic hackathon goes beyond improving the city government. If people influence the innovation in our city, they have greater ties to Atlanta. Directly contributing to improving the city could be the one thing that keeps the talented software developer from moving to SF or NYC. The future success of Govathons rests on the city’s adoption of viable websites and applications that were created this past weekend. Witnessing the early stages of collaboration between startups and government makes me proud to be an Atlantan.

Below you will find a brief summary of each concept.

Atlanta Govathon

1st Place: The Crime Syndicate (APD Blotter)

  • Mobile app to prevent and avoid crime by ATL4Life
  • Report crime, get tips and information from citizens
  • Incidents tab: input police report number for incident and get info in real time
  • Find out where crime is happening based on type—can be sorted by neighborhood (for neighborhood watches)
  • Location based crime push notifications if a major crime occurs in your area
  • Closed API

2nd Place: ParkFind

  • Web based site to help find any of Atlanta’s 352 parks
  • Can filter by location, park amenities (dog walk area, running trail, good for parents, pool, golf, tennis, grill, biking, and more)
  • Future- Yelp integration, Foursquare integration, reserve a space at the park

3rd Place: Curbb

  • Uses NFC technology to pay for parking on the go through a mobile app
  • The app also keeps track of how much time is left on the meter
  • Prevents ParkAtlanta tickets, running to the meter to only be 1 minute late
  • Will soon alert drivers on open parking spaces
  • Solves a huge problem for Atlantans

CivicSpaces

  • Empty storefronts and offices are bad for value
  • Civic organizations can find space and lease it for a short term period for popup shops, art galleries, and to show off the retail
  • This could provide tax incentives, more foot traffic, and more beautiful streets
  • Great for non-profits

BlockHero

  • Mobile app for citizens to photograph potholes and broken sidewalks and send to city in real time
  • Pothole is marked by latitude and longitude and contains a description of size of issue with a photo
  • Current process for city to fix potholes is very time consuming
  • Free open source app that doesn’t cost the city money
  • Makes it easier for city to help citizens with vehicle damages

Atlanta Beltline App

  • AB stands for Atlanta beltline and also connecting point A to point B
  • Provides weather, date, activity on beltline, running routes, art on beltline
  • Shows who is on the beltline making users feel safer knowing there are other people out
  • “Whachadoin” to share what you are doing on the beltline
  • Points/gamification in AB app based on usage and miles biked/ran
  • Statistics on a daily/weekly beltline activity (busiest days for running, biking, etc)

Point A

  • http://atlantastreetmap.herokuapp.com/
  • Atlanta Street Car team wants to get you from point A to point B
  • Lots of closures during Atlanta Street Car construction
  • This alerts drivers about closures or traffic
  • City government can add road closures in real time and is connected to a Twitter feed for real time updates
  • Updates can be RT or shared on FB with one click

CityVoice 

  • Mobile app for citizens to rate the customer service given by city workers
  • This will be used to highlight great service and also identify inefficiencies
  • The user has to type in city worker’s name and answer 5 questions about the experience

IA2 (IA squared)

  • Invest Atlanta website update
  • Easy to use and accessible from all devices
  • Easy to update data for IA employees.
  • Based on address and location, businesses are shown what type of incentives are available for their initiatives
  • Tax benefits for jobs created

BeVerified

  • Find licensed businesses near you 

TeamVacant

  • Real cost of vacant property: property value drops by thousands, crime issues
  • Empowers citizens to quantify problem: take photo of vacant property, text address of property, and add details
  • The data is not available to the public

AtlantaBudget.info

  • Breaks out expenditures for city based on accounts, organizations, departments, and the amount spent and available
  • This allows easy access to citizens to show how money is being spent in the city
  • It will have an open API that allows folks to “modify their own budget” and send it to council members
  • In a sense, allows gamification of Atlanta budget

 Atlanta Govathon

Project VESTA

  • Website to provide correct and accurate information for Atlanta’s homeless, including emergency housing, meals, and other issues
  • The website doesn’t cost much to maintain and can be updated by the various shelters in real time
  • Unclear how the homeless will access this information 

ForAtlanta

  • Revamp ATLSTAT for public access and more transparency, custom data, and custom reports for better decision making
  • What are drivers of performance, what outcomes we achieve
  • Helps ensure that public safety officials and resources are better allocated to provide a safer Atlanta
  • Working with city officials to gather data

Red Alert

  • Report crime in real time and alert a close police officer
  • Officers have access to a crime victim map that also shows proximity
  • Officers can file police report through app with simple interface and comments

The Idea Group

  • http://memarf.com/
  • Brings together people with ideas, investors, brokers, and the resources necessary to launch an idea
  • It connects people who have ideas and people who want to find an idea to work on
  • Can upload and hold any idea in the idea group 

CityZen

  • Gives voice to citizens allowing them to talk to government and allows government to respond
  • Allows citizens to post petition or message around issue in community to council members in related district
  • Intelligent legislation database scraper
  • Users are given easy to read summaries including details on the passed and upcoming ordinances, council member involvement
  • Creates open conversation between users and city government
  • Cost is 6K a year, less than a penny per person.

OpenAtlanta

  • Civic kickstarter
  • Allows communities to set up community goals
  • Each project/goal solicits signatures
  • Once it reaches a certain number, the project is public and can be crowdfunded by community members
  • Project management for community initiatives.

You can follow Maria Joyner on Twitter @mariajoyner

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Be a Better Founder at Founder Fables

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Founder-Fables

Atlanta Tech and Startup Week, February 15-25, hosts an incredible assortment of technology and startup events. Exclusively for current founders and cofounders, Founder Fables features 12 seasoned founders telling 30 minute, off-the-record stories. A whole day focused solely on becoming a better founder.

Today is the last day to register for Founder Fables. Here are my thoughts on what makes this event valuable and well worth the investment. There’s even $25 off for you.

Exclusivity – One-of-a-kind stories from founders to founders about the tribulations of growing a company. Every dollar you spend is on exclusive information that cannot be accessed from a blog post or podcast. Not a single service provider is allowed through the doors, regardless of their status as a (co)-founder. This ensures the speakers are protected and can be frank and open.

Quantity – 400 minutes of lessons learned by other founders. Lessons you will never hear elsewhere including matters that usually cannot be discussed openly due to repercussions.

Diversity – Technology, art, medical science, data, ecommerce, and non-profit founders. This lineup has a plethora of experiences spanning many industries.

Unique Format – Off-the-record, not-for-attribution accounts from a diverse spectrum of founders. No press. No talking about what is said. No lawyers. No accountants.

Secretive – You’ll be part of a secret society. What is said at Founder Fables, stays at Founder Fables. You will hear stories that haven’t been shared or published. When you submit your application, you are sworn to secrecy. Founder Fables is not kidding about secrecy.

Founder Therapy – Every single person at Founder Fables is a (co)-founder. Not only do the speakers “get it”, the attendees “get it.” There’s nothing like hearing someone speak openly about the bs that no one can talk about. It’s a rare treat.

After Party – Possible F2F time with speakers over drinks. Get to know the other attendees for they are the only ones you can discuss the day with. Who knows, maybe down the road you will start a business with someone you meet at Founder Fables.

Take advantage of this amazing opportunity to be a better founder and meet some awesome folks. See you at Founder Fables!

***************************************************************************

Discount – $25 off your ticket to Founder Fables. Use code mutualfriend with email maria@mariajoyner.com. Registration closes Thursday February 14. Register Now

 

 

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Finding Good in Everything: How to Embrace the Atlanta Commute

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A recent released study reaffirms what many Atlantans have known for years:  Atlanta highways, notably 400 and I-75, are the most congested in the United States.  They are far worse than NYC, LA, and San Francisco.  Many Atlantans sit in a car for one to two hours a day, if not more.  That is ten to twenty hours every week; forty to eighty hours a month!  Since moving to Atlanta in 2004, I have battled with my bad attitude about traffic, specifically the copious amount of time it steals.  I do not run errands during the work day in fear of raising my blood pressure over a 5 minute errand taking 30 minutes because only one lane of Peachtree is open. From moving into the heart of Buckhead to only scheduling meetings at low traffic times, I’ve tried it all.  Sometimes there is just no getting around the congestion, particularly during the holiday season.  In an attempt to find good in everything, here are the best ways to embrace the Atlanta traffic and lengthy commute.

Make the commute a “no phone zone” for business calls.   Before you roll your eyes, hear me out.  Do not talk on your cell phone during your commute.  Try it for a week.  I understand answering the phone but refrain from having conversations that require your attention.  You cannot focus on the conversation and pay attention to the insane Atlanta driver who is merging 5 lanes over with no turn signal.  By putting the phone down, you are proactively preparing for someone slamming on brakes for no apparent reason.  Plus, you will learn to look forward to the peace and quiet of a “no phone zone” during your long hours in the car.

Set up a schedule for your commute to increase the productivity.  Think about what gets you moving in the morning.  Blast 15 minutes of music to wake you up then use the remainder of your commute listening to an audiobook.  For the afternoon commute why not download a new album and listen to it in its entirety on the way home?  You’ll be excited to get in the car and the drive won’t seem so bad.  Fiction audiobooks are also great for the afternoon commute.  They are a great way to forget about the day and relax your brain.

Turn your commute into a Masters Degree.  Remember that set of personal growth audiobooks you still haven’t listened to?  Now is the time.  Turn your car into a moving university.  Imagine what you could do with 20 hours of extra knowledge a week!  There really is no better usage of a long, miserable commute than making your life better and increasing your wealth.  If you carpool, get something related to your area in business in which everyone can benefit.

Reflection and thinking time.  Use the hour or two in the car to reflect on your goals, aspirations, and plan of action.  Make sure you have a voice recorder readily available on your phone to document any ideas.  Practice your elevator pitch.  Just think about whatever comes to mind!  Trust me, if you can get past the idiot drivers and lack of intelligence on the road and immerse yourself in thought, the commute can be therapeutic.

What ways have you dealt with traffic and the chaotic commute in Atlanta?

Maria Joyner is an entrepreneur and marketing strategist.  You can follow her on twitter @mariajoyner or connect on LinkedIn 

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Why Are Professional Photographers So Expensive?

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The classic article.

This article has been very well received by the photography community, and is published in the December 2009 edition of Professional Photographer Magazine by an undisclosed author.

In this digital age where everyone has cameras, scanners, and home “photo printers,” we hear this all the time: How do professional (or personal) photographers charge $X for an 8×10 when they cost just $1.50 at the drugstore? Simply put, the customer is not just paying for the actual photograph; they’re paying for time and expertise.

The average one-hour portrait session

First, let’s look at the actual work involved:

* Travel to the session
* Setup, preparation, talking to the client, etc.
* Shoot the photos
* Travel from the session
* Load images onto a computer
* Back up the files on an external drive
* 2 – 4 hours of Adobe® Photoshop® time, including cropping, contrast, color, sharpening, and backing up edited photographs. Proof photos are also ordered.
* 2 – 3 hours to talk to the client, answer questions, receive order and payment, order their prints, receive and verify prints, package prints, schedule shipment, and ship.
* Possibly meet clients at the studio to review photos and place order. Meeting and travel time average 2 hours.

You can see how a one-hour session easily turns into an eight-hour day or more from start to finish. So when you see a personal photographer charging a $200 session fee for a one-hour photo shoot, the client is NOT paying them $200 per hour.

The eight-hour wedding

A wedding photographer typically meets with the bride and groom several times before and after the wedding. And it’s not uncommon to end up with 1,000 – 2,000 photos, much more than a portrait session. Many photographers spend 40-60 hours working on one eight-hour wedding if you look at the time that is truly involved. Again, when a wedding photographer charges $4,000 for eight hours of coverage, clients are NOT paying them $500 an hour!

(Don’t forget that the photographer runs the wedding day to some extent. A comfortable, confident wedding photographer can make a wedding day go more smoothly.)

The expertise and cost of doing business

Shooting professional photography is a skill acquired through years of experience. Even though a DSLR now costs under $1,000, taking professional portraits involves much more than a nice camera.

Most personal photographers take years to go from buying their first camera to making money with photography. In addition to learning how to use the camera, there is a mountain of other equipment and software programs used to edit and print photographs, run a website, etc. And don’t forget backdrops, props, rent, utilities, insurance, etc!

In addition to the financial investment, photographers actually have to have people skills to make subjects comfortable in front of the camera. Posing people to look their best is a skill by itself. You could argue that posing is a more important skill than actually knowing how to use the camera. A poorly exposed photo can be saved, but a badly posed photo cannot.

The chain store photo studio

Chain stores do have their place. For a very cheap price you can run in, shoot some quick photos, and be done with it. But you get what you pay for.

Consider the time and effort that a personal photographer puts into photographs, compared to a chain store. Store sessions last just a few minutes, while a personal photographer takes the time to get to know the people, makes them comfortable, makes them laugh. If a baby is crying at a chain store, they often don’t have the time (or the patience) to wait because everyone is in a hurry.

The truth is that many chain store studios lose money. In fact, Wal-Mart closed 500 of their portrait studios in 2007 because of the financial drain. What the chain stores bank on is a client coming in for quick, cheap photos…and while there, spending $200 on other items. They are there to get you in the door.

The real deal

Professional, personal photographers are just that—professionals. No different than a mechanic, dentist, doctor, or electrician. But a personal photographer often becomes a friend, someone who documents a family for generations with professional, personal photographs of cherished memories.

Maybe we need to help clients look at it this way: A pair of scissors costs $1.50 at the drugstore. Still, most people will gladly pay a lot more to hire a professional hair dresser to cut their hair.

The added attention and quality that a personal photographer gives is worth every penny.

Conclusion

We hope that those who have taken the time to read this page will have a better understanding of why professional photographs, created by a Personal Photographer are so expensive.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

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Female Entrepreneurs: 10 Tips to Play it Safe on Social Media

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From fire drills to self-defense techniques, my father was determined to raise aware and independent daughters.  Although I stomped around and rolled my eyes during every minute of “training”, he did an exceptional job instilling a sixth sense of personal awareness.  At times I believe he regrets raising us to be so independent.  No father enjoys receiving a call from his daughter only to hear her say, “Dad, I’m flying to Romania tomorrow.  I’m spending a week photographing poor, desolate areas.  I’m leaving my computer at home and I’ll be sleeping in the car.  I’ll call you guys when I’m back.”  Venturing through a country where you do not know the language requires good, old-fashioned personal awareness of your surroundings.  We unconsciously proceed with caution in times like those because the location is foreign.  Familiarity provides comfort.  This is the reason seventy-five percent of car accidents happen within a five-mile radius of the home.  We aren’t so careful in our daily lives and our hometown.  Social media check-ins can be dangerous if used improperly, particularly for female entrepreneurs.

It is one thing for our favorite local bartender, who knows all 200 of her Facebook friends, to check into “Home” and “Work” every day.  However, as a female business owner with thousands of followers, you need to be meticulous about your privacy.  Social media efforts can skyrocket your business, brand, and sales but do not let this free exposure compromise your personal safety.  Here are some tips on playing it safe with social media.

  1. Do not put your home address on Facebook!  In order to “check in” at home, your address has to be listed.  If your office or studio is based in your home, be careful where you list the address!  Unless you live in a secured location with a concierge service, I do not recommend listing your address online (Facebook or Business website) or on your business cards.  Get a P.O. Box if necessary.  Your safety is not worth compromising.
  2. NEVER meet online contacts in your office.  Always schedule the first few meetings in a public location, like a Starbucks.  I’d even be hesitant to meet in their office.  Go with your gut feeling.  If someone gives you an uncomfortable feeling online, it’s very likely they will be just as uncomfortable in person.
  3. Do not flirt on Twitter.  Obvious point but this is a dangerous path to follow.  Plus I guarantee it isn’t good for business branding.
  4. If you love to party or if that’s part of your business, check into the first club then put your phone away.  NEVER geo-tag and upload photographs to Twitter of late-night debauchery.  You are literally giving a predator your exact location.  Late-night check-ins are a bad idea unless you are with a group of people (that can protect you).
  5. If you are a habitual person, do not let these habits be visible on social media.  If you run the same route every morning or go to the same place of business every day, do not publicize this information.  Use social media for exciting happenings in your business.

With that being said, here are some great ways to utilize “check-ins”.

  1. Check into public events, particularly ones that involve PR and networking opportunities.  Your audience benefits from knowing what events you are interested in and involvement on a local level.
  2. Frequently post photographs of time spent with clients, whether it be wining and dining or strategy sessions.  Let your audience know that you are involved in your work.
  3. Check-In to any non-profit organization or to any activity in which you are donating your time, expertise, or services.  Ask these organizations to thank you publicly on Facebook.
  4. Let people know when you travel and upload photographs during the trip.  Do not disclose information about your flight, hotel, or plans.  I don’t recommend geo-tagging images either.
  5. Request that your clients- if they are “into” social media- check in to your place of business.  Become involved with your clients on social media.  Public involvement spreads awareness and brand presence.

As a female entrepreneur you must control your privacy.  Due to personal concerns, I have refrained from foursquare and geo-tagging but have warmed up to Facebook Places (just a little).  Social media is a two-edged sword.  Recognizing the dangers will allow you to embrace and exploit the benefits of social media marketing.

Maria Joyner is Founder & CEO of Opportunity & Success LLC. Follow her on Twitter @mariajoyner

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The Power of Creative Synergy

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The Power of Creative Synergy

“Synergy.  It’s one of the most overused terms in business, but it’s at the heart of every successful endeavor, and as I look back on the career I’ve jump-started at the Trump Organization, I realize it’s at the heart of everything I’ve done as well,” Ivanka Trump begins in the final chapter of The Trump Card.   Ivanka continues, “So indulge me over these final few pages while I wear out the term a little bit more and offer a prime example of the synergy at play in my own career.”

Synergy is defined as a mutually advantageous conjunction of distinct elements.  It could also be described as creating a win-win situation.  Sounds cliché, but it is an essential element to reaching epic levels of success.  It is rare any person or business reaches massive heights without the use of synergy.  You may not have the Trump last name going for you, but with a couple of businesses and an open mind, you can find the same synergy.

Begin with your passion.

Past generations have worked their whole lives so they can fund their passion.  The 20-somethings today are doing the exact opposite.  The first business is usually our passion; our second business is a means to pay for that passion. The emerging trend of young entrepreneurs, that I too followed, is to establish our first business in our passion; then utilize a side business for additional income and funding.

Documentary photography is my passion but there isn’t significant money to be made in that arena, particularly starting out.  Rather than settle with undesirable conditions, our generation of business owners have taken action.  Instead of resorting to the life of a poor artist, I am building businesses in my twenties.  These businesses will allow me to become financially free and spend the rest of my life making photographs.  Every successful business emerges from a passion.  You must be passionate!  Passion cultivates the persistence and positive mental attitude to always look for solutions.

Don’t focus on just one business.

We have multiple talents!  Cultivate these talents.  Build, grow, dream, and create businesses and endeavors based in your talents and strengths.  Barter with other entrepreneurs in areas you are weak.  If web design is the bane of your existence, like it is for me, then barter with a graphic design firm.  This increases your alliances as well as your people capital.  Which, by far, is the most precious resource as an aspiring business builder.

Make money off of your by-products.

This idea first occurred to me while reading ReWork by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson.

“When you make something, you always make something else.  You can’t just make one thing.  Everything has a by-product.  Observant and creative business minds spot these by-products and see opportunities.”

“Henry Ford learned a process for turning wood scraps from the production of Model T’s into charcoal briquettes.  He built a charcoal plant and Ford Charcoal was created (later renamed Kingsford Charcoal).  Today, Kingsford is still the leading manufacturer of charcoal in America.”

What if you could apply the same principle and build an empire out of your companies’ trash?

Always keep your options open.

Multiple streams of income are essential.  When one business isn’t doing well, there are so many benefits to having other entities.  You have a financial safety net.  The ability to shift your focus from one business to another provides a fresh outlook.  The skills cultivated in one trade will polish those in another trade.

Creatively synergize your businesses!

With the ability to reach millions of people through social media, now, more than ever, we can synergize our passion on a global scale.  Always look for ways one entity can benefit or aid another.  People capital is the most valuable resource when synergizing businesses.  What starts out as one entity can grow into an empire as long as you are growing.  Get out of your box and align with those who will create synergy for you and your businesses.

Ivanka Trump concludes her autobiography with these words, “Call it what you will-but I call it synergy.  Everything I’ve done has led directly to what I’m doing, just as everything I’m doing is tied in to what I might do next.  It’s all of a piece, and it’s the same way with my father and brothers-my mother, too, now that she’s off doing her own thing.  After all, we don’t work in a vacuum.  And we don’t live in one, either, which is why I often think the best approach to life and career is to reach for everything that makes sense and hold on to what works.  As guiding principles do, you could do worse.”

Maria Joyner is CEO & Founder of Opportunity & Success LLC.  Follow her on Twitter @mariajoyner.


 

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