Featuring Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business author Josh Kaufman and Liberation from Procrastination expert Hillary Rettig

By Amy Cuevas Schroeder

Let me take a wild guess: When it comes to brainstorming and brewing up big ideas, you have no shortage of creativity, innovation and originality.

This photo doesn't actually have anything to do with this post, except that I like the creative usage of zip ties.

Let me take another wild guess: You need help with organization, streamlining, monetization and execution.

At least, that’s usually the case for me and the majority of creative people I know.

The good news is that once you bullet-point your ideas into a doable to-do list, you’ll be ready to do the work. And, get this: If you announce your to-do list, you’re 100%* more likely to actually finish it.

More good news: When you’re surrounded by a supportive community, you’re a 105%* more likely to meet your deadlines.

Enter #diychat, the monthly Twitter chat for entrepreneurs everywhere.

On February 2 at 8 p.m. EST, you’re invited to our one-hour online conversation called What are your Next Attainable Action Steps for Accomplishing Your #BHAG2012?

Josh Kaufman

Independent business professor, education activist, founder of PersonalMBA.com, curator of a list of the best business books and author of The Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business, an international bestseller in the business training category. @joshkaufman @personalmba

Hillary Rettig

Expert on Liberation from Procrastination; productivity coach, author of author of The 7 Secrets of the Prolific: The Definitive Guide to Overcoming Procrastination, Perfectionism, and Writer’s Block, and The Lifelong Activist: How to Change the World Without Losing Your Way. @hillaryrettig

Want to participate in this #diychat? Click here to read the #diychat schedule, and click here for #diychat tips using Tweetchat.

“Ready, set…get closer to your #BHAG2012 by setting Next Attainable Action Steps”: DIYTogether Beta Group members bullet-point their NAAS for the month ahead

“Move your #BHAG2012 forward: Set Next Attainable Action Steps” 

Tamara Warren, The First Lady of Automobile Journalism

@tamaratam • tamarawarren.com

Member of DIYTogether Beta Group

#BHAG2012: Finish my book. Easy to say, tough to write.

1.     Picture yourself at a networking event filled with entrepreneurs, creative people, journalists, and PR folks. How do you answer this question in two sentences or less: “Who are you, and what do you do?”

I am a writer, journalist, and editor for both print and digital media outlets. I have covered cars, art, music, design and social issues for over 100 magazines, websites and newspapers.

2.     In two sentences or less, what do you need help with, in order to achieve your #BHAG2012?

Organization and ways to make tasks more efficient on a daily basis. 

3.     Who do you want to meet or work with? 

I like to meet people who inspire me to write new things as subjects or as examples. I like to work with people who are self-starters, open to change and meet their deadlines. I value age—the fresh perspective of youth, but most importantly, the wisdom of the sage.

4. In two sentences or less, what is your mission?

To expand on my work as journalist into longer-form creative fiction and non-fiction, and to teach writing. I would also like to grow my blog, Gotryke.com, into a larger force, as a place people seek out for new ideas, and continue to work as a freelance writer for bold, insightful outlets.

5. What are you working on right now?

A memoir about the places I’ve been and the experiences and people who’ve shaped me along the way: Detroit, cars, music and the arts. This month I have contributed to The New York Times Wheels Blog, Forbes, Lifeandtimes.com, MIT Technology Review and Gotryke.com.

I am also a teaching assistant at The New School where I’m finishing up a master’s degree in creative fiction in the spring. I lead a weekly creative writing workshop for teenage girls in Harlem.

6. Of all the projects you’ve worked on, which one was your favorite and why?

I’m fulfilled when I’m able to write in a way that affects people lives. I like new challenges. I’ve been lucky to build a career on the aspects of work that bring me joy.

7. What are your top three strengths?

I’m a big-picture thinker, I’m reliable, and I always try to do my best.

8. How did you get started as a creative person?

I think it’s in my nature, but creative people also nurtured me.

Tamara Warren’s Bio:

Tamara Warren has written for The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Forbes, Automobile, AutoWeek, Life and Times, Vibe, Nylon, The Detroit Free Press and Delta Sky. The Motor City native co-founded Gotryke.com and lives in Brooklyn.

—

Editor’s Note: This is a profile prototype for diytogether.biz, a professional networking site for entrepreneurs to connect, share and build work opportunities. DIY Business Association will launch diytogether.biz in beta in the first quarter of 2012.

Tamara Warren is a member of the DIYTogether Beta Group (formerly known as the First Official DIYTogether Incubator Group.) DIYTogether Beta Group is a tribe of creative entrepreneurs, filmmakers, designers, writers, friendly fashionistas and business developers who are helping to build the DIYTogether movement.

Communicate with Tamara Warren during our #diychat, the Twitter chat for entrepreneurs everywhere.

DIYTogether Beta Group members bullet-point their NAAS for the month ahead

Coordinated by Amy Cuevas Schroeder & Rebecca Jackson

Photos by Seth Kushner

Have you set a personal Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal for the year ahead?

Awesome. We’re eager to help you accomplish your #BHAG2012.

Next question: Are you ready to make your BHAG a reality, but feel overwhelmed about getting started? If you answered “yes,” good news—you’re a normal human.

As a tribe of creative entrepreneurs, we the DIYTogether Beta Group work together to accomplish our goals. We meet monthly to discuss our entrepreneurial projects, share resources and advice, and design systems to grow our respective businesses on a budget.

The latest installment of DIYTogether development is Next Attainable Action Steps (aka NAAS): An ambitious yet realistic to-do list of chewable, bite-size tasks to attain a personal Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal. We recommend that you set NAAS one month at a time. Once you accomplish a month’s worth of NAAS, you’ll devise the following month’s NAAS. 

NAAS criteria:

1. Based on the amount of time and energy you have (not wish you had), set a month’s worth of clear and attainable steps toward accomplishing your BHAG. Once you accomplish your first set of NAAS, you’ll set NAAS for the next month.

2. Be specific about numbers and quantities whenever possible.

3. Edit yourself (or ask someone to help you). After writing your list of attainable next steps, briefly visualize yourself doing those tasks, and “calculate” the estimated hours to accomplish them. Add up the hours of all your NAAS. If the task hours exceed your available hours, trim the fat, and place the Non-Attainable Action Steps on your list for the following month.

Amy Cuevas Schroeder, The Collaborator

Currently working on: Being the CEO of DIY Business Association.

#BHAG2012: To become a leading philosopher and inventor of collaborative entrepreneurship.

NAAS Due February 5:

My first goal toward accomplishing my #BHAG2012 is to write about actualizing collaboration for a major publication. That said, I need to get my pitching booty in gear. Here’s how I plan to do that:

• Write a new bio and post it on diybusinessassociation.com/about. DONE!
• Research the best publications to pitch an article about collaboration to.
• Research leading philosophers and philosophies about collaboration.
• Think about the angle of the collaboration article and how it will stand out from the pack of published articles about collaboration.
• Take notes in Word docs. DONE!

Read more about my #BHAG2012 and NAAS here.

Golzar Selbe Naghshineh, The Activist

Currently working on: Producing Just the Tip, a documentary about men who identify as feminists.

#BHAG2012: Finish Just the Tip and get it into SXSW.

NAAS Due February 17:

• Rewrite proposal and budget.
• Meet grant deadlines.
• Revise pitch to use when contacting potential high net-worth donors.
• Prepare to release IndieGoGo fundraising campaign.

Amber J. Adams, The Gen Y Journalist

Currently working on: 77, the Gen Y­–focused documentary about shifting attitudes to work in the wake of the recession. Also freelance writing for Essence.

BHAG2012: To promote Gen Y happiness in work and life, and become a thought leader for the unstoppable Generation Innovation movement. Also, I want to get published in Forbes and Fast Company and name 2013 the “Year of the Innovator.”

NAAS Due February 17:

• Launch Facebook group to increase traction and get people talking. DONE!
• Finish editing 77 sizzle reel.
• Establish 77 website.
• Reach out to as many Gen Y bloggers as possible to build relationships as well as awareness of 77 and Generation Innovation.
• Research four story ideas that I‘m interested in pitching to online and print publications in my field.

Douglas Calhoun, The Next Big Thing in Interior Design and Gay Culture

Currently working on: Determining how to best leverage capital to implement the Queer Interior project (subsequent to successful $15K Kickstarter fundraising campaign).

#BHAG2012: To become an established and trafficked queer brand.

NAAS Due February 17:

• Improve meetings with editorial team. Begin implementing project management tools like benchmarks to completion, delegating of tasks and goals achieved.
• Revisit business plan and update.
• Find one intern/collaborator for first and second issues of The Queer Interior. Using social media and job searching websites like urbaninterns, craigslist and idealist.
• Create content strategy.

Shaminder Dulai, The Nomadic Storyteller

Currently working on: Co-producing (with Amber J. Adams) 77, the Gen Y­–focused documentary about shifting attitudes to work in the wake of the recession. I’m also increasing stream of freelance photography work and organizing nightly dozens of scribbles on scraps of paper.

#BHAG2012: To backpack around the world in 2012.  

NAAS Due February 17:

• Finish editing “77” sizzle reel, launch website, build up Facebook groups for 77 and Generation Innovation, bring on board a web developer/news app designer, and create budget for final pitch for 77 fundraising.
• Negotiate potential photo workshop teaching opportunity for the summer.
• Get freelance work (photo journalism, editing, writing, helping with Kickstarter campaigns, web projects, social media, branding).
• Pitch fashion story to XXXXXX.
• Take more meeting with editors with new portfolio.
• Revamp and launch shaminderdulai.com with new portfolio and branding and blog more frequently.
• Find partners for VidScribe.
• Create new logo and biz cards.
• Return library books on time.
• Start swap site and snap dap web series.
• Take advantage of being in NYC and explore everything, including Staten Island.

Seth Kushner, The Photographer

Currently working on: A variety of freelance photography and passion projects. Co-creator of TripCity.net and author of two photo books—The Brooklynites and Leaping Tall Buildings.

BHAG2012: Figure out how to make passion projects pay in 2012.

NAAS Due February 17:

• Create new “prettier and cleaner” work, as suggested by agent, to get new freelance work, mainly lucrative advertising work.
• Fire old book agent (DONE!) and spend time researching other agents in order to find the “perfect” one.
• Finish formulating pitches for new photo book projects and show to trusted colleagues for feedback.
• Keep tinkering with various passion projects.

Frieda Klotz, The Irish Journalist Does New York

Currently working on: Freelance writing, a book project (about women in America) and improving work-life balance.

#BHAG2012: To write and publish a non-fiction book. I also want to hone my niche and get work featured in national U.S. print magazines.

NAAS Due February 17:

• Identify two magazines that I seriously want to freelance for and research pitching perimeters on mediabistro.com.
• Reach out to two new editors.
• Keep the editors I already know “warm”—meaning, contact the two editors whom I’ve worked for in the past, but not recently, and remind them of my existence by pitching them.

Lesley Ware, The Friendly Fashionista

Currently working on: Fashion blogging, designing own clothes, modeling and being a pre-teen fashion instructor.

#BHAG2012: Write and publish a fashion guide for pre-teen fashionistas.

NAAS Due February 17:

Niema Jordan, The MultiTasking Writer

Currently working on: Writer working on various projects including working as a freelance editor at Essence magazine.

#BHAG2012: To start a media company that incorporates content creation and curriculum development

NAAS Due February 17:

• Figure out how to put everything she does (teaching, blogging, editing etc) under one umbrella brand.
• Undertake free workshops on business planning, business structure and rolling out business.
• Put examples of each element of her projects/curriculum up online so people can better understand the offering.
• Consider target audience.

Rebecca Jackson, The Former Banker-Turned-TBD

Currently working on: Freelance consulting opportunities (pro bono and hopefully paid), personal projects and trying to relax following leaving Wall Street job less than a month ago.

#BHAG2012: Undertake a journey of self-discovery to determine roadmap to get on the path to securing a dream job while simultaneously launching a business consultancy for creative entrepreneurs.

NAAS Due February 17:

• Secure paid freelance consulting work.
• Start contributing to DIYBA blog on business topics.
• Take a vacation.
• Learn how to slow down and relax!
• Book a class for something fun.

Colleen Ryan, The Get Sh** Done-er

Currently working on: Umpteen projects! Freelance video production, web design and managing four startups—all with the help of four home computers and a landline.

#BHAG2012: To contribute to getting at least one startup up and running in 2012 where they are in a financial position to operate and market themselves to becoming a profitable national brand within two to four years. [Editor’s Note: She’s well on her way, considering she’s working with four startups, including DIY Business Association.]

NAAS Due February 17:

• Launch first phase of diytogether.biz.
• Get thequeerinterior.com scheduled and budgeted. [Editor’s Note: Colleen Ryan works closely with Douglas Calhoun to develop The Queer Interior.]
• Work on my personal website.

“L,” The Incognito Artist

Currently working on: Representational artist completing work for next show. Also working on two entrepreneurial ventures: business management model for artists and artist book project (minimum-value collection of images that could be traded in a secondary market).

#BHAG2012: Complete body of work for next solo exhibition, find a great business manager and create a model for other artists. Create limited-edition artist book prototype.

NAAS Due February 17:

• Finish two paintings.
• Flesh out wishlist of business-manager capabilities (e.g., someone with business and art-world experience) as well as salary/revenue split.
• Follow up with business-manager leads and other art-world contacts.
• Meet with book designer to assess potential for limited-edition book.
• Research whether anyone else in the art world is undertaking a similar project.

Tamara Warren, The First Lady of Automobile Journalism

Currently working on: Freelance writing for various magazines and sites covering cars, culture and more. 

BHAG2012: To finish my book. Easy to say, tough to write.

NAAS Due February 17:

• Continue to write every day for 2–3 hours (by hand!).
• Read works by admired authors for guidance on structure and general inspiration.
• Continue to keep cutting things that are not working from all aspects of life.
• Take definitive time for myself.

—

Are you a creative entrepreneur?

We’d love to connect with you. Share your #BHAG2012 below in comments, and join us on February 2 at 8 p.m. EST for #diychat, the least intimidating Twitter chat for entrepreneurs everywhere.

—

Read more about DIYTogether Beta Group

By Amy Cuevas Schroeder

I just spent an incredible week meeting with my soon-to-be business partners and Nate Cooper of Reboot Workshop, creating systems for members of the DIYTogether Beta Group, pivoting with our web development plans, sealing a deal with General Assembly for our upcoming DIYTogether 2012 event, and here I am at 8:30 a.m. on a Saturday, thirsty for more entrepreneurial juice.

When it comes to creating a successful business, I can’t get enough inspirational quotes, stories and examples from entrepreneurship magazines, blogs and books (I’m at the 25% point with Steve Jobs, but can’t wait to read Collaborate or Perish).

I hope Entrepreneur Editor-in-Chief Amy C. Cosper doesn’t mind that I quote her column from the February 2012 issue (with Tazo founder Steven Smith on the cover) before the content’s been posted on entrepreneur.com:

“It’s a constant challenge to define what makes an entrepreneur, an equation that is more art than science….

An entrepreneur creates something where there was nothing. You cannot buy your way into it. …

Think about the word entrepreneur. It is no longer captive to business schools and business books. It has evolved into something much more meaningful. It is the spirit of how we approach things—anything.

Being told you are an entrepreneurial thinker is always the highest form of compliment. It’s akin to saying, ‘You are taking a very creative and innovative approach to something.’

It may sound odd, but at many universities, musicians, scientists and accountants are now being educated on how to think entrepreneurially within their disciplines. Which at the end of the day makes things very complicated at the editorial headquarters of Entrepreneur. —@EntMagazineAmy

—

Follow me/us on Twitter: @diybusiness @amyschroeder

Facebook.com/diybusiness

Niema Jordan, The MultiTasking Writer

@niemajordan • niemajordan.com

Member of DIYTogether Beta Group

#BHAG2012: “To start my own media company that incorporates content creation and curriculum development.”

1. Picture yourself at a networking event filled with entrepreneurs, creative people, journalists, and PR folks. How do you answer this question in two sentences or less: “Who are you, and what do you do?”

I am a writer, journalist, and new- and social-media consultant.

2. In two sentences or less, what is your mission?

To create and promote media that are diverse, informative, accurate and promote healthy communities.

3. What are you working on right now?

Health coverage for Essence magazine, documenting Bay Area Hip-Hop culture for 38th Notes, freelance writing for various publications, and writing two books.

4. Of all the projects you’ve worked on, which one was your favorite and why?

I fall in love with any project that allows me to write and help people.

5. What are your top three strengths?

Connecting people, supporting people, generating ideas.

6. How did you get started as a creative person?

I started off writing poetry as an elementary-school kid.

Niema Jordan’s Bio:

Daughter. Sister. Friend. Oakland Girl. Hip-Hop Lover. Dream Chaser.

No matter how you describe her, Niema Jordan is a Writer. Born and raised in the Bay Area, Jordan started writing and performing poetry as an elementary school student. By high school she was a slam poet with passion for telling other people’s stories and an insatiable appetite for magazines. Convinced writing was her calling, she left California and braved Midwest winters at Northwestern University. In 2008 she earned a B.S. from Medill School of Journalism.

Next Attainable Action Steps

Created January 17, 2012 • Goal Completion Date: February 17, 2012 

Read more about Niema Jordan:

“Want help setting your #BHAG2012? Check out these inspirational examples”

—

Editor’s Note: This is the VERY FIRST profile prototype for diytogether.biz, a professional networking site for entrepreneurs to connect, share and build work opportunities. DIY Business Association will launch diytogether.biz in beta in the first quarter of 2012.

Niema Jordan is a member of the DIYTogether Beta Group (formerly known as the First Official DIYTogether Incubator Group.) DIYTogether Beta Group is a tribe of creative entrepreneurs, filmmakers, designers, writers, friendly fashionistas and business developers who are helping to build the DIYTogether movement.

Communicate with Niema Jordan during our #diychat, the Twitter chat for entrepreneurs everywhere.

All y’all creative entrepreneurs have absolutely no problem announcing Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals.

From what I saw on January 5—during the second episode of #diychat—you excel at thinking big. (If you missed the January 5 #diychat, read highlights here.)

You showed up to the one-hour Twitter chat for entrepreneurs everywhere, armed with a #BHAG2012. Here are some examples:

“My #BHAG2012 is to build my own tribe and become a leader for creative entrepreneurs. Big enough?” —@lightboxsf (aka Lightbox SF: Empowering Creatives to Take Over the World)

“My Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal of 2012 is to do less—to be more focused on the most important things.” —@GrammarGirl (aka Mignon Fogarty, Founder of Grammar Girl)

“My #BHAG2012 is to develop a craft incubator in my community.” —@wunderaround (aka Beth of Wunder Around)

“My #BHAG for 2012 is to make sure everyone in Cincinnati knows about @CraftySupermkt.” — @GraceDobushToGo (aka Grace Dobush, a writer and editor at @HOWinteractive) 

Setting a Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal is a great first step to making your dreams a reality. But people very rarely jump from Big Idea to Big Success in one go. You’ve got to do the work—which can be overwhelming if you don’t break your goal into chewable, bite-size bits.

Designing a six-month or year plan is a great way to map our your goals, but for now, we’re going to think about Next Attainable Action Steps for the month ahead. Here’s how this works:

Step 1: Flesh out your BHAG

“Baby steps! Imagine your BHAG; write down all the things that it will take to get there. Start doing them. It won’t go perfectly.” —@BusyBeaverCC (aka Christen Carter, Founder/CEO of Busy Beaver Buttons)

I’ll use my #BHAG2012 as an example. My #BHAG2012 is to become a leading philosopher and inventor of collaborative entrepreneurship.

I realize that my BHAG isn’t going to happen overnight. To me, the fun part of #BHAG2012 is creating a dream and chiseling away at it a little bit every week.

Here’s how I flesh out my #BHAG2012 of “leading philosopher of collaborative entrepreneurship”:

• Consistently studying entrepreneurs and documenting best practices in collaboration
• Publishing a major article about collaboration
• Speaking publicly about entrepreneurship

Step 2: Make a to-do list for the next 30 days 

“I believe in breaking things down to the most doable pieces. Want to travel the world? First, you need a passport.” —@GraceDobushToGo

To set Next Attainable Action Steps, think about what will help you take the first bite out of your #BHAG2012 that you can actually accomplish within a month. Be ambitious and reasonable about the amount of time that you have to work on your NAAS.

As an example, here’s what I plan to do in the next 30 days:

• Write a new bio and post it online. (DONE! Posted on diybusinessassociation.com/about)

• Research publications that I should pitch an article about collaboration to. Make a list, with notes.

• Research leading philosophers and philosophies about collaboration. Take detailed notes.

• Think about the angle of my collaboration article and how it will stand out from published articles about collaboration.

Step 3: Take your NAAS out of the closet.

“If you announce your next steps, you’re about 100% more likely to actually accomplish them.” —@diybusiness

Whether you tell a friend about your NAAS, write about it on your blog, Twitter or Facebook, or share your NAAS with a community of entrepreneurs, we highly recommend that you tell someone about how you plan to achieve your BHAG.

We invite you to post your NAAS in Comments (below).

On the DIY Business Association Facebook page wall.

Or on Twitter using the #BHAG2012 hashtag. 

Step 4: Do the work. When you’re done, pat yourself on the back.

“My #BHAG2012: to procrastinate later.” —@k_tighe (aka K. Tighe, Founder of Poor Taste, Former Venus Zine Editor, Former Splaslife Editorial Director)

“The satisfaction of crossing things off the list is a high that drugs only wish they could create.” —Creativist Jessica Delfino, in a DIY Business Association how-to called “How to take Your Own Best Advice.”

Join us for the February 2 #diychat about Your Next Attainable Action Steps. If you know what your NAAS are, rad. If not, let’s chat about them during #diychat.

Click here to read the entire feed of #diychat 2, or check out some of the highlights…

“My Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal of 2012 is to do less—to be more focused on the most important things.” —@GrammarGirl

“I dreamt up [my #BHAG2012] on New Years Eve & grabbed my journal—the ideas were free flowing.” —@CreativeCookie

“I wasn’t using my energy efficiently in 2011. I need to regularly get into the vision zone for 2012.” — @BusyBeaverCC

“I won’t pursue my frivolous interests this year, but will give myself treats related to my frivolous goals for being so practical.” —@GrammarGirl

“My #BHAG2012 is to develop a craft incubator in my community.”—@wunderaround

“A SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses/Limitations, Opportunities and Threats involved in a business venture.” —@diybusiness

“Baby steps! Imagine your BHAG. Write down all the things that it will take to get there. Start doing them. It won’t go perfectly.” —@BusyBeaverCC

“I believe in breaking things down to the most doable pieces. Want to travel the world? First, you need a passport.” —@GraceDobushToGo

“Most of my #BHAG2012 relates to how I run my business—rather than things my business does. Anyone experiencing that?”—@karichapin

“Accountability buddies help me! Tell them what and when you want to have things done; have them hold you accountable.”—@BusyBeaverCC

“When I taught journalism, I had my students write their five-year-in-the future resumes.” —@k_tighe

“I learned that collaboration is easier said than done, but it’s extremely valuable when done well.”—@diybusiness (aka Amy Cuevas Schroeder)

Join us February 2 at 8 p.m. EST for the third episode of #diychat to talk about how to create Next Attainable Action Steps to achieving your #BHAG2012.—Amy Cuevas Schroeder

Join the DIY Business Association’s Personal BHAG Movement—and a growing community—to accomplish your biggest entrepreneurial goal.

On January 5, 2012, we’re kicking off our year-long campaign, starting with #diychat, the coolest monthly Twitter chat for entrepreneurs everywhere, and we’ll be asking these questions:

1. What’s your Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal of 2012—aka your #BHAG2012?

2. Describe how you developed your #BHAG2012.

3. What did you learn in 2011 that helped you develop this year’s goal?

4. How have you already started to reach your #BHAG2012?

5. How will you stick to your goals, and what advice can you give to others?

—

Read more about #BHAG2012:

“What’s your #BHAG2012? Join Creative Entrepreneurs Everywhere to set Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals Together” (December 19, 2011)

“Want Help Setting Your Personal BHAG for 2012? Check Out These Inspirational Examples”

Who:

#diychat is designed to connect and engage creative entrepreneurs around the world.

In addition to a rotating cast of expert hosts, you’ll hear from the members of the DIYTogether Beta Group, a tribe of creative entrepreneurs, filmmakers, designers, writers, friendly fashionistas and business developers. The DIY Business Association is working strategically with this group while developing diytogether.biz, which goes beta in first-quarter 2012.

What:

A one-hour Internet conversation about entrepreneurial topics ranging from collaboration to fundraising to startup advice to networking.

When:

First Thursdays of the month, from 8–9 p.m. EST.

(That’s 7 p.m. Central/6 p.m. Mountain/5 p.m. Pacific). Visit worldtimezone.com if your time zone isn’t listed here.

Where:

Online, from your personal computer

Why:

#diychat is a free way to stay looped into one of the most ambitious entrepreneurial communities on the planet. And it only takes up one hour per month of your time.

How:

We recommend using Tweetchat.com. Read our tips: “How to participate in a Twitter chat.”

#diychat Schedule

Thursday, February 2, 8–9 p.m. EST

What are your Next Attainable Action Steps for Accomplishing your #BHAG2012?

Guest Hosts: 

Josh Kaufman

Independent business professor, education activist, founder of PersonalMBA.com, curator of a list of the best business books and author of The Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business, an international bestseller in the business training category. @joshkaufman @personalmba

Hillary Rettig

Expert on Liberation from Procrastination; productivity coach, author of author of The 7 Secrets of the Prolific: The Definitive Guide to Overcoming Procrastination, Perfectionism, and Writer’s Block, and The Lifelong Activist: How to Change the World Without Losing Your Way. @hillaryrettig

Thursday, March 1, 8–9 p.m. EST

Thinking Big: Where Do Awesome Creative Ideas Come From, and How Do You Actualize Them?

Guest Hosts:

Susan Gregg Koger

Chief Creative Officer of ModCloth, the online retailer selling independent designer fashion and decor with a highly engaged following of millions of female shoppers. Gregg Koger started ModCloth when she was just 17, taking her love of thrifting to start an online business. ModCloth was operated out of dorm rooms and basements for four years, and after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University in 2006, Gregg Koger and husband/co-founder Eric Koger decided to expand by selling vintage-inspired clothing from talented indie designers around the world. @SusanGKoger   Read more about Susan Gregg Koger here.

&
Andrew Wagner

Director of Krrb, a fun, friendly and safe place to connect with your neighbors for local and in-person commerce. A member of the DIY Business Association board of advisers, Wagner produces the “What You Make of It” column for The New York Times. Wagner is the former Editor-in-Chief of ReadyMade. Before that, he worked as editor-in-chief of American Craft magazine and before that as the executive editor and founding managing editor of Dwell magazine.  Read more about Andrew Wagner here.

&

Donald DeSantis

Developer and UX designer at TechStars company, Giant Thinkwell. In his free time, he works with Startup Weekend organizers around the world to help make their events successful. @donalddesantis

Thursday, April 5, 8–9 p.m. EST

Startup Success Stories

Hosts: TBA

Thursday, May 3, 8–9 p.m. EST

You Can’t Do It Alone: Finding Collaborators, Business Partners and DIYTogether Groups  

Hosts: TBA

Thursday, June 7, 8–9 p.m. EST

Year of the Artist as Entrepreneur: 6-Month Progress Report

Guest Host:

Michael Wolf

Vice President and periodic analyst and blogger at influential tech media company GigaOM. He also runs BSTSLLR.com, a publisher of mystery anthologies and host the Elitzr podcast about the future of the book. Wolf wrote the influential “Why 2012 will be year of the artist-entrepreneur.” @michaelwolf

#diychat Archive 

January 5, 2012

Theme: What’s your #BHAG2012?

Special guest co-hosts:

Kari Chapin, Author of The Handmade Marketplace (@karichapin), Amazon’s top-selling craft book of 2010

&

Christen Carter, Founder/CEO, Busy Beaver Buttons (@BusyBeaverCC)

Busy Beaver’s long-term BHAG: “A button on every person.”

Christen Carter’s personal, short-term BHAG: “Tour the country to share the history of expression through buttons.”

Christen Carter’s “more idealistic and even larger-vision” BHAG: “People respecting others’ opinions through meaningful interactions.”

Read more about the January 5 #diychat:

• Communal goal-setting: The feed & highlights of #diychat 2

• Top DIY business leaders to co-host #diychat on January 5

• Want Help Setting Your Personal BHAG for 2012? Check Out These Inspirational Examples

December 1, 2011

Theme: Collaboration

The Questions we asked

Recap and feed: #diychat 1 feed (December 1, 2011)

Update to this post: On January 19, 2012, we changed the name of the DIYTogether Incubator Group to DIYTogether Beta Group, mainly because it's shorter and snappier.

By Amy Schroeder

With all the losing, getting rid of and, eventually, giving up on and feeling guilty about that surrounds New Year’s Resolutions, it’s no wonder most people resent them.

That said, why not pull a maverick move and join the movement to set a Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal for 2012?

The BHAG (pronounced “bee-hag”) is a term coined by Jerry Porras and James Collins in their book Built to Last, which examines the qualities of successful visionary companies. They found that one factor that distinguished successful efforts from unsuccessful ones was the use of ambitious—even outrageous—goals to motivate people and focus them toward concrete accomplishments.

To gear up for what’s sure to be a huge year for the Entrepreneurial Era, we’re inviting you to apply the BHAG philosophy to your passion project, entrepreneurial endeavor or awesome startup.

And, since this is also the Age of the Artist as Entrepreneur, we’re going to spend an entire year developing communities, technologies and promising practices to help creative self-starters, new businesses and ambitious people accomplish their Biggest, Hairiest, most Audacious Goals.

On January 5, we’re kicking off the #BHAG2012 campaign with our brand-new #diychat Twitter chat, co-hosted by the members of the First Official DIYTogether Incubator group and by Busy Beaver Buttons Founder Christen Carter and The Handmade Marketplace author Kari Chapin. You’re invited. Read all about the international event here: Top DIY business leaders to co-host #diychat on January 5”.

So, before we give you our DIYTogether members’ #BHAGS2012, let me ask you this: What’s your Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal for 2012? And, how can our community of ambitious self-starters help you accomplish your BHAG?

Some of the members of the First Official DIYTogether Incubator Group, from left: Shaminder Dulai, Amber J. Adams, Rebecca Jackson (we haven't told you about her yet), Niema Jordan and Colleen Ryan. This photo was taken on December 15, 2011.

DIYTogether Incubator Group Member BHAGs for 2012 

Amber J. Adams: The Gen Y Journalist

Thefablifeproject.com

amberjadams.com • @amberjadams

“My Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal for 2012 is to promote Gen Y happiness in work and life, and become a thought leader for the unstoppable Generation Innovation movement.”

Shaminder Dulai: The Nomadic Storyteller

Co-producer (with Amber J. Adams) of 77, the documentary about the back stories of Gen Y and how they’re affected by the recession.

Shaminderdulai.com • @SDulai

“I want to backpack around the globe in 2012.”

Golzar Selbe Naghshineh: The Activist

Producer, JustTheTipOfFeminism.org

@JustTheTipMovie • @FeministGolzar

“I want to finish Just the Tip and get the film into SXSW. … Is that big, hairy and audacious enough? It’s kind of just THE goal.”

Me, Amy “Collaboration” Schroeder

Founder/CEO, DIY Business Association and DIYTogether

@diybusiness @amyschroeder

“My #BHAG2012 is to become a leading philosopher and inventor of collaborative entrepreneurship.”

Sammy Davis: The Martha Stewart of the Vintage World

Founder, Sammy Davis Vintage 

sammydvintage.com • @sammydavis22

“My #BHAG2012 is to be cast in my first TV show for 2012!”

Shaina Feinberg: The Funk Fixer

Inventor of Alignment and HyperCrafting; This American Life contributor, audio producer, writer, and collaborator with comedian Dave Hill

F-berg.org

“My BHAG is to finish my feature-length movie.”

Frieda Klotz: The Irish Journalist Does New York

@FriedaKlotz • friedaklotz.com

“My BHAG2012 is to write and publish a non-fiction book. I also want to hone my niche and get my work featured in national U.S. print magazines.”

Colleen Ryan: The Get Sh** Done-er

caryaninc.com • @CARyanInc

“My BHAG is to contribute to getting at least one startup up and running in 2012 where they are in a financial position to operate and market themselves to becoming a profitable national brand within two to four years.”

Lesley Ware: The Friendly Fashionista

Founder/Blogger, The Creative Cookie

creativecookie@me.com • @CreativeCookie

“My #BHAG2012 is to write and publish a fashion-instruction curriculum and guide for pre-teen fashionistas.”

Meet the newest members of the First Official DIYTogether Incubator Group

Niema Jordan: The MultiTasking Writer

Freelance journalist, blogger, fiction writer, and poet. Her work can be seen in ESSENCE, EBONY and Venus Zine. She also contributes to OaklandLocal.com in addition to documenting the Bay Area arts scene for 38th Notes.

@niemajordan • niemajordan.com

“My #BHAG2012 is to start my own media company that incorporates content creation and curriculum development.”

Tamara Warren: The First Lady of Automobile Journalism

Self-made Writer; Founder, gotryke.com: Where Culture and Transportation Converge; Forbes blogger (blogs.forbes.com/tamarawarren: The Return of Street Savvy)

(@tamaratam) • tamarawarren.com

“My #BHAG2012 is to finish my book. Easy to say, tough to write.”

—

I keep a journal about the progress of the First Official DIYTogether Incubator Group. Get up to speed here: 

“Introducing the members of the first DIYTogether Incubator Group” Chapter 2 (November 15, 2011)

“The Diary of DIYTogether Incubator Groups” Chapter 1 (October 25, 2011)

#diychat 1 Feed from December 1, 2011 (December 3, 2011)