The spirit hit me today. It was just a matter of time you know?

Yesterday a question posted on Linked In and it was- Who is your working angel?

About 4 months ago that would have been difficult for me to decide because there were so many people who had helped me in many different aspects over the years. But yesterday, without question and hesitation, only one person popped to the top of the mind. Mike Michalowicz was right on time. Mike is the founder of Obsidian Launch (a growth accelerator company for young entrepreneurs) and the author of the forthcoming book, The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur.

If you want to catch a glimpse of him, his culture, his vision and why I love Mike Michalowicz so much you can check him out in the video below (high def video, takes a few minutes to load).

TPE Vlog 7-10-08 from Toilet Paper on Vimeo.

Essentially, at the time I met Mike Michalowicz I was at crossroads in my life (I truly was) and my visionary business coach was helping me to work it out. It is not like I was some troubled distraught chic bouncing back from a relationship. It was quite the contraire actually. I had 2 amazing opportunities in niche businesses and I had to choose one to give my all. As for how I met Mr. Michalowicz…well that’s another story in itself….better pull up a chair

One day I was reading this very funny (but informative) business blog where a young entrepreneur age 15 posted a question about how he could get started in business. This particular post wasn’t funny, it was actually quite serious but the blog is a hoot. Well the moderator of the blog, one guilty party named Mike Michalowicz posted a response (with his real name, duh). But let’s give him props because at least he wrote something personal. His advice was to read some book, check out some resources he recommended and to call his company for business development assistance when the kid turned 18. So one hyped up Shonika saw an opportunity and immediately posted on the blog for the kid to try to push forward with the business idea !!!like yesterday!!! with the help of the Renegade CEO’s, of course. Low and behold within the next 24 hours, if it wasn’t one Mr. Mike Michalowicz on the phone rapping with me about that post and many other crazy things in the world of business. We were both doing the ever so diplomatic pre-qualifying questions to make sure the person who posted on the blog was really the person who posted on the blog. He had jokes and direct open-ended questions off the break, so I was like yep, yep, he legit. And I was being open and generous with my information like I normally am on the web (and actually in person). So that was that and we decided that we needed to make some big things happen and find common ground and meet in person, which we did within the 2 weeks that followed.

So why does Mike Michalowicz get my vote for Working Angel? Aside from he is crazy and funny as hell, much like myself, I have to say that hands down he is someone who TRULY believed in me the first time I chatted with him. I mean he was hard core digging my concept and my over the top marketing themes. This all with only having one brief conversation with me on the phone and one conversation over coffee with me in person. He put all his chips on the table and bet on me. Nobody has ever done that. I mean my mom digs what I am doing and encourages me all the time so I have to give her props but she mostly just smiles and nods her head and says ‘ok baby keep pushing forward’, because that is what mom’s do right?

Anyway, on a whole different level, I meet people ALL the time with equivalent access to resources and people as me but they are not willing to go out on the limb with me. They are all gung ho but when it comes down to implementation they get all wishy washy and their follow through sucks. It’s like I’ll say to Mike “the limb is about to break” and he’s like, “no worries, it’s all good, if we fall off and break anything, I got insurance”. I tell you- he has a line for everything. Mike has done good for me and continues to do good for me day after day, week after week. No doubt he is the real deal. Mind you, during this whole time he has not asked for anything in return. He has graciously opened and shared his network with me, pooled resources and helped create other valuable marketing opportunities and joint ventures in just the 4 short months I have known him. This indeed is the power of social networking in the 21st century. It’s not about the missed opportunities and wasted back and forth to hit a dead end…it’s just like closing a sale. All it takes is 1 good deal that creates inspiration to do many more much bigger ones. It is what I continuously tell you, my little emerging young Renegade CEO’s- when you get to the place you are supposed to be, everything and everyone will be there waiting for you and doors will start opening all over the place. So just like Mr. Michalowicz has shown me mad love, here in my house NO DOUBT we shall reciprocate his gesture.

As he is an avid supporter and advocate for young entrepreneurs if you haven’t already checked it out, I want you to see what he is all about. Check out his video below. You will realize that it compliments what I often say and what we are doing here. If you like and agree with what he is saying then go to his site http://www.toiletpaperentrepreneur.com/ and register to get updates on his blog or make a comment yourself. And if you think he sucks, wellll–I am sorry you feel that way, but if you decide to tell him so, make your feedback constructive, not destructive.
 

Mike Michalowicz, Author of The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur - The 8 TPE Attributes - Website Video from Toilet Paper on Vimeo.

Until next time…
Love & Laughter,
Nika’Nator