It’s No Longer Lonely To Be A Pioneer (Introducing Pioneer Nation)

Fellow Riskologist,

Today, I’m announcing a “super top secret” project I’ve been working on for several months with my cohorts from The World Domination Summit. It’s a live event for independent entrepreneurs. Here’s why…

If you’ve ever worked for yourself, especially from home as a freelancer or independent entrepreneur, you’re familiar with this question:

Doesn’t it get lonely working by yourself?

And you’re probably just as familiar with the answer—”Yes, it does.”

I don’t even have a pet to keep me company at my place. I have to take breaks and go outside to talk to the neighbor’s cat. She’s not much for conversation, but she’s a good listener.

In the last few years, we’ve come a long way building online communities for people like us. I can get on Facebook or Twitter any time of the day and chat with other people like me.

And since I’m lucky to live in Portland where there’s a strong community of independent entrepreneurs, I can even go out and have a beer with them once in a while.

The Tale Of The Independent Entrepreneur

But what about making deep connections—the kind that need to be fostered offline, face-to-face? And what about getting useful and actionable advice from someone who’s been in my place before? Someone who’s had my same problems and can help me solve them?

You can say a lot with a tweet, but some conversations need a bit more intimacy.

Being self-employed and building a creative business is not a brand new concept, but figuring out how to get the right guidance and make the right connections when you’re building a small, creative business kind of is.

When you’re working in a traditional job path, there’s plenty of hard work to do to succeed, but the pathway is clear. You know what to do and how to do it.

That’s not the case for the self-employed! We’re constantly inventing the path and figuring things out as we go.

We don’t complain—this is what we signed up for. But if you’re like me, you’ve certainly gotten frustrated at times and wished there were better resources. Most business schools can’t teach you how to be an independent entrepreneur; they’re not designed for that. And most conferences that seem like they’re for us aren’t actually for us at all.

I went to SXSWi a few years ago hoping to gain some insights on ways to improve my new business. I had fun, but that scene wasn’t for me. I’m not trying to create the next Google (yet!). And I’m not coding a million dollar app or courting venture capital.

I’m not doing any of those things. I’m sitting at home making useful stuff for a small audience of passionate people.

Where are all the amazing resources and events for people sitting at home making useful stuff for a small audience of passionate people, damn it!?

On March 26-28, 2014, myself and a few other independent entrepreneurs are going to start changing this.

Introducing Pioneer Nation: A Business Growth Event For Independent Entrepreneurs

A few months ago, Chris Guillebeau—who I work with to produce The World Domination Summit each summer—wrote me a short email that went something like this:

There are no great events serving independent entrepreneurs. We can do better. Interested?

And my reply:

Was thinking the same thing. Let’s chat.

Less than a week later, four other Indiepreneurs™ (I’m totally trademarking that…) from the WDS team—Sean, Isaac, Jolie, and Nicky—had signed on.

pioneer-nation-logo-1We decided to call our event Pioneer Nation—a community based event focused on hard-hitting strategies and tactics to help independent entrepreneurs grow their businesses.

We’ve been fast-tracking the project since day one so we could tell you about it as soon as possible. And that’s what I’m doing today.

All aboard for the Oregon Trail! Sand your wagon wheels and grab your gun powder!

Visit the Pioneer Nation website

An Event Built From The Ground Up For The Indiepreneur

From our first meeting, we’ve stuck to a simple but important rule:

Every decision we make for Pioneer Nation must help independent entrepreneurs grow their projects.

So, we’ve recruited the founders of incredibly successful small businesses to come share their stories of growth, the problems they’ve overcome, and their biggest lessons learned all the way from making their products and services to marketing them to running the show without going crazy.

People like…

  • Laura Roeder, who grew her business from zero to seven figures in three years.
  • Jen Adrion and Omar Noory, who run a small illustration studio with enormous clients all over the world.
  • Nathan Barry, who founded a software firm with three mega-hit apps and created a $10,000/month publishing business all by the ripe old age of 22.
  • And many more.

Because we’re limiting the size of this event to just 500 people, our speakers are able to offer much more than a standard talk from the main stage.

  • They’ll host workshops.
  • They’ll run one-on-one consultations.
  • They’ll be available to answer specific questions about their businesses—even money questions.

I’m even spearheading the creation of a customized curriculum to guide you to the outcomes and results your business needs.

Most importantly, Pioneer Nation is going to be a hell of a lot of fun. If you’ve been to WDS, you know we like to have a good time. Out with the suits, ties, and stodgy business lingo! In with the parties and kitschy pioneer lingo!

Learn how Pioneer Nation will help your independent business

All That’s Missing Is You…

The inaugural Pioneer Nation is going to be fun and profitable for those who attend. That I’m sure of. At the time of this writing, 100 pioneering Indiepreneurs have already committed to joining us in Portland in March.

All that’s missing now is you. Saddle up!

pioneer-nation-logo-2

If you’ve ever felt the way I did building my business—a bit lonely and like no one understands your needs as a small, creative entrepreneur—then we created this for you.

Pioneer Nation will be March 26-28, 2014 in my hometown of Portland, OR. I hope you’ll mark your calendar.

Sign up for Pioneer Nation and join several hundred other independent entrepreneurs on a mission.

Yours in indiepreneurship,
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Founder, Riskology.co