how to rock sxsw

So I’m going to be giving a keynote at SXSW this year.

So I’m going to be giving a keynote at SXSW this year.

(Just like I always have.)

And to be honest, I’m going to spend most of it on Q&A,

And to be honest, I’m going to spend most of it on Q&A,

(Because that’s the most valuable thing I can give to my audience.)

but I promised a keynote, so goddamnit, I’m going to

give a great keynote.

So I made this slideshare because I want to give you all a sneak peek

of what I’m going to talk about.

(So let’s get into it.)

So I made this slideshare because I want to give you all a sneak peek

of what I’m going to talk about.

1 CAN GIVE TO SXSW,NOT WHAT YOU CANGET FROM SXSW.

FOCUS ON WHAT YOU

For the last few years everything has been:“Hey, let me give you my business card!”

“Invest in my startup!”

“Download my app!”

Those people have it backwards.

The first year I went to SXSW, I shipped a bunch of

wine down there,

The first year I went to SXSW, I shipped a bunch of

wine down there,

(I basically wanted to get the nerds drunk.)

I wanted to be a part of this new community, so I figured the best way

was to teach them what I know.

After a little bit of shenanigans with this new

app called Twitter,

I ended up throwing an amazing party.

I ended up throwing an amazing party.

(At least CNET thought so.)

And now the Secret Wine Party is—let’s be honest here—

the singular event of SXSW.

And now the Secret Wine Party is—let’s be honest here—

the singular event of SXSW.

(At least my mom and I think so.)

2 FIVE STRANGERS

SAY HELLO TO

If you do not do this step, you’re making the biggest

mistake of your life.

The singular reason to go to SXSW is that you have thousands of

people who are passionate about similar things.

To be in line at a taco truck and not say: “Hey, what are you all about?”

to the gal in front of you is inexcusable.

You need to expand your social graph beyond just new followers.

Please do that.

Please do that.

Please do that.

Please do that.

Please do that.

Please do that.

ONE PANEL FOR ASUBJECT YOU KNOWNOTHING ABOUT

GO TO AT LEAST3

SXSW attracts a huge breadth of different digital experts.

Years ago, Travis Kalanick of Uber asked me:

“Why do you keep going to all the marketing panels?”

The answer was that I was selfish and I wanted to feel smart.

So the next year I went to talks about Bitcoin and women in tech.

I expanded my horizons, and it was amazing.

So if you know nothing about mobile tech, digital currencies,

or online dating...

you owe it to yourself to expand your horizons at SXSW.

4 DOCUMENT

Growing up I probably took 6 pictures my whole life.

(My family was the same way...)

There is like a picture of me at 4, a picture of me when I was 17,

and then one at like 22.

4 17 22

174 22

There is like a picture of me at 4, a picture of me when I was 17,

and then one at like 22.

(It’s terrible. There’s no documentation.)

I regret tremendously not taking more pictures over the last six

years of going to SXSW.

I wish I could watch a YouTube video from the first Secret Wine Party.

I wish I could see an Instagram of when I was hanging out with

David Recordon and Josh Elman.

Why don’t I have a picture of me talking to Dennis Crowley down by that hotdog cart talking about this

new service FourSquare?!

There are too many awesome things happening at SXSW.

Document, document, document!

THE PEOPLE THATYOU CARE ABOUT

ALLOCATE 25% OFYOUR TIME TO5

Ironically, I spend more quality time with my friends and serious business acquaintances at SXSW

than I do in NYC.

Ironically, I spend more quality time with my friends and serious business acquaintances at SXSW

than I do in NYC.(Even though we all live and work in NYC.)

SXSW breaks your normal habits and gives you a chance to deepen your

existing relationships.

This is the only event when I text my friends in advance to find out

about their schedules.

So yes, you’re looking to discover new people (rule #2!), but you

should try to reconnect with the people you care most about.

So there you have it. Go forth,

Give1

Connect2

3 Expand

Document4

...and Get a drink!5

THANKS FOR READING!

RSVPClick here tofor my keynote at SXSW.

(If you thought this was good, you should see the real thing.)

Friday, March 7 12:30PM - 1:30PM