Dear Designer,

My feet and legs were killing me. Last week, in Utah, walking endlessly all around the Salt Palace. Silicon Slopes Summit, Day 3.

But, it was all going to be worth it…or so I thought.

I had an agenda, to meet people, learn what they were doing, what their businesses were all about, their needs, and just to create conversations.

This was the plan, driving down on Monday morning, to attend the Silicon Slopes Summit from January 14th - 17th, 2025; to meet people and see what kind of magic would happen.

Here’s the story…and the magic.

Keep designing,
Josh

P.S. I missed last week. I was embarrassed and discouraged. But, I didn’t let that stop me from writing this week. I think this was a good way to approach this. What do you think?

Today’s Design Theory

^{(Why theory? Ideas are theories until you test, prove, and adopt the results into the fibers of your identity.)}

Relationships…are…everything.

The currency of success is TRUST. You build trust through relationship creation, nurturing, and thoughtful “no strings attached” giving. Here’s what I mean.

It all started at Logos Coffee in Salt Lake City at 11am on Monday, January 13th.

I scheduled a meeting with my friend, James at Logos Coffee; (not his real name).

No real agenda and no real expectations.

I was coming to Utah to meet people and reward myself, socially, from making December an incredible month to remember.

Instead of filling my week with “work,” (which I’m grateful I even have when many might not), I was filling my time with equally, or perhaps, an equal or greater valued activity, creating and nurturing relationships in my ever expanding professional and personal network.

So there we were, James and I, sitting, talking, filling each other in on the recent events.

We had been talking by phone every other week about, for the last few months.

I have known James for a good part of a year and I had called him up one day around mid October, just because I wanted to keep in touch, talk with him. Perhaps learn from him. Who knows.

I liked James. He was my kind of person I thought and so I reached out.

Now, we had become friends and this meeting was yet another moment to chalk up as “relationship capital.”

I was there for James and he was there for me. We both knew and know that relationships are everything.

Steven Covey, a business educator and world renowned author and thought leader wrote a book called, “The Speed of Trust.”

The more trusted you are, the greater network of trusted individuals, the greater opportunities you’ll have. Life is rich when you are building relationships of trust and interest.

But, it’s not about YOU all of the time, is it?!

Life is about give and take and when we decide to really start Designing Life, we begin to realize when we design who we create connections with, we design so much of our future through relationships, and can help design the future of others in the same way.

I’d like to share three stories which illustrate a lesson about relationships that, if you latch on to, could change the direction of your life…

…just like it did mine.

Story #1: Booth Buddies

James and I talked for a while, then, he had to leave. I walked him out to his car and wished him well, promising to connect and meet up again before I left Utah, back home for Idaho.

While James and I had been talking, I had heard now and again, the two guys next to our booth talking and using words that related to business.

Before James had left I had decided to continue my networking journey I had traveled from Idaho for by introducing myself to one of the gentlemen that was in a neighboring booth.

I met Sam (not his real name), who was a startup owner. Sam and I sat and talked for another 30 minutes and I learned all about what his goals, initiatives, and current professional aspirations were.

Sam was an incredible person. By the end of our conversation I could see various ways I could potentially help Sam, including, introducing Sam to James, my friend who had just left.

Lesson #1: Always be a door opener, never a door closer.

I had to flex my courage muscle in order to introduce myself to Sam. He didn’t know me. I risked embarrassment and an awkward moment.

But, most of our worries and stress stem from thoughts or ideas that never end up happening.

A week later I met Sam in Pocatello and ended up making a trip of it meeting up with a few others, continuing to nourish relationships with others.

I met Sam’s partner this time who was equally as amazing. And thus continues a relationship that could have never happened if I hadn’t created space and time to visit Utah to network, scheduled a meeting with James in that particular coffee shop, and introduced myself to Sam that day.

Who knows what will come of these, seemingly, coincidental events. But, there, right there, was pure magic, some of the best kind, too.

Story #2: The $150 Lunch Plate

It’s not the stock market, real estate, education, crypto, or a side hustle that if invested in yields the greatest returns.

There’s only ONE place you should consider putting most of your money to create the greatest ROI in life.

What is it? It is…

…investing in YOURSELF.

I had a chance to attend a lunch meeting on Tuesday, January 14th, with a group of individuals that I would label, “10xers,” people who are really trying to squeeze the most out of life.

And, here, we have the “relationship” word again.

The 10xers in life that I know really know how to create and build empowering relationships.

When I got an invitation to attend a $150 4 hour lunch, I questioned if this was right for me right now.

It was an a business pitch / investor meeting.

I knew it was time for me to level up, to start putting out feelers, to create pathways to find myself in the rooms where people are where I want to someday be.

I signed up, paid my $150, and attended the lunch…never to be the same again.

I met some incredible people there, heard some wonderful company pitches. I learned much and gained new friends.

This story has only begun. Who knows if and when it will ever end.

I had lunch later that week with an individual who has become a fast friend and now a budding mentor. I hope to return equal or more value his way too, but, timing is everything and my time to give back will come when it’s right.

There have been many follow up communications and I anticipate a spreading and expanding of opportunities and possibilities both from and to me just because of this one lunch even.

Lesson #2: Investing in yourself is a vital part of designing life. Investing in the means to be in the room with people who are where you want to be, is, one of the greatest ways to control your future and carve your path through life.

I could have saved that $150 and reallocated those funds elsewhere. But, what would I have missed?

Answer: Every good thing that came from that meeting that day.

Dare I use the world, “unbelievable?”

In the days that follow, weeks and months from now, the ripples through time and relationships will still be evident.

It’s the compounding effect that great investments produce that makes it all worth it.

And, with relationship investments, you truly never see the end of it.

No, there is no end to where relationships can bring bring the parties involved.

This is why I knew, I just knew every dollar, moment, and ounce of energy spent at this lunch would pay infinite dividends in all directions.

(Find out more about these kinds of lunches and events here: bmgexitclub.com)

Thank you Sandra and Dave as always!

Story #3: Hustle and Bustle at Startup Alley

Sometimes, we question our decisions.

I know I did this past week.

I found myself at the Salt Lake City Salt Palace roaming around dozens of booths talking and chatting with startups that were either raising funding or there for sheer awareness sake.

I had started my day there filled with “networking energy,” to just meet and mingle and see what kinds of people I would resonate with.

But, after a few hours, I wondered what I was even doing there…

…maybe I needed to eat more breakfast or something, perhaps not in the best mood.

Not quite sure.

Needless to say, right now, I’m in transition, and, meeting so many people who know what they want and are fully invested in one thing…

…well, I’m a creative and have many interests and talents and have tried to narrow my focus, but, I’m still in the middle of pivoting.

After a while, however, I determined to just be ME, and not compare myself to people who were younger and who had created more success and not wasted years like I feel I have.

But, have I really? Has my years of effort, experience, and success all been in vain because I’m chasing some ideal, like the horizon, that just keeps moving?!

Lesson #3: The best thing to be, is who and what you are right now. Because those looking for you, will only find you if you show up as you really are.

I went into this networking excursion to find ways to connect and help others.

Focusing on myself would have been the least productive pathway to real connection. 

As I talked with people I shared my background, my thoughts, and my ideas.

I tried to bring value to the conversation and create some amazing moments and relationships.

It worked and worry soon subsided.

I’m enough, and so are you.

Final Thoughts

Here’s a word to consider: “transactional.” It’s an adjective that can describe the type of relationship that exists between two people or entities.

It goes like this…

“I’ll do X if you promise me Y.”

Or…

“I’ll do Y and expect to get Z in return.”

This works in all kinds of transactions and relationships. No problems.

But, to create a long lasting relationship where the dividends are much more than they would have been in the beginning…the compounding effect of “investment over time” also falls sway in the relationship arena.

Relationship equity, human capital, the law of reciprocation...

All of these mean that, when creating relationships and adding value in various ways (making introductions, passing on a pre-vetted service provider, providing advice, offering to help), all of these create massive value in the lives of others that may show up months and years down the road in the form of a miracle that you had been hoping for and praying for, but that, someone in your network, someone that you invested care and interest in, showed up for you at a perfect time.

It’s truly amazing how relationships can change everything.

The lesson here is, be a giver.

10x, 100x, a 1000x what you can give.

Bring people into your world and share, most of all, the wonderful relationships you have created.

It’s not the HOW that will create forward movement in your endeavors but the WHOs you invest in.

If you know and have experienced this “wonder” and the “magic” that relationship building has created for you, that is truly remarkable and I congradulate you on the buried treasure you have unearthed and are reaping rewards from and sharing with others.

If this is new to you…

…go ahead, try it out.

The SPEED of TRUST will surly whisk you away into places you would have never dreamed you’d find yourself in…

…to wonders you never even knew existed.

Let’s Network

Check out some of the companies I found impressive and inspiring. I’d love to connect anyone with any of the companies or listed individuals below:

• Tiderise.io - (Seth Stover) Tiderise hires, trains and employs educated young adults in Malawi to handle operational and procedural work for companies all over the globe taking on what AI can’t.

• GeoGrowthPro.com - (Michael Atherton / Josh Dennis / Matt Fischer) Our Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) solutions use machine learning to predict customer behavior and optimize your presence across search engines, voice assistants, smart devices, and AI-powered platforms.

• NorthStarFinGroup.com - (Jay Tobey) At North Star, we measure success not only by financial returns but by the communities we help to grow. We work to bring investments that yield both social impact and financial gains, creating a cycle of positive change.

• GuruTechnologies.net - (Jonathan Heaton) Hire a team of seasoned Utah-based software developers to design and develop your enterprise software and mobile apps. Let us help you take your business to new heights!

• NeuroNovaCo.com - (Michael Hammer) NeuroNova is a revolutionaly consumer device, a neuro-harmonic virbration stool designed to target parts of the brain involved in anxiety reduction, sleep, motivation, and addiction.

• GetPersonafy.com - (Josh Hardman) Record one video and instantly personalize it for every prospect. 10x your outreach efforts by sending video messages that are instantly personalized for any contact in your CRM with generative AI.

• GaryLeePrice.com (Gary Lee Price) Sculpture to “lift the human spirit”. Sculpture to inspire. This is the essence of Gary’s work. This is his life’s journey, to lift and to inspire!

• CFE-Fund.org - (Robbie Daniel / Jared Zemp) Scholarships Available for Children with Disabilities to Attend Private School or Homeschool. The CFE Fund is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and all contributions to the Fund are eligible for a 100% tax credit.

• Virtuspect.com - (Tim Harris) Empowering Enterprises with Intelligent Inspection Management Solutions Orchestrate your inspection processes with our automated SaaS platform.

• LetsJetty.com - (Suzie / Nicole) The most delightful group trip planning app. Let's Jetty is a collaborative group travel app that makes it easier & more enjoyable to build a trip itinerary with friends, family, and communities.

• EVJECT.com - (Kreg Peeler) The breakaway charging connector for EV safety: Charge with confidence, knowing you can escape quickly in an emergency.

• IsYourMoneyRight.com (Brian Miller) Financial health is the foundation of a good life. Help your employees cultivate unshakeable financial freedom through the power of knowledge, intention, and keeping their own promises. Schedule a free consultation.

• OperationRead.com - (Phillip Chipping) Our patent-pending technology tailors reading materials to children’s skill levels, making stories and articles decodable without altering content. Thousands of options ensure engaging, personalized learning.

• TerraceMetrics.org - (Rich Gilman) Gathering educational data to inform improved support to students and workers.

• SpotParking.app - (Dean Smith) Parking enforcement automated. Real time analytics. Live interactive map.

• ChangRobotics.ai - (Don Capener) Chang Robotics leads with groundbreaking innovation in engineering and robotics, driving advancements and redefining possibilities in the field. Manufacturing. Government tech. Healthcare.

How I Can Help You

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I Speak. I Write Songs. I Sing.

I read a journal entry from September 2021 recently that gave me the kind jolt you get when you work on electrical work in your house but forgot to turn off the circuit breaker.

I realized I have been working on creating my speeches and songs for “a long time” without any real movement in the direction of actually speaking, singing, and writing at the magnitude and impact levels that I was truly born to do.

So, please share.

I speak about “Purpose F.L.O.” which means F.I.N.D., L.I.V.E., and O.F.F.E.R. your purpose (and, yes, each word is another acronym and is secret unless you ask or hire me for an event to see what it’s all about. In other words, I haven’t published online what those mean yet.)

I’ve also got this “Design Life” topic I speak about as well as my W.A.V.E formula to live by.

Here’s my Demo Reel:

What’s unique about my Keynote and Send Off Speeches is that I tell three stories and sing three original songs.

This is unlike any other speaking concept you’ve probably heard of.

I speak about mental health, entrepreneurship, overcoming life’s obstacles, and more.

Here’s one of my original songs (which is part of my Setup portion, the beginning of my speech):

Book a call to discuss what kinds of speaking collaborations we can discuss.

I also write theme songs for events, which are, truly impactful for the event owners and attendees alike, an emotionally charged marketing asset.

(See joshholladay.com for more info)

1. Book a call.

2. Let’s talk about your event or a possible song you want written and sung by me.

Pincel: AI Generated “Design Life” Logo

I searched long and hard for an AI tool that would take my logo and create a theme out of it. (Wasn’t easy.)

So, I’ll save you the time and tell you about it.

It’s one of the best AI tools I’ve found that keeps the integrity of your logo. Here’s what I did to generate multiple logo versions:

• I loaded up my logo mark

• Typed in a brief prompt: “a cloud in the blue sky realistic in the morning”

• Set “readability” to 2.11

• It generated this lovely design.

(I’m an affiliate. Click on the section below to sign up and get started, FREE and paid options.)

Keep designing,

—Josh