[quote style=”boxed”]Act :Analyze: Adjust and a damn good team![/quote]
Greg Hartle is a born experimenter who likes to find ways to share love, fun and personal growth with the world. With his background in the investment world, over a decade of entrepreneurship, unique life experiences (including overcoming a life-threatening illness), and his relentless quest to help make the least well off, better off give him a unique and powerful ability to address business and life issues from an integrated and comprehensive level. Greg Hartle is passionately committed to enriching the human experience and is setting an example for the world on how to manifest desired business and personal results while contributing to the greater good of the world.
What are you working on right now?
On January 5, 2011 I launched my most recent experiment $10 and a Laptop. A behind-the-scenes look into what it takes for me to rebuild my life through entrepreneurship starting with just $10, my laptop, and a few miscellaneous items. Starting from basically nothing, while not using any of my existing financial resources or relationships, I will build the life of my dreams and document the entire experience online as it unfolds.
What does your typical day look like?
Right now every day varies greatly. Because I’m still in the early stages of my latest experiment, my life is largely dictated by who I meet each day and how we can mutually help each other. A few things that are always included as part of my daily routine are meditation, exercise, writing in my gratitude journal, and building at least three new relationships.
3 trends that excite you?
1) The palpable hunger for a greater sense of purposeful community sparked through the emergence of social technologies.
2) Cradle-to-Cradle model of product and service design focused on not only “doing less harm” but actually “doing good”.
3) Utilization of capitalism to create a meaningful profit through co-creation of ideas, products, and services that make the world smarter, fitter, healthier, happier, and more connected.
How do you bring ideas to life?
Act : Analyze: Adjust and a damn good team!
What inspires you?
Taking my first breath in the morning knowing I have one more day to make a meaningful difference.
What is one mistake you’ve made, and what did you learn from it?
With my first business I built a job, not a company. I learned the difference once I became diagnosed with a kidney disease and could no longer work IN my business. Had I spent time working ON my business instead I would have been able to have a functioning business while I went through my health issues. Instead, the business collapsed because I could not be there. Since then, every business I’ve built has been a fully functioning company that can not only survive, but thrive without my daily involvement.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
I don’t have a specific idea, but I would encourage readers to think about the idea that the key to products of this era is access not ownership. That should spark some ideas.
What do you read every day, and why?
In my Google Reader I have several blogs and websites.
Some include:
– As an investor I like to stay up-to-date on the latest in venture capital
– They have the best business stories and interviews
– Saul is an innovation junkie that inspires me to think in new ways.
– Ken is the most profound philosopher on living an integrated life.
– Keep up on the latest in technology and trends.
– Deeper understanding of the business, finance, and economic conditions of the world.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read, and why?
Two books in one: Walden/Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau. It will make sense of why we’re in the economic crisis we’re currently experiencing.
What is your favorite gadget, app or piece of software that helps you every day?
Evernote. It’s where I keep all my written notes, website clippings, and audio files. Best app in the world.
Three people we should follow on Twitter, and why?
@umairh – Forward thinker on how and why we need to reshape capitalism.
@ktotheb – New twist on spirituality
@badbanana – Hilarious
Who would you love to see interviewed on IdeaMensch?
Ted Gonder – @TedGonder
When is the last time you laughed out loud? What caused it?
Today. Reading hilarious tweets.
What’s your best business advice?
All it takes is the willingness to do whatever it takes.
If you could say final words to anyone, who would you choose and what would you say?
Mom, I love you.
Connect
TenDollarsADayLaptop.com –
Greg Hartle on Twitter – !/greghartle
Greg Hartle on Facebook –
Mario Schulzke is the Founder of ideamensch, which he started a decade ago to learn from entrepreneurs and give them a platform for their ideas.