#15: Do
I grew up in Ankeny, Iowa. I graduated from Ankeny High School. I went to college at the University of Northern Iowa. I worked for a video game production company in Cedar Falls, Iowa. I worked for a rock’n’roll band based in Des Moines, Iowa. I launched a tech startup (Tikly) in Des Moines, Iowa. Childhood, awkward teen years, college choices, video games, rock’n’roll, and Tikly all happened within a two-hour radius. My experiences have informed the tip I want to impart on you now, Des Moines: do. The amount of resources we have available to us is incredible. Networking opportunities abound and every level of our community will support you in what you do. We are a little big town placed in a natural incubator of awesomeness. I promise you that if you go to the right networking events and reach out to the right people, you will find yourself enveloped in success. This is Des Moines, Iowa. This place rocks. I double dog dare you to get out there and do something. You don’t need to launch a company, though if you would like to, you should do it. Just get out there and do buy local, do talk to new people, do attend events, do go out to eat, do stay connected, do do it all. (Yes, “do do”…heh.) Don’t know where to start? Here are a few resources that really helped me do what I do:
Young Professionals Connection Startup City Des Moines The Greater Des Moines Partnership (the original “Do More in Des Moines” crew) Business Innovation Zone Des Moines Music Coalition Silicon Prairie News Des Moines Startup Drinks And once you decide to get out there and do things. Don’t stop. This is our community, it’s our future, and we can do just about anything. I love you, Des Moines. __ Emma Peterson is the Founder & CEO of Tikly and the Communications Director for Authentic Records. Follow: @emmzzuh.
