Tech Ranch Austin

Using Vocal Expression and Hand Gestures for an Unforgettable Pitch

By: Ian Luebbers, Founder of Minerva,

When most entrepreneurs put together their pitch, they focus primarily on the words they are going to say. This seems sensible. After all, without words you wouldn’t be able to convey your message.

But it turns out, words are the least important part of your pitch.

According to a widely reported study, the actual words you speak may make up just 7% of your overall communication. The other components are your vocal expression (38%) and your body language (55%). Think of your words as components of a circuit board – they serve an essential purpose, but they’re basically useless until you plug them into a power source and let energy surge through them.

In this article you’re going to learn how to make energy surge through your words using vocal expression and hand gestures. [Read more…]

Co-Working v. Starbucks

By: Connor Finnigan, Entrepreneur

Being a self-employed entrepreneur, for years I worked from home and various coffee shops. Countless times I remember thinking, ‘surely there must be a better way,’ and then I discovered co-working, something I wish I had discovered a lot sooner. For a few months now I have been an extremely satisfied co-worker (or ‘Rancher’ as we call ourselves) here at Tech Ranch, and I would like to share a few noticeable differences in the co-working environment vs a makeshift coffee shop office: [Read more…]

Entrepreneurs Are Public Servants, Too – Voice & Exit

Guest Blogger: Max Borders, Voice & Exit

Everybody’s quick to honor our teachers, support the troops, or tip their hats to firefighters.

Fair enough. These can be challenging and sometimes dangerous jobs; these men and women undoubtedly deserve our admiration and gratitude.

But it’s time to honor the courage of a different kind of public servant: those who fearlessly risk their time and money to move civilization forward. Those who tirelessly work 80 hour weeks with little to no pay, yet do not receive standing ovations or ticker tape parades when their mission is complete.

It’s time to salute our forgotten public servant: the entrepreneur.

Let’s start with the brutal reality: 80 percent of U.S. entrepreneurs will fail.

That means 8 out of the 10 people who are trying to figure out a way to offer you some product, service, or experience will crash and burn trying. Emotionally, spiritually, and often financially.

Yes, they are trying to make a profit — but ask any startup founder the real reason why they launched their company…it’s certainly not money. There are much easier, less stressful, and more financially conservative ways to make a living than starting a business. Money is not the only motive.

It can be exhausting, frustrating, and emotionally deflating — and that’s before any indication of being able to call your business a success or failure.

Entrepreneurship is hard. In fact, it’s one of the hardest things you can do. Now, it’s hard to imagine honoring the Gateses, Thiels, and Buffets of the world. After all, most of us honor them enough with our “certificates of performance” (cha-ching). But those guys are just the most visible, most successful entrepreneurs. [Read more…]