Three ideas from Startup Week to help entrepreneurs grow their business

Motivational speakers with messages to inspire entrepreneurs closed out Startup Week’s St. Petersburg events Tuesday night.

Matt Maddix and his teenage son Caleb, co-founders of Maddix Publishing, said the key to success is to focus on energy, mission and money, while Carrie Wilkerson, author of The Barefoot Executive, spelled out the BRAD formula – boundaries, routine, accountability and deadlines.

Their talks at host site 3 Daughters Brewing were designed to fit this year’s Startup Week theme, “No Excuses,” challenging entrepreneurs to examine what’s holding them back and to reject those excuses.

Caleb Maddix (left) and his father, Matt Maddix

Here are some top quotes from the three speakers.

“I don’t even like using the word entrepreneur. The word I like to use is visionary. We’re not just people who make money or do something online or post videos or do Facebook live, but we are the people who change the world … Entrepreneurship is not about income, it’s about impact.” — Caleb Maddix, a 16-year-old author and self-made millionaire who co-founded Maddix Publishing, a book publishing company for people looking to increase their impact and income through writing a book.

“The fastest way to get to extreme power and abundance is to become a giver as a lifestyle … You don’t give because you have. You have because you give.” — Matt Maddix, who gave up his career as a religious speaker, making up to $400,000 a year, to spend time with his son.

Carrie Wilkerson

“I know we don’t want to be ugly, we don’t want to be rude, we don’t want to be seen as a diva or too important, but if you want people to treat your business like a business and treat you like a working person, it has to start with you.” — Carrie Wilkerson, who has run several successful businesses from her home while raising four children, on the importance of setting boundaries in work and personal life.

Startup Week Tampa Bay programs have now shifted to Armature Works in Tampa and will continue through Friday. More information is here.