INFLUENCERS: How Trends & Creativity Become Contagious

"INFLUENCERS is a short documentary that explores what it means to be an influencer and how trends and creativity become contagious today in music, fashion and entertainment.

The film attempts to understand the essence of influence, what makes a person influential without taking a statistical or metric approach.

Written and Directed by Paul Rojanathara and Davis Johnson, the film is a Polaroid snapshot of New York influential creatives (advertising, design, fashion and entertainment) who are shaping today's pop culture."

Historic Storms in the Midwest

Today was a pretty eventful day in the Midwest - weather wise.

T.WAY's College Tips: #8-of-11

UNOFFICIAL MENTOR
Find someone you can look up to. Then, learn from them. At the University, you may be able to connect with professors, students, alumni, and/or industry professionals. Having someone you can directly gain guidance from is extremely valuable. In addition, they often are willing to share their established networks when the time is right.

Experience comes with time. When you’re a college student, experience is severely limited. I’ve been connected with multiple mentors along my journey that have passed their experiences and wisdom down to me. Each one has played a large role in directing my path. During each growth stage of the business, from conception up to working with NBA players, a specific mentor played a key role in each step. It started with my family, grew to my professors, then expanded to include industry professionals, and even reached the "Worldwide Wes" level (Google him).

Moral of this story: To be the best, learn from the best.

NEW Nike LeBron Commercial

Check out the new LeBron commercial - Nike didn't shy away from any of the criticism LeBron has been hit with since "The Decision" aired this past off-season. What do you think: nicely played or kind of a stretch on Nike's end?

Detroit Mayor Dave Bing: Transform Tour

Mayor Bing and the Detroit economic people announced bus tours around Detroit to show the transformation of the city. This is awesome. My desire to bring back Detroit to its old glory days grows on a daily basis. With positive progress like this, I can begin to see that gradually taking place.

T.WAY's College Tips: #7-of-11

AMATEUR PROFESSIONAL
Even though you are "only" a college student, you can still present yourself as a young professional. This includes your physical appearance, your email address (get rid of ladiesman69@hotmail.com), information and pictures on your social networking sites. First impressions are the most important step in building a relationship, whether it's business-related or when going on a date. Do your part in making a lasting, impressive first impression.

It’s true: Appearance is everything in today’s society. As superficial as it may seem, it is very important that you present yourself properly. Even if you don’t realize it, YOU are a brand, a business. You need to sell your personality, skills, and so on. When your personal brand is a business, EVERYTHING matters. I think Jay-Z said it best: "I'm not a businessman, I'm a business, man..."

Moral of this story: You're the CEO of your personal brand, so use it.

Whipped Hair Back 'N Forth Too Hardcore

When I tried to whip my hair like 9-year old, Willow Smith did in her new music video, I obtained severe whiplash. Use caution when whipping your hair around to this video. You may be prone to injury. Hahaaa

In case you misinterpreted this post, I am not actually wearing a neck brace - the picture above was altered in Photoshop (hence the Candy Land background). Willow's video was nice, but not to that extent. Please, do not call my mom and tell her about my neck brace because I know she will freak out and call me to make sure I'm OK, ha. Thank you.

T.WAY's College Tips: #6 of 11

COOL IS YOU
Don’t conform to others' standards when they don't measure up to yours. Whenever faced with a tough decision, always do what you feel is right, even if it may not be the popular decision. You will earn much more respect from peers by standing up for something you believe in than by following the crowd. In the end, they are nothing more than just blind sheep following the herd off the edge of a cliff. Always remember: You have more purpose in life than to ruin it.

Everyone wants to fit in and, at times, I was no different. It wasn’t until my "growing up" process that I really begin to feel comfortable enough with myself to be willing to stand out. I began to desire to be one in a million and not one of a million. After all, if you don’t stand for something, you won't be standing at all.

Moral of this story: Be yourself and be cool.

Limited-Edition Air Jordans + REMTEK = Nastyyy

The Jordan CMFT Viz Air 11 is a limited edition collaborative sneaker by Sole Collector. The highlight of the shoe is the synthetic carbon fiber weave used for the mudguard. Though exact release numbers are not definite yet, a limited selection will be available at only one retailer on each side of the country - Nike Santa Monica and Nike Roosevelt Field on October 23rd.


These would be nasty with a little touch of the carbon fiber collection by Remy (www.engineeredbyremy.com). And yes, that is Joe Buys doing his runway model-thing.

T.WAY's College Tips: #5 of 11

COLLEGE POWER
Having a college ID gets you more than just discounts at local restaurants. Professionals and leaders in your future industry will most likely be very willing to sacrifice their time in order to "give back" to the next generation. You wouldn’t believe how much expert advice and knowledge you can receive (for free) by saying, “I’m a college student and was wondering…”

Being able to say I was a student turned out to be priceless in many different situations. I received free guidance from intellectual property lawyers, professional accountants, business leaders, and more simply by using that phrase. Use this college power before you lose it. Believe me, once you graduate, saying “I’m a recent college graduate…” only works for so long.

Moral of this story: Seek the free guidance from expert business leaders while you can!

CornerStore - The Movie (Based in Detroit)

This film is gonna be nice. It was filmed in Detroit by young dream chasers from Detroit. I love it already.

"A day in the life of a party store along Detroit's infamous Six Mile Road owned and operated by a conservative Black father (Roger Guenveur Smith) with the help of his son and daughter. A lot can happen on the corner... especially on the hottest day of the summer."

T.WAY's College Tips: #4 of 11

Know and Be Known
It all comes down to who you know. That is a very true virtue in the business world. The best way to increase your network is to be active. Participate in community and industry related events, groups, discussions, etc. The more you network while in college, the greater your opportunities will be once you graduate. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. When you stretch yourself, you grow the most.

I knew no one before my shoe venture took foot (stupid pun intended). It wasn’t until I discovered how to put my passion into a business did I begin networking. By networking, I simply mean meeting people. I was, and still am, a shy person. But, I knew that if I didn’t force myself out of my comfort zone in order to network, then no one else would for me.

Somehow I was able to work my way into the back tunnels of the Palace, just outside of the Pistons locker room (which is another story in itself)... Anyways, I remember my heart bumping out of my chest with my mouth feeling like I’ve been sucking on a dozen cotton balls. As players like Chauncey, Tayshaun, and Rip began to come out of the locker room, I mustered up the courage and ignored my fears to introduce myself to them.

After I probably stumbled over my first few words, I realized they were just people – like me. Granted, they had more money in their pocket than I had in my entire bank account, but they were just people. Luckily for shy-little me, they were really nice people.

Moral of this story: Hustle your butt off to grow your most valuable asset - your network.

T.WAY's College Tips: #3 of 11

BRAIN SPONGE
Everyday is an absolute golden opportunity to learn. Soak up your required class materials, but also, build your desire to learn outside of the traditional classroom setting. Observe everything you can about the industry that interests you most. Read the trade magazines, stay current on the blogs, study the industry leaders, understand the trends, and more. Become a student of your passion.

It wasn’t until the T.WAY brand began growing did I consciously realize that everyday moments are learning experiences. For me, those moments were paying attention to what clothes or shoes my target market was wearing. In addition, it was knowing where they are going, what they are talking about, and other key items that create future trends. Beyond seeing my target market, I also began to analyze what other businesses were doing. I learned to study my competition just like an athlete would watch game tapes of their opponents. Look for their weaknesses to exploit as well as yours that you can improve upon.

Moral of this story: become a student of your passion.

Mike Posner Music Video - Please Don't Go

The just released music video from Mike Posner's next single from his debut album...

Mascot Violence

The first video is a pretty well done "lipdub" video by Grand Valley State University as they celebrate their 50th anniversary. The second video does not promote mascot violence, but may possibly be perceived as such. Apparently even though "Louie the Mascot" was run over by a golf cart, it was reported that he did not obtain any serious injuries. Oh, thank God.


The third video, which is completely unrelated, does obtain mascot-on-mascot violence. The Ohio University mascot completely aims for the Ohio State University mascot looking for a fight. Apparently, the student inside the Ohio mascot wanted the role of mascot for the year simply for this opportunity. Too bad he seemed to fail in the fight.

This fourth, and yes, final video, may not be suitable for minors under the age of 18...

T.WAY's College Tips: #2 of 11

AMBITION IS CONTAGIOUS
Surround yourself with like-minded individuals that have similar dreams, and most importantly, the ambition to follow them. Having a surrounding cast of others who are focused on their goals are the positive influence you need. This influence will give you the extra motivation to keep moving.

I have been blessed to have a tremendous core team around me. The first member, I am sure you are familiar with by now: Joe Buys. We met playing pick-up basketball games at GVSU, but soon found that we both had similar dreams. Although his path of passion is music while mine is art/design, we still were able to push each other to keep working hard. Another member is yet another familiar name by now: Adrienne. She has always believed in my mission since Day 1 and has been an priceless asset ever since. There are many other dream team members that each have their hand in any success this venture yields.

Moral of this story: It takes teamwork to make the dream work.

Eminem Interview on 60 Minutes

Eminem was recently on 60 Minutes and shared some interesting details about his life during the interview with Anderson Cooper. Did you know that he is the highest grossing music artist of the last decade? Not bad for a white kid from the trailers of Detroit...

T.WAY's College Tips: #1 of 11

Wall mural in Berlin

FOLLOW PASSION, NOT PAY
In determining your major and future career, first make a list of what you WANT to do in life, not what would pay the best. Although money is a nice comfort to have, you will be much more fulfilled doing something you LOVE rather than dreading a 9-to-5. When you do what you love, it never feels like work...

My bank account certainly does not consider me to be rich. In fact, there’s been multiple times when I’ve had less than $100 to my name. Yet, I enjoy waking up early each morning with the motivation to make a difference in my world. When you know you are doing the right thing, then God will provide. Thankfully, I have yet to miss a meal or had a night without a roof over my head. Moral of this story: follow your dreams and do what you love in life.

T.WAY's College Tips - COMING SOON

"Now that you're settled into the new semester and Fall schedule, it's important to make the most of the countless opportunities you have right in front of you. For these next 11 days, T.WAY will release a new "College Tip" he has compiled during his four years studying at Grand Valley State University.

While in his freshman dormroom one day, he had an idea to custom-design shoes. He started with a Sharpie marker and an old pair of sneakers. Throughout his college years, he took that basic idea and ran with it, learning from his numerous mistakes and successes along the way. Within a short period of time, T.WAY custom-designed sneakers for NBA players like LeBron James, Chris Paul, Rip Hamilton, and others - all while being a full-time college student.

His business journey is living proof that with dedication, and the unwavering passion to follow your dreams, anything is possible. To be released one per day during these next 11 days, T.WAY's College Tips are aimed to assist you in maximizing your precious time while in college." 

ArtPrize on the Today Show

ArtPrize and Grand Rapids was recently featured on the Today Show...pretty cool. Not bad for only its second year. I'm already beginning to plan my entry for 2011 - it's gonna be 100x crazier than what you've seen thus far. On a side note pertaining to this video: congrats to Jeff Zimmerman for getting some great camera time!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

ArtPrize - Top 10

Here are the results, and some thoughts to go along with them, of the Top 10 pieces of ArtPrize. These pieces tallied the greatest amount of votes among the population that came to Grand Rapids in the last week to view the 1,700+ entries scattered around the city. The 1st place winner earns $250,000, 2nd place: $100,000, 3rd place: $50,000, and the remaining 4th through 10th placed pieces each earn $7,000 in prize money.

"salt and earth," by Young Kim - showing at the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM)
The artist did similar pieces last year but were scattered across an open floor. This year he had two large piles of salt that had images of a woman on each. I believe his process basically consists of a pile of salt, then shaking a silkscreen-like filter over it to drop different colored salt. Pretty unique but obviously does not last for too long after its creation.

"Steam Pig Experiment," by Joachin Jensen and Thomas Birks - the B.O.B. parking lot
This piece has all sorts of controversy around it. It was created by the same group of artists that created last year's Top-10 entry, Nessie the loch ness monster. Apparently this year they had all sorts of large sponsors, including The Gilmore Collection. The entry is huge and is no doubt a focal point of the entire downtown area. Some people think it's considered "cheating" compared to the other pieces. What do you think?

"Dancing with Lions," by Bill Secunda - the B.O.B. parking lot
This same artist made a statue using welded together metal nails last year of a moose. This year he used his same process to create a small pride of lions. The metal work and details are pretty amazing to see in person.

"Svelata," by Mia Tavonatti - first floor of the DeVos Place
I heard this piece is made entirely from broken pieces of glass. It looks like a very detailed painting but apparently is a mosaic of broken glass. I look forward to seeing this one in person.

"Lure/Wave," by Beili Liu - UICA on Fulton Ave.
This piece reminds me of a forest floor covered in plants. It is pretty neat to see, and I can only imagine the work involved in creating/installing it.

"A Matter of Time," by Paul Baliker - Grand Rapids Public Museum, near the Grand River
From only these pictures, this piece may not seem well that sweet. But, in person, the details are incredible. I figured this would make the Top-10 due to its craftsmanship alone. It was made from pieces of driftwood. If you look very closely into the picture, you can somewhat see the numerous detailed carvings of various forms of wildlife. This piece you need to see in person to truly appreciate.

"Calvary, American Officers, 1921," by Chris Laporte - the GRAM
I haven't been able to see this one yet in person either, but I am told it is a 30 ft. pencil drawing of an old photograph. From the look and sound of it, I'd definitely say this one earns my 1st place vote simply because I cannot imagine how many hours (and pencils) went into creating this piece!

"Helping mom one penny at a time," by Wander Matrich - outside the Gerald R. Ford Museum
This piece I thought was pretty cool at first. Then I was made aware of this: http://www.pennyportrait.com/gallery.html, a kit to make a portrait of Honest Abe out of pennies. Although a little bit different from the craft kit, I still think it lacks some originality. I bet the "popular vote" wasn't aware of the arts and craft project available to purchase online before voting for this larger-scale version of it...

"Vision," by David Spriggs - the GRAM
I haven't seen this one or heard too much about it yet. But when I do, I will give you my thoughts.

"Elephant Walk," by Fredrick Prescott - outside the Grand Rapids Children's Museum
This piece was pretty cool because the heads swing up and down powered by the wind...but I would not say this piece is near worthy of being in the Top-10. I thought it was a part of the Children's Museum, not an ArtPrize entry. Cool enough for Top-100, but not so much so for Top-10 honors.