TALKING POINTS: Secret millionaires; musical stress reduction for entrepreneurs; more

Is That An American Apparel Ad Or a Balthus Painting? {Fast Co Design}

Many of the clothing retailer’s ads look an awful lot like the provocative nudes of the French modernist. Who’s pervier, Dov Charney or Balthus?

Hey, Entrepreneurs: Pick up the Guitar! {Huffington Post}

It’s important to remember that launching and building a business is a marathon, not a sprint. Finding ways to stay energized, focused and motivated through the highs and lows of startup life is vital for success. Preparing yourself for the long term game can make all the difference in the world. Your well-being, success, relationships, productivity and employees’ enjoyment and enthusiasm all depend on your ability to stay creative and avoid burnout. Given that my pre-startup formal training was in music, I’m a big advocate in seeking an escape from the daily pressures of entrepreneurial life by picking up a musical instrument.

A New Website Selling ‘Extraordinary Experiences’ is the Latest Trend in Luxury {Global News}

Sure, you could buy that flat screen TV or logo-studded designer handbag. But wouldn’t it be a bit more exciting to have a private dinner cooked for you by celebrated chef Tyler Florence?San Francisco tech entrepreneur Trevor Traina certainly thinks so, which is why he’s launched IfOnly.com, a website where you can buy encounters with stars in the culinary, sports and entertainment world, with part of the proceeds going to charity.

In Philly, a University City Cafe Caters to Creative Thinkers {Philadelphia Business Journal}

University City Science Center is going through unprecedented growth. Entrepreneur-and-business owner Keith Leaphart, owner of the graphic design-and-printing firm Replica Creative, has responded with a new cafe to serve the burgeoning neighborhood.

What Happens When Your Neighbors Turn Out to Be Secret Millionaires? {Huffington Post}

Pro tip: Always be nice to the neighbors. You never know when one of them will turn out to be a multimillionaire. That’s the lesson of the story of the Magowans, a pair of elderly twins from Connecticut who lived in a modest house, working middle class jobs — and died with an estate worth close to $10 million.

TALKING POINTS: Success tips from Box CEO Aaron Levie; 3 tips for the next generation of entrepreneurs; more

Paranoia is the Key to Success, Says Inc. Magazine’s Entrepreneur of the Year {Inc.}

[Aaron] Levie has successfully run a $1.2 billion company for eight years, and he’s only 28-years old. This year Levie, CEO of Box, a cloud computing company, has been named Entrepreneur of the Year by Inc. magazine. Inc.’s Editor -In-Chief Eric Schurenberg says Levie “is doing what all great entrepreneurs have always done. He sees the future before almost anyone else, and then, by the force of his personality and drive, he gets his colleagues and his customers to see it too.” –from Yahoo Finance

Three Tips for the Next Generation of Would-Be Entrepreneurs {Forbes}

The road to successful entrepreneurship is by no means easier that the traditional American Dream. In most cases, it’s harder — and it takes a lot of time, effort, energy and more often than not, money too. So whether you’re brainstorming how to make it on your own or are a seasoned entrepreneurial vet, here are three tips for today’s generation of entrepreneurs.

What Type of Entrepreneur Are You? {HuffPo Canada}

Today’s venture capital community and media have heavily emphasized the youth oriented nature of entrepreneurship. While young entrepreneurs populate the front covers of today’s magazine covers, they are part of a bigger entrepreneurship ecosystem. From serial entrepreneurs with decades of experience to hobbyists turned business owners, there is a complete spectrum of entrepreneurship that has been overlooked by the media and those providing startup resources.

Is Entrepreneurship Contagious? {CNBC}

A British news correspondent recently emailed me to ask for any research that helps answer the question of whether there really is a dirty secret that high-growth companies are usually led by founders from privileged families.

TALKING POINTS: Adeo Ressi takes your dumb-ass business idea to school; 5 signs your product is perfect for Kickstarter

An Entrepreneur Who Manufactures Entrepreneurs {New York Times}

Conventional wisdom holds that some 90 percent of start-ups fail. After years of observation, serial entrepreneur Adeo Ressi started the Founder Institute to teach the basics. Unlike other incubators, the Founder Institute doesn’t take students who already have a company. Instead, applicants are chosen through a personality test.

5 Signs Your Product is Perfect for Kickstarter {Entrepreneur}

Kickstarter’s mission as a crowd funding platform is to bring creative projects to life. In theory, it sounds fantastic: You have an idea, but don’t have the funds to get started. Most people think that if they just had the money they could take their product to market. Unfortunately, it’s not that straightforward. Here are five qualities your business idea or invention needs to successfully launch on Kickstarter and get to market.

Lovecasting Meets Crowdfunding Meets Social Entrepreneurship {Forbes}

What better way to strengthen communities, while empowering regular people to support nearby small businesses, than by helping individuals fund local entrepreneurs? This movement—coined locavesting by author Amy Cortesein a recent book–is at the core of a Seattle-based social enterprise by the name of Community Sourced Capital (CSC).

Poolsidepreneurs, Where the Cult of Entrepreneurship Goes to Drown {Pando Daily}

So you’re a founder, and you’re crushing it 24/7. That’s great and all, but what if you could crush it by a pool? What if there was a luxe new way to work?