Sorry for the Jerry Maguire title... let me explain.
My company, Dot&Cross, has spent the past 2 years working with one of our partners, Josh Shipp. You may have heard me mention 'Hey Josh' before? Yes, he is the Josh of Hey Josh.
I have a favor I need to ask of you, but first... Josh deserves a brief back story: Josh was left at the hospital when he was born. Yes, left = orphan baby. He's never met anyone related to him. He went through about 15 foster care homes before he was 15 years old. He's been arrested, abused, abandoned, etc... But when he was a teenager he made a decision to take all this unfair pain he has been dealt and choose to get either bitter or better.
Well, he chose to get better and started speaking to teens helping them make better decisions about their lives. In the past 10 years Josh has spoken to over 1 million teens, been featured on MTV's Total Request Live (*RIP), Comedy Central, and been interviewed in the LA Times, Washington Post, NY Daily News, etc... and a bunch of other fancy stuff.
Dot&Cross came across Josh and immediately recognized his potential via his uncanny ability to reach and impact teens. We partnered with him to create Hey Josh, a brand focused on entertaining, educating and inspiring today's teens. We have created an interactive teen website focused on advice, 4 short films focused on issues of Identity, Career, Dealing with Parents, Money (with many more films to come). We've also shot a pilot of Josh's brilliant new television show called Jump Shipp which will be featured on a new cable channel this fall, Halogen TV. But in addition, Josh creates weekly advice shows that can be seen on HeyJosh.com. Seriously, you should check them out, they are hilarious.
In fact, let's have Josh explain what Hey Josh is:
One of the best things about Dot&Cross is getting to work directly with people who are doing everything they can to make the world a better place. Josh is no exception. From a business standpoint, he is a class-act and deserves all of the success he has received, but from a personal standpoint, he is one of the most stand-up guys I know. Honestly, he has moved from a business partner to one of my closest friends. So without any hesitation, I would ask that you would help support his cause which brings me to some VERY exciting news.
The world is finally starting to catch on! Josh is currently being featured by INC Magazine as one of America's Coolest Young Entrepreneurs in an annual vote they call, '30 Under 30'. Dot&Cross, Josh and I would be very appreciative if you would take 2 seconds and visit the voting website at Inc. Magazine to vote for Josh.
If you want to read more about Josh and '30 Under 30', click here to view his profile page.
However, click here if you would like to vote for Hey Josh.
I really appreciate it. It will seriously only take you 5 seconds and we would all love to see Josh win the contest for the sake of teens today (who we all know need some help). If you have a blog, facebook page or a Twitter account, it would be incredible if you could jump on board the Hey Josh train and do a little of your own promotion as well.
For more detail, you can go to HeyJosh.com to connect with Josh through Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, etc...
Or, if you are a parent or teacher of teens, I have a special gift for you which requires me to tell you 2 things:
1. I'm sorry. I know it's difficult. Hang in there...
2. Go here! www.grownups.HeyJosh.com You'll thank me when you're older. Enjoy.