“If there’s one thing that’s been consistent in everything that I do,” Antonio Neves told the Thinc Iowa audience Oct. 11, “it’s that I am a professional question asker and I am a professional opportunity identifier.”
For the next 25 minutes, Neves, who emceed the event, employed both those qualities in a motivational talk to open the final day of Thinc Iowa 2012.
He asked the audience: “Would you bet on you accomplishing what you say is most important in your life?” Then he shared his story of how he bet on himself in 2000 by moving to New York to pursue a career in the television industry.
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“I’m from one of those (small) towns where frankly people do not leave,” Neves, a Michigan native, said. “My mother, an executive assistant, has worked for the same company for over 30 years … I’m the son of a factory worker … I graduated with a 2.6 from high school – I’m the first person in my family to go to college and get a degree.”
Twelve years later, Neves is proud to share a portfolio of work that includes NBC, BET and PBS. That portfolio, Neves said, came after he learned how to create his own luck, which he boiled down to three steps:
- Get uncomfortable
- Employ a “walk-on” mentality
- Identify who makes you better
For Neves’ Thinc Iowa talk in its entirety, see the video above. For more from Neves at the conference, see our post: “Antonio Neves: ‘Create your own luck’ “
Speaker bio
Antonio Neves is the founder of THINQACTION where he works with entrepreneurs and young professionals to produce exceptional results in their careers. A professional question asker and opportunity identifier, Antonio regularly speaks on college campuses and at major events including the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Big Omaha, Unreasonable Climax and the ADCOLOR Awards. As an award-winning business journalist, Antonio served as the correspondent of the NBC produced MSN business show “Cool Runnings” and his articles on entrepreneurship and innovation appear in Entrepreneur Magazine, MSN Money and Fox Business. A graduate of Western Michigan University, Antonio holds a masters degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.)
About Thinc Iowa
Thinc Iowa is now Big Des Moines, part of The Big Series, a trio of events produced by Silicon Prairie News. The Big Series in 2013 will include the inaugural Big Kansas City in March, Big Omaha in May and Big Des Moines in October. Stay tuned for announcements regarding all three.
Credits: Video by Event1 Video.
Thinc Iowa 2012 Video Series presented by Iowa Economic Development
Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) is dedicated to supporting innovation by connecting entrepreneurs with resources and development opportunities in Iowa. It salutes the founders of today and tomorrow; encouraging ideas that will invigorate a new economy. Please visit iowaeconomicdevelopment.com for more information on how IEDA can help your business ideas come to life.
