What makes Alex Monroe, a twenty-two year old senior management major, worthy of being Spartan of the Week?
Monroe runs his own website, something that he says will be the “go-to college website” within a few years.
The Minaret (M): Tell us about your website.
Alex Monroe (AM): My website, http://www.GetYourBizSavvy.com, defines awesome.
It’s there to inspire entrepreneurs and people pursing their dreams and goals. That’s what I want to do: pursue my own dreams and goals. I just hope that my website can help others do the same.
M: When did GetYourBizSavvy start?
AM: In January of 2009. I was a sophomore sitting in Brevard and I thought, “I need to do something.” I figured it wouldn’t cost too much and it would be a way to express my feelings about entrepreneurship and meet some
people.
M: You just decided to start your own website? Just like that?
AM: A good friend of mine has a blog and he was telling me about it. I thought it was a good idea and 24 hours later it was live.
M: Did you hire a web-designer or anything?
AM: No, I use WordPress. Anybody can use it, everybody thinks I’m a pro web designer, but I actually know nothing beyond this one program that does it all.
M: After you launched the site, how long did it take for things to get going?
AM: As soon as I opened it I started contacting different individuals from the news and people I thought would be interested.
By now I’ve done more than 100 interviews with musicians, entertainers and anyone doingsomething out of the average.
M: Does anyone help you run GetYourBizzSavvy?
AM: I’ve brought on an editor and bloggers, but I’m still hoping to expand more. If any UT students are looking to write, we don’t pay anyone, but it’s a good experience.
M: So there’s no money coming in from a business website?
AM: I don’t make any money from this. I have Google ads up, but you need like three thousand hits a day to just make a few hundred dollars a month. We only get about 500 views a day, but we’re trying to turn it into a
brand, get people to buy GetYourBizSavvy clothes and t-shirts.
M: Who are some high profile people you’ve interviewed?
AM: Craig Newmark, the founder of CraigsList, Tony Hsieh, the CEO of Zappos, Tim Westergrin, the founder of Pandora, Sam Adams, a young Boston rapper… I interview a lot of young rappers.
M: Talk to Chris Brown, I haven’t heard a hit from him since—never mind. Anyway, what’s the future of GetYourBizSavvy?
AM: It’s going to be one of the top college go-to blogs. Whether you’re a college student or an entrepreneur, you’ll be going there. I graduate in December and then I’m taking it to the next level, I’m going full force with it.
M: At any point were you discouraged or frustrated?
AM: Oh, all the time. It’s hard to work on articles when people don’t like them or don’t look at them. Spending all this time and making no money…it’s discouraging, but if I stopped I would let myself and others down.
M: What advice would you give to someone else starting their own website?
AM: Do your homework. Go after it; just go for it. Don’t do something just to do it, do something you can see yourself doing for three years. Don’t do it for the money; do it because you love it. The rest will fall into place.
M: Anything else you’d like to add? Maybe a shout out to the ladies?
AM: It’s possible to work hard and still have fun. I party. I work 20 hours a week, I have a full 16 hour schedule, and I still get to party and I have a business. I get like five hours of sleep a night, but it’s all worth it.
Think someone you know could be the next Spartan of the Week? Email us at minaret.news@gmail.com with the person’s name, contact information and a brief explanation of what makes them awesome!
Richard Solomon can be reached at richard.solomon@spartans.ut.edu