In a conversation with a friend of mine we discussed the importance of ambition and passion in our lives. As a current or aspiring entrepreneur you are probably in frequent contact with people that rely on one of these qualities. But in your quest for “the next big thing” did you ever pause to think which is superior?

A great business idea doesn’t do you any good if you keep it to yourself. Like a car sitting in the showroom, it may look great, but you can’t just kick the tires and turn the engine before signing on the dotted line. You need to take it for a test drive to see how it handles out in the real world.

Seeing if anybody else thinks it’s a good idea – in other words, finding out if there are people out there who will want to either invest in your business or buy your product – is a critical step in launching any business. You have to be smart about it though. You need to find the right stage to showcase your ideas, as well as the right audience.

Each year, the prestigious Nantucket Conference offers a set of passes to entrepreneurs under the age of 30, sponsored by various VC firms, corporations, and generous individuals. The "Under 30" program enables early-stage entrepreneurs to present their businesses to Nantucket Conference participants, and get formal and informal advice throughout the two-and-a-half day event. The entrepreneurs are selected both by the underwriters of the Under 30 program and the conference organizers.

It’s a proven formula:

Live Music

+/- Alcohol

+ Entrepreneurs

= Memorable Connections

Boston has great resources including co-working spaces like Dogpatch and the Cambridge Innovation Center, accelerator programs like Mass Challenge and Techstars and generous sponsors like Silicon Valley Bank, Microsoft and T3 Advisors. But Boston also has some kickass parties!

If you ever want to build a tech startup, you have to build technology. That doesn’t mean outsourcing an MVP overseas or creep on engineers at hack-a-thons- it means actually building a technology.

There’s two fundamental processes in a new and growing company- building and selling. But you can’t sell if there’s nothing built to sell. Think of it as a requirement for any technology entrepreneur. All Pre-Med students must have a background in Biology and Organic Chemistry just like all tech entrepreneurs should have a background in Javascript and MySQL.

Ok so you did your homework on the company, convinced the team you’re a genius and owned the interview that got you your first startup job. But… now what do you do?

Startups are notorious for hiring fast and firing fast. Just because you got the job doesn’t mean you’re safe because most companies need someone that’s going to jump in on the first day and hit the ground running. Here’s three mantras I’ve kept that has helped me be successful at all my previous start up gigs:

The Boston startup community is home to some of the world’s greatest thinkers and innovators. As I’ve been navigating the scene, I’ve come to appreciate the pleasant subtleties and resources this community has to offer. I’ve been telling my friends about my experiences and have inspired one of my best to jump into the scene full throttle. It’s my pleasure to announce the newest Greenhorn Connect Director of Events and Business Development, William Cox. Please get to know him better and expect great things from his hard work and humility. I asked Will a few questions to introduce him to the Boston startup community. Read on to meet William Cox, Greenhorn Connect's Director of Events and Business Development.

You’re at your breaking point. Whether making the decision to leave your job offer or your job itself, it doesn’t come without some heartburn. All of the little devils are on your shoulder: the perceived security in a volatile market, the “pending” potential to get a promotion this year, the corporate name on your business cards. But you listen to the angels. Amen.