Here are a few photos from the Smart Tan Conference in Nashville:

Some kind words from Nashville:

I’ve been going through a personal transition for the last 2 years and needed some inspiration and you gave it to me.  So THANKS! It was hugely meaningful to me.

-Tom, Nashville business owner

Thanks to Tom and all of the others who purchased a book during Tony’s recent trip to Nashville for the Smart Tan Conference. The available pre-release copies of Selling Sunshine sold out in only an hour, and the trip was a good one! Pictures of the conference to come later today.

You’ll want to take a moment to check out Mashable’s tips from the founder of Pandora on starting a digital business–most of them are applicable to any business, from planning ahead and raising money before you need it to earning employee trust.

Here’s an excerpt from founder Tim Westergen’s tips:

Pandora’s employees pushed through the company’s much publicized troubled times, so we asked Westergren what he did as a leader to keep the team motivated.

“That really starts with hiring,” he says. “We hired great people and then we earned their trust and loyalty.”

On the trust and loyalty front, Westegren further explains, “I think our team feels respected, empowered, and genuinely excited about the company’s mission. We treat people fairly, we are transparent about our decision-making, and we lead by example. That’s about all you can do.”

You can read the full story on Mashable, right here.

Tony recently sat down with Entrepreneurs’ Organization for an interview, which you can read in full right here, covering topics from the best advice Tony has ever received to the reasons behind the Apex Forum writing the forward of Selling Sunshine.

From the interview:

EO: What was the genesis behind this book, and what do you hope to accomplish?
TH: “I wrote Selling Sunshine out of a desire to give back. I believe the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in America, and I want to help smooth potholes in the road for entrepreneurs just getting started on their own journeys. My hope is that Selling Sunshine will inspire a new generation of entrepreneurs, and I believe that this book and others like it can serve as guideposts for aspiring business owners as they begin making the thousands of small decisions that ultimately will lead them to success. I want to encourage young and ambitious people of all ages to continue learning and improving.”

Read the full interview right here.