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Three words scribbled on a note pad at 4:30 a.m. in the dark 13-1/2 years ago. So began the inspiration for Monster.com, Jeff Taylor, founder and former chief executive of the job search Web site, told an attentive audience of corporate dealmakers and financial executives at the ACG InterGrowth event titled "Bringing the Monster Idea to Life."
Taylor loosened up the crowd with a joke from behind a podium before leaping onto the floor: "I haven't been to a conference that starts with a golf tournament; that's a good idea." The smartly dressed, black glasses-wearing executive launched into an interactive and spirited discussion with conference attendees. With a microphone in hand, he wove among the audience members seated at the dining tables, asking them to repeat phrases like "I believe," "We rock," "Hallelujah," "To the Bat Mobile" and "Boom, Boom, Boom" in regards to the future, America's business leaders, the improving economy, traditional ways of doing things and accomplishing objectives, respectively. The phrases were meant to be mantras that attendees could memorize and use to bring ideas to life and get business done. While Taylor wasn't completely optimistic about new economy businesses, noting the "floor of the Internet" was wobbly as new technologies transformed the dot-com industry, he waxed positively about the adoption of new technologies across four generations of Americans. As a new business endeavor, Taylor talked about EONS.com, a social-networking Web site geared toward people aged 50 years and older. "I've spent the last two years starting up a brand that will be a celebration of turning 50." EONS.com recently raised $22 million from Sequoia Capital and another VC firm in its B round of financing, according to Taylor. EONS.com was founded on the premise, he said, that today's baby boomers aren't interested in traditional retirement activities as much as pumping up their lives. Taylor envisions baby boomer retirees spending more time online, especially on his new Web site. The executive's Web site is reflection of his predilection to embrace new ideas even if they go against commonly held notions. Take, for instance, the founding of Monster.com, which Taylor said has grown to encompass 31 countries. The Internet CEO said clients initially labeled the company's brand name "the worst name imaginable" and expressed skepticism about its future success. But, the decision to name the job-hunting site "Monster" was the most important decision he made in respect to its brand and future. "By calling it Monster, I was able to differentiate the brand," he said. Meanwhile, Taylor said he is hiring a multigenerational work force to ramp up EONS.com. In sharing his advice for bringing ideas to life, Taylor extolled the virtues of hard work numerous times, as well as simply showing up to work. "Eighty percent of life is showing up," he said, modifying a Woody Allen quote. —Kelly Holman
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