Baltimore Creators

Our mission: connect Baltimore's business builders. Whether you're an entrepreneur, advisor, or curious learner, Baltimore Creators is for you.

Founder

Patrick Rife

Navigating the Unknown. Building Businesses Along the Way. And Writing About It.

Join me as I embark on a journey to reclaim control, and build businesses that reflect who I am, and where I'm headed.

Pixilated

Pixilated is a photo booth company based in Baltimore, MD that produces an easy-to-use, shippable photo booth called PixiTAB that is powered by our B2B photo marketing software; PixiCloud. When not acting as the brain for PixiTAB we license the PixiCloud software platform to companies looking to capture 1st party user data at events and venues through photo experiences, forms, surveys, and other experiential marketing activities.

CVO + Co-Founder

Startup Soiree

Startup Soiree is an intermittent events series serving a  community of Entrepreneurs, Founders, Creatives and Business Owners in Baltimore City. To get on the invite list for our next event check out www.startup-soiree.com

Co-Founder

Bonsai

Assist museums, galleries and private collectors in caring for their valuable artworks during transit and installation. Lead small focused teams on installations ranging from small sculptural pieces in private galleries to full scale multi-level commercial art installations.

Art Handler

Center for Art, Design and Visual Culture, U.M.B.C.

Worked closely with Gallery Preparator to develop the physical museum space as it pertains to incoming exhibitions, hung and installed traveling exhibitions, took part in the registration, crate building and technical manuals for the traveling exhibition "For All The World to See."

Gallery Assistant/Art Handler

Contemporary Museum Baltimore

Provided primary interfacing to museum visitors and patrons. Oversaw Museum social media program. Provided technical and clerical support to higher museum staff.

Gallery Assistant

Entrepreneur Building Business and Writing About the Process.

🚀 Transforming Experiences into Insights | Business Advisor & Writer 📝

As a seasoned strategist and business advisor, I've spearheaded BizDev, Sales & Marketing strategies at Pixilated, guiding our growth trajectory and empowering the CEO with crucial insights on scaling and go-to-market planning. My journey at Pixilated has been about cultivating partnerships and relationships that have paved the way for our evolution.

✨ New Update: I've recently launched a platform where I delve into my experiences in driving the success of Pixilated and Startup Soiree. Through insightful articles and resources, I aim to share the wisdom gained from building businesses and navigating the dynamic landscape of startups.

🔍 I'm passionate about collaborating with businesses and organizations seeking to craft extraordinary consumer experiences while also harnessing data to showcase tangible bottom-line value.

📚 Explore My Insights: www.patrickrife.com

💼 Connect with Me: Open to discussions on business growth, entrepreneurship, and strategies for driving remarkable consumer engagement.

🔗 Let's Connect and Forge Success Together!

Life starts to get good when you finally realize...

1. The things worth fighting for you almost definitely already possess.
2. You are your own worst critic.
3. You are your own best advocate.
4. The challenges you place in your path will be your best decisions.
5. No matter how far you travel, chances are high you'll always know home.
6. You most likely already know the greatest people you'll ever meet.
7. Apologizing is a superpower.
8. Experience > Pretty Much Everything
9. There's no going back so you might as well go on.
10. Life is long. Don't be afraid to fuck up occasionally. 
11. Nothing is more important than your health and wellness.
12. Every effort, no matter how insignificant, will have an impact somewhere.

I could go on and on but I think these twelve are a good start and prove my point.

Stop looking left and right and start looking for your path. It's right there.

What would you add to this list? Looking forward to reading your additions in the comments below!
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This new feature promises to be the next Massive Wave of growth opportunity here on LinkedIn. Are you ready for it?

What am I talking about?

Well, short-form video of course.

We've seen it overtake Instagram, X and TikTok and now it's coming for LinkedIn.

Love it or hate it the reality is that short-form video content is an extremely powerful way to communicate;

- Your experience
- Thought leadership
- Hot takes
- Unique personal voice

I've been making videos for a while now but I think we're going to see a huge shift over the next few months.

Are you ready to take advantage of it?

Feeling stuck when it comes to short form video?

Don't worry, you're not alone. 

There are plenty of people who feel the same way.

My advice? Do what you do well and find the resources to support you where there are gaps.

I've been testing out a new business I'm calling RaveReel over the last few months that helps Founders, CEOs, and Business people leverage their expertise through short-form, done for you, video content.

It's almost guaranteed that you have the expertise, know-how and unique perspective to be great when it comes to short-form video.

Getting in captured, edited and ready to publish?

Maybe not.

I'm going to share an example of content I've done for some early partners so you can get a sense for what I'm talking about.

If this is something you find yourself trying to plan for and need some help shoot me a DM and we can chat about it.

Don't get caught behind the wave when you saw it coming.

Make a plan.

Surf's Up!

p.s. Thanks Cory Blumenfeld for being a helper!

I had the privilege of putting on my journalist hat and covering the Baltimore Regional Investment Summit for Technical.ly.

It was a fun experience sitting adjacent to the seats I typically fill for an event like this and also exciting to see the beginnings of something that a lot of people have been hard at work to bring to fruition.

As an entrepreneur I especially appreciated the tone and vision Kory from UpSurge Baltimore and Jeff from Conscious Venture Lab brought the the conversation.

If you know me at all you know I'm a massive advocate for Baltimore and perhaps more importantly the people who have continued to make this place what it is.

For me, the equitable future of Baltimore will come from raising up the ideas the come from within it. 

By the people, for the people.

Thanks Sameer Rao for trusting me to help tell this story!

https://lnkd.in/eGWTKTrQ

Open article: Leaders at Baltimore investment summit push for equitable growth by technical.ly

Leaders at Baltimore investment summit push for equitable growth

Do what you love. 

Or do nothing at all. 

But whatever you do, do it completely. 

The most important person in this room is you. 

Regardless what the end of your road looks like you’ll be the one standing there to witness it. 

The one to determine what that success was ultimately worth. 

And if you tried hard enough….

- at the task at hand
- at your entitlement 
- at your ego
- at speaking across the divide

Life is mercurial and strange. It can deliver you to places unimaginable. 

And right back home in an instant. 

I have a hunch that it will be the stories you recall; the moments that have seared their way into your subconscious that will matter the most. 

How is this business advice? 

It isn’t. 

It’s more than that and also not advice at the same time. 

What we do in any plane of existexistence bears out in every plane of existence. 

A little from here makes a little for their. 

And with that you’ve gained permission to be whomever you choose. 

So choose lightly and take a step forward into the future. 

It won’t be forever or it will. You won’t know until you get there.

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I want to share something extremely valuable that I learned about the power of speaking your truth.

I saw a theater production of the Beetlejuice Musical at the Hippodrome here in Baltimore last week with my son.

There's a moment in there where it gets pretty heavy and really helped me recognize the value and importance of committing to telling your story.

In the musical Olivia is talking about losing her mom. She's talking about how her mom was her world. And how her dad can't seem to recognize it. 

Which inspires her dad to share that what she perceives as him trying to move past it is in fact his way of hiding from reality.

That her mom was in fact his entire world too.

And I cried, and I cried.

You see, every single bit of that musical wasn't necessarily for everyone.

Every single bit of that musical wasn't for me.

But that bit? It was there to rearrange my brain.

To change my perspective.

To bring me to my knees.

That's what sharing does.

It creates the opportunity for you to take something that matters to you and change someone else's moment for them.

That's beautiful.

That's an honor.

Be brave and tell your story.

Ok friendos in the #ecommerce & #dtc space. I've got a question for you!!!

I'm looking at giving Social Snowball ☃️ a shot to take a new swing at the Pixilated affiliate program.

So my questions are:

- Have you tried Social Snowball?
- Any tips or learnings worth sharing?
- Were you able to add previous Shopify customers to the account?

I guess I'm just curious how many affiliates I can get in there from day one.

At any rate, I appreciate any and all feedback and advice.

For what it's worth, our shop is on Shopify.

Chris Meade, I saw your testimonial on their website!!! Has this been a good experience for CROSSNET?

Also, a side note question. Anyone in Baltimore leveraging Affiliate & Influencer programs for #DTC products? Thinking a monthly meetup could be cool!

Today's edition of Ground Control is live! We're talking about what it means to follow through with your goals, ambitions and pursuits with authenticity at the forefront.

This piece highlights gratitude, community, and the courage to share creative work. It explores the emotional journey of writing, the impact of authen

Open article: Betelgeuse, Betelgeuse, Betelgeuse by Patrick Rife • 3 min read

How do you balance Growth & Integrity when working on elevating your personal brand?

It’s harder than you might think. 

It’s been six months since I’ve started intentionally working on building my brand and I’ve learned a lot!

Some of the common tips & tactics I’ve tried are:

- Pods
- Commenting 
- Writing posts
- Publishing newsletters 
- Engaging on my threads 
- Short-form video

And while all of these have had value there’s something I’ve noticed about each of these. 

Without the proper context they’re actually not all that valuable. 

What does that mean?

Well, for starters, it means that without a WHY, a clear vision for who you are and what you’re trying to accomplish, these strategies can be rudderless. 

I know this because I can see how the lack of a definitive perspective and goal is limiting my progress. 

And I’m ok with that. 

Here’s why. 

It’s a long-game perspective. 

My worry is this.

I am not a transactional person and the idea of building in that light just isn’t for me. 

I need to know that there’s a person in there. 

And I need for anyone else who’s taking the time to engage with me to know that too. 

For me, it’s a non-negotiable. 

Which is challenging in the ebbs. 

But you gotta draw a line somewhere.

For me? That looks like prioritizing my perspective and presence. 

Do a degree it sets the speed. 

I just have to be ok with that. 

Peace. 

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I write about Entrepreneurship, Community Building and Self-awareness.

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Reflecting on great conversations and aha moments.

Throughout my journey with Pixilated, I’ve had some of the most impactful conversations and aha moments. 

Interestingly, the best ones weren’t about renting photo booths or building an events company. 

They delved much deeper into more meaningful and transformative topics.

The most profound discussions weren’t about the logistics of photo booths or the intricacies of the events industry. 

Instead, they explored themes that resonate on a personal and professional level.

Some of these were:

Self-Awareness: Understanding and embracing who you are is essential. It’s about recognizing your strengths, acknowledging your weaknesses, and being true to yourself.

Purpose: Staying true to your central purpose and serving it diligently. This has been a cornerstone of my journey, both personally and within Pixilated.

Entrepreneurship: The journey of being an entrepreneur is filled with challenges and victories. These conversations have highlighted the importance of resilience, innovation, and passion.

Empowerment: One of the most powerful aspects of these discussions has been the ability to look someone in the eye and affirm, “Yes, you can do this.” 

Believing in others and empowering them to believe in themselves is incredibly rewarding.

Personal Growth: These conversations have significantly contributed to my personal and professional growth. 

They’ve reinforced the values and principles that guide me daily and have shaped my approach to leadership and life.

As we continue to innovate and grow, it’s these deeper, more meaningful conversations that truly shape our journey. 

Here’s to more enlightening discussions and aha moments ahead!

Let’s connect and share our aha moments!

What have been some of your most impactful conversations? Comment below or send me a message – I’d love to hear your stories.

⬇ ⬇ ⬇ ⬇ ⬇ ⬇ ⬇ ⬇ ⬇ ⬇ ⬇ ⬇ 

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I write about Entrepreneurship, Community Building and Self-awareness.

The link to sign up is on my profile.

Sometimes there’s no other available option than to just do the damn thing. 

In all of our rush to:

- Optimize 
- Efficiency proof
- Operationalize
- and so much more

We actually more often than not just need to FOCUS. 

I think we underestimate the power of concentration; I know I do too often. 

And it’s hard, I get it. 

We’re living in a world of constant ideas, hacks and tricks that you “should have been using yesterday.”

So we race to audition the next solution. 

We break our nexts to find a way to make something easier, simpler, save you time!

But I think we lose track of how much time that charade takes on its own. 

Sometimes stripping it down to the bare minimum and knocking it out is just what the Dr. ordered. 

Just a thought.

Is accountability something that you seek out too? This is one method I use to help myself stay focused and accountable to my goals.

At the beginning of this year, I made a promise to myself – to start publishing music again.

For those who don’t know, I'm a musician and songwriter. 

Music has been a lifelong passion of mine, something I've dedicated countless hours to over the years.

Despite my deep love for music, I found myself constantly putting off publishing my work. 

This cycle of delay and procrastination was frustrating and disheartening. Every time I pushed it to the side, I felt a little more disconnected from something that means so much to me.

To break this cycle, I decided to use accountability tools to keep myself on track. 

One of the most effective tools turned out to be my newsletter. It became a platform for me to hold myself accountable.

In one of my newsletters, I made a public declaration. 

I wrote about my commitment to publish new music and, at the end of the newsletter, I announced that new music would be released that night. 

This public commitment created a sense of urgency and accountability that I couldn’t ignore.

Following through on this promise was transformative. I finally reignited my passion for music and rediscovered the joy of sharing my work with others. 

This experience reminded me of the power of accountability and the importance of staying true to my passions.

Taking this step has been a significant milestone in my journey, both personally and professionally.

Have you ever used public commitments to achieve your goals? Share your experiences below and let’s support each other in staying accountable!

⬇ ⬇ ⬇ ⬇ ⬇ ⬇ ⬇ ⬇ ⬇ ⬇ 

If you liked this post, sign up for Ground Control, my weekly newsletter. 

I write about Entrepreneurship, Community Building and Self-awareness.

The link to sign up is on my profile.

I’ve said this before so I don’t know why it comes  as a surprise. 

To me. 

I’m almost always writing to myself here. 

But…

Surprised I am. 

I’ve got to be honest. 

I’ve been in a pretty significant slump. 

Rut. 

Stagnance. 

Whatever. 

Why?

Well, it’s because I’m in the hunt. And I’m trying things both comfortable and not. 

I’m trying things both proven (supposedly) and not. 

And I’ve some returns that are acceptable; and not. 

Building a regular writing practice and trying to have it catch traction is hard. 

It’s hard because:

- Silence is deafening 
- Responses make you question yourself 
- The rules are always shifting 
- What worked yesterday broke today

I should note, none of this is complaining.

But all of this is a reality. 

And I think it’s a reality that more of us are going through than we realize.

What is new for me is recognizing that I am perhaps applying a different set of standards to what I’m trying to accomplish.

One that doesn’t fit the playbook so many of us are reading. 

It can take eons for a star to become visible. 

Despite how brightly it burns. 

It takes an amalgamation of scenarios for everything to be just so in order that it’s light becomes visible to the human eye. 

So keep spinning the dial. 

Trying and testing. 

Don’t ignore your discouragement. 

It is likely part of the journey too. 

Whatever you’re feeling. Feel it completely. 

Your journey isn’t as abstract as it seems from the inside looking out.

What inspires you?

For me, I look for inspiration in everything I do.

I'm as guilty as the next dude of getting pumped up reading business books and listening to podcasts.

Those things give me ideas!

Get my mind racing!

But so do a great many other things.

When I'm feeling stuck, these are my go to jailbreaks:

- Hike in the Woods
- Gym Workout
- Go for a Run
- Play Music
- Read a Magazine
- Play with my Kids
- Listen to Music
- Go to a Museum

And for me, and I believe for you too, the best ideas come directly from the least likely source of inspiration.

It's the variance, that active decision to soak you brain in alternate activities, that produces the sweetest berry.

YOUR sweetest berry.

You see, I firmly believe that we achieve OUR optimal greatness when we blend our interests.

A graphic designer that is also a huge fan of Ragtime Jazz and Architecture is going places.

I guarantee it.

Because that unique blend of interests is going to result in a unique POV.

That's where you become irreplaceable. You've literally created your special sauce.

One of my favorite musicians had this to say and I can't help but think about it in regards to my point above.

“It seems like more than ever, if you go forward with the right intent, with your actions, in your heart, there’s a better chance of passing on something to somebody who could do the same” - Warren Ellis

Don't ever second guess following through on what you heart is telling you to do.

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