Paul Aaron Travis
Paul Aaron Travis is a businessman, entrepreneur and veteran of the high tech industry, and currently runs his own marketing consultancy, Vivify LLC. His most recent endeavor, The Relationship Capital Co., is dedicated to helping the world understand the idea that "It's not what you know, or who you know. It's who knows, likes and trusts you", and learn how to use this knowledge to their own advantage through the practice of networking.
Early Years
Travis' father, Charles M. Travis, was serving in the United States Military when Paul was born. The family moved often before his father was discharged, living up and down the eastern seaboard of the United States. Charles received two Purple Hearts, then went to law school, served in state government for a short time, and eventually got a job teaching at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. Charles found teaching to be a predictable profession and started up various businesses on the side, in which Paul got involved. It is these "entrepreneurial genes", along with those of his grandfather on his mother's side in selling fiberglass car bodies, that Paul cites as his inspiration.
Education
Paul Aaron Travis attended high school and received his Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science & Mathematics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and later studied Brand Management in Harvard Business School's Executive Program after working in the world of small business and developing his approach to networking. The Executive Program was taught by professors of anthropology, which opened Travis' eyes to the way humans construct meaning in their world—and would in turn sharpen his marketing and networking strategies.
Jobs
In the time between getting his bachelors and studying at Harvard Business School, he worked at Microsoft, where he helped to develop Microsoft Windows 3.0, Flight Simulator for Macintosh, and Word (Windows and DOS). For the majority of his time at Microsoft, he didn't do much networking; he even says that he never kept business cards. It was only after several years that he realized what a powerful force networking could be, and decided to switch his focus in life from computers to people. He worked for Net Nanny Software, Marketwave Corp., Mountainzone.com, Officespace.com and ConnectSoft, and was on the board of directors for both Officespace.com and ConnectSoft.
Social Aspects
Travis is an active part of his neighborhood community and of the online community. In addition to coaching a local roller hockey team and helping to construct a youth playground, he performed in a community production of Fiddler on the Roof as Mendel, the Rabbi's son. He has also created a Facebook page for people who have first names as their last, middle, and first names. He says this was "cumbersome" growing up, but now appreciates the uniqueness and wants other 3FirstNamers.com to feel the same.
Current Projects
Travis always seems to have several projects going: he runs marketing consultancy, Vivify LLC, as well as The Relationship Capital Co., which is dedicated to helping people understand the benefits of networking in the business world and gain skills associated with networking. The Relationship Capital Co. has three branches so far; two blogs, Networking 2020, aimed at the introverted or shy, and Connecting 2020, which aims to help the more accomplished networker get organized and motivated. The third and final branch is BFriendship, an online networking course taught by Travis himself that is loosely associated with Networking 2020 in that it aims to help the same sort of person. In late 2011, parts of the course were given away free as a networking stimulus package for the unemployed.