Why your existing connections don't matter!

Many Groupon contestants have well a established online presence. So you already have 852 Facebook friends and 2,654 followers on Twitter. You are either very popular, or good at social networking, or both. While these connections are excellent for self promotion and awareness, they do not necessarily increase your ability to be selected/win the Live Off Groupon competition.

What is important is your ability to create a new network. Just imagine, being chosen as the Groupawn is much like your first day in high school. You are dropped into a foreign environment, often without friends or resources. The Groupawn will face the similar challenge of rebuilding connections and allies in potentially hostile conditions.

There is a flipside to this scenario. The situation is not nearly as dark as the one I just described. I expect the Groupawn will become an internet celebrity, a meme unto him/herself. Just think, if only 500 people from each of the 40+ Groupon actively followed the Groupawn, that is a network in excess of 20,000 people. All with the potential to support and interact with the Groupawn.

Aside from the immense amount of personal perseverance required to complete this challenge, I am excited to think about the new people and experiences that await the Groupawn. Sure some of your existing friends will come in handy when you need to crash on a couch, but the genuine point of this contest is to start fresh. Everything indicates that Groupon would like the contestant to sever ties with their previous life and start again.

Please take 1:25 to watch my entry video: http://bit.ly/aicIM4
For the most up to date information and conversation on the Live Off Groupon competition, follow me on twitter: www.twitter.com/paulmorana

Challenges for the Groupawn

Sure the contest is plenty challenging already, but why not dream up some interesting challenges for the Groupon as they spend their year travelling.

1. Read a book
But not just any book, you have to read whatever the online community tells you. Now this is more difficult since you have no money, or belongings, but you could read the book in small intervals, at a bookstore, or in a library across the nation.

2. Collect as many souvenir pennies as possible
I'll admit this is already one of my life goals, but it would still be cool.

3. Race cross country
How fast can the Groupawn travel from coast to coast?


Just some initial ideas, keep it rolling.