569_ Ground Swell of Changes We are Facing Today - Part 2 of 2
The third ground swell of change is about the entreprenuerial explosion. The entrepreneural wave grows in the wake of company closures. Larry’s latest book Mastering Change, Challenges, Choices and Champions addresses this issue along with a 'how to' change process that works with all types of organizations. Then there's the 'social media phenomenon, the forth ground swell of change. Larry said, "I saw and felt it coming. We were very early in the Internet beginning our online radio program in 1998. But now what’s happening, it’s not a revolution, but it is coming at warp speed. I confess resistance, not growing up with computers like the young people today. To them this is natural, second nature to them, this is the way they communicate, but they’re very fickle so, what is big today may not be big tomorrow. Now companies are getting into it. With the technology today, it makes it very easy for a company to integrate video on their website. There is a long list now, LinkedIn, YouTube, FaceBook, Twitter, Med.ium, Lejit and one of the resources I go to frequently is Brad Feld’s Blog, Feld.com." Greg and Yvonne Lynott, Lynott & Associates Public Relations continue with Larry as they discuss the ground swell of changes we are facing today. Larry’s latest book Mastering Change, Challenges, Choices and Champions addresses these issues with a 'how to' change process that works with all types of organizations. The fifth ground swell revolves around people. Listen to this discussion as Larry points out that people want to be known for who they are and not as an X, Y, Z or Baby Boomer
Related Links: Mastering Change || Lynott & Associates || Colorful Leadership || 3-Filters || Brad Feld Blog || Keywords: Mastering Change, Yvonne Lynott, Greg Lynott, Larry Nelson, Pat Nelson, Entrepreneurship, Ground Swell, Baby Boomer, Social Media > Bytes: 14946119 - LISTEN 10/13/08

567_ Boulder is the Thought Leader in the World's Largest Industry
"What makes this business model unique is we do three things. Yes, an organic gift provider to businesses and individuals, but the other two pieces are what really differentiate us. We help launch new startups. We provide a platform for them to gain brand awareness customer based, by putting their logo, their products right on our website, on our menu, next to established brands," explained Arron Mansika, president and founder of Boulder’s Best Organics. He also said, "We are getting orders from all around the country. In fact today, an alternative health practitioner called and ordered 50 gift boxes for their employees. I asked, why are you ordering this stuff from Boulder County? And she said, 'Oh, everybody knows if it’s from Boulder it’s quality, it’s a little funky, it’s healthy.' So, Boulder really does have that reputation, as we’re all aware, sometimes for better or worse. But people recognize that it’s kind of an environmental trendsetter." Arron talks about networking and Boulder's legends. Boulder’s Best Organics in just 2 1/2 years has received several awards and has provided thousands of gifts to some of the areas largest employers.

And the WINNERS are...In another Colorado Success Story -
The big three winners from last weeks contest celebrating Boulder's Best Organics and the "Better Gift" in a box! are:
Carin; Mary Jo; and Mike. Congratulations!
Related Links: Boulders Best Organics || 4th Annual - Naturally Boulder Days 2008 || Blog || Green Team || Keywords: Boulders Best Organics, Arron Mansika, Gift Boxes, Naturally Boulder Days > Bytes: 8978915 - LISTEN 10/13/08

565_ Innovative Cultural Pioneers Created a Niche that Changed the Largest Industry
Back in the 70's a few innovative cultural pioneers decided to use their interest in 'natural foods' as a metaphor. They developed a niche industry and the focus was almost entirely on natural foods. What has happened is consumers have adopted these foods as a lifestyle. Now it's truly a revolution sweeping most consumer categories. This evolution has gone from a niche of the industry to what is ultimately a lead indicator for the industry - and this is the largest industry in the world, so this is big news. “To have the 'thought leadership' coming from Boulder, I think, makes us pretty important.” Todd Woloson, Managing Director, Greenmont Capital Partners, and Naturally Boulder Days 2008, keynote speaker, tells us starting IZZE was to try to understand how the whole process works. One of the wonderful benefits we had during the development of IZZE was to be able to grab a coffee with a Steve Demos or a Mark Retzloff – these are big thinkers in this industry with proven track records and the ablity to see over the next horizon. Plus they had war wounds from being in the trenches and I learned a lot – I’m positive I couldn’t have done this without them. Getting involved in this industry is very important for Boulder, but ultimately very important, I think, for our society and culture."
Related Links: Greenmont Capital Partners || 4th Annual - Naturally Boulder Days 2008 || Boulders Best Organics || Find It || Keywords: Naturally Boulder 2008; Natural Products; Organics; Entrepreneurs; CORE; Greenmont Capital; Todd Woloson; Steve Demos; Mark Ressloff; Yoga; - LISTEN > Bytes: 8357828 > 10/06/08

564_ Expense Paid Trip to Job Fair in Boulder, Colorado
Chris Wand, managing partner at Foundry Group here in Boulder, Colorado, had some startling news for the whole country... "A handful of us were talking about what is going on in Boulder – there is an amazing amount of activity going on here – a huge number of startups, a lot of them growing very rapidly. One of the pain points they’re all experiencing is finding enough technical talent, software developers, programmers, engineers. We have a lot of great talent here in Boulder; we just don’t have enough given how fast these companies are growing. We thought the right way to recruit out of state talent to Colorado, to Boulder, was to find a way to fly them out here where it was low cost or no cost to them, to experience Boulder for three days. We’re having a week long job fair at the end of October. Aiming to fly in about 100 folks and we’re giving them a day to experience Boulder, just get to know the town. Then in a 'speed dating fashion’, meeting with each one of the 20 sponsoring companies, and a third day to go deep on interviews with the companies they’re most interested in." Get the details, there's much more to this story.
Related Links: Expense Paid Job Fair || Foundry Group || TechStars || Colorado Startups || Venture Capital Channel || Keywords: Boulder Startups, Boulder Job Fair, Foundry Group, Chris Wand, Technology Developers, Engineers, Software Developers, Boulder Wants You > Bytes: 7505191 > 10/06/08 > Channels: VC, Software - LISTEN

570_ “What is Social Entrepreneurship?”
Dr. Paul Bauer, Clinical Professor, Daniels College of Business, DU and Chris Pelley, Managing Director, Capital Investment Management Group discuss this social entrepreneurship with Larry. Paul explained, "For me, it goes back to the Entrepreneur part of the equation. Like Einstein said, “We can’t solve the problems with the same thinking that we created them with.” Entrepreneurship is a mechanism that will allow us to address and make some real progress with the challenges we face today. The ‘social’ part for me says what we’re trying to do is create value wealth for the community, not just for the individual. I think business does that and I think business has a definite role to play in that. That’s why I think this is a topic that is very relevant to business today." Chris went on from there, "I come from the business entrepreneurship side of the equation, and yet we see a common path, a parallel direction, in terms of solving many of the world’s problems, whether it’s through business enterprise or social enterprise. My interpretation of their definition of social entrepreneurs is, 1.) It’s people who are going to use creative thinking in solving any problem. 2.) The notion of using real business principals and business drivers for the best results is also an important issue. 3.) Sustainability." There's much more...listen now...
Related Links: Daniels College of Business, DU || Community Engagement & Service Learning || Capital Investment Management || Life Long Learning || Ashoka || America's Family || Keywords: Social Entrepreneurship, Daniels College of Business, DU, Chris Pelley, Capital Investment Management, Ashoka, Steve Bigari, ACG > Bytes: 10350239 LISTEN 10/13/08

568_ Manage Cash Flow and Manage Time while Winning New Business
Top IT experts conclude that 78 percent of an IT budget is spent just managing existing systems and software infrastructures. And in today’s economic climate where companies are being forced to reduce budgets and cut costs, if the costs of simply sustaining the existing are so high, that leaves few, if any resources left to invest in anything new or strategic. John Krzykowski, General Manager of 19MarketPlace discussed those and other challenges IT consultants face with Mike Regan in Georgia. In addition to HIPPA requirements and security issues, it’s difficult for IT firms to predict revenue and resource utilization for a month since a significant portion of revenue is based on repairs. Managed services is an alternative to the 'break - fix' business model. Managed services involve monthly preventive maintenance programs that greatly reduce “unplanned” downtime. Clients pay a predictable monthly fee and in return, IT firms perform scheduled preventative maintenance as well as continuously monitor systems to identify problems before they occur. Mike pointed out how managed services also saves his clients and him a great deal of time. They discussed the challenges and the choices...listen for more.
Related Links: Workplace2go || On Demand Software || 19 Marketplace || Podcast Directory || Keywords: Managed Services, Workplace2go, On Demand Software, 19 Marketplace, John Krzykowski, Mike Regan, IT Budget > Bytes: 11400989 LISTEN 10/13/08

566_ Ground Swell of Changes We are Facing Today
Of the many things Larry identified are patterns that occur. Some dissipate others grow. He has focused on those that are continually occurring and growing. Some of them are easy to see and some are a little more challenging. He has identified five patterns or ‘ground swells’ of change that have been occurring and then what will likely be coming down the pike. The green industry, for instance, must become strategic, sustainable and scalable. What we’ve had so far are discussions of the different things that have happened, the things that are happening and the needs we have. Today when people hear ‘green industry’, they think of energy generation, sources to recycling. Well it’s much more than that. A second ground swell of change Larry points to is about people and an inner need to give back to their community, and to give of themselves. “We have so many people today, even in these turbulent economic times that have made a great amount of money and they want to give back. So what we have is a growing opportunity, it’s called ‘social entrepreneurship’.” Having been a long time entrepreneur (with the arrows to prove it), Larry talks about the current landscape and what may be coming your way with Yvonne and Greg Lynott as they delve into the reasons for Larry's latest book. Listen now…
Related Links: Mastering Change || Lynott & Associates Public Relations || 3-Filters || Blog || Keywords: Mastering Change, Yvonne Lynott, Greg Lynott, Larry Nelson, Pat Nelson, Entrepreneurship, Ground Swell > Bytes: 14647048 > LISTEN 10/06/08 Channels: Training

563_ The 2nd Annual Angel Capital Summit is Heading Our Way
This year they’re scripting it to be twice the size because it sold out last year. They have room for at least 1000 people; and billions of dollars in investments made, represented on the executive committee at the Rockies Venture Club 2nd Annual Angel Capital Summit. This is a state wide networking event, pulling together on the platform each group providing deals to the event. Kevin Johansen said, “Our groupware has a deal flow management system embedded in it. By example Grand Junction Incubator is recruiting advisors to their group to help them screen their deals and submit the best of the best up to the Angel Capital Summit executive committee. That's the semi finals.” From there the executive committee (representing lots of money actively seeking deals) will screen and select the top 40 to be presented on November 21st – all day. At the end of the day we’re pulling together a ‘town hall meeting’ with thought leaders from up and down the front range, to basically sit down and talk about how to make sense of what’s happening in the economy. We’re trying to open up the conversation and address these problems. It’s a scary thing to be out there all by yourself, we don’t want anybody to think they’re all by themselves. Everybody in the room wants everybody else in the room to be successful. The focus isn’t only on raising money but also getting help, mentorship and so on.
Related Links: Angel Capital Summit || Rockies Venture Club || Business Catapult || Venture Capital || Keywords: RVC, Angel Capital Summit, Angel Funding, Venture Capital, Kevin Johansen, Business Catapult > Bytes: 7950736 > 10/06/08 Channels: VC LISTEN