7/19/2010
Generations: When I Say Millennial, You Say…
« Boomers May Not Retire, but They Can Still Quit | Main
Jul 19, 2010
When I Say Millennial, You Say…
By Debra Fiterman
Debra Fiterman is a speaker, researcher, writer, and consultant at BridgeWorks. She often writes from the perspective of Millennials—her generation of plugged-in and tech-savvy 20–somethings.
Who is ready for a little game of word association? Here we go . . .
When I say “Millennial generation,” what is the first word that pops into your mind?
Chances are there is a group of readers who thought of something about being entitled or spoiled. There is probably another bunch of you that thought “my kids.”
But I am willing to bet that the biggest group out there thought of a word having to do with technology. Whether it was the Internet, Facebook, cell phones, iPods, iPads, iPhones—you get the picture. It’s hard to mention the Millennials without thinking about how ultra-techy this new generation really is.
To be clear, the Millennials are not the only tech-savvy generation in the workplace. Every generation from Traditionalists on down has embraced the technological revolution to at least some extent. However, there is a distinct difference between my generation, the Millennials, and the others. While other generations have been merging onto the information super highway, the Millennials were born in the fast lane.
Of course, there are some very obvious side effects that will happen when these 76 million Millennials start pouring into workplaces. But what are some of the impacts you might not be thinking of?
1. Built-in tech trainers:
This is a generation that has been called on as technology consultants since before they entered junior high. Whether it was fixing grandma’s high-speed Internet or helping dad pick out his new video camera, Millennials have been asked to help. Most Millennials are extremely patient when it comes to helping other people understand technology. And on top of that, Millennials want to share their knowledge! Every generation likes to feel like experts at something and as entry-level employees, letting Millennials lead in this area can be a great retention strategy.
2. Unique tech-etiquette perspective:
Millennials can definitely commit some pretty serious technology faux pas. We are often accused of texting at inappropriate times or using slang in formal business e-mails. However, Millennials aren’t the only ones who need training. We find that the older generations are equally as likely to offend someone with an e-mail written in all caps or a terse response from their Blackberries. It is important to remember that every generation has a unique vantage point when it comes to tech-etiquette. Taking the time to mentor both up and down the ladder will be critical when it comes to avoiding technology blunders.
3. A generation that is comfortable with change . . . and then some:
As most leaders know, managing through change can be a huge challenge. Keeping morale up and productivity high during times of turbulence is a tough task. Good news: Millennials are ready. Keep in mind that this is the generation who grew up during a time of extreme rapid change. Every generation has experienced change during their formative years but none at this supersonic pace. This is a generation who is not only unafraid of change but embraces it at every chance. And what workplace couldn’t benefit from that?Posted at 04:23 PM in Millennials, Web/Tech | Permalink
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Study: Tough economy isn’t boosting entrepreneurship this year - Kansas City Business Journal
When the going gets tough, the tough write a business plan.
So goes the conventional wisdom during periods of economic malaise: that people either out of work or fearing for their jobs will create jobs for themselves, following their dreams and starting businesses.
But it’s unclear whether that’s happening this go-round, and a new study shows that the nation’s entrepreneurial spirit is a little on the ghostly side.
Challenger Gray & Christmas Inc., a Chicago-based outplacement and executive coaching firm, on Monday released its survey of job seekers in the first half of the year, which found that an average of 3.7 percent planned to start a business. The company said it was the worst two-quarter period — 3.4 percent and 3.9 percent — for entrepreneurial activity since it began tracking such things in 1986.
By comparison, 7.6 percent of respondents in the first half of 2009 opted to start a business, and 9.6 percent planned to go that route in the second half of 2009.
The firm also pointed to recent figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which show that 8.9 million people are self-employed — a 9 percent drop from 9.8 million right before the recession hit. It’s also less than the 9.1 million self-employed people in December.
John Challenger, the firm’s CEO, said in a release that he couldn’t tell what was causing the decline. He theorized it could be that more of the survey respondents were successful with their job searches and didn’t need to start a business. On the other hand, he said, the shaky economy could have potential entrepreneurs afraid to jump in the game or unable to open their doors because they can’t get access to credit.
“The decision of starting a business involves so many factors that trying to identify one or two is an exercise in futility,” Challenger said, though he added that new business creation could return as the recovery strengthens.
Dan Stangler, research manager for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, said the Challenger survey was just one of several showing activity within the entrepreneurial ranks. Others, such as the Kauffman index last year, showed the biggest increase in new business creation in 15 years, but census data have shown that entrepreneurial levels have remained fairly flat.
“We’ve sort of got numbers going in all different directions, and I don’t think we’re going to have a good idea on this recession until the dust settles,” he said.
He added that this recession is so much harsher than downturns of the past that the conventional wisdom of those recessions now may be a little less wise.
“Few people alive have seen the severity of this recession,” he said.
Do You Have the Mindset and Skills to be an Entrepreneur? | SCORE
You probably already know that starting a small business requires extensive research and analysis of many factors. But the one requiring the most critical assessment is often overlooked by many entrepreneurs. And, it’s as close as the nearest mirror.That’s because wanting to be an entrepreneur is one thing; being one is quite another. You will take on responsibilities and commitments far different from those of an employee, even if you have management experience. It’s a challenge that can be exhilarating and rewarding. Unless you’re prepared mentally and emotionally, however, it can also be overwhelming.
Before you study financing options and plan store layouts, sit down and conduct a probing interview with yourself to see if you’re the right person for the all-important job of entrepreneur-owner-boss.
Are You a Self-Starter?
Nothing in business happens by itself. As the owner, you’re responsible for everything from establishing your firm’s vision to setting the daily work schedule. The fact that you’re exploring small business ownership and asking questions is a good sign.Are You a Positive Thinker?
The moment you become a business owner, you represent yourself, your business and your expectations for success. What you say and do must convey confidence and commitment to moving forward. Employees who sense these qualities will share that determination to succeed, even under difficult circumstances. If you work alone, there will be days when you have to be your own cheerleader.Are You Disciplined?
Your days of the “9-to-5 routine” are over. Running a small business requires a continuous commitment to quality and detail. You cannot afford to cut corners, miss deadlines or make promises beyond your capabilities. If you plan to run the business from home, you must be able to resist temptations and distractions in order to get your work done.Are You a Lifelong Learner? Entrepreneurs who continually seek information, new ideas and sound advice have the best chance for success. Being attuned to market trends and issues makes it easier to adjust products and services to customers’ needs and preferences. You’re also in a better position to enhance your competitive advantage and efficiency, and address potential problems before they harm your business.
Can You Market Yourself and Your Business? Some people have trouble with this one because of the negative (and often unfair) connotations associated with being a “salesperson.” No business, no matter how good, will succeed without some kind of marketing. The good news is that promoting your business is easier than you may think as long as you know what to do and how to do it. After all, we all enjoy saying good things about ourselves. When you craft and tell your story in the right way, more people will be willing and eager to hear it.
Can You be Objective?
Your ideas and practices may seem “bulletproof,” but reality may be far different. Is there really a need for a particular product or service in your area? Are the hours of operation fair to your employees? Is renting equipment better than owning it? A good business owner knows how to examine an issue from many perspectives and understand that strengths and limitations of each.So how did your “candidate” for entrepreneur-owner-boss do? If every answer was a “yes,” your small business dream is on its way to becoming a reality. For areas of concern, the solution may be business counseling, management courses, or a concerted effort to discard some unproductive habits in favor new ones.
Finally, make it a point to conduct regular self-reviews. Thinking and approaches that worked in the start-up phase may not be as appropriate for a thriving concern, or if a major market shift occurs. When you work for yourself, you want to be confident the entrepreneur-owner-boss knows exactly what he or she is doing.
Brought to you by SCORE, America's small business mentors, at www.score.org.
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The Entrepreneur Mindset « EveryJoe
The Entrepreneur Mindset
By: Kelle Sparta
Anytime I go out into the world, there’s one thing I notice consistently. It’s the difference between the way that I look at the world and the way the average person on the street looks at the world. You see, I have what I term “The Entrepreneur Mindset”.
What Is It?
The Entrepreneur Mindset is actually three thought processes in one. The first is a business owner’s approach to the world. The second is an out-of-the-box, creative innovation approach to life. And the third is an unwillingness to settle for good when you could have great.
The Business Owner’s Approach
I used to have a training center that was up two flights of stairs. Each time I started a six-week class for new real estate agents, I would bring in 10 gallons of water in gallon jugs. Not being a total masochist, I would place them on the stairs and bring a couple of jugs up with me each time I went up the stairs – usually right in front of the students who were coming in the door and who would see the other jugs of water on the stairs waiting to go up. Not once did a student offer to bring one of the jugs up the stairs. If I asked, they would happily oblige, but they never offered.
Then one day a broker decided to audit the class to determine if he wanted to send his agents to it. When I grabbed two jugs on my way back up from lunch, he grabbed two as well – without even thinking about it. And it was then that I realized that it wasn’t that the new agents were lazy or insensitive, it’s that they were unconscious. They were still in the employee mindset. They happily did what they were told, they just didn’t know how to see the environment from an owner’s perspective and assign themselves tasks based on that ownership.
The Employee Mindset vs. The Business Owner Mindset
This is the biggest challenge that new entrepreneurs face is that mindset shift. There’s no one to tell you what to do when you start. Just like those new agents, you have to learn how to see the world from the perspective of someone responsible for it. A business owner looks at the huge sheet of plastic on the side of the street and thinks “that could blow into the street, blind a driver and kill someone” and they take the plastic and put it into a garbage can where it can’t do damage. An employee walks by the same piece of plastic and, if they even notice that it’s there, the most they will think is “wow, it’s terrible how people litter”. There’s no ownership, no stewardship, no sense of personal responsibility that drives them to do something about it.
Mindset Shift – Employee to Business Owner
It is both simple and terribly hard to make the shift from employee to business owner. It’s simple because it’s just a matter of paying attention, thinking about it as though it IS your responsibility and then doing something about it. It’s terribly hard because it requires constant vigilance on your part to make the shift in your mindset. It’s so easy to slip back into your old way of doing things that before you know it, you’ve gone unconscious again. Then you have to have the presence of mind to get back to paying attention rather than getting stuck in being angry at yourself for losing focus (which, but the way, will keep you unfocused for longer). Don’t beat yourself up, just get back to it. It’s kind of like meditating while you’re awake. Stay focused, pay attention, and take action. That’s a business owner’s mindset.
Creative Innovation
The next two steps: creative innovation and not settling for good but always striving for great, are often both accomplished in the same manner. When you are willing to constantly innovate, then you are not settling and you’re always making things better (hopefully – not all innovation is progress). But how do you learn to be a creative thinker?
Becoming a Creative Thinker
Thinking outside of the box is harder than you would imagine. You see, we learn how to think according to the parameters of the box. For example, if I asked you to make me a sandwich you would probably pick some form of protein like turkey, add lettuce and tomato and perhaps something to wet the bread like mayo or mustard. A creative thinker, however might question whether I necessarily wanted lunch food and might hand me a couple of pancakes with a fried egg in the center. Or they might wonder whether the sandwich even needed to be edible and then they might give me two books with a hat in the middle. Or, they might go with the idea that what defines a sandwich is that it is portable and edible with the hands which is probably where the idea of the wrap came from.
Questioning Assumptions
The fact is that creative thinkers always question their assumptions. This is precisely what gets them out of their box. One of the assumptions that we make is that our perspective is the right one or the only one. So creative thinkers also tend to look for new and different perspectives. In our example, that was the moment when the person assumed that the sandwich didn’t have to be edible. That’s a major perspective shift. It’s not just a matter of creating a variation on a theme, but instead it’s a matter of looking at the issue from a totally different angle.
The Benefits of The Entrepreneur Mindset
If this all seems like a lot of work, well it is. If it were easy, then everyone would be doing it. But you’re already doing a lot of work in owning your own business. Why not take on this one additional piece and find out how much more effective you become? Once you put these two processes (the business owner’s mindset and creative innovation) together, you’ve got it made. You are now in the perfect position to be able to grow your business in new and creative ways, to differentiate yourself from the competition and to be a better business person than 90% of the rest of the population of business owners. And wouldn’t that be just lovely?
Kelle Sparta is a small business coach, consultant and shaman. She helps business owners grow their businesses from the inside out – starting with the owner. Kelle provides tools, coaching, and training to empower business owners to create lives and businesses they can love. For more information, visit her website at www.kellesparta.com. © 2008, Kelle Sparta. Used by permission.
Facebook | Keesha Michelle Washington: WHY SOUL MATES HAVE STRONG TELEPATHIC CONNECTIONS
No, you are not crazy, you are ascending, and apart of the ‘Ascension Package’ is the purification and quickening of our Spiritual gifts such as our healing capacities, psychic and intuitive abilities and telepathic communications. And the moment that you and your Soul Mates connect on a spiritual level, during the ‘Acquaintance of the Spirit’ period, the both of you will have a direct route to each other’s spiritual, emotional and physical bodies. Yikes, right, no, it’s actually demonstrates the sheer brilliance of Spirit, and here’s why.
The spoken word is a product of third dimensional creation. The spoken word is a bi product of humanities dissension. There is this story in the Bible about the Tower of Babel where it speaks on the how language was first introduced on planet earth and the chaos that it ensued. Although it is considered a fable, there is much truth to this story, because prior to the spoken or written word, telepathy was the original form of communication. Telepathy is the purest form of exchanging information through ideas,, emotions and memories directly from one person to another without speaking or writing a word. Telepathic transmission is a 4th dimension and beyond mode of communication, it has a higher vibrational frequency than language.
The whole basis of language is manipulation, it is denser and slower vibration than telepathy, and it has traditional been the vehicle of manipulation and disparity among humans. For those who have been able to master language, are usually the ones that holds the most power. Because of the slower and denser vibration of language, so much of the purity, and truth gets lost in translation, and with this, it leaves all users vulnerable to conflict and misunderstanding, and of course, we all know that this is the beginning of the breakdown of relationships This 3rd dimensional frequency that most of us are vibrating on relies heavily on the mental body aspect, and this is why language is so important to many.
Telepathic communications on the other hand bypasses the entire dramatic ridiculouness of deciphering language. There is no decoding; frequencies are read directly from another person. You will begin to understand people’s mental, physical and emotional state. It is not a mental state, from mind to mind as portrayed in ‘Hollywood’. Telepathy is received through the heart chakra that usually has emotional information and mental information as well. The soul mate connection heart to heart connection is extremely intense for a reason. It forces open the Heart Chakra open so that not only the physiological feelings of love can spin through it, but it creates a portal for telepathic communication from mate to mate, then spreading to the greater population.
Telepathic communication is also received through the 7th chakra, our Spirit body, which is a very high vibrational chakra. The mental body does have its place, because it has a deductive, reasonable nd logical. So once information is received in the heart, the mental body can bring understanding to the information.
It makes sense as to why soul mates are becoming the fastest growing group of humans that are tapping in and using their telepathic abilities. Since a part of our mission as soul mates is to create an enlightened and purer template of relationships, it becomes obvious as to why; language would be the first mode of communication to disintegrate. In our soul mate connection, we are learning how to operate from the realm of unconditional love, which is a very high vibration; we are learning just how to create an intention spiritual bond of love, trust, peace, cooperation and compassion with humanity. We are beginning to shake loose all forms of lower vibrational communications that was traditional used in relationships. Telepathy will give us a greater ability to read energy and take that knowledge to create relationships in every form to a higher ground.
so for the mates that believe they have a direct invisible like you each other, you are correct. It’s important to receive that information so that you can build the bridge of density to the spiritual with your mate. This link will grow stronger and more fluent the more you work toward removing emotional and physical impediments. Usually you will find that in these connections, that the mate that is doing the most work at removing the impediment, especially within the emotional body, will have the strongest telepathic transmission. The reason behind this is because the as we remove blocks to our emotional body, we clear a crap load of blockages to our heart chakra, and remember, most of the telepathic information is received through the heart chakra. Also, when we remove blocks to our emotional and physical body, we raise our vibration, and high vibrational frequencies further and quickens the telepathic connections, not only between you and your mate, but with other life forms and other dimensions.
So, again, no, you are not crazy, you are ascending, and some really cool gifts are being bestowed upon us, and this is another case for doing your clearing work, so that we can take this connection to a higher plane.
Your FriendKeesha
Keesha Washington is the founder and spiritual guide of Inner Wisdom’s Way Spiritual Guidance Services. She assists soul mates in making sense of the confusion and conflict they are having with their soul mate . She helps soul mates identify and remove any impediments that are blocking their soul mate connection. And she helps individuals step by step in attracting their soul mate into their life. To contact Keesha for assistance in your soul mate connection, keesha@innerwisdomsway.com
©2010 all rights reserved Keesha Washington, Inner Wisdom’s Way
Telepathy, the real vibrational communication
Young Millennial job-seeker: entitled and spoiled? | Lifecourse Blog
Sat 17 Jul 2010
Young Millennial job-seeker: entitled and spoiled?
Posted by Neil Howe under 4th Turning (Crisis), Baby Boomer, Economics, Generations, Millennial, News
View CommentsLast week there was a NYT feature story about a 24-year-old Millennial (born 1982-200?), a recent grad of Colgate University with a stellar academic record, who has been living with his parents (and grandfather) over the last six months sending resumes and looking for a job. He wants an executive track corporate position. A couple of months ago, he was turned down by an insurance company for the job he applied for—but was offered a lesser job as an insurance adjustor for $40K. The Millennial turned it down, saying that the company made clear it was at least ten levels below the job he wanted. The author interlaced the story with statistics on the severity of the current “Great Recession” for young adults.
The story lit up a firestorm of reader responses: no less than 1,487 comments thus far, and much larger echoes on the blogosphere. Many of the commenters lambasted the NYT for suggesting that this privileged young man’s experience (he lives in a nice suburban home and his dad is president of a small manufacturing company) is in any way representative of the employment hardships most youth are facing today. Even more excoriated the young man for turning down the $40K offer—and the family for letting him live at home while turning down such offers. The most vicious remarks seemed to come from older ( Generation X (born 1961-1981) and Boomer (born 1943-1960)) readers, who often cited their own tough, low-salary beginnings. Apparently, they disapprove of this generation’s tendency to hold fast to long-term plans and dreams. Be realistic, they insist. Eat humble pie. It will be good for you (to repeat what older Chinese now tell the rising “Little Emperor” generation) to “taste bitterness.”
Wow. Stern stuff. What’s surprising about all this indignation is just how vague these critics are about just what is *wrong* about what is going on in this story:
- The Millennial himself is not complaining. There is no whininess. He disavows any legitimate comparison between his own situation and what the unemployed faced, say, during the Great Depression. He’s looking forward to a happy ending–as are most unemployed Millennials (something we know from data from Pew and others).
- The parents are not complaining. The son gets along very well with his (Boomer) parents and (G.I.) grandpa and runs errands for them. The marginal dollar cost of the son living at home seems trivial and doesn’t really bother anyone—though admittedly the older folks worry sometimes about the young man’s career. This is also typical. The survey data indicate that today’s Millennials and Boomers get along much better in the same home than young Boomers and their own parents did 35 or 40 years ago—when many young Boomers report that they left home in anger… or that their parents simply kicked them out. Take this trend (closer inter-generational households) and extrapolate it out over the next couple decades and you could be looking at a win-win solution to our unaffordable Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid liabilities, a solution predicated on greater mutual dependence within families. Our number one fiscal nightmare solved. And this is a *bad* thing?
- There is no evidence that this Millennial is selfish or anti-community. In fact, he expected to enter officer training with the Marine Corps but was barred at the last moment due to childhood asthma.
- The guy is clearly keeping busy, volunteering for the fire department, working for neighbors. By the end of the article, the reader learns that he is no longer actually living at home at all, but living with brother (a guy who did get the $75 opening corporate job) to sub for a roommate who just moved out. He is planning to temp for local eateries while there. Totally “temp” work—as opposed to quasi-permanent “careers” that the young person does not really want—is also a typical Millennial strategy.
- There is, finally, widespread agreement among labor market economists that taking a lower initial salary, while certainly a doable and often successful strategy for long-term success, is not the only strategy. On average, it is likely to result in a lower salary trajectory for many years to come. Millennials plan ahead and have long time horizons. If an executive track is important to them tomorrow, they will plan accordingly today.
So let’s move to the bottom line here.
Should we feel sorry for this young man? No, but then again he’s not asking for that.
Did he make an irrevocable career mistake by not accepting the $40K position? Not as far as I can see.
Is it unfair that, over the course of the business cycle, youth who graduate into a severe recession are disadvantaged in their career paths relative to those who graduate into a boom? Yes, it’s unfair, but no more so than a lot of the other vicissitudes of fortune that hit some people and not others. Besides, the effects of these “cohort timing” differences, while long lasting, gradually fade over time. As Glen Elder showed, the Great Depression’s impact on the young adults of the 1930s was largely forgotten by the time this cohort reached its peak lifetime earnings years in the late 1960s. (By then, their salaries didn’t concern most of them nearly so much as their kids’ music!).
Would America be a better place if today’s young Millennials were eager to leave their parents at all cost, even if it meant taking a job they hate? You’ll have to explain to me why.
To be sure, one might reasonably argue that not everyone, not even everyone with excellent college credentials, can hold out for a $75K salary. True enough. But not everyone wants to hold out for a high salary. And many of those who do will ultimately change their mind. Maybe even this young man. So?
My question is: Why do the sober-minded, future-oriented career choices of today’s Millennials make so many Boomers and Xers jump up and down in agitated condemnation?
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HeraldNet: How blog can be a great business resource
StoryImages.jsWhat does it do?How do I use it?
Business
Published: Monday, July 19, 2010
The article requested can not be found! Please refresh your browser or go back. (DH,20100719,BIZ,707199951,AR).
CONTACT THE HERALD Mike Benbow, Business Editor
benbow@heraldnet.com
How blog can be a great business resource
By Pat Sisneros and Juergen Kneifel
With thousands of business blogs online, it can be tough to find the sites worth your time.
For The HeraldWe’ve seen quite a few, and previously recommended that you develop a set of your favorites to use as a resource to run your business. Our list continues to grow and we have added a few recently in the areas of politics, economics and popular culture and technology.
We see these online resources as an opportunity to explore new ideas and take advantage of some of the best business minds in the world, who share their thoughts and advice for free through their musings on the Web. We believe that exploring these ideas are well worth your time.
Gary Hamel’s Management 2.0, blogs, wsj.com/management
Gary Hamel is a visiting professor at the London Business School and the author of “The Future of Management.” Hamel writes about developing more innovative management and leadership strategies. He believes the management strategies of the 20th century won’t work in today’s world. We find his blog entries especially helpful in thinking about developing a flatter, more responsive organizational structure. We always walk away with a new insight after reading one of his blogs.
Alan Webber’s Rules of Thumb, rulesofthumbbook.blogspot.com
Alan Webber was the co-founder of Fast Company magazine. His blog is one of the most applicable to small business on the blogosphere and focuses on the basic business rules all entrepreneurs should follow. Webber writes in an engaging style with a clear, insightful lesson in each blog entry. We think he is one of the most influential thinkers in the entrepreneurship community.
Brand Autopsy, brandautopsy.typepad.com
The author, John Moore, is a former marketing executive with Whole Food Markets and Starbucks. We highlight his blog because of his perspective and experience on building a brand. If you’re looking for interesting and useful marketing ideas, especially about using word of mouth to your advantage, this blog is a must-read.
Heath Brothers, heathbrothers.com
This blog is written is written by Chip and Dan Heath, authors of two best-selling books, “Made to Stick” and “Switch.” We especially like their viewpoint on what makes a new idea successful in the marketplace at a time when constantly innovating and improving your business is so critical. This blog will make you think differently about marketing your business.
Nudge, nudges.org
The site argues that the way choices are presented can be used to help “nudge” people to select better choices for themselves. We find this very interesting, especially in the areas of health and personal finance. This site promotes itself as a place where you can learn about “improving decisions about health, wealth and happiness.” We have found much food for thought in this blog and with ideas which we think will be helpful improving your business.
Real Clear Politics, www.realclearpolitics.com
Each day, this site lists all the major political opinion columns and stories from major newspapers and periodicals from across the country. The opinion columns cover the gamut of the political spectrum. We have found the site helpful as a one-stop place for keeping in touch with what the political chattering class is talking about in politics, economics and business.
Politico, www.politico.com
We like to think of Politico of as our daily source for national political news. The website has several former print columnists and news writers. We highlight this site because of its growing influence in the political conversation in Washington, D.C.
Boing Boing, boing.net
This blog is one of the more popular on the web. As the name indicates, the blog jumps from topic to topic, but focuses primarily on technology and popular culture. We find Boing Boing one of those websites that we need to check in with to see what Generation Y is talking about.
Pat Sisneros is the Vice President of College Services at Everett Community College. Juergen Kneifel is an associate faculty member in the EvCC Entrepreneurship program. Please send your comments to entrepreneurship@everettcc.edu
CMEA Capital Founder Named to National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship
SOURCE: CMEA Capital
Jul 19, 2010 08:00 ETCMEA Capital Founder Named to National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Alternative Energy Investment Pioneer Tom Baruch Joins Council to Accelerate Small Business Innovation and Boost U.S. Job Growth
SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwire - July 19, 2010) - CMEA Capital today announced that founder and alternative energy investor Tom Baruch has been appointed to the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The Council will drive policies that help entrepreneurs translate new ideas, products and services into economic growth. Baruch, a 30-year veteran in energy and materials investment and one of the most influential energy investors in Silicon Valley, was chosen for his longstanding leadership and commitment to innovation.
"Supporting innovation and entrepreneurship has never been more crucial to the American economy. Start-ups accounted for nearly all new jobs in the private sector in the last 25 years, according to a recent Kauffman Foundation Study," said Tom Baruch, founder and managing director, CMEA Capital. "Senator Locke's National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship is creating a powerful collaboration among policy-makers, investors, entrepreneurs and academic leaders that will help the U.S. maintain its leadership in innovation."
Baruch's 30 years of experience investing in alternative energy companies will serve the council well. The alternative energy sector presents a unique opportunity for job growth but is still in need of further policy support if the U.S. is to keep pace globally. Some of Baruch's recent energy success stories include Foro Energy, one of the first energy companies to receive a significant ARPA-E grant from the Department of Energy, A123 Systems, one of only a few IPOs in 2009, and Codexis, which is one of the few IPOs so far in 2010.
Tom Baruch founded CMEA Capital in 1989. Under his direction it has grown into an investment firm that is at the forefront of science and technology. The knowledge and experience he has gained through decades of work investing in entrepreneurs and building companies have equipped him to give back to the community in unique ways. Whether it's through investments, mentoring, fundraising, or sharing his expertise in building successful companies, Baruch's experience will serve the Council well:
- Baruch serves on the Executive Committee of the Council on Competitiveness, designed to enhance U.S. competitiveness by fostering relationships between businesses, universities and the government. He is also a member of the COC's Energy Security, Innovation and Sustainability (ESIS) Initiative, as well as the COC's U.S. Manufacturing Competitive Initiative.
- He is a founding member of the Kauffman Foundation's mentor program.
- He is a board member for That Man May See, an organization dedicated to seed funding for research at the University of California, San Francisco, School of Ophthalmology.
- Baruch and his wife established the Baruch Center for Solar Biochemical Energy Research at his alma mater, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. In his role as trustee at RPI, he co-chaired a capital campaign that raised $1.4 billion.
About CMEA Capital
CMEA Capital provides capital to entrepreneurs and investors in the energy & materials, information technology, and life sciences sectors. Through its combination of solid scientific credentials and seasoned management expertise, CMEA identifies, funds and manages new businesses based on the emerging, interdisciplinary science required to meet the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly changing global economy. The firm currently manages seven funds representing investments in excess of $1 billion. CMEA has been an early stage investor in many leading companies, including A123 Systems, Codexis, Entropic (ENTR), Flextronics (FLEX), Magma (LAVA), Maxygen (MAXY), Silicon Spice (BRCM), Solyndra, and Symyx (SMMX).About the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The mission of the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship is to unleash and maximize the economic potential of new ideas by removing barriers to entrepreneurship and the development of high-growth and innovation-based businesses. The office will report directly to Locke and focus specifically on identifying issues and programs most important to entrepreneurs. Working closely with the White House and other federal agencies, this new office will drive policies that help entrepreneurs translate new ideas, products and services into economic growth.About the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship will advise Locke and the administration on key issues relating to innovation and entrepreneurship. The council will include successful entrepreneurs, innovators, angel investors, venture capitalists, non-profit leaders and other experts who will identify and recommend solutions to issues critical to the creation and development of entrepreneurship ecosystems that will generate new businesses and jobs. It will also serve as a vehicle for ongoing dialogue with the entrepreneurship community and other stakeholders.
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Technorati: You should get to know ... Crystal O'Connor | desmoinesregister.com | The Des Moines Register
Founder and chief executive, Fearless Ambition and Crystal Ball Publishing, West Des Moines
Job description: I own and operate an education-centered business. I designed and created www.FearlessAmbition.com as an online success magazine with a focus on entrepreneurs, educators and parents. I founded and organize www.TheKidpreneurClub.com to teach kids business skills and expose them to business owners. I have also developed programs for entrepreneurs, at www.CrystalOConnor.com, so they can start or grow a profitable business online.
Background: I grew up in Decatur, Ill., and moved to Des Moines in 1989. I graduated from Upper Iowa University with a degree in education and taught for a short time before taking an opportunity to work for a publishing company out of Washington. I later worked in the marketing and financial industries with a short experience in real estate before starting my company.
Notable achievements: I managed to be a stay-at-home mother of three children all born within 2.5 years of each other. Having no family around the Des Moines area to lend a helping hand, I'd have to say that I graduated from mommy boot camp with flying colors. On a more professional note, after heading back into the career world, I managed to break every sales goal set in every industry I immersed myself in.
Why I do what I do: I am passionate about building a better future for my children and all children. What we teach them about business, money management, success, entrepreneurship and work ethic is vital for the upturn of our economy. I also enjoy teaching businesses how to use the Internet for lead generation and sales conversions through action-based workshops.
What I do to get away from work: I enjoy traveling with my kids and taking them on adventure trips they can cherish for a lifetime. We plan on visiting every state by the time they are out of high school. Last year we went to Texas, Oklahoma and Florida.
How I give back to my community: I teach a couple of classes at the Beacon of Life, a shelter for women. I most recently began hosting a group called the Momtrepreneur Exchange, which can be found on Meetup.com here in the Des Moines area. It's for entrepreneurial moms looking to start and run a more profitable business from their homes. I also teach a class through Junior Achievement.
Best business book I've read lately: I'll have to name two because I rarely stick with just one at a time: "The Girls' Guide to Building a Million-Dollar Business" by Susan Wilson Solovic and "Crush It!" by Gary Vaynerchuk.
What Iowa can do to attract more people like me: Significant and aggressive actions need to take place to bring more jobs to Iowa. We need more Fortune 500 companies here. We also need to make necessary changes in our education system.
My mentor: I have several. One particular mentor comes to mind because she came to me at a turning point in my life that helped me create a paradigm shift. Her name is Kim Kiyosaki, author of "Rich Woman." She is married to Robert Kiyosaki, author of "Rich Dad Poor Dad."
My leadership philosophy: I believe we can all be mentors to one another, and I encourage the mentoring of a young professional starting out in a similar business, or even a child through a program like Mentor Iowa or Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa. We change lives one at a time.
If I could do something else, I would: I would be doing the same thing but on a much larger scale. I would like to hold workshops and youth leadership tours across the country, spreading my message about entrepreneurship and making significant changes in what and how we are teaching our students in school.
If you want to contact me: Try me at crystal@crystalballgroup. com or (515) 249-9700.
Are you someone we should get to know? E-mail Kayla Craig at kcraig@dmreg.com.
Entrepreneurship in South Africa and in the United States by Don-Terry Veal (Hardcover – Edwin Melle | Millionaire Books for Millionaire
Small Business and Entrepreneurship MBA
<body>
If you have ever considered running your own business or possibly purchasing a great franchise opportunity, how do you guarantee success, and prevent your
business from falling among the 50% of new businesses that fail in the first five years? The best way to court success is to arm yourself with the best
business tools available, and the most critical tool to have in your toolbox by far is the Masters of Business Administration (MBA) in Entrepreneurship.
So what is the Entrepreneurship MBA? The MBA is a graduate level degree that can take anywhere from one to three years to complete, depending on the program
you choose. In order to qualify for the MBA, you must have an undergraduate degree (preferably in business or accounting), and you must have a good score on
the GMAT test. Today there are a wide variety of ways to earn your MBA degree, whether it is through an <a
rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=”http://www.mbaschools.com/small-business-franchise-entrepreneurship-mba.aspx”>executive MBA program</a> that takes a year, to a standard two-year
program, to the many options available on the evenings and weekends and online. In order to specialize in Entrepreneurship, you will switch from general
business topics to more focused subjects such as entrepreneurial finance, leadership, global capitalism, and other subjects that are specific to those that
want to own their own businesses.
When considering starting your own small business, you need to be able to identify business concepts that will work, evaluate opportunities, create a
business plan, and think analytically. You will also need to understand the basic precepts of management, financing, investing, organization, planning,
cultivating successful relationships, and more. By far the fastest route to grasping all of these concepts is the Entrepreneurship MBA degree.
If you are thinking about building a successful business utilizing an already established structure, perhaps a good possibility for you is one of the many
excellent franchise opportunities that are available today. From retail, to food, to service providers, to health care ventures, there are a vast myriad of
franchise opportunities out there today. With the Entrepreneurship MBA under your belt, you will have a far greater chance of both attracting initial
investment capital as well as guiding this franchise to amazing heights of success.
As you can see, whether you are considering launching your own small business or opening a new branch of a franchise, the very first thing you should do is
earn an MBA in Entrepreneurship. This way you can find your road the highway to success!
</body>
Millionaire Books LinkIf this information resource is useful, use this link for future reference.Bookmark & Share
Tagged as: Africa, DonTerry, Edwin, Entrepreneurship, Hardcover, Melle, South, States, United, Veal
MBA in Entrepreneurship for MBA
MBA in Entrepreneurship degree helps students in developing their managerial qualities and marketing experience, as required in today’s competitive world. Entrepreneurship education will help you recognize, begin, and control a new business project. An entrepreneurship MBA is a unique and important qualification, designed for those with an interest in business and a strong entrepreneurial drive.
Why online MBA in Entrepreneurship?
Online MBA in Entrepreneurship is a program for the students who want to pursue the program and are not able to do because of time constraints. MBA in entrepreneurship degree helps professionals by providing them the deeper and advanced knowledge of the subject, while they continue their usual routine without any adjustments.
Benefits of MBA in Entrepreneurship
During MBA in entrepreneurship, students are taught various techniques to identify new opportunities. They get to know about various tools for launching and organizing new projects and also the technology for generating the good business ideas. Students are taught how to manage risks and its assessment.
Job Profile
Job profile of the entrepreneurs is that they face many internal and external challenges. Within their companies, they need to offer a superior product or service, they need to manage cash flow, maintain profitability as well as hire and retain the right mix of people. External factors such as access to financing, economy, government regulations, and technological issues impact entrepreneurs on a regular basis.
Career Opportunities
Students graduating from MBA in entrepreneurship will possess skills and knowledge of entrepreneurship and business development that will enhance their employment opportunities, in companies that value creativity and innovation, as well as allow them to create and develop their own business ideas.
Students with an MBA in Entrepreneurship can have a career in the following fields:
- Entrepreneurship
- Consulting
- Business Development
- Management
- Family Business
University Offering MBA in Entrepreneurship
University of Phoenix
With a foundation laid in 1976, University of Phoenix is a leader with a revolutionary effort in building of the higher academic level by promoting the online education program. More
Jones International University
Jones International University was set up with an aim of offering a career focused and convenient education platform to students of different cultures, castes and geographical backgrounds. More
Post University Online
Post University Online has been offering outstanding web education since 1996 and has become one of the leading organizations providing distance education to students with higher academic aspirations and objectives. More
Kaplan University
Kaplan University is an institution serving people and society since 1937, with a mission of enhancing skills and mastering its students to face success. MoreRelated Posts
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The Entrepreneur Center @NVTC Announces New Session of Entrepreneur Training, Mentoring and Networking... -- HERNDON, Va., July 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --
See more news releases in: Computer Electronics, Education, New Products & Services, Domestic Policy
The Entrepreneur Center @NVTC Announces New Session of Entrepreneur Training, Mentoring and Networking Program
FastTrac® TechVenture™ Program to Help Entrepreneurs Build Startups into Successful Ventures
HERNDON, Va., July 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Entrepreneur Center @NVTC, a resource for technology-focused startups and entrepreneurs, has announced the upcoming Fall 2010 session of its successful FastTrac® TechVenture™ program. The comprehensive business planning program, which NVTC began hosting in September 2009, provides participants with business insights, strategic guidance, professional networking opportunities, connections with leaders in the technology community and other resources to help build a technology startup.
Through a combination of guest speakers, mentors and participant collaboration, FastTrac® TechVenture™ helps entrepreneurs build their startups into successful ventures. Participants in the 10-week program will have exposure to successful entrepreneurs and technology leaders, experts on different topics relevant to building a business, and potential funding sources. After completing the program, entrepreneurs walk away with a detailed business plan and executive summary, as well as a strong understanding of how to finance a company.
"The NVTC FastTrac® TechVenture™ program is an invaluable experience for entrepreneurs starting or thinking about starting a new business venture," said Fall 2009 FastTrac® participant Steve Markmann of Counterpoint Consulting. "The opportunity to collaborate extensively with other entrepreneurs – both the students and the coaches – gave us the insight and feedback we needed to get our company on the right footing to take the market by storm!"
Created by Kansas City-based Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the largest private foundation focused on advancing entrepreneurship in America, FastTrac® has had nearly 300,000 entrepreneurs over the last 16 years participate in this certified program. The Entrepreneur Center @NVTC received its FastTrac® certification in April 2009.
"In addition to helping entrepreneurs make tremendous progress in clarifying their business concept and making it to the next level, the program also integrates new entrepreneurs into the regional support environment," said FastTrac® coach Matt Koll of Replyz.com. "This factor is so important, since entrepreneurs thrive best as part of a community."
The fall session of the 10-week FastTrac® TechVenture™ program kicks off on September 14, with sessions running 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. every Tuesday. For consideration, applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on August 6. For more information or to apply, visit http://www.nvtc.org/tec/fasttrac.php or contact Kristin D'Amore at kdamore@nvtc.org or (703) 904-7878, ext. 226.
About The Entrepreneur Center @NVTC
Created by the Northern Virginia Technology Council six years ago, The Entrepreneur Center @NVTC is a resource hub for technology-focused start-ups and entrepreneurs at every stage of their lifecycle. The Entrepreneur Center fosters entrepreneurship in students, mentors the first-time entrepreneur, advises and supports the experienced entrepreneur and facilitates strategic business relationships in the technology community.
About The Northern Virginia Technology Council
The Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC) is the membership and trade association for the technology community in Northern Virginia. As the largest technology council in the nation, NVTC serves about 1,000 companies from all sectors of the technology industry, as well as service providers, universities, foreign embassies, non-profit organizations and governmental agencies. Through its member companies, NVTC represents about 200,000 employees in the region. NVTC is recognized as the nation's leader in providing its technology community with networking and educational events; specialized services and benefits; public policy advocacy; branding of its region as a major global technology center; initiatives in targeted business sectors and in the international, entrepreneurship, workforce and education arenas; the Equal Footing Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity that serves local area youth; and The Entrepreneur Center @NVTC which mentors new technology entrepreneurs. Visit NVTC at www.nvtc.org
SOURCE The Entrepreneur Center @NVTC
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