tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39899131103968765512024-03-13T02:25:25.592-07:00Little Big Business Blog™Where creativity and commerce play niceAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03830760640035492770noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989913110396876551.post-55923838135319651242014-01-07T11:10:00.000-08:002014-01-07T17:21:38.677-08:00A Little Big News<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's
always a pleasure to have some good news to share at the start of a New Year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I’m
excited to announce that as of this week, I will be starting a new
full-time position as the Manager of Small Business services at the SF LGBT
Community Center aka<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.sfcenter.org/">The Center</a>! In this role I will be
responsible for one-on-one business coaching, consulting and mentoring for
local entrepreneurs, teaching a recurring 6-week funding workshop, managing a credit-building microlending program, developing new content, programs and events, cultivating partnerships for the organization, etc. I look forward to collaborating with a cross-functional team of colleagues who specialize in personal financial counseling, employment services, economic development and other program areas. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The work that lies ahead for me at<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.sfcenter.org/">The Center</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>stands at the intersection of several of my core passions: entrepreneurship, economic development and social justice. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's a privilege to join an organization doing such vital work to empower LGBT professionals with the tools they need to realize their dreams. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Like
many great opportunities, this one materialized and progressed quickly. I sensed that
this role would be a natural extension and evolution not only of the work that
I've done under the banner of <a href="http://www.inclusivastrategies.com/">Inclusiva Strategies</a>, but also previously in my
career. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As time permits, I will continue to pursue other projects -- i.e., working with Inclusiva clients, teaching workshops (including my upcoming appearance at <a href="https://generalassemb.ly/education/leadership-management-and-interpersonal-wizardry/san-francisco/3202">General Assembly</a>), advising <a href="http://www.glampinghub.com/">Glamping Hub</a> and volunteering for <a href="http://www.centrocommunity.org/">Centro Community Partners</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I
owe copious gratitude to my incredible wife Joely, along with my family,
friends, colleagues and mentors for all of their love, support and
encouragement as I continue to pursue my passion for growing businesses,
training leaders and strengthening local economies. </span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Many thanks to</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Rebecca Rolfe, Eugenie
Fitzgerald and the rest of the team at</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><a href="http://www.sfcenter.org/" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Center</a><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">for entrusting me with this exciting
opportunity. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">More details and updates are sure to follow as my work at<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.sfcenter.org/">The
Center</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>gets off the
ground. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Cheers!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03830760640035492770noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989913110396876551.post-81139386010284926142013-10-25T11:37:00.000-07:002013-10-28T09:41:01.884-07:005 Core Principles of Negotiation That Can Save Your Bacon<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNMm0pGCONRHgIhcNdAgG4lFt42UdZ0l-OVbUtistyS7ZzwMzNmw1efGLtpCGL5Kl-2vB006fbiOVlkCeXP1Onc6QpJ28F7rayzIx7Nh9XJwXbMzQcG3W7WJ1cEp0rDkTHJSqJcP69pA/s1600/negotiate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNMm0pGCONRHgIhcNdAgG4lFt42UdZ0l-OVbUtistyS7ZzwMzNmw1efGLtpCGL5Kl-2vB006fbiOVlkCeXP1Onc6QpJ28F7rayzIx7Nh9XJwXbMzQcG3W7WJ1cEp0rDkTHJSqJcP69pA/s320/negotiate.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We often don’t notice the countless mini-negotiations
that we engage in on a daily basis.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> And when big, obviously high-stakes negotiations do occur, the pressure and anxiety we feel leading up to the process can undermine our ability to get what we need and want. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Below I've compiled a list of five essential negotiation concepts that can help take you from <i>zero</i> to <i>hero </i>in any negotiation scenario. To learn more about the invaluable <a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/event/8343374257/eorg">Art of Negotiation</a>, sign up for my in-depth, hands-on <a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/event/8343374257/eorg">workshop</a> at Citizen Space
on Saturday, November 2!!!</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1) </b><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">People will only
negotiate if they believe you can help them or hurt them</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I know, I know -- </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">it sounds obvious, right? Well, this golden rule of negotiation too
often gets overlooked and leads parties to focus on the wrong things.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We tend to be
single-minded about what </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">we</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> want
when we negotiate.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It’s easy to overlook
the reasons why the other party is even willing to negotiate with us in the first
place.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">How many times has someone refused
to even negotiate with you at all about something? </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“That's not up for discussion” or “This is
non-negotiable.”</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sound familiar?</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Chances are, that person knew that you could
neither hurt them nor help them in that scenario.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As result, there was no point in even engaging
with you about it.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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People often view negotiation as an inherently competition exercise – two sides
in opposition to one another - one winner, one loser. Sometimes that's just the way it is. But
whether the tone is antagonistic (say, divorce proceedings) or collegial
(salary negotiation for your dream job), all negotiations entail two or more
parties who are in some way <i>mutually interdependent</i>. Each party wants or needs something from the
other. Each believes that the either
side can in some form either hurt them, by denying something they want, and/or help them, by
giving them something they want. Otherwise, there would be no point in negotiating. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Keep this principle in mind as you ask questions and gather information to enhance your
understanding of <i>what </i>the other side really cares about and, more
importantly, <i>why</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>2) Focus on
interests, not positions</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The distinction between interests and positions has long been a fundamental concept in negotiation theory. It’s one of those frameworks that, once you’ve
learned it, seems like a no-brainer. I
first learned about interests and positions over a decade ago when I picked up Fisher and Ury’s classic <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Getting-Yes-Negotiating-Agreement-Without/dp/0143118757/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382724497&sr=8-1&keywords=getting+to+yes">Getting to Yes</a>. </i>I continue to be amazed by how often this framework proves useful in reaching agreements and preventing negotiations from spiraling into full-blown conflicts. <br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The premise is simple. Here’s how I like to boil it down:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A <b>position</b> is <i>what</i>
you want. It’s a particular viewpoint or
set of requirements from which there is often little to no movement...at least on the surface. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For example, let’s say I’m in the market to buy a new
car. One position might be that I want a
car that will get at least 45 miles per gallon (mpg). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">An <b>interest </b>is <i>why</i>
you want it. It’s the underlying economic, emotional or logistical need that
helps to explain why you take a particular position.
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, we said that we want a car that will get at least 45mpg. Great.
But the question that often goes unasked and unanswered is: <i>Why</i>? The answer can determine whether we’re able
to actually get what we want out of the negotiation. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If I’m the car dealer, and my most efficient
model only gets 42mpg, should I just say “Oh well, I guess we can’t help you”
and let you walk out the door? No, of
course not! (When has a car salesman ever done that, right?!) What I need to do as the seller is determine <i>why</i> it
is you say you want 45mpg, what specific <i>interest</i>
you have invested in that number, and whether it’s really about efficiency at all. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So what do I do? I start to ask questions. I might discover that what you really want is
a car that is significantly more environmentally friendly than your previous
car, and 45mpg just sounded right to you based on the market research you've done.
If the concern is actually about ecological footprint rather than range
or fuel economy, I could try to address your interest by pointing out that our
42mpg model actually has the lowest emissions of any car in its class, has won a slew of awards from environmental publications and qualifies for a government incentive program, etc. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The ability to navigate interests and positions is one
of the core principles of negotiation, for good reason. It only becomes possible when we allow ourselves
to be genuinely curious and open-minded about the other party. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3) In boxing, styles
make fights; in negotiation, styles should <i>prevent</i>
fights<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">People tend to think that negotiation style is just a
reflection of your personality or career path.
While there is a kernel of truth to this assumption, it’s largely based
on stereotypes and oversimplification. For instance, I encounter a lot of negotiation students who assume that a
high-powered corporate lawyer will use a competition style, whereas a nonprofit
director is more likely to be collaborative, and a social worker will be an accommodating
push-over. As individuals we all have tendencies that reflect our personalities (and professional environments that tend to value and reinforce certain styles over others). That said, negotiation styles
are actually tools that can be deployed at will in a strategic
way. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In a boxing match, a fighter might be naturally more defensive-minded
or aggressive. But the most skillful
practitioners of the "sweet science" know how and when to mix it up to accomplish
what they’ve set out to do. In
negotiations with more than one issue at play, skillful negotiators will often use one
style for one issue and a different style for another
issue. Rather than triggering a more
explosion conflict, as a great clash of styles might do in a prize fight,
modulating styles in a negotiation context can help to prevent the process from
breaking down into an intractable conflict where no one gets what they want. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For instance, going back to the new car example… As the
seller, I might be more competitive or uncompromising on the issue of overall price -- maybe because I have a quota to fill for the month or because I know that particular model
is a low-margin unit. However, on the issue
of amenities or lease terms or service discounts, I might take on a much more
accommodating style, in terms of both content and tone. <br />
<br />Negotiation style is not simply a reflection of your innate personality. It’s a tool that you can use to your
advantage. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4) Watch out for
anchors – they can drag you down!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Anchoring is an attempt to establish a reference point,
or anchor, around which the rest of the negotiation process will revolve. Anchors often take the form of first offers
and prove most dangerous in situations where there exists an imbalance of power, resources
or information. Or when protocol
dictates that only one party has the right to make the first offer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">While often our first instinct is to hold back, keep our
cards close to the vest and let the other party make the first move, making the
first offer can have a powerful, anchoring effect by distorting the other party’s
perceptions of the range within an agreement might actually be possible. <br />
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For example, let’s say that you’re a hiring manager at a design firm and I’m
the new young associate you want to bring onto the team. In actuality I'm your first and only viable choice for this position, yet I have no idea what you’re actually willing
to pay me...and even if I asked you directly, you’d probably be evasive about it. All I have is a general sense of the
market rate based on some anecdotal online research I’ve done on your firm’s
competitors, which suggests a range anywhere from $30,000 up to as much as $70,000. So I go in expecting to end up somewhere
close to $50k. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Let’s say you tell me that you’re super excited for me to
join the team and the salary that you’re offering is $36,500. I might think to myself: whoa, I’m pretty sure I deserve
$50k, but what if you’re even not authorized to go higher than $40k for
entry-level associates? Or what if your second choice candidate would happily
take $36k? Hmm…maybe I shouldn’t push
for much more than $40k, because I don’t want to insult you…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Little do I know that you’ve been authorized to offer up
to $51,500, after a six-month review and satisfactory performance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yeah. I’ve just been anchored.
Your first offer has distorted my perception of your actual range, because
protocol dictates that it’s disrespectful to make a counteroffer that strays
too far from what’s already been put on the table. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Which leads us to...</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">5) Preparation,
preparation, preparation<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In real estate, it’s all about location. Well, for
negotiators, it all comes down to preparation. One of the only ways to counteract
the effects of a well-placed anchor, is to arm yourself with compelling
information, to carefully prepare your reaction to resistance that you might
encounter and to fully understand your contingency plan or other tactics that
you can deploy to increase your odds of getting what you need and want. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To learn more about these concepts, how to effectively plan and prepare for a
negotiation and much more, sign up for my fun, immersive workshop, <a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/event/8343374257/eorg">The Art of Negotiation and Conflict Management</a> on Nov 5, hosted by Citizen Space!!!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03830760640035492770noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989913110396876551.post-40987565254174783382013-10-15T16:41:00.001-07:002013-11-07T09:33:52.955-08:00Inclusiva's Workshop Madness Coming November 2013 (UPDATED)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Inclusiva workshops are blowing up! My calendar for November is quickly filling up with wall-to-wall classes focused on highly valuable and widely applicable topics to help take your professional skills and expertise to the next level. <br />
<br />
Here’s the (growing) list of upcoming workshops that I’ll be teaching at venues
in San Francisco and Oakland in the upcoming weeks: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">November 2 @ CoLearn / Citizen Space<br />
<b><a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/event/8343374257/eorg">The Art of Negotiation
and Conflict Management</a> <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Let's make a deal! Always a crowd-pleaser, this hands-on training camp of negotiation and conflict resolution techniques will take you from zero to hero. In response to demand, I'm debuting a longer format this time around that will leave even more time for practicing your newly minted skills in simulated negotiations and conflict exercises. If<b> </b>your goal is get more of what you want in negotiations and less of what you don't want in conflict situations, you owe it to yourself to take this course.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">November 5 @ Impact Hub Oakland <b>(RECENTLY ADDED!!!)</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This just in...my lively, illuminating introduction to the wonderful world of crowd finance is coming to the new Impact Hub space in Oakland on November 5! Whether you're an entrepreneur looking to leverage your networks to finance your endeavor or a creator hoping to fund your next project, this quick, 2-hr workshop will bring you up to speed on everything you need to know to execute a successful campaign. Is it just me, or is it getting crowdy in here?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">November 9 </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">@ CoLearn / Citizen Space</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Money, technology and good ideas can only take us so far. When push comes to shove, it's skillful leaders who make awesome things happen. Leadership and interpersonal dynamics prove time and again to be crucial yet too often misunderstood skills for entrepreneurs, business owners and other professionals. Don't doubt yourself. Leadership skills can be learned and the impact is undeniable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">November 16 @ CoLearn / Citizen Space</span></div>
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<b><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/event/8343474557"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Keys to Crowdfunding & Alternative Sources of Capital </span></a></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jerry Maguire doesn't need to yell "show me the money!" anymore because these days it's everywhere if you know how and where to for it. The world of fundraising is changing like never before and this course will guide you through the process of raising money to finance your business or creative project, 21st century-style. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Come learn why I've been getting rave reviews for this informative and super-helpful course.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">November 21 @ Tech Liminal</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://time-stress-management.eventbrite.com/">Time & Stress Management for Entrepreneurs (and Everyone Else)</a></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNAK7fGH9IS7271qbBYx7oy85-4StllKop0vHg0xP9OhhGRIPQH8V1NRsZKVzx_Rg1FC3lYj69-yzMdvqS_-d4CJ248-oaJsqS3E1zRDl8NhijCHjU0bjvH3JCpbKYoCqjVhFoi49N35E/s1600/Time+and+Stress+Mgmt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNAK7fGH9IS7271qbBYx7oy85-4StllKop0vHg0xP9OhhGRIPQH8V1NRsZKVzx_Rg1FC3lYj69-yzMdvqS_-d4CJ248-oaJsqS3E1zRDl8NhijCHjU0bjvH3JCpbKYoCqjVhFoi49N35E/s200/Time+and+Stress+Mgmt.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Got stress? Excellent! That tells me you're a human being and not a robot impostor; it also means that this workshop is perfect for you! This workshop offers practical tips and strategies that will change your relationship to time and help make your work more efficient and rewarding. This is a new topic for Inclusiva, one that offers a ton of valuable content for professionals of all types, in addition to entrepreneurs and business owners. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">December 14 @ General Assembly</span></div>
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<a href="https://generalassemb.ly/education/leadership-management-and-interpersonal-wizardry/san-francisco/3202"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Leadership, Management & Interpersonal Wizardry</span></b></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeoxCJlB89JCkxLsWEu-rfsqJTqWXgiR_FwT3TgRnRGf0oJCewbMOqjoxhyphenhyphenujp4m8agv1qus2ZfR2CLcSyTMf5Mw3pLwrUX36SGfWx8JJkuxJ2B0B2wthHLHRYkpVQ6XXNuGrtasnu3e0/s200/thumb_Leadership-Management-And-Interpersonal-Skills.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Image courtesy of <a href="https://generalassemb.ly/">General Assembly</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b></b>Back by popular demand! I debuted this topic back in July, and it continues to strike a chord. I've included this topic in my three-workshop series at Citizen Space, and it'll be making a triumphant return to General Assembly. I'm excited to reprise this fun, rewarding workshop for leaders and managers of all types and stripes. <b></b></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03830760640035492770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989913110396876551.post-23726260440196779292013-07-09T11:33:00.000-07:002013-07-09T11:33:10.263-07:00Leadership Workshop at General Assembly <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeoxCJlB89JCkxLsWEu-rfsqJTqWXgiR_FwT3TgRnRGf0oJCewbMOqjoxhyphenhyphenujp4m8agv1qus2ZfR2CLcSyTMf5Mw3pLwrUX36SGfWx8JJkuxJ2B0B2wthHLHRYkpVQ6XXNuGrtasnu3e0/s1600/thumb_Leadership-Management-And-Interpersonal-Skills.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeoxCJlB89JCkxLsWEu-rfsqJTqWXgiR_FwT3TgRnRGf0oJCewbMOqjoxhyphenhyphenujp4m8agv1qus2ZfR2CLcSyTMf5Mw3pLwrUX36SGfWx8JJkuxJ2B0B2wthHLHRYkpVQ6XXNuGrtasnu3e0/s1600/thumb_Leadership-Management-And-Interpersonal-Skills.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy of <a href="https://generalassemb.ly/">General Assembly</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There's a lot more to leadership than how many social media followers you have, the title on your business card or the number of decimal points in your bank statement. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Money, technology, and good ideas can only take us so far as entrepreneurs and creators. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Effective leadership and interpersonal skills remain the most pivotal and indispensable resources for any business venture. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Time and again they prove to be intrinsic part of any professional role, even if that role isn't explicitly a leadership position, and even more important for entrepreneurs and professionals looking to move their careers to the next level. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Far too often, the task of leading and managing others leaves us feeling awkward, uncomfortable, even overwhelmed. It can feel like a magical talent or a DNA sequence reserved for a select few -- i.e., not us. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To really learn and internalize what it takes to be a leader, r</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">eading "The Art of War" on the toilet just isn't going to cut it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That's why, at General Assembly in San Francisco on Saturday July 27,
I'll be leading a hands-on workshop that offers helpful strategies and frameworks to
take your leadership toolkit to the next level. Using a combination of
informative presentations, examples, and team exercises, the session will help
you leverage your own style and personality to evolve as a professional
decision-maker, communicator, and motivator.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For more info, visit <a href="https://generalassemb.ly/education/leadership-management-and-interpersonal-wizardry/san-francisco/2180">General Assembly</a> or email me: <a href="mailto:coach@inclusivastrategies.com">coach@inclusivastrategies.com</a>. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03830760640035492770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989913110396876551.post-82850880070197573432013-05-01T12:12:00.000-07:002013-05-01T16:14:22.784-07:00Find Your Flow: How the Psychology of Optimal Experience Makes Work and Recreation More Rewarding<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A jazz drummer hits every note in her solo, and bends the rhythm in unexpected ways.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A basketball player lands a three-pointer, then another,
and another – he feels like he can’t miss. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A professor delivers a lecture and keeps
every student engaged and participating. Suddenly, two hours have felt like
two minutes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A standup comic thoroughly “kills,”
leaving the audience in hysterics. It’s
as if he can do no wrong. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">These are all examples of <i>flow</i>. We’ve all experienced
it, almost certainly more than once, maybe even on a daily basis. But more than likely, we didn’t have the
words to describe it, or the framework to fully understand the psychological mechanics behind
it, let alone the awareness of how to wield it to improve performance at work. Last week I delivered a presentation on flow
to a group of fellow coaches, consultants and other entrepreneurial service
providers. What follows is an
introduction to the core concepts of flow and some suggestions for further
reading. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>What is Flow? <br />
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Flow state, also known as optimal experience, is the point at which your
challenges align with your skills (see graph). The
term also describes a process of acting with full involvement, energized
concentration and enjoyment. The term
was coined and developed by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (pronounced ME-high CHICK-sent-me-high-ee...yeah, good luck with that), a pioneer of positive
psychology, who published a number of books on the subject (see below). </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Csikszentmihalyi</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> aimed to explain the special
feeling he experienced while rock climbing.
Some call it being “in the zone,” “firing on all cylinders” or being "in the pocket" –
regardless of the label, flow can be an incredibly powerful force – not only in sports and recreation but also in business. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What Happens in a
Flow State? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Csikszentmihalyi, along with other researchers he
influenced, identified the following eight dimensions of flow:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><i>Clear goals and immediate feedback.</i></b> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Video game designers have long understood and attempted to capitalize on this phenomenon. Part of what makes video games potentially so addictive is that the goals for each activity are clearly explained to you and you earn rewards or acknowledgement each time you achieve them within the game.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><b style="font-style: italic;">Equilibrium between level of challenge and
personal skill. </b>As the graph above depicts, flow emerges when the level of challenge entailed in an activity aligns with the individual's personal level of skill. This can happen through serendipity, but understanding the mechanics of flow can empower you to make proactive adjustments -- either decreasing the challenge or increasing your skills -- in order to facilitate flow for yourself. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><i><b>Merging of action and awareness. </b></i></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In flow you feel fully immersed in the activity, free of distractions. This is why people often refer to it as being in the "zone" -- this is an instance, not unlike a meditative state or trance, where consciousness takes on measurably different parameters. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><b style="font-style: italic;">Intense, focused concentration on the present
moment. </b> That NBA player hitting three-pointers or nailing free-throws is somehow able to tune out the roar of the crowd. That's because flow state enables an incredible level of concentration that doesn't feel tedious or forced. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><b style="font-style: italic;">Sense of potential control or agency over the
activity. </b>When challenge and skill achieve equilibrium, one of the byproducts is a heightened sensation of efficacy and the ability to influence the outcome. This feeling, not surprisingly, becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy that enables heightened performance. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><i><b>Loss of self-consciousness.</b></i> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You also lose any sense of self-doubt or concern for how others are perceiving you, despite whatever pressure or expectations might exist. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -24px;"><i><b>Time distortion.</b></i> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">When people enter into a state of flow, they often lose track of time, experiencing a subjective alteration in their perception of time. For some, time speeds up – suddenly three hours have past but only felt like thirty minutes. For others, time appears to slow down – think </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhxbYTMNMxo" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Neo in the Matrix</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> – and they feel as if they can think faster and accomplish more than usual in mere moments. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -24px;"><b><i>A</i></b><b style="font-style: italic;">utotelic experience – intrinsically self-rewarding activity. </b>Whether it's the panoramic view at the top of the mountain, the applause from the crowd, or simply the knowledge of a job well done, flow can only be achieved when the activity entails some mechanism for self-satisfaction and gratification. </span></li>
</ol>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What Are the
Benefits of Flow?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
Flow can be an incredibly powerful tool for learning, innovation and productivity.
Flow has been shown to offer the
following benefits in a wide variety of contexts: </span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><b>Enhances performance and creativity.</b></i> Flow makes you more productive and open to experimentation and outside of the box thinking that leads to breakthroughs and innovation. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>Prompts learning and new skill development.</i></b>
The inherently rewarding nature of activities conducted in a flow state
incentivizes you to continually increase the level of challenge along with your skills to generate that rewarding feeling. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Enables collaboration and co-creation. </i>Major companies have been trying to tap into <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeffrey-walker/collective-flow-state-fro_b_2614505.html">collective flow states</a> to empower teams of employees to work together to be more productive and creative. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>Increases satisfaction, enjoyment and quality of life.</i></b> Most importantly of all, flow makes us happier and more contented. It just feels damn good and produces terrific outcomes. </span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Check out <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjyzMh7DBKg">this video</a> for a quick tutorial on how to use
flow to combat anxiety and boredom in the workplace.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My Experience of
Flow <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The more I think about it, the more I realize that I've experienced flow in a variety of different activities. The one that sticks with me most is playing music. When I was playing drums in bands in high
school and college, especially during longer improvisations, I would often find
myself losing track of time and feeling a special sense of control and creative
energy. It was as if I could do no
wrong. At the time I didn’t have the
terminology to describe this sensation, but now I can identity it as a flow
state. Part of what makes art so
rewarding for creators – and can sometimes lead to obsession – is this feeling
of being completely immersed in and empowered by an activity. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Recreation is one thing, but what about work? To be honest, until I started coaching I
rarely felt myself reach a state of flow in a professional context. When I’m preparing for a coaching session or
workshop, or actually working with a client, I often feel myself entering into
this state of heightened awareness and empowerment. Now the challenge is to develop the level of skill necessary to achieve
flow while tackling other aspects of the business – such as sales and business
development – that don’t feel as intuitive and gratifying. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Go Forth and Flow!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For more information on flow, how to use it to increase
productivity and creativity (for yourself or for your employees) please feel
free to reach out to me via <a href="mailto:coach@inclusivastrategies.com">coach@inclusivastrategies.com</a>.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Further reading on the subject: </span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Fast Company's article on the <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/53713/art-work">Art of Work</a> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Flow-The-Psychology-Optimal-Experience/dp/0061339202/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367435053&sr=8-1&keywords=flow%3A+the+psych">Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Finding-Flow-Psychology-Engagement-Masterminds/dp/0465024114/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1367435077&sr=1-1&keywords=finding+flow">Finding Flow</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Good-Business-Leadership-Making-Meaning/dp/014200409X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1367435097&sr=1-1&keywords=good+business">Good Business</a></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03830760640035492770noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989913110396876551.post-45360954802544947122013-04-01T14:47:00.000-07:002013-04-01T14:51:10.736-07:00Inclusiva Now Offering Business Workshops and Executive Coaching<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Ba68xx8AAqedxPRspNY1Ee8yiote1BVSmaTuG9aL166LOqbkxeB0r3jZwVCfXVROb1bcpBkWlDPldOcCY8Pc0X1Dz6MTOa7tX7O76YXuLYdYq8IYtjvER3D63dXunPxzaDST9vDqmc4/s1600/ID-10038886.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Ba68xx8AAqedxPRspNY1Ee8yiote1BVSmaTuG9aL166LOqbkxeB0r3jZwVCfXVROb1bcpBkWlDPldOcCY8Pc0X1Dz6MTOa7tX7O76YXuLYdYq8IYtjvER3D63dXunPxzaDST9vDqmc4/s320/ID-10038886.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The <a href="http://www.inclusivastrategies.com/">Inclusiva website</a> has recently undergone some important
tweaks and updates. In addition to some layout and navigational improvements, I'm pleased to announce a</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> couple of exciting
developments:</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Now Offering Nifty New Workshops</b> </span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">First off, Inclusiva is now offering <a href="http://www.inclusivastrategies.com/#!workshops/c1a6s">speaking and instructional engagements</a> on a variety of business topics, including: </span></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Time and Stress Management</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">The Art of Budgeting</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Negotiation & Conflict Management</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Unlocking the Mysteries of Crowdfunding (</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Always a...wait for it...crowdpleaser! Sorry.)</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Each of these topics can be addressed in either workshop
or lecture format. To learn more or to inquire about booking a
workshop or keynote, please <a href="http://www.inclusivastrategies.com/#!contact-inclusiva-strategies/c1et">contact me</a> to chat. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>C-Levels Types Need Coaching, Too</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Secondly, I'm expanding my menu of services to include more specialized <a href="http://www.inclusivastrategies.com/#!executive-coaching/cr9i">executive coaching</a>, designed for corporate officers and nonprofit directors. Inclusiva remains committed to serving a diverse array of clients, with a special emphasis on creative business owners. T</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">hough the focus of the content may differ from the small business context, </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I believe that my </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">interdisciplinary</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> expertise and </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">holistic approach to coaching will prove to be a game-changer for clients in larger organizational settings as well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Harvard Business Review recently published <a href="http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2013/04/the_much-needed_skills_most_en.html?utm_source=Socialflow&utm_medium=Tweet&utm_campaign=Socialflow">research</a> on the skills that many high-powered, entrepreneurially minded leaders lack. The study found that while serial entrepreneurs tested above average in skills such persuasion, personal accountability and goal-setting, they ranked severely below average when it came to <b><i>empathy</i></b>, <b><i>planning </i></b>and <b><i>organizing </i></b>and <b><i>self-management</i></b>. While these findings should come as little surprise to anyone who has ever worked closely with tech entrepreneurs, they suggest that executives in a wide variety of organizations need more effective help and guidance to </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">develop these crucial skill sets.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Inclusiva's executive coaching services will address the needs of executives who want to challenge themselves to address their weaknesses head-on and develop their mastery in the following areas: </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Planning & Organizing, </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Delegation, </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Power and Humility, </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Problem-solving, Empathy, </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Interpersonal Dynamics, </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Conflict Management, </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Work-Life Balance, </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Time/</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Stress Management, etc. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">While often derisively referred to as "soft skills," these qualities exert a concrete impact on business performance - including the bottom line. To learn more, check out Inclusiva's new <a href="http://www.inclusivastrategies.com/#!executive-coaching/cr9i">Executive Coaching</a> page, and refer Inclusiva to any corporate officers or nonprofit managers you think might be interested in holistic coaching services. </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03830760640035492770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989913110396876551.post-36193362438566665302013-03-06T18:07:00.001-08:002013-03-06T18:12:28.075-08:00Top 10 Praiseworthy Podcasts for Business and (Guilty) Pleasure<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi68kQJOS4WvLhl4Xfdz078jrKIb6U6bX_2rUVbj5oEK0Nb6xim3wBbPRFYSh-0y5K4fvx-PjEZJfLEL5FbCUAUh5ebHLMWEkUYioqFA9qeCW-9mtgKvd-QBI8N5Wtcl4aiocONsyKyLZA/s1600/ID-10094208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi68kQJOS4WvLhl4Xfdz078jrKIb6U6bX_2rUVbj5oEK0Nb6xim3wBbPRFYSh-0y5K4fvx-PjEZJfLEL5FbCUAUh5ebHLMWEkUYioqFA9qeCW-9mtgKvd-QBI8N5Wtcl4aiocONsyKyLZA/s320/ID-10094208.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Maybe you endure a hellish daily commute, enjoy distracting
yourself at the gym, or just need to zone out while cooking dinner. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Whichever scenario sounds most familiar, my forthcoming
list of go-to podcasts offers no shortage of intellectual stimulation and shameless
diversion. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For enjoying these and other fine
audio programs, I highly recommend an app called <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/">Stitcher</a>, available
for free on your smartphone and desktop web browser, which allows you
to organize your favorite podcasts into playlists (e.g., business,
politics and pleasure – guilty or otherwise). </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Business Podcasts:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.marketplace.org/">Marketplace</a></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Despite being a longtime listener of NPR, it took me a
while to give <i>Marketplace</i> a chance. It probably had something to do with the fact
that the voice of its host and senior editor Kai Ryssdal sounded overly slick and narcissistic -- I visualized the progeny of a used car salesman and a game show host in
front of a microphone. Little did I know
that Ryssdal is bright and well-intentioned, and his show is almost unquestionably
the finest all-around business and economics podcast currently gracing the airwaves. With an unexpectedly sociological perspective
on finance, <i>Marketplace</i> makes the world
of mainstream business accessible and engaging for experts and laypeople
alike. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/">Fareed Zakaria GPS</a></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If my grandfather knew what a podcast was,</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> he would never forgive me for neglecting to include Mr. Zakaria on my list of favorites.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Despite the title, this is not a show about
geolocation gadgets. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> CNN's </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">GPS – an annoying, head-scratch inducing acronym for Global Public Square – features consistently thoughtful and
articulate editorials by its host </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(past troubles with plagiarism notwithstanding). </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> With uncharacteristic intellect and worldliness, FZ proves week after week that he remains one of
the few worthwhile commentators in the increasingly odious cable news landscape.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /><a href="http://www.marketplace.org/shows/marketplace-morning-report">Marketplace Morning Report </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">An offshoot of the aforementioned <i>Marketplace</i>, the <i>Morning
Report</i> offers insightful business stories in succinct, seven-minute segments. When you just want a taste of the day’s headlines
without too much of a time commitment, this show is a great option. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.kqed.org/radio/programs/forum/">KQED’s Forum</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
Join good-natured, low-key host Michael Krasny, Ph.D. as he explores political,
economic and cultural topics, including those that affect the Bay Area in
particular. Ever since 1993 Krasny has
been interviewing intellectuals, authors and other newsmakers with his genial,
easy-going style. Forum has a slightly
more local Nor Cal focus than some other shows on this list, and includes a mixed bag of call-ins from listeners, but it deals with broad
themes and issues that should prove relevant to a wide audience. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://thisweekinstartups.com/">This Week in Startups (TWiST)</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">TWiST is a weekly podcast series hosted by tech entrepreneur
Jason Calacanis who discusses the latest developments in the world of Silicon
Valley tech startups and interviews founders of emergent internet companies. This one is new to my lineup, but offers
casual yet revealing chats with a roster of interesting guests for those
interested in technology, venture finance, crowdfunding and related topics. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Entertainment Podcasts:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thisamericanlife.org/">This American Life</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Is there anyone left out there who isn’t hooked on TAL? Every week Ira Glass and company deliver engrossing,
humorous and often poignant stories that blur the lines between journalism and
radio drama. Last year they were forced
into an unprecedented apologia after finding themselves in hot water for airing a
story called "<a href="http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/454/mr-daisey-and-the-apple-factory">Mr. Daisy and the Apple Factory</a>," which turned about to be almost entirely fabricated. But in true TAL fashion, even their retraction proved captivating and unforgettable. If you
want a shining example of TAL’s brilliance, check out this installment entitled "<a href="http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/447/the-incredible-case-of-the-pi-moms">The Incredible Case of the P.I. Moms</a>," a seemingly straightforward story that quickly devolves into an outrageous, mind-bending tale of criminal
conspiracy, corruption and intrigue that is not to be believed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.npr.org/programs/fresh-air/">NPR: Fresh Air from WHYY</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have a serious soft spot for Terry Gross, the venerable
host of NPR’s long-running Fresh Air interview show. Pretty sure I'm not the only one. Among the most classic interviews I’ve ever
come across was Terry’s <a href="http://archive.org/details/TerryGrossInterviewWithGeneSimmons">testy encounter</a> with KISS frontman (and unhinged megalomaniac) Gene Simmons back in 2002. Several times a
week, Terry and her inner circle of contributors interview prominent
actors, filmmakers, musicians and other newsmakers, blending unassuming politeness with probing
interrogation. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.kcrw.com/etc/programs/tt">The Treatment with Elvis Mitchell </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Erudite, dreadlocked film critic Elvis Mitchell interviews Hollywood insiders on his weekly
public radio show. Mitchell often surprises
his guests with the depth of his research and the scholarly – bordering </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">occasionally</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">on pretentious – questions that he brings to each conversation.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For any fan of motion pictures, this one is a
no brainer.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://girlonguy.net/">Girl on Guy with Aisha Tyler</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I first became aware of Aisha Tyler as the voice of perpetually exasperated secret agent Lana Kane on FX’s hilariously off-the-wall
animated series <a href="http://www.fxnetworks.com/archer">Archer</a>. Turns out this
foul-mouthed female comic is a Bay Area native who loves science fiction, video
games and fine whiskeys...be still my heart. Her suggestively titled podcast series features
surprisingly in-depth, down-to-earth chats with fellow comedians and other
entertainers she admires. A great
example of the show is her fascinating convo with legendary chef, food writer
and irrepressibly hedonistic TV personality <a href="http://girlonguy.net/podcast/girl-on-guy-48-anthony-bourdain-2/">Anthony Bourdain</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://smodcast.com/channels/fatman-on-batman/">Smodcast: Fat Man on Batman</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You don’t have to be a comic book geek to enjoy
former filmmaker turned podcast pioneer Kevin Smith’s weekly interview show
devoted to his love for the Caped Crusader…but it helps. This series
is an unabashed guilty pleasure for anyone who adores all things related to Batman
and Gotham City as much as I do. Despite
Smith’s indulgent, meandering introductions and ganja-fueled asides, the show
features fascinating interviews with many of the key artists involved in
Bat-media, from the current New 52 comics to the beloved Animated Series, the Chris
Nolan trilogy and beyond. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03830760640035492770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989913110396876551.post-65810173753561608802013-01-16T14:52:00.001-08:002013-01-31T10:56:43.540-08:00Debunking the Myth of the Entrepreneurial Identity <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_n4LW3C3QF1rNAMNqyPoTpwDsSDFoIbPOMXiyKFMyPaYXLiX03nPx-rEvo9myHmPZ-SFFWV6UByJToHev1AIwtqpGg4tp2-p2_j126rj39AhoGKelLa1QeRwAWfDAA9Sm2TW7-IbtM4/s1600/ID-10071557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_n4LW3C3QF1rNAMNqyPoTpwDsSDFoIbPOMXiyKFMyPaYXLiX03nPx-rEvo9myHmPZ-SFFWV6UByJToHev1AIwtqpGg4tp2-p2_j126rj39AhoGKelLa1QeRwAWfDAA9Sm2TW7-IbtM4/s320/ID-10071557.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">all</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">been conditioned to believe that
entrepreneurship is an exclusive identity.
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But it’s not.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Entrepreneurship is
an activity, made possible by a wide array of skills, tools and resources.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the course of the next several paragraphs,
I hope you’ll bear with me as I do my best to debunk the widespread and counterproductive myth of the born
entrepreneur.</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Verb Is Mightier Than the Noun</b></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The term entrepreneur comes from the French word <i>entreprendre</i>, meaning to
undertake or to manage. As a result, entrepreneurship is etymologically linked to a form of action, rather than a state of being or set of traits. While the meaning behind the term is broad and
open-ended, most literature about entrepreneurship is distressingly exclusive
in tone, whether inadvertently or by design.
The web is full of articles and blogs endlessly listing the character
traits that every entrepreneur simply must have to be successful. They frame it in terms of: how to <i>be</i> a successful entrepreneur…in order to
succeed you must <i>be</i> these things,
have these very particular yet thoroughly generic attributes. The implication is that an incredibly small subset of the population, people with superhuman talent and insights like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Sergei Brin and Larry Page -- they have what it takes to create meaningful new businesses because they were simply wired that way. The message is that they have the right stuff and, most likely, you don't. </span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>To Be or Not to Be, That Is Not the Right Question</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This entrepreneurship-as-identity fallacy unfortunately pervades higher education as
well. In business school, I selected entrepreneurship
as my concentration. In more than one
class, we were required to purchase outrageously expensive textbooks littered with misleading truisms like
“The Seven Character Traits of Entrepreneurship.” One – Perseverance. Two – Creativity. Three – Flexibility. Four – GIVE ME A BREAK! For the most part, these textbooks are a
complete waste of money. Of course, starting a business requires perseverance, creativity and flexibility. You know what also requires a ton of perseverance, creativity and flexibility?
Life. Just living requires those
things in some form or another, and they are certainly necessary to succeed in
any profession, not just the business world. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Along with my friends in the entrepreneurship program, I quickly
realized that it makes no sense trying to teach someone how to <i>be</i> an entrepreneur. Why?
Because entrepreneurship isn’t an identity; it isn’t a set of
personality traits that you’re either born with or you’re not. Entrepreneurship is a process, a means to an
end. You don’t have to <i>be</i> an entrepreneur to create a business
or innovate one, but you do have to learn and integrate entrepreneurial
thinking and doing into your life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can’t teach someone how to <i>be</i> an entrepreneur, any more than you can teach someone how to <i>be</i> Richard Branson. Although, come to think of it, how hard can
that be? Step One: Grow out your hair.
Step Two: Speak with a foppish British accent.
Step Three: grow a goatee, refuse to wear a tie, and go parasailing,
constantly… Thanks a lot, textbook. (Only kidding, Sir Richard – you
rock!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The most familiar type of entrepreneurship is also the
most extreme and atypical. Risking
everything you have to start a high-growth tech company from scratch is
incredibly difficult, and admittedly not everyone is willing to accept that
level of risk. But that is by no means
the only way to create a viable business.
Entrepreneurship is less of a cohesive identity, and more importantly a
process – a way of thinking and doing – that spurs innovation and creates value. That’s why many large companies try to
embrace the idea of <i>intra</i>preneurship, innovation and informed risk-taking from within an established organization. </span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Entrepreneurial Exceptionalism, a Dangerous Delusion </b></span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll be the first to admit that not everyone has the tools or the drive to undertake and manage a new business, but not because it requires a certain character profile, but rather because it takes a commitment to a process, a mindset, a way of solving problems and a set of skills that can be learned over time, especially with the help of down-to-earth role models and mentors.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You don’t have to start a huge global corporation from scratch to do entrepreneurial things, or to innovate, or to take calculated risks based on strategic planning and see those risks handsomely rewarded.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some self-proclaimed entrepreneurs (or so-called "treps") may resent these arguments because they feel that they are somehow exceptional; only they can do what they do.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In some cases, they’re right…but not always.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perhaps out of ego, perhaps to avoid more competition, entrepreneurs are often loathe to admit that many more people could do a lot more of what they do.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kind of like how some lawyers may neglect to tell you that you don’t have to be a lawyer to draft a valid, enforceable contract.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You also don’t have to be a lawyer to think like a lawyer.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That is something you will likely never hear a practicing attorney say, because they have been conditioned to believe that they are special.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The unfortunate reality is, we have done too good a job of convincing bright young people they should go to law school, when what our economy really needs is less litigation and more innovation. Our economy desperately needs more entrepreneurial thinking and undertaking, in every profession and industry. </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Cut to the Chase Already</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What’s the point of all this, you might ask? I created Inclusiva because there are a lot
of creative people out there who excel at their chosen craft, but don’t think that they can be entrepreneurs, don’t think that
they can be <i>in business</i> because they
have been made to feel that business is something other, something purely about
profit, something incompatible with being creative, conscientious, community-focused,
fill in the blank. Or maybe they’ve read
one too many of these boneheaded lists online or self-help books about what it takes to <i>be</i> an entrepreneur, and they’ve been
made to feel that they simply don’t have what it takes because of who they are.
Inclusiva exists to change this way of thinking, to approach entrepreneurship as a widely inclusive discipline, rather than an identity reserved for an elite few. </span> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03830760640035492770noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989913110396876551.post-41524501479067519272012-12-12T11:01:00.001-08:002012-12-12T11:01:31.942-08:006 Invaluable Advantages of Holistic Business Coaching<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrmw8kQbBG_GhsdOFoP5J-jjDOJ7JsnTBv-w6CXOlDbqZusmumZaTfj4okGkQJ5J4WZbU_oSTF7oMAUz3sYuADlZdr8IMvaeHOC20PlcJET9NeJP9rf74eIiw1pQscod4-XeV6JstWpSs/s1600/ID-100106943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrmw8kQbBG_GhsdOFoP5J-jjDOJ7JsnTBv-w6CXOlDbqZusmumZaTfj4okGkQJ5J4WZbU_oSTF7oMAUz3sYuADlZdr8IMvaeHOC20PlcJET9NeJP9rf74eIiw1pQscod4-XeV6JstWpSs/s1600/ID-100106943.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">As the New Year
approaches, ask yourself: What’s stopping me from hiring a business coach,
either for myself or someone I care about?</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Maybe you’ve heard the term ‘business coaching,’ but the advantages
remain a bit unclear or undefined. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">When chatting with friends and acquaintances, I often feel uncertain where to begin when explaining just how transformative business coaching can
be. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I want to use this entry to
summarize the feedback I’ve received from clients on the most valuable, transformative aspects
of a business coaching relationship. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Increase Your Focus and Bandwidth <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Let’s face it. Running a business is hard. It’s time-consuming. It can run you ragged and take a toll on your
relationships with family and friends.
Time and stress management skills are something that traditional school systems never
explicitly teach us, and yet these skills prove essential for almost type of professional. The insights you extract from business
coaching will enable you to boost your bandwidth in unexpected ways, making more room for personal
reflection and strategic planning, but also for spending more quality time with the people you
care about. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Set and Realize Values-Driven Goals </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This may seem like an
obvious point, but it’s one that cannot be overemphasized. Holistic coaching looks to the client, rather than external sources of cookie-cutter common wisdom, for answers. That is to say, your own needs, priorities
and personality will shape and determine your goals, while your coach helps make them
measurable and achievable. Holistic
coaching is not about imposing external values on you; it’s about using your
own values as the driving force that leads you down a highly personalized path
of constructive change. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Boost Confidence and Awareness <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The coaching process
pushes you to look at your business from new angles, and opens your eyes to new
possibilities and new ways of thinking, acting and reacting as a leader and manager. Not only will you learn new skills in a way
that reflects the way you naturally learn (verbal, visual, experiential, etc.), you will gain access to versatile tools and frameworks that you
can carry with you throughout your career.
Working with a business coach persistently expands your comfort zone in
a safe, supportive manner. Coaching
boosts your confidence and professional self-worth by helping you to capitalize
on your strengths, relying on constructive feedback and affirmations rather
than criticisms or judgments. <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Expand Your Professional Network<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One of the perks of
business coaching is that coaches are natural connectors. They have the ability
to introduce their clients to a wide range of other professionals and service
providers. Whether you’re in need of a down-to-earth attorney, trustworthy financial advisor, or affordable
payment processor, your business coach can help put you in touch with allies
and partners who can make your life a lot easier. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">5.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Grow Your Business and Brand<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Coaching requires an
investment of time, energy and, yes, money. But holistic coaching is designed to ultimately pay for itself by enabling
you to facilitate the growth of your business, through both increased revenue
and greater efficiency. While business
growth serves as a central goal, it is by no means the only goal. Holistic coaching aims to optimize –- rather than simply maximize –- business success. In other
words, greater financial success does not have to come at the expense of other
important considerations like values, creativity, integrity, responsibility
and social consciousness. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">6.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Extract More Satisfaction Out of What You Do<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Holistic coaching operates
under the premise that success is subjective, personal and multifaceted. What is the point of growing your business if
you <i>can’t get no satisfaction</i> from
the process? When running a business,
the process must be at least as much the rewards as the outcome –- because in many cases, the ultimate results remain uncertain at best. Business coaching helps to align your passion
with your potential for meaningful outcomes. It
not only gives you permission and encouragement to succeed, it gives you the
tools you need to make it happen. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What Are You Waiting For?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Business coaching is a
game-changer. No other investment you
can make in your business offers these special types of returns. The impacts it will have on your goals,
bandwidth, growth, confidence, network and satisfaction represent priceless
dividends that often begin to manifest very quickly, and pay out over time with
a sustained, wholehearted commitment to the coaching process. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.inclusivastrategies.com/">Inclusiva </a>offers coaching
engagements for practically any type of enterprise and any level budget. Don’t wait – start reaping the rewards today. Email </span><a href="mailto:coach@inclusivastrategies.com"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">coach@inclusivastrategies.com</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> for a free introductory consultation.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03830760640035492770noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989913110396876551.post-23766845129160785942012-10-29T16:53:00.003-07:002012-10-29T16:53:43.820-07:00Transcending Small Business Obstacles: An interview with Arturo Noriega<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyXBh6YYDRel_RQgmIf1wGJeSzoSVrM_WUQNVSGqFsA7nmFfoyrh8pcJcBKez3_rBG8ElPz0UeJ4FAFjhf7oxbXuVD6RC5D2TzaIkfxHROZIdoexlsG2esj3IgRqUIpwtUURMdwkjE0W8/s1600/obstacles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyXBh6YYDRel_RQgmIf1wGJeSzoSVrM_WUQNVSGqFsA7nmFfoyrh8pcJcBKez3_rBG8ElPz0UeJ4FAFjhf7oxbXuVD6RC5D2TzaIkfxHROZIdoexlsG2esj3IgRqUIpwtUURMdwkjE0W8/s320/obstacles.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
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Arturo Noriega is an entrepreneur, small business expert
and founder of <a href="http://centrocommunity.org/">Centro Community Partners</a>.
His career includes work as a manager of advisory services at Ernst
& Young, consulting for Deloitte and Aon, and business development at
Barclays Global Investors. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I first met
Arturo through my work as an MBA Advisor at Centro. I thought he would be a great resource, as
someone who works every day to help small business owners and entrepreneurs overcome obstacles. Here's the transcript from an interview I did with him a while back: </div>
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<b>LBBB:</b> <b>When professional investors assess the
viability of a startup, they often examine three core ingredients: the Market, the
Team, and the Technology/Innovation...not necessarily in that order. Which of these core elements do you find to
be the most important, and why?</b></div>
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<b>AN:</b> Most
important to success? I think there’s a
pecking order from most to least, the most being the people. Regardless of how good your tech is, unless
you have a great team, you don’t really have anything. Anything good starts with good people. But you have to have a complimentary set of
skills, meaning that everyone has a different sweet spot that contributes to
the overall success of the company. </div>
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The next I’d say is market, the unmet need. Then it would be the innovation or advantage
that you’re offering but only so far as it responds to the need of the
market. And everything comes back to the
team, the leadership. You need that
vision – leadership – that’s able to respond quickly to market demands, and
really leverage whatever tech is being created here. </div>
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<b>LBBB: What would
you say is the greatest obstacle that small businesses tend to face?</b> </div>
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<b>AN:</b> The
greatest obstacles? Time and money – the
two things that kill any startup, especially in tech. Lack of capital, running of money,
underestimating capital requirements for carrying out operations…If the company
does run out of capital it obviously can’t meet requirements of the
market. Also time, time for setting up
and carrying out processes. In one of
the ventures I’ve been working on, everything has proven to cost twice as much
as I thought and taken twice as long.
See, no one ever forecasts how much money and time it really takes. Usually, take your forecasts and multiply by
two. That 2x multiple – most startups
don’t see that coming and it’s really a killer.</div>
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<b>LBBB: What about
the flipside of that coin? What would
you say is the greatest asset that small business have but often overlook or
fail to take advantage of?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>AN:</b> Ideas that
are generated by the team because no one asks the question – in other words,
the unidentified opportunities. In
startups, people are so focused on specific things and tasks that they don’t
fully explore ideas or opportunities, don’t really look at the big picture. </div>
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Also, communication.
Because people are not available, they’re working virtually, or working
on different projects, they don’t get that interaction and cooperation that
stimulates the process, asking those what-ifs.
Human capital is the greatest asset – the potential is not fully
recognized. Leaders don’t even ask “what
do you think?” </div>
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<br /></div>
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Another asset that’s overlooked is networks. People feel they have a limited amount of
professional advice to navigate waters of startup when really there are
unlimited resources outside of the organization to help the startup succeed.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>LBBB: We had a
guest speaker talk to our class about the importance of space. How important do you think brick and mortar
is to a small business? What kind of pitfalls have you experienced that you
would advise readers to avoid? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>AN:</b> Getting an
office is important…if your budget allows it.
Many people now meet virtually or work from home, maybe even meet up in
a café somewhere to get certain things done, though that’s not always conducive
to work. The key thing is making sure
you have <i>appropriate</i> office
space. You know what I mean? Many startups get office space – because they
don’t know better – and it’s just
inappropriate for their level of growth.
It’s either too expensive or too small, but either way it doesn’t allow
for organic growth. The trade off here
is productivity, right? That’s the whole
point of office space, to make your company more productive. You also want a physical address and that
sense of legitimacy, that you’re a legitimate business in the eyes of your
customers and the public. </div>
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<b>LBBB: Besides the
obvious issues of liability and regulations, what is it about HR and staffing
that proves so difficult for small businesses?
<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>AN:</b> You know that’s
a really good question…(<i>laughs</i>) and I
haven’t really come up with a solution yet.
HR is ongoing challenge, not just for startups. The big thing I think is that vetting process
– you want someone to be able to walk right in and be able to do [the job]. But that comes with a premium beyond the
reach of small businesses. What happens
is that as they’re forecasting growth and allocating capital to staff, that’s
done really poorly. Roles and
responsibilities are not well defined because people do multiple things. In order to manage that , managers must
really be sure to create detailed job descriptions. You might realize you can split work between
part-time workers instead of getting one fulltime professional. I’ve done that and that works great. </div>
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What happens, too – you don’t know how committed they are
to the mission. Motivation is so key. It
is rocky. You can navigate and manage
that situation but until you measure performance… Another solution is to give
up more equity to attract better people.
That way they have a vested interest in the success of the
organization. Motivation becomes the big
issue and keeping people committed to the mission. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03830760640035492770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989913110396876551.post-29300947073958604752012-10-12T13:01:00.000-07:002012-10-17T22:59:51.455-07:005 Things You Should Know About Crowdfunding and the JOBS Act<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7IguYnMt2P-1PYfBp4jIIGZYqq6tSVcxurpo5CxzXZ9g42b6kd6mgwlhXNa8qWsYLx4Lsnb5oEvZXdP6vuOonoic0GGlgi_L6A7QyktC5Kbk14qpweNq0fpRaReVtbemEvZBgDsCefRA/s1600/ID-10052517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7IguYnMt2P-1PYfBp4jIIGZYqq6tSVcxurpo5CxzXZ9g42b6kd6mgwlhXNa8qWsYLx4Lsnb5oEvZXdP6vuOonoic0GGlgi_L6A7QyktC5Kbk14qpweNq0fpRaReVtbemEvZBgDsCefRA/s320/ID-10052517.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Chances are you're aware of crowdfunding. But what is all the fuss about? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The JOBS Act is a controversial, multifaceted piece of legislation, shrouded in hype.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Proponents promise that it will be game-changing for startups and small businesses, while detractors dismiss it as a Trojan horse of deregulation.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So what does it all mean?</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Will the JOBS Act really change the world?</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It is really a license to print money?</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The following post aims to shed some light on the topic of crowdfunding.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Background</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Back on April 5,
2012 President Obama signed into law the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS)
Act (sorry, no relation to the late Steve), after being passed by an uncharacteristically bipartisan Congress. The JOBS Act aims to encourage funding for
small businesses and startups by easing the regulatory burdens on smaller
companies, and permitting a form of fundraising known as crowdfunding, made possible
by online crowdfunding platforms (CFPs) like Kickstarter and RocketHub. The underlying premise is that small
companies should be able to access funds from small investors without having to jump
through the same hoops as giant corporations like Apple or Google. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To learn more
about the history of the JOBS Act, take a look at this nifty infographic <a href="http://earnmbadegree.com/jobs-act-crowdfunding-infographic/">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Okay, without further
ado, here’s my list of the top five things to keep in mind about crowdfunding
under the JOBS Act: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span class="color1"><b>1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;"> </span></b></span><!--[endif]--><span class="color1"><b>The Crowdfunding Gold Rush Has Only Just Begun<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span class="color1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The
proof of concept for crowdfunding was established with the help of microlending
platforms like <a href="http://www.kiva.org/">Kiva</a>, which connects people with money to impoverished
entrepreneurs who lack access to traditional financial resources. The basic premise behind crowdfunding
platforms, or CFPs, is not totally dissimilar.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="color1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Like
me, you’re probably most familiar with Kickstarter, the CFP launched in 2009 that
has emerged as the brand name in the crowdfunding arena. Kickstarter is a funding platform for
creative projects supported by fans in return for rewards. I was surprised to learn that a competitor,
IndieGoGo, had actually launched in 2008, a year earlier than Kickstarter. <br />
<br />
With just a cursory web search, I found over 20 different CFPs – I’m sure there
are many more out there, and even more in the pipeline. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="color1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here
is my current list: <br /><a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/">Kickstarter</a>, <a href="http://www.rockethub.com/">RocketHub</a>, <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/">IndieGoGo</a>, <a href="http://www.gofundme.com/">GoFundMe</a>, <a href="http://www.40billion.com/">40Billion</a>, <a href="http://www.fundable.com/">Fundable</a>, <a href="http://www.crowdfunder.com/">Crowdfunder</a>,
<a href="http://www.earlyshares.com/">EarlyShares</a>, <a href="http://www.seedinvest.com/">SeedInvest</a>, <a href="http://www.getfunded.com/">GetFunded</a>, <a href="http://www.relayfund.com/">RelayFund</a>, <a href="https://wefunder.com/">WeFunder</a>, <a href="http://www.crowdcube.com/">CrowdCube</a>, <a href="https://www.seedmatch.de/">Seedmatch</a>,
<a href="http://www.rockthepost.com/">Rock The Post</a>, <a href="http://www.razoo.com/">Razoo</a>, <a href="http://www.pozible.com/">Pozible</a>, <a href="http://www.fundageek.com/">FundaGeek</a>, <a href="https://slowmoney.clearbon.net/">Credibles </a></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(and please let me know if I’m missing any!)</span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span class="color1"><b>2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;"> </span></b></span><!--[endif]--><span class="color1"><b>The JOBS Act Really Does Change the Status Quo of Fundraising<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As <a href="http://www.mofo.com/files/Uploads/Images/120326-The-JOBS-Act.pdf">Morrison Foerster researchers</a> explain, “[c]rowdfunding can be
used to accomplish a variety of goals (e.g., raising money for a charity or
other causes of interest to the participants), but when the goal is commercial
in nature and there is an opportunity for crowdfunding participants to share in the venture’s profits, federal and
state securities laws will likely apply.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The JOBS Act eases the longstanding prohibition against
‘general solicitation and general advertising’ in securities offerings. The law will now provide a special exemption
under the Securities Act for ‘crowdfunding’ offerings. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The reforms will
also enable both accredited and
non-accredited investors alike to participate, albeit with separate rules and
thresholds. </span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Learn more about some of the law's key parameters <a href="http://scienceprogress.org/2012/05/crowdfunding-%E2%80%93-but-not-by-the-crowd/">here</a>.</span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span class="color1"><b>3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;"> </span></b></span><!--[endif]--><span class="color1"><b>The Type of Funding Is Key<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">While the coverage of crowdfunding tends to lump all CFPs together, funding can take a variety of forms, each with different implications. Platforms like Kickstarter, RocketHub,
IndieGoGo and Go-FundMe use a model wherein project creators raise
contributions from funders –- in exchange </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">for rewards, rather than</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> an ownership stake in the project. These
rewards can take many forms –- copies of products, mementos, experiences -- pretty much anything that has value and satisfies backers.</span></div>
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<span class="color1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
One idea underlying the rewards model is that the funds are considered
business income, rather than securities (like common stock), which would fall under
the auspices of the SEC. While
Kickstarter focuses on creative projects and has publicly stated that it does
not intend to offer equity, others like RocketHub and IndieGoGo may attempt to
transition to an equity model, requiring strict adherence to the SEC's forthcoming crowdfunding rules.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It appears that
the JOBS Act -- and its pending SEC regulations -- are </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">primarily</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">concerned with
</span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">equity</i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> and l</span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ending-based</i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
crowdfunding platforms, which more closely resemble traditional securities
offerings.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY49Pe5D7sLIfoTonAPKzjSMaKMRGRhRsuz1zP6h8kIYHTKQRD1QDiZTdFfyspfDHA0MqNXefKCJ4fffeiT_dNDYqauy2p8wHNEfetFoYXZenohwL_0hmxAUyy_f6PXBhhyphenhyphen0mjs_YeUOo/s1600/crowdfunding-composition.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY49Pe5D7sLIfoTonAPKzjSMaKMRGRhRsuz1zP6h8kIYHTKQRD1QDiZTdFfyspfDHA0MqNXefKCJ4fffeiT_dNDYqauy2p8wHNEfetFoYXZenohwL_0hmxAUyy_f6PXBhhyphenhyphen0mjs_YeUOo/s400/crowdfunding-composition.jpg" width="296" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graphic courtesy of <a href="http://blogs-images.forbes.com/suwcharmananderson/files/2012/05/crowdfunding-composition.jpg">Forbes</a>. <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Forty-nine percent of the total $585 million in funds
raised by crowdfunding platforms has come through donation-based
platforms. Meanwhile, 18% has come from equity and 22% from lending-based models, which remain highly constrained until the SEC sorts out its approach to implementation. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Surprisingly, only</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> 11% has come from rewards-based platforms like Kickstarter.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span class="color1"><b>4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;"> </span></b></span><!--[endif]--><span class="color1"><b>The SEC Has Until 2014 to Release Its Implementing Regulations<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The SEC has until
2014 to create and implement its regulations, which will provide the specific
rules of conduct permitted under the JOBS Act.
There have been a few previews of what’s to come; the SEC announced back in August that it would create distinct classes of crowdfunding investors, with separate rules for each class. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Until the SEC
regs are released, pure equity platforms like </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Crowdfunder</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> are stuck in
a sort of legal limbo. It will be interesting to see the SEC's approach, considering their justifiable concerns about the potential for fraud and abuse -- not to mention their naturally self-defensive resistance to any form of deregulation. </span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span class="color1"><b>5.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;"> </span></b></span><!--[endif]--><span class="color1"><b>Crowdfunding Is Not Free Money<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Crowdfunding has become increasingly popular with contributors and fundraisers alike. As an example of crowdfunding's rapid growth in popularity, Venture Beat recently did a story on so-called <a href="http://venturebeat.com/2012/10/09/the-untold-story-of-kickstarters-serial-backers-do-gooders-or-addicts/">Kickstarter addicts</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">“What you absolutely cannot do,” Forbes contributor<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/suwcharmananderson/2012/05/23/kickstarters-sting-in-the-tail-tax/"> Suw Charman-Anderson</a> warns
CFP users, “is treat crowdfunded money as some sort of magic bonanza that is
exempt from normal business rules.
It’s not.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Despite its reputation as free – or at least cheap – money, the reality is that crowdfunding is NOT a tax-free windfall. Reward-based crowdfunding proceeds are considered income by the IRS, just like any
other sales income. That means that companies raising funds will most likely face
some sort of tax liability, especially for wildly successful
projects. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Many users also
fail to read the fine print when it comes to the fees charged by the CFPs. Kickstarter, for example, charges a 5% commission on all
funds raised (once the target threshold has been reached). On top
of that, there’s a 3-5% fee from Amazon Payments for managing the
transaction. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The bottom line
is that businesses and individuals raising money through CFPs need to factor in
the costs and expenses, just like with any other source of capital. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Crowdfunding may
ultimately prove to be an attractive alternative for companies seeking to raise
relatively modest amounts of capital from a large number of investors. That said, companies will need to weigh the
costs and risks that arise, including the tax implications and reporting
requirements contemplated by the legislation. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03830760640035492770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989913110396876551.post-20840575110389988502012-09-30T17:56:00.000-07:002012-09-30T18:06:23.039-07:00Subverting the Gender Gap in Entrepreneurship <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEtKzmZN79zmCSbPkRx_5UTWYMiIee2JCHj0aVUTuPk9qnpUWah63-_78ktBUIC9xRTK__xAyPafYuUnRNNA9uIdaqTpHMXqUIXAeWQ8aMkNmlqkDibZNd1PBdViV7OorKgixrzmFtz8/s1600/gender+gap+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEtKzmZN79zmCSbPkRx_5UTWYMiIee2JCHj0aVUTuPk9qnpUWah63-_78ktBUIC9xRTK__xAyPafYuUnRNNA9uIdaqTpHMXqUIXAeWQ8aMkNmlqkDibZNd1PBdViV7OorKgixrzmFtz8/s200/gender+gap+1.jpg" width="143" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Just because we don't often talk about the glass ceiling in the startup world, doesn't mean it isn't there. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A study </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">commissioned by </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">the Kauffman Foundation, “</span><a href="http://www.kauffman.org/uploadedFiles/Growing_the_Economy_Women_Entrepreneurs.pdf%20http://www.forbes.com/sites/lesliebradshaw/2012/01/10/how-women-are-getting-left-out-of-the-venture-capital-game/" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Overcoming the Gender Gap: Women Entrepreneurs as Economic Drivers</a>,<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">” helps to shed some light on a phenomenon that remains scarcely discussed despite its massive impact on the economy. The report highlights a number of distressing
trends and statistics that exemplify the gender gap in young companies. For instance, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Women have made far more significant strides in established tech
companies and university systems than in startups.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-indent: -24px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Just 1.8 percent of women-owned firms have
revenues more than $1 million, versus 6.3 percent of men-owned firms.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-indent: -24px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Most Americans who start businesses do so as
self-employed professionals or service providers – only a fraction have firms
that employ others, and that fraction remains smaller for women.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Intuitively, these feel like symptoms of pervasive cultural prejudices, which
can be as damaging as they are hard to pin down. The following comment from a business owner
named <a href="http://www.openforum.com/articles/2012-american-express-open-state-of-women-owned-businesses-report?intlink=us-openf-womensbiz-2012">Susan Roth</a>, eloquently sums it up: </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“As much as we may not like to admit it," says Roth, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div>
<i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">"the world is
still a ‘Good Ole Boys Club.’ When women
reach a certain level of success, I believe they experience push back from
their male counterparts in the business community. It’s subtle and may only be a word here or a
phrase there, but it’s real. As a result
many women lose confidence and begin doubting themselves. I’ve been running a successful, woman-owned
business for over 25 years and have developed a thick skin over time. But it still hurts when a supplier labels you
‘relentless’ and ‘picky.’ I’m sure if I
were a man, the moniker would change to ‘tough, precise, exacting and good
businessman.’ In short, there’s still
progress to be made.”</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </span></i><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">While the Kauffman report presents a wealth of
interesting findings, its actionable next steps remain somewhat limited. Here are some suggestions for what we can do
to help challenge the gender gap in entrepreneurship (and please feel free to
critique and/or add this list with comments!): </span></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>1. </b></span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Get
involved with organizations that train, support and fund female entrepreneurs</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">How many of the following organizations have you heard
of, let alone contacted, visited or actively supported? They almost always need help from
professionals –- whether as volunteers, donors, consultants, or advocates.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><a href="http://www.womensinitiative.org/index.htm">Women’s Initiative</a> --assists high-potential, low-income women who dream of business ownership. </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-indent: -24px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><a href="http://www.nawbo-sf.org/">National Association of Women Business Owners(NAWBO)</a> -- a </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">group of over 8,000 women entrepreneurs in nearly 80 chapters nationwide. (Not to be confused with NABWO, the national association of black wedding officiants!)</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-indent: -24px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><a href="http://www.digitalundivided.com/">DigitalunDivided</a> --develops programs, projects and forward thinking initiatives that bridge the digital divide. </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-indent: -24px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><a href="http://www.mills.edu/mba/">Mills College MBA Program</a> –- founded with the commitment
to advance women in business.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Other local orgs that support women entrepreneurs include:</span></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><a href="http://www.rencenter.org/">Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><a href="http://centrocommunity.org/">Centro Community Partners</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><a href="http://www.newmeaccelerator.com/">NewMe Accelerator</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><a href="http://www.lacocinasf.org/">La Cocina</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><a href="http://tmcworkingsolutions.org/">Working Solutions</a></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>2. </b></span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Use
crowd-funding platforms like Kickstarter to support female entrepreneurs</b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The popular crowdfunder has been <a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/blog/224524">under pressure</a> to make its system more transparent and its entrepreneurs more accountable. If you’re more interested in microlending with an
international scope, consider lending to low-income entrepreneurs around the
world using <a href="http://www.kiva.org/start">Kiva</a>. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>3. </b></span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Turn
up the pressure on VCs and angels to hire, promote and fund women</b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The professional investor community is <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/lesliebradshaw/2012/01/10/how-women-are-getting-left-out-of-the-venture-capital-game/">dominated by men</a>. The average percentage of women
venture capitalists at top VC firms has been found to be around 8%. Not surprisingly, only 4-9% of all VC funding
goes to female-lead companies. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The power to change the status quo ultimately rests with
the limited partners (LPs) who supply the cash for VC funds. Venture capitalists have a vested interest in
keeping their LPs happy. Pension funds
like CalPERS, universities with massive endowments (think: Harvard, Yale,
Princeton, Stanford and Penn), investment banks, sovereign wealth funds, and
powerful accredited investors who serve as LPs need to demand more inclusivity
of women-lead startups and female VC partners.
</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>4. Create new women-lead venture firms, angel groups, incubators and accelerators<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For reasons that probably deserve a whole separate study, fewer women then men with similar backgrounds in finance, engineering and/or operations find their into roles as financiers backing startup companies. One potential strategy to address the apparent lack of opportunities for women in the investment world is to partner with women professionals to create new investment firms with a more inclusive set of values. It's also important to actively e</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ncourage more women to fight for roles as professional investors after they have been proven to be successful in other fields.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>5.<span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></b><b>Encourage
business schools to recruit and entice more female MBA candidates to
participate in entrepreneurship programs, internships and competitions. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Business school alumni need to demand that their alma maters integrate
more female students into their entrepreneurship programs and electives. "Want me to cut you a check? First tell me what you’re doing to recruit
and support female MBAs with an interest in starting a new business!" If you have friends who have been to b-school,
encourage them to connect with female entrepreneurs and help expand their
network.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03830760640035492770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989913110396876551.post-13338013157158050222012-09-26T13:48:00.000-07:002012-09-26T13:48:46.357-07:00Growing Pains: How Creators Can Expand Their Comfort Zones to Evolve as Professionals<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There’s something to be said for pushing yourself beyond
your comfort zone. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For many artists, craftspeople and other creative
professionals – let’s just call them <i>creators</i>
– it can be incredibly daunting to launch, operate and/or grow a small
business. Even just the terms “business”
and “businessperson” tend to carry a lot of ugly baggage. While many creators are accustomed to regularly
pushing the envelope of their own imaginations, a self-defeating attitude about
the world of business can too easily obstruct their professional growth. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I’ve been thinking a lot about my own comfort zones
lately. I have never considered myself
very athletic. All throughout school I
was almost always the shortest kid in my class.
As a result, I went out of my to avoid playing sports –- I always saw myself as more of
an artsy, <i>creator</i> type. I did drama instead, wrote a satirical
newsletter, played in a band –- pretty much anything and everything as long as a
true physical challenge wasn’t involved.
When left to my own devices, I’m not really a big fan of physical pain,
discomfort and, you know, sweating. I’m
also not so keen on trying new things that don’t feel immediately natural and intuitive. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Extreme physical challenges are one of my <i>fear-spheres</i>, one the realms that lies
beyond my immediate comfort zone. I
bring this up because last weekend I took part in a two-day, 130-mile bike
ride. While I’ve been a regular bike
commuter for about four years, prior to my training for the MS Ride: Waves to
Wine, the longest distance ride I had ever been on was about 33 miles, and that
was pretty intense. I really jumped into
the deep-end with this one. The first
day alone, I rode nearly 80 miles, tackling over 4000 feet worth of elevation
gain. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2LN9UFbWz9_TZ_Dg15j2VzQuk0yr5y-Hi5Sm8sL6zw9ScrwJHsIdxCX8q2BkPQiNCb3uSL9YIOsrgHYmVsUk-7KtcNSP3NxS-2bKCcZNWPdxQBEzaOOaUApW76ROrf8AfNnXkEZ25WxM/s1600/fear+sphere+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2LN9UFbWz9_TZ_Dg15j2VzQuk0yr5y-Hi5Sm8sL6zw9ScrwJHsIdxCX8q2BkPQiNCb3uSL9YIOsrgHYmVsUk-7KtcNSP3NxS-2bKCcZNWPdxQBEzaOOaUApW76ROrf8AfNnXkEZ25WxM/s400/fear+sphere+1.png" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b style="text-align: start;"><i>Here's a diagram of some of my own fear-spheres. The fear (of failure, discomfort, humiliation, etc.) that accompanies my perceived weaknesses serves to compress my comfort zone, rendering it unnecessarily limited in scope and depth. </i></b> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Waves to Wine experience showed me that I’m actually
stronger, both mentally and physically, than I gave myself credit for. There were several stretches during the ride
where I wanted to quit, or at least stop pedaling and walk my bike up during an
uphill section. But somehow I kept
going. In part because I had support
from my wife and teammates, but even more so because I had an inner dialogue
with myself that persuaded me that while the actual experience of discomfort is
fleeting, the feeling of accomplishment that comes from pushing past discomfort
carries with you and energies you for a long time to come. I’m not saying that
everyone should go out and buy a road bike or sign up to run a marathon –- it
just so happens that for me, personally, that kind of extreme physical challenge
was a major fear-sphere. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2XN4B6E03UwGf0OJg40JIoqsrJ-yLQr3eIN3CiHtyYEUJ6C4m9l-FXcOG6FeOE56TA3IR8zmtcpITiKpUUJX4sUuXaaUwtoVw7OJudkf7BXj2U-7NMDDnYRm1hfmw1tY7Oa3GVLrFjU/s1600/fear+sphere+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2XN4B6E03UwGf0OJg40JIoqsrJ-yLQr3eIN3CiHtyYEUJ6C4m9l-FXcOG6FeOE56TA3IR8zmtcpITiKpUUJX4sUuXaaUwtoVw7OJudkf7BXj2U-7NMDDnYRm1hfmw1tY7Oa3GVLrFjU/s400/fear+sphere+2.png" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Strategically
pushing myself to tackle new challenges serves a dual purpose: First, it enables me to incorporate a prior
fear-sphere into my comfort zone, allowing my overall confidence to
expand. It also renders my other
fear-spheres significantly less daunting and more manageable. </span></i></b></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Not unlike the instruction you would get from a sports
coach, holistic business coaching helps to stretch you outside of your comfort
zone, in order to build your confidence in realms that previously seemed
foreign, confounding, or downright scary.
If you happen to be a creator who wants to launch or grow a small
business of your own, I hope that you will consider working with <a href="http://www.inclusivastrategies.com/">Inclusiva Strategies</a>. In the meantime, here are some basic steps to help you flex your fear-cannibalizing
muscles:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1. <b>Map out
your Comfort Zone and brainstorm the Fear Spheres that lie beyond</b>. Sit down for 15-20 minutes and come up with a
list of activities that make you feel completely at east. This could be your craft, a favorite hobby,
hanging out with friends, etc. Then
brainstorm the realms that freak you out or make you feel uncomfortable, self-defeating,
or embarrassed. For many this might
include things like public speaking, talking about money, receiving negative
feedback, etc. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2. <b>Push
yourself in ways seemingly unrelated to business or your craft</b>. Try a new sport, musical instrument, language
or type or free reading. But please, no
underwater basket weaving. Flexing
seemingly disparate muscle groups will build your overall confidence and
tolerance for the discomfort and resistance that naturally accompanies the
process of professional growth. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3. <b>Ask for
support and offer it to others. </b>While
comfort zones are highly personal and individualized, the process of expanding
them almost always requires some form of external support. Ask your friends, family and colleagues for
support and encouragement as you take on a new challenge – chances are they
will eager to help however they can.
Also consider mentoring someone
pursuing something that already lies within your comfort zone. <b> <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4. <b>Focus on
the process, rather than the results. </b>There's an old cliche that entrepreneurship is all about embracing failure – failure is good,
they say. I think that’s a bit misleading. Failure itself is definitely not good. But being <i>willing</i> to fail in pursuit of true growth
actually enables success. Some
fear-spheres will simply prove to be more intractable than others, so the reward must come from the
process of gradually chipping away at them, rather than some kind of instant
gratification. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03830760640035492770noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989913110396876551.post-43268198437017107622012-09-19T16:02:00.000-07:002012-09-19T16:05:38.557-07:005 Invaluable Resources for Starting & Running a Small Business<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">When looking to start a new business, or develop an existing
one, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of information and
advice out there. So, for
my first substantive LBBB post, I thought I’d share some invaluable resources
that small business owners can use to help stay informed, aware and
educated. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">#5 – <a href="http://sba.gov/">SBA.gov</a></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">Politicians talk a lot about supporting entrepreneurship these
days…without saying much about how they aim to do it. Luckily, the federal government already
provides some basic informational resources for creating and operating small
businesses. The trick is that it takes a
bit of doing to sort through it all and find the information that actually
applies to you. Nevertheless, SBA.gov is
a great starting point for any small business owner or entrepreneur. In particular, the materials on how to create
a business plan and marketing plan are fairly well done. (In a future post, I’ll be sure to take some
time to delve more into my favorite specific resources for business planning.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">#4 – <a href="http://online.wsj.com/home-page">The Wall Street Journal</a>’s Small Business Section “Must-Reads”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">Small business owners (in every industry) will benefit from staying informed
about current market trends, news and strategies. Even if you have less than zero interest in
subscribing, <i>The Wall Street Journal </i>maintains a small online section targeted
at startups and small businesses where it compiles each day’s “must-read”
articles that should prove especially relevant.
I often hear that people feel they don’t have time or patience to actually read
through a whole newspaper every morning, so this is a free, easy and efficient
way to stay informed about the developments most likely to affect your
enterprise. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">#3 – <a href="http://www.inc.com/">INC.</a>, <a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/">Entrepreneur</a> and <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/">Fast Company</a> (Online Entrepreneurship
Magazines)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">For those eager to read more about what’s going on in the
entrepreneurial landscape, I recommend carving out some time each week to
peruse the articles and blog entries offered up by entrepreneurship periodicals
such as Inc., Entrepreneur and Fast Company (just to name a few of the more
helpful ones). Much like the SBA, INC.’s
website in particular contains a wealth of tips and information on how to start
and manage a business. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">#2 – <a href="http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp">Myers-Briggs PersonalityTest</a></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">Bear with me on this one.
I admit I was highly skeptical of personality tests when I first started
business school, likening them to the contrived, self-fulfilling prophecies found in horoscopes (sorry, astrology fans). I quickly realized, however, that
personality tests like Myers-Briggs actually offered some meaningful insights
into my work style, needs and habits.
This quiz is free and only takes a few minutes. Once you know your type, you can search the
web for more analysis and interpretations – check out Personality Page. For any business owner with employees, I
highly recommend asking your team to take the quiz as well so you can learn
more about their orientation as professionals, and how their types interact
with each other, as well as your own. These
insights can be incredibly helpful in team-building, dealing with motivation
and productivity issues, and managing interpersonal conflicts. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">#1 – <a href="http://www.nolo.com/products/legal-guide-for-starting-and-running-a-small-business-RUNS.html">Nolo’sLegal Guide for Starting & Running a Small Business</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">I’m cheating a bit here, because all the other entries in this
list so far have been 100% free. But for
only $26 on Amazon ($19 for the Kindle version), this massively informative reference
guide is one of the best investments you can make. As the jacket describes, “small business
owners are regularly confronted by a bewildering array of legal questions and
problems” – so why not save yourself a ton of time, grief and needless
legal fees by keeping this user-friendly overview close at hand? This book was first recommended by one of my
business school mentors, Dave Epstein, and has now become an essential resource
for my clients. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03830760640035492770noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989913110396876551.post-84568882277238837862012-09-18T09:12:00.000-07:002012-09-18T10:09:47.894-07:00Welcome to Inclusiva's Little Big Business Blog!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Meet Inclusiva and the LBBB </span></b></span><br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">I’m
proud to announce the launch of <a href="http://www.inclusivastrategies.com/">Inclusiva Strategies</a>. Inclusiva is a holistic business coaching
practice aimed at creative small business owners and artists who want to
transform their craft into a viable and meaningful enterprise. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">This is a new type of business coaching firm that helps creative business owners,
artists and other aspiring entrepreneurs grow or launch their venture based on
clearly defined values and goals. Rather
than limiting or diluting their craft, the structure and strategic planning
that comes from the coaching process actually frees them to be more creative
and innovative. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">The
Little Big Business Blog (LBBB) will be the primary sounding board for
Inclusiva. It will be a place I can share resources, insights, tips,
news, and musings about the world of creative small businesses and startups.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"> </span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Why Business Coaching</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">My
interest in business coaching started when I volunteered as a business advisor
for a wonderful organizational in Oakland called <a href="http://centrocommunity.org/">Centro Community Partners</a>, which
provides business training to low-income entrepreneurs. Inclusiva, meanwhile, is designed
to empower creative professionals like artists, cooks, musicians, designers,
engineers and others with the tools they need to make the craft they love a
rewarding business endeavor. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">I
care deeply about and believe in this work.
It draws upon many of my strengths and allows me to apply my
interdisciplinary education. I believe Inclusiva
will make a difference not only in the lives of my clients, their families and
employees, but also more broadly, by helping to bring a wide variety of new
products, services and jobs into the economy.
I hope it will serve as a model for a new type of business coaching that
can be make an impact throughout the Bay Area and beyond. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">To
learn more or to get in touch, please view the Inclusiva website <a href="http://www.inclusivastrategies.com/">here</a>, and follow us on Facebook,
LinkedIn and Twitter. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">-Jacob
Gelfand</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03830760640035492770noreply@blogger.com0