Entrepreneurs Will Host Conference on March 3rd to Challenge Kansas City to Think Big
Posted using ShareThis
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Capitol Hill and Entrepreneurship - Hear it LIVE from former Congressmen Martin Frost and Kenny Hulshof
Think Big Kansas City is pleased to announce that we will have former Congressman Martin Frost (D) and former Congressman Kenny Hulshof (R) discuss Capitol Hill's view of Entrepreneurship. Washington and You - What Current Legislation Means for Entrepreneurs will showcase a bi-partisan discussion from two, very distinguished former lawmakers.
A recent article on the website, Real Clear Politics, The Washington, D.C., Disconnect, talks about the growing belief that Washington DC is out of touch with entrepreneurs and small business.
We are proud to give our program's two fine former lawmakers , Martin Frost and Kenny Hulshof, the opportunity to demonstrate their spirit of cooperation and common sense lawmaking that was evident throughout both of their distinguished careers.
Come listen to the legislation that you need to know as a small business owner, successful entrepreneur or someone who is considering becoming an entrepreneur. Following their presentation, they will also open up the mic to an audience question and answer session.
Don't miss this special opportuity to hear first hand what's going on in Washington DC. See you March 3rd!
To register, go to http://www.thinkbigkansascity.com/ !
A recent article on the website, Real Clear Politics, The Washington, D.C., Disconnect, talks about the growing belief that Washington DC is out of touch with entrepreneurs and small business.
We are proud to give our program's two fine former lawmakers , Martin Frost and Kenny Hulshof, the opportunity to demonstrate their spirit of cooperation and common sense lawmaking that was evident throughout both of their distinguished careers.
Come listen to the legislation that you need to know as a small business owner, successful entrepreneur or someone who is considering becoming an entrepreneur. Following their presentation, they will also open up the mic to an audience question and answer session.
Don't miss this special opportuity to hear first hand what's going on in Washington DC. See you March 3rd!
To register, go to http://www.thinkbigkansascity.com/ !
The Modern American Dream - Debuts on HBO with a dose of reality
The American Dream is alive and.....well, just ok.
This Sunday, February 14th, HBO debuts its newest series "How to Make It in America." This TV series brings to life a modern story of the American Dream of entrepreneurship and owner your own business. But instead of continuing the shockingly predictable story of instant fame and fortune with a startup company and idea, these New York slackers are struggling to just pay their next rent bill.
According to a NY Times article about the show "The Dream Without The Drive", "Failure isn’t as much fun as success, probably because there is so much more of it. Dreams aren't the same as drive, and self-pity is less attractive than hard work."
Too often, many early stage or wannabe entrepreneurs confuse their business idea and passion for a business plan and a “sure thing” lottery ticket that the world is just waiting to cash. Unless you are willing to do the work that others often are unwilling to do, then your entrepreneurial dream is in danger of failure before you have even started.
Being an entrepreneur certainly puts you in a position to achieve whatever your version of the American Dream might be. Perhaps it is being your own boss. Maybe it is fame and fortune if you make it big. Or sometimes it is simply the ability to work on your terms, doing something you love.
But the secret that many people don’t discover until they become an entrepreneur is that it can be lonely, frustrating and fraught with the danger of underachievement. If you think that working half days is an added perk to being your own boss, this illusion will become a reality when you discover that “half days” can mean 12 hour ones.
“Everybody has ideas, but nobody wants to put in the work.” These are the words from the rich father of a friend, when he tells Cam (one of the characters in this new series) his thoughts to a business venture that is pitched to him.
Oh so true. But if you are willing work like no one else is willing to work for a few years and then some, you may be able to live like few others for the rest of your life.
This Sunday, February 14th, HBO debuts its newest series "How to Make It in America." This TV series brings to life a modern story of the American Dream of entrepreneurship and owner your own business. But instead of continuing the shockingly predictable story of instant fame and fortune with a startup company and idea, these New York slackers are struggling to just pay their next rent bill.
According to a NY Times article about the show "The Dream Without The Drive", "Failure isn’t as much fun as success, probably because there is so much more of it. Dreams aren't the same as drive, and self-pity is less attractive than hard work."
Too often, many early stage or wannabe entrepreneurs confuse their business idea and passion for a business plan and a “sure thing” lottery ticket that the world is just waiting to cash. Unless you are willing to do the work that others often are unwilling to do, then your entrepreneurial dream is in danger of failure before you have even started.
Being an entrepreneur certainly puts you in a position to achieve whatever your version of the American Dream might be. Perhaps it is being your own boss. Maybe it is fame and fortune if you make it big. Or sometimes it is simply the ability to work on your terms, doing something you love.
But the secret that many people don’t discover until they become an entrepreneur is that it can be lonely, frustrating and fraught with the danger of underachievement. If you think that working half days is an added perk to being your own boss, this illusion will become a reality when you discover that “half days” can mean 12 hour ones.
“Everybody has ideas, but nobody wants to put in the work.” These are the words from the rich father of a friend, when he tells Cam (one of the characters in this new series) his thoughts to a business venture that is pitched to him.
Oh so true. But if you are willing work like no one else is willing to work for a few years and then some, you may be able to live like few others for the rest of your life.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Richard Branson's Success and Creative Problem Solving - Part One
Richard Branson (or Sir Richard Branson, if you prefer) is one of the world's most successful entrepreneurs. A self described "Adventure Capitalist", he had his first successful business venture at the age of 16 (Student Magazine) and today has over 350 companies under his Virgin brand with a net worth of approximately $2.5 billion US dollars (ranking him 261st richest people in the world according to Forbes 2009 list of billionaires).
While his success is astounding, there is an underlying story that is essential for every entrepreneur to know. On numerous occasions, the difference between business start up success and failure has been determined by his ability to be highly creative in problem solving, being able to think on his feet and recognizing potential obstacles (sometimes before they existed) and overcoming them.
When he first launched his magazine, he needed his first advertiser. Most established companies might be reluctant to advertise in a newly formed publication being run by a teenager - who wouldn't be? But their uneasiness quickly disappears when the magazine’s phones seem to be ringing off the hook. But there is a story to WHY they were ringing off the hook - and it wasn't other interested advertisers, like the established company considering investing money for an ad presumed.
When he launched his Virgin music label, he had the opportunity to record many great musicians....but he almost never got started when he bought a castle intended to be set up as a music recording studio in the English country, and there was a local noise ordinance that he forgot to check that prevented him from making too much noise. There is a fascinating story of how he overcame this problem.
Virgin Atlantic Airways. The modern standard for trans-Atlantic luxury flight almost never got started when his first (and only plane at the time) had its engine literally blow up right before the test flight (that would get the aircraft certified by the English government as an air carrier) and it was captured on film by a photographer. Once again, he escaped the jaws of failure.
Richard Branson has the unique ability to overcome adversity through perseverance born out of sheer determination and willpower to succeed. When combined with creative problem solving skills and his other talents, his success in business becomes less luck and almost a natural conclusion, given his recipe for success.
Learn more about how he overcame the problems outline above in our next blog post. Meanwhile, we hope you will enjoy watching in an interview he did for Eye to Eye with Katie Couric.
While his success is astounding, there is an underlying story that is essential for every entrepreneur to know. On numerous occasions, the difference between business start up success and failure has been determined by his ability to be highly creative in problem solving, being able to think on his feet and recognizing potential obstacles (sometimes before they existed) and overcoming them.
When he first launched his magazine, he needed his first advertiser. Most established companies might be reluctant to advertise in a newly formed publication being run by a teenager - who wouldn't be? But their uneasiness quickly disappears when the magazine’s phones seem to be ringing off the hook. But there is a story to WHY they were ringing off the hook - and it wasn't other interested advertisers, like the established company considering investing money for an ad presumed.
When he launched his Virgin music label, he had the opportunity to record many great musicians....but he almost never got started when he bought a castle intended to be set up as a music recording studio in the English country, and there was a local noise ordinance that he forgot to check that prevented him from making too much noise. There is a fascinating story of how he overcame this problem.
Virgin Atlantic Airways. The modern standard for trans-Atlantic luxury flight almost never got started when his first (and only plane at the time) had its engine literally blow up right before the test flight (that would get the aircraft certified by the English government as an air carrier) and it was captured on film by a photographer. Once again, he escaped the jaws of failure.
Richard Branson has the unique ability to overcome adversity through perseverance born out of sheer determination and willpower to succeed. When combined with creative problem solving skills and his other talents, his success in business becomes less luck and almost a natural conclusion, given his recipe for success.
Learn more about how he overcame the problems outline above in our next blog post. Meanwhile, we hope you will enjoy watching in an interview he did for Eye to Eye with Katie Couric.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
|
|