It’s been said that “it’s lonely at the top! “ How true this is, especially if you are a modern entrepreneur in today’s world!
How do you achieve top performance as an entrepreneur and learn from the best? One way, is through high quality education in an environment that fosters collaboration among leading entrepreneurs and experts from various fields across the country. One of these programs is the Pipeline Entrepreurial Immersion Program. Now in its fourth year of operations, the Kansas-based PIPELINE Entrepreneurial Fellowship Program is a nationally-acclaimed leader in the field of entrepreneurial development for high growth entrepreneurs.
This intensive program blends the best techniques from the fields of leadership training, business coaching and venture capital, and the latest thinking from America’s leading entrepreneurial experts. It combines these ingredients with extensive network building for the Pipeline fellows – and helps them to develop strong peer networks to support them over the course of their entire career.
If this sounds like a program for you – and you are prepared for the challenge that comes with this great opportunity – then you should apply now for this program. The application window is open until October 4th, 2010.
If you are serious about being a successful entrepreneur, this program is one to consider. While only open to Kansas residents, it has already made a difference in many entrepreneurs lives, and perhaps it can for you too.
For more information, go to http://www.kansaspipeline.org/ or contact Joni Cobb who does a great job in running the program.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Change the World Today Through Social Media – One Tweet At A Time
August 24, 2010
WARNING: for those social media advocates who want to avoid the social media soapbox and just simply make a difference, go to the bottom of this article NOW or simply VOTE.
Nowadays, the social media machine has completely taken over. There’s Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Digg, FourSquare, StumbleUpon, Reddit, Flickr; you name it. But when you actually add it all up, does social media really matter, or is it an overhyped fad? And if it isn’t a fad, can it really make a difference?
My answer (and I know I am biased) is a resounding YES. I have seen the awesome power that can come through the effective use of social media tools, but with one absolute caveat. Tools like Twitter, Facebook, Digg and more must be used as a tool and in the hands of someone who is willing to work with them. Not to mention, this person actually needs to know how to use them.
There is a fine line between an effective and an ineffective social media enthusiast. Think of the difference between a handyman and a true craftsman. No disrespect to handymen around the country, but if you are a skilled jack of all trades, my guess is that you will not be able to be as good as a skilled craftsmen who focuses on one thing.
Another point of view is making sure you have the right tool for the right job – and knowing the difference. A ball-peen, roofing and claw hammer all look alike, but if you need to put a nail into the wall to hang a picture, one is better than another. Even more dramatic, you can also use a very big hammer – like a sledgehammer – but you may just take out the wall too.
So, the point is, for you social media skeptics, that you have to know what tool to use, how to use it and then actually use it. Although social media sitting on a shelf will not collect dust, instead, it will do absolutely nothing.
Here is how I would like to make a difference TODAY in the world.
Kohl’s Department Store has a promotional contest known as Kohl’s Cares in which the top 20 schools in the country will receive $500,000 through a series of votes on Facebook. This money is real and can help make a different to any of the lucky top 20 schools. In the Kansas City metro area, there is only one school that has a chance to win this outstanding prize: Our Lady of the Presentation is currently in 21st place. This school is located in Lees Summit, a location that is “in our backyard” and we want to help spread the word through social media and get them more votes. Every person is allowed to vote 20 times, but only 5 times for one school. If more Kansas Citians vote for the school in their own backyard, we could help Our Lady of the Presentation win $500,000! Please help spread the word and encourage your family and friends to vote for this school. It might just do some great things here in good ole’ Kansas City—and further show the power of mass collaboration using social media. Now that’s Thinking Big!
To learn more about Kohl’s Cares and to vote for Our Lady of the Presentation, please click the following link. Voting will stop September 3rd. Please help us to spread the word and change the world today!
VOTE OLP WEBSITE
WARNING: for those social media advocates who want to avoid the social media soapbox and just simply make a difference, go to the bottom of this article NOW or simply VOTE.
Nowadays, the social media machine has completely taken over. There’s Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Digg, FourSquare, StumbleUpon, Reddit, Flickr; you name it. But when you actually add it all up, does social media really matter, or is it an overhyped fad? And if it isn’t a fad, can it really make a difference?
My answer (and I know I am biased) is a resounding YES. I have seen the awesome power that can come through the effective use of social media tools, but with one absolute caveat. Tools like Twitter, Facebook, Digg and more must be used as a tool and in the hands of someone who is willing to work with them. Not to mention, this person actually needs to know how to use them.
There is a fine line between an effective and an ineffective social media enthusiast. Think of the difference between a handyman and a true craftsman. No disrespect to handymen around the country, but if you are a skilled jack of all trades, my guess is that you will not be able to be as good as a skilled craftsmen who focuses on one thing.
Another point of view is making sure you have the right tool for the right job – and knowing the difference. A ball-peen, roofing and claw hammer all look alike, but if you need to put a nail into the wall to hang a picture, one is better than another. Even more dramatic, you can also use a very big hammer – like a sledgehammer – but you may just take out the wall too.
So, the point is, for you social media skeptics, that you have to know what tool to use, how to use it and then actually use it. Although social media sitting on a shelf will not collect dust, instead, it will do absolutely nothing.
Here is how I would like to make a difference TODAY in the world.
Kohl’s Department Store has a promotional contest known as Kohl’s Cares in which the top 20 schools in the country will receive $500,000 through a series of votes on Facebook. This money is real and can help make a different to any of the lucky top 20 schools. In the Kansas City metro area, there is only one school that has a chance to win this outstanding prize: Our Lady of the Presentation is currently in 21st place. This school is located in Lees Summit, a location that is “in our backyard” and we want to help spread the word through social media and get them more votes. Every person is allowed to vote 20 times, but only 5 times for one school. If more Kansas Citians vote for the school in their own backyard, we could help Our Lady of the Presentation win $500,000! Please help spread the word and encourage your family and friends to vote for this school. It might just do some great things here in good ole’ Kansas City—and further show the power of mass collaboration using social media. Now that’s Thinking Big!
To learn more about Kohl’s Cares and to vote for Our Lady of the Presentation, please click the following link. Voting will stop September 3rd. Please help us to spread the word and change the world today!
VOTE OLP WEBSITE
Monday, August 2, 2010
DealBug - Good Ideas Can Be Made Even Better and Consumers Can Save Big Money While Doing Good For Their Community!
Don't you love saving money? What if you could save money and give back to your community at the same time?
By now, most people are very familiar with the company Groupon. For the uninitiated, Groupon started in November of 2008 and is a collaborative buying idea that allows consumers to buy popular things at a huge discount - but only if enough people sign up to buy the product or service before the daily midnight expiration. In other words, consumers can create their own tipping point by getting together enough of their friends and drive a product's price down to unbeatable levels, achieving huge savings.
A great idea for both the consumer and companies...how can this be made better, you ask?
What if you could save money AND give back a portion of the proceeds to local charities in your own backyard?
A local Kansas City company has done exactly that. Dealbug (www.dealbug.com) , officially launched at midnight August 1st, 2010, has taken Groupon's business model to the next level by putting the charitable component into their business equation. Schools, churches, non-profits - nearly any not for profit entity, can become a beneficiary of this idea. Dealbug's first deal offers a 77% discount at a local children's "theme" park, and allows the consumer to pick from over 20 charities to help out too. For more information on Paradise Park, go to www.paradise-park.com/.
Often times, good ideas can be made even better by simply making changing a few things about them to better suit a marketplace. Certainly Groupon has done very well. With over 12 million members and adding over 2 million more very month, the company was profitable in less than 8 months from launch and has swollen to over 1000 employees.
But with all that success, a small company, DealBug, has taken this idea to the next level.
Never underestimate your ability to take a good idea and make it better. Think Coke vs Pepsi. McDonald's vs Burger King. AT&T vs Sprint or Verizon.
Simply focus on core needs in a marketplace, and maybe you will see a new idea out of an existing one, and take it to the next level.
By now, most people are very familiar with the company Groupon. For the uninitiated, Groupon started in November of 2008 and is a collaborative buying idea that allows consumers to buy popular things at a huge discount - but only if enough people sign up to buy the product or service before the daily midnight expiration. In other words, consumers can create their own tipping point by getting together enough of their friends and drive a product's price down to unbeatable levels, achieving huge savings.
A great idea for both the consumer and companies...how can this be made better, you ask?
What if you could save money AND give back a portion of the proceeds to local charities in your own backyard?
A local Kansas City company has done exactly that. Dealbug (www.dealbug.com) , officially launched at midnight August 1st, 2010, has taken Groupon's business model to the next level by putting the charitable component into their business equation. Schools, churches, non-profits - nearly any not for profit entity, can become a beneficiary of this idea. Dealbug's first deal offers a 77% discount at a local children's "theme" park, and allows the consumer to pick from over 20 charities to help out too. For more information on Paradise Park, go to www.paradise-park.com/.
Often times, good ideas can be made even better by simply making changing a few things about them to better suit a marketplace. Certainly Groupon has done very well. With over 12 million members and adding over 2 million more very month, the company was profitable in less than 8 months from launch and has swollen to over 1000 employees.
But with all that success, a small company, DealBug, has taken this idea to the next level.
Never underestimate your ability to take a good idea and make it better. Think Coke vs Pepsi. McDonald's vs Burger King. AT&T vs Sprint or Verizon.
Simply focus on core needs in a marketplace, and maybe you will see a new idea out of an existing one, and take it to the next level.
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