Changing the future of innovation

April 13, 2014 in Business profiles, Success in business | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

LEE Lee PorterPORTER is one of three founders of InnovatioNews, a news organization that targets entrepreneurship and innovation in Colorado USA.

It’s an all-electronic publication, not printed on paper.  The focus is on high quality news and other digital content which is on the IN website, distributed via email, pushed through social media and placed strategically on other websites. InnovatioNews is jumping on the age of new media with full enthusiasm – which is a pretty great fit, given their subject.

This company is jumping on the age of new media with full enthusiasm – which is a pretty great fit, given their subject.

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Firms of Endearment

April 6, 2014 in Success in business | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

FFirms of EndearmentIRMS OF ENDEARMENT: How World-Class Companies Profit from Passion and Purpose is an excellent book, supporting the idea that companies are more successful when they form positive emotional bonds with employees, customers, and investors.  I’ve been reading it recently in preparation for leading the Entreprenerds discussion on April 18th, “Business for the 21st Century”.

I’ve learned a lot from this, and it’s been useful for my own coaching business.

By definition, the owner of a values-based business is focused on “doing something important.”  But there’s always the question of whether he or she will be rewarded by also having a profitable and sustainable business.

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Why innovation is different

March 30, 2014 in Success in business | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

THIS WEEK Quid Novi Spring JamI had a chance to hang out with a bunch of inventors, writers and artists at the Quid Novi Spring of Innovation.  What a cool idea!  We had a chance to talk about what’s currently happening with innovation in northern Colorado and the rest of the world.

It’s clear to me that innovation has a slightly different twist in values-based businesses than it might in others.

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Warning! Mission-driven culture!

March 23, 2014 in Success in business | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

LIZ RYAN, Founder of Human Workplace, Mission driven culturerecently wrote a great article entitled “What is a mission-driven culture?”

I’d highly recommend it.

She’s talking about many of the same concepts that I cover on this blog – but this article focuses on the jobseeker’s point of view, rather than the company’s.  There’s some great things to learn from this.

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The Dream Manager

March 16, 2014 in Success in business | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

THIS WEEK I heard about Dream ManagerThe Dream Manager, a book by Matthew Kelly.  It sounded so interesting that I’ve added it to my reading list.

The underlying concept seems to be that it’s extremely helpful and inspiring for a company to evoke its employees’ dreams and aspirations.  Check out this extremely short video to get an idea.  Some organizations have a designated “dream manager” whose job it is to bring that out and capture the benefits of an energized workforce.

But I wanted to take the idea in a new direction.

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Work on the big picture here

March 9, 2014 in Christianity, Success in business | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

DURING THIS SEASON OF LENT we have a great opportunity to step back and work a bit more on the big picture.  I’m not talking about business planning, or even visioning and direction-setting.

It’s more about recognizing the hard work ahead.

How do you take advantage of Lent at the personal level?  Many will use it as a time of introspection and spiritual development.  Giving up chocolate or coffee might help you do that, but Lent isn’t about denying yourself pleasures and “feeling bad” now so you’ll “feel better” at Easter.

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Fraternal financial services

March 2, 2014 in Business profiles, Success in business | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

MODERN WOODMEN OF AMERICA Modern Woodmen Logois a community-minded financial services company in the US.  Founded in 1883, they are structured as a 501(c)(8) “Fraternal Beneficiary Society,” a category I’d never heard of.  This is a designation for organizations which are primarily intended to provide insurance-type benefits to their members.

Modern Woodmen has a rich legacy of service, including widows and orphans, those suffering from the Tuberculosis outbreak a century ago, education, and eye care.

I had a chance this week to talk with John Weidenfeller, the local Regional Director in Northern Colorado.  He’s been with the organization for ten years now, opening up the Fort Collins office a few years ago.  He’s a strong supporter of the values of this company, and has committed himself to leading a group which is aligned around those principles.

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Falling in love

February 23, 2014 in Success in business | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

FINDING LoveYOUR DEEP VALUES can be like falling in love.

Love is elusive, one of those “I’ll know it when I see it” type of things.

What I’ve described as deep values also can be elusive, because it starts with what you live and breathe every day.  For me, I’ve decided that being of service is crucial to my life and my business.  People generally have two reactions to this:

Clarity of purpose develops over time

February 16, 2014 in Business profiles, Success in business | Tags: , , , | 2 comments

MATT SHOUP is the owner of M+E logoM&E Painting, a fast-growing enterprise here in Northern Colorado.  Many in Fort Collins are aware of Tim Farnsworth, Matt’s sign guy on the corner of Harmony & College.

But the story of Matt and M&E is much deeper.

Matt started this residential re-painting specialist company in 2005 with his last $100, after getting laid off from a job in mortgage banking.  With a passion for customer service and to develop a company of character, he launched in and has been  experiencing steady growth ever since.  M&E is now a multi-million-dollar company.

I first spoke with Matt back in 2011, and it’s fascinating to see how he’s developing personally, and how this affects his business.  It was great to catch up this week and learn more of his story.

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When you stumble

February 9, 2014 in Success in business | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

stumbleYOUR BUSINESS screwed up. Publicly.

You had that blowup with the big customer, and they’re threatening a lawsuit.  The press is snooping around and is going to eviscerate you on the front page of the business section.

Things are getting ugly and the pressure is on.

Like it or not, this is bound to happen to you a few times during your lifetime.  Read the rest of this entry »

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