Project Concentrus

Recycling Generational Stereotypes: Does This End with Gen Y?

Don Iannone — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 08:40:43 +0000

Talkin’ ‘Bout My Generation” (Again, and again, and again…)

Have you seen the news? Read the articles? Heard the talking heads?

They say young people are “lazy” and “entitled”. It’s said that young people – the entire generation – will never amount to much.

I came across a Time Magazine article the other day that really bothered me. It was another older person talking down to my generation. The article described us this way: “They have trouble making decisions. They would rather hike in the Himalayas than climb a corporate ladder.” It said we’re a generation that “postpones growing up” pointing out that “fully 75% of young males 18 to 24 years old are still living at home, the largest proportion since the Great Depression.” We’re apparently the “New Petulants” because we “can often end up sounding like whiners.”

What?! We’re “whiners” just because we don’t want to live the same lives as our parents?!

More here.

Training Staff for Fundraising

Don Iannone — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 12:40:42 +0000

This a a good one. Fundraising is the lifeline activity for any nongovernmental organization (NGO), yet it is the most challenging task for us all. This is because there are so few resources available and too many seekers reaching them out. In such cases, only organizations that are competitive, responsive and creative succeed. But to be competitive, responsive and creative, it is important to become professional enough. Professionalism is about applying high business tactics to survive the growing competition in the world. In fund-raising, professionalism is necessary. Read the article here.

Five Quarters of Economic Gains

Don Iannone — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 12:46:45 +0000

The U.S. economy grew for the fifth consecutive quarter, with real gross domestic product up 2 percent in the third quarter. This and other trends can be found in the update of the Quarterly Indicators: The Economy and Small
Business for the third quarter of 2010. We are not out of the woods yet folks! Quarterly Indicators: See the Economy and Small Business.

Twelve Crazy Regulations Small Businesses Must Deal With

Don Iannone — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 12:41:54 +0000

OK, this is a MUST read! Even with all of the massive economic problems that the United States is facing, if the government is not using common sense in many cases. In America today, it is rapidly getting to the point where it is nearly impossible to start or to operate a small business. The federal government, the state governments and local governments are cramming thousands upon thousands of new ridiculous regulations down business owners’ throats each year. It would take a full team of lawyers just to even try to stay informed about all of these new regulations. Click here to see 12 of the most absurd government regulations created by government.

Follow Your Heart and Intuition

Don Iannone — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 08:49:59 +0000

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary” ~Steve Jobs

Utah Lures California Companies

Don Iannone — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 12:37:56 +0000

Companies are getting the message. Over the past two years California companies like Adobe Systems, eBay, Electronic Arts, Oracle and Twitter have expanded in Utah. The Tax Foundation weighed in last week on the business tax climates of each state. Utah ranked 9th best, while California was 49th (only New York fared worse). Utah lowered its corporate income tax rate in 2008 from 7% to 5% which is one of the lowest in the country. If you want to gauge the regulatory climate by the numbers, consider the Pacific Research Institute which publishes its Economic Freedom Index. When it comes to regulatory environment it ranks Utah 2nd and California 49th

Read the Forbes story here.

New State New Economy Index

Don Iannone — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 12:34:12 +0000

Many jobs lost in the recession are never coming back and job creation is expected to be sluggish for years. This has created an imperative to develop new jobs, business models and industries. The states are on the front line of this effort and it is more important than ever for them to embrace innovation and the New Economy. ITIF will unveil the latest data on how the states are doing in efforts to be competitive in the global, entrepreneurial, innovation- and knowledge-based New Economy. How did Washington State do? The report builds on previous reports that go back more than a decade and uses 26 indicators to assess the states’ efforts to succeed in the innovation economy. See how the states rank and learn about what has worked and where progress is needed in the 2010 State New Economy Index.

A Look at the Future of Work

Don Iannone — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 04:35:59 +0000

Intuit has just released The Intuit 2020 Report. It covers twenty demographic, social, economic and technology trends impacting consumers and businesses over the next decade. The report, co-authored by Steve King and Carolyn Ockels of Emergent Research (and also Future of Work Associates), started as part of Intuit’s strategic plan process.

Emergent Research worked with Intuit to develop these trends as input to a ten-year visioning exercise Intuit did as part of its own annual planning. Because Intuit realized the trends would of be interest to Intuit customers, partners, and others the company decided to release the report to the public.

Download the report

Teaching Entrepreneurship @ the High School Level

Don Iannone — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 10:30:28 +0000

How do you teach entrepreneurship to high school juniors? In only one hour?

Read this article by Rocco Tarasi in Pittsbrugh.

“I had the privilege this summer of speaking for an hour to students at the Neighborhood Academy, a college prep school in Pittsburgh for low-income students, about being an entrepreneur. “Being an entrepreneur” is certainly a broad topic, and you could choose to focus on a number of different areas. I decided that I would have three goals: make it simple, make it inspiring, and make it practical.

So when I was considering what topics to cover, I stayed away from the “administrative nuts and bolts” of being an entrepreneur – accounting, taxes, legal, HR, etc. Not that those aren’t important activities, but they certainly weren’t going to meet my 3 goals. I also chose not to talk about the “psychological” aspects of being an entrepreneur – making mistakes, keeping the faith, the highs and lows, the importance of working with strong teammates, etc.”

To read the full, original article click on this link: Blogging Innovation » How do you teach entrepreneurship to high school students?

Seven Steps to Developing an Economic Gardening Implementation Strategy

Don Iannone — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 07:53:47 +0000

This article is an excerpt from the InFocus issue, Strengthen Your Local Economy through Economic Gardening, by Christine Hamilton-Pennell, published by ICMA.

Economic gardening is an entrepreneurial approach to economic development that seeks to grow the local economy from within. Its premise is that local entrepreneurs create the companies that bring new wealth and economic growth to a region in the form of jobs, increased revenues, and a vibrant local business sector. Economic gardening seeks to focus on growing and nurturing local businesses rather than hunting for “big game” outside the area.

Preparing a strategy for an economic gardening program can be complicated-there are many elements that must be developed first, taking into consideration unique community needs and available resources. Here are the seven steps to developing an implementation strategy for your economic gardening program to succeed.

1. Gain the support of local officials and other stakeholders – It takes time and effort to develop the support of elected officials for an economic gardening approach. The first step is to sit down with each official and other key stakeholders and listen to their concerns about economic development.

2. Identify your community’s assets – Develop an inventory of community and business assets available to you. Your list of assets should include the usual suspects such as economic development organizations, chambers of commerce, small business development centers (SBDCs), SCORE, workforce centers, universities and community colleges, financial institutions, and civic and social groups such as Rotary and Kiwanis. Other groups and individuals can also provide value to your community.

Look for individuals in your community who have skills and expertise in areas such as business coaching and mentoring, finance, employment/workforce development, research, marketing, meeting facilitation, organizing/managing projects, public speaking, legal support, and fundraising.

Perhaps the most important assets you can identify in your community are individuals who can become champions and advocates for your economic gardening project. They might be successful entrepreneurs who want to give back to their community or individuals within any of the groups or organizations listed above.

3. Develop a collaborative effort among resource partners – Once you have identified the assets in your community, explore which entities and individuals are likely to become resource partners in moving your economic gardening venture forward. Set up a steering committee that can guide and implement the project.

4. Create a system-wide operating agreement – Because an economic gardening project generally involves multiple entities, it is important for the steering committee to develop a formal or informal operating agreement that addresses key operational and long-term planning issues.

5. Determine the target audience for services – One of the most important questions an economic gardening project needs to answer is, “Who will we serve?” The first step in determining your target audience(s) is to inventory the available entrepreneurial talent in your community. What kinds of businesses are located there? What is their level of growth or maturity?

6. Develop a delivery system to provide services to the target audience – Steps involved in creating a viable delivery system include finding or developing qualified business coaches, providing or linking to technical assistance resources, locating entrepreneurs within your target audience, offering market research services, identifying financial resources, and partnering with other providers within and outside the local area. A local referral network of small business professionals and service providers is a crucial element at this juncture.
7. Develop a communication system to gain community support and buy-in – Make public presentations explaining the economic gardening program and gain the support of local media. Use entrepreneurs and your local referral network as advocates to deliver your message to funders, prospective clients, and the public. Build regular reporting functions into your ongoing activities.