And the crowd goes WILD!...Finally

With such an extended absence it would be a fair question to ask ~ Do innovative epiphanies really take so long to manifest? Not at all. I'm back at the page (blog) with a lot of incredible thoughts and resources forthcoming in the world of Innovation.

As with any new resource or idea, it's taken me sometime to fully realize the potential of LinkedIn - an internet-based networking system. I received an invitation to LinkedIn several months ago, accepted it, but basically put it on the shelf because I was consumed with the riot of life demands flying in my face.

What IS LinkedIn...and Why is it so Cool?

LinkedIn has elegantly succeeded in creating an internet platform where a VAST number of professionals from all over the world, working in a diverse range of industries, can communicate with ease. It's powerful, far reaching and essentially gives me the ability to communicate and collaborate with people I would have likely never had the opportunity to meet otherwise.

I've found the most valuable aspect of LinkedIn to be the specialized interest groups. For example, I've been able to reconnect with former college friends and professors, explore global innovation groups working on a wide variety of projects in a number of industries I've also been exploring. These connections amplify my reach, ability to assimilate new ideas and information, and ultimately help me realize my professional goals and objectives in a much more fluid and intuitive way.

In other words, LinkedIn ROCKS!

Small Business Innovation Research...

The federal Small Business Innovation Research program is an excellent opportunity for entrepreneurs to seek funding for cutting edge projects and projects. A thorough SBIR Toolkit is available here to download. If you're interested in applying, cover all of your bases first and make sure the time and energy required for the application is well spent.

Guerilla Marketing

Building a Marketing Plan

Marketing is an incredible subject - and its one I'm focusing on today at a workshop I'm presenting through RCC's Small Business Management program. While a tremendous amount of "How To" material on marketing exists, my biggest question is: Why don't more business people HAVE a marketing plan? Especially entrepreneurs poised at the start-up phase? I think it comes down to two things - Intimidation and/or apathy.

No doubt there are hundreds of other reasons. My intent today with my students isn't to pound into them (via pointed finger and guilt tactics) why they should have a working marketing plan. The objective today is to help them roll up their sleeves and develop theirs.

I've reached out into industry to see what resources I could bring back to my business students (actually working business owners and operators) that could help them through this process. What I found were two excellent resources. Both differ widely from one another in terms of approach and tone. However, both are right on the money.

Guerilla Marketing

Jay & Jeannie Levinson have built an impressive business from their line of "Guerilla" business instruction programs and books. For today's workshop, I'm using their Startup Guide to Guerilla Marketing - A Simple Battle Plan for First-Time Marketers.

They key to the Levinson's Guerilla strategy boils down to a simple seven sentence process. Actually, these seven basic topics truly need to be fully fleshed out and substantiated to build a workable plan, but by the time you're through the cursory answers to the seven sentence assignment, you're over the hump of intimidation that keeps you from starting the plan in the first place. Then, it's just one solid step at a time.

Here are Levinson's key question points:

1) The first sentence explains the purpose of your marketing.

2) The second sentence tells how to achieve the purpose, stressing benefits.

3) The third sentence tells about target audiences.

4) The fourth sentence tells about marketing "weapons" (tactics & strategies) you'll use.

5) The fifth sentence describes your niche in the market place.

6) The sixth sentence tells about your identity.

7) The seventh sentence tells about your marketing budget as a percentage of your projected gross sales.

The Levinsons provide ample direction in their book to help flesh out the complete marketing plan. In addition, their website: www.gmarketing.com provides even more, including a member blog, additional resources and short courses. Currently, an 8-Week intensive course "Guerilla Marketing During Tough Times" is available for early registration.

Gaebler Ventures

It might seem odd that I would look to the midwest (Chicago, Illinois), to a private sector venture development/venture capital firm to help my SBM class in the development of their marketing plans. However, I spotted Gaebler Ventures as a shining start in the night sky because of the combination of services they provide. They not only capitalize on successful businesses via providing venture capital, they actually help fledgling companies become successful through guidance and education.

I realize the marketing plan resources Gaebler provides on their website are intended to attract clients. That's just the point - in the process of marketing their company and their services, Gaebler is providing tangible value before potential clients give them a dime for their expertise. I like that.

So, I'm unashamedly using Gaebler's Marketing Plan resources with my SBM students today. I'll let you know how that works. To the folks at Gaebler - Rock on!

Free Radicals of Innovation!

I just finished navigating Bob Newhart's Free Radicals of Innovation DVD. I'll tell ya, after three years and $40K for a Masters degree in Adult Education (which was worth it, I have no doubt...) I'm in a particular good position to say that I think Newhart's Free Radicals should be a prerequisite for any Adult Education university program.

Newhart is currently the director of the Oregon Innovation Center in Bend. In a former life he served as a director for a Small Business Development Center. Through his excellent understanding of both business AND innovation, Newhart has successfully created a tool which can be utilized by both adult educators and individuals addicted to discovery and development.

What is Innovation?

By Shari

The U.S. has lost its edge as an international leader in innovation. Featured on the Colbert Report, author John Kao had a hilariously tragic discussion with Stephen Colbert centered on the idea that perhaps the U.S. isn't the front runner we've been brainwashed to think we are in the arena of leading edge innovation...except perhaps in the realm of war. Oh yea...and bailing out banks at tax payer expense.

Here's what I think is an excellent perspective on the Federal Reserve manipulation of the open market...or...Government economics:

(From comment on Business Week Online...)
Mar 13, 2008 10:05 PM GMT

"...So this is basically a bail out for the banks without bailing out the people with the loans? Also, "in theory" the banks are supposed to then start lending money again? Has anybody heard of this happening? What I've heard is that banks aren't lending anybody anything. It's a scam. Our currency is worthless, we have the stupidest trade policy on the planet and not one person from either party is talking about how to fix it...."

There could be heated arguments into the dark of night about this issue, however, the truth is, we've lost our edge. Why? Because our national leaders have found it more important to dominate than to collaborate, and our national focus has shifted gears from bettering the condition for our people, to carving off bigger chunks of the world which to control. Enough, already!

We are currently embroiled in a war costing billions of dollars on a daily basis. Yet, our nation's schools are in poor condition and getting worse. The U.S. has have cutting edge medical facilities and technology, yet a sizable percentage of our country's people can't afford health insurance or affordably priced medical care. Only the very rich or the very poor have appreciable access to the U.S. health care system. Now, with a recession banging at our door, unemployment numbers are sky rocketing as companies do what they have to do to survive - including relocating operating facilities to other countries. Oh yea, we have lots of "issues" over here on Turtle Island.

Rather than looking to innovative ideas for transforming our economies, we are fighting to keep old, worn out ideologies in place. For example, it's taken the timber industry in the Northwest over 20 years to face the fact that "business as usual" is gone. And they're pissed off, let me tell ya! No amount of finger pointing and backroom huddles is going to change the fact that we either innovate and change...or wither and die economically. So, pull your heads out of that dark scary place, boys. Shake out the cobwebs. Get back in the thinking game.

So, what IS innovation? According to Innovation maverick and thought leader John Kao, creativity is:

"...a set of capabilities that allows an individual or group or team ...or country to continually realize its desired future."

But Kao says America's old adage "What's good for America is good for the world" has necessarily shifted to a new truism: "What's good for the world is good for America."

Let's THINK about that...really digest it.

What is good for the world?

Peace

Peace is good for the world.

John Kao is the author of Innovation Nation. He recently spoke in Finland about innovation on a global scale. Though polite and gracious, Kao doesn't mince words about the U.S. faltering position among the world's Innovation Nations.