Does your community support entrepreneurs?

http://www.techjournalsouth.com/news/article.html?item_id=4861

While recruiting is crucial to attract the brains within the companies, it must be balanced with investing time and money into the local entrepreneur base.

This is a report from Kauffman Foundation.

When this kind of leader believes in you, wouldn't you run through a wall?

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3261422

We need to fight to prevent this from happening

http://wrallocaltechwire.com/business/local_tech_wire/news/story/2475416/

What are you waiting for?

See what happens when you match Quality of Place with the new economy?

http://sxsw.com/

New article on 7 tips for leaders to balance strengths and weaknesses

http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/104450/The-Seven-Saving-Graces-for-Managers?mod=oneclick

I have learned some of the lessons the hard way.

I would encourage you to take these to heart.

Lead - America needs your leadership today.

It may be harder than ever to be a leader, but if you leave it to someone else, you can't complain about the situation without your own solutions.

Two video interviews on finding angel investors

A sad frog who won't croak in his own pond...Sorry for the shameless plug

Two video interviews on finding angel investors
http://localtechwire.com/business/local_tech_wire/page/1478849/

Off the subject on a holiday day off but have you seen the trailers for Be Kind Rewind?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7C8nHAAs70

Could be some good stress relief.

Excellent article on the Challenges of Startups

Every entrepreneur should read this before starting down the winding, hilly road of starting a new company.

http://techjournalsouth.com/news/article.html?item_id=4806

Be Part of the Solution! Decisions are made by those who participate

Off the beaten path cities to consider

With the upcoming release of Richard Florida's new book called "Who's Your City?" I found this article on Underrated Cities to consider.

http://tinyurl.com/286gyq

Be Part of the Solution! Decisions are made by those who participate!

If "world is flat" did not scare you, read this

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/magazine/27world-t.html?scp=2&sq=china+economy&st=nyt

Get out your dictionary, but a good read with glass of Shiraz.

Sad State of American Economics - Panhandlers make more than Wal Mart workers

I heard this on NPR where panhandlers outside of the store were making more than the Wal Mart workers inside the store.

http://www.komotv.com/news/local/15157611.html

Add that to this story where 6,000 people are applying for 300 Wal Mart jobs in Cleveland area.

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2007/11/in-cleveland-60.html

Just another reason to support entrepreneurship.

Be Part of the Solution! Decisions are made by those who participate!

Ten traits of successful people

Okay, I am not sure I love the term filthy rich, but I don't see these traits as overly greedy, especially when the first trait is patience.


http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article/104385/Ten-Traits-That-Make-You-Filthy-Rich

How to help your company overcome a potential American recession...sell more globally! Learn how

I wanted to alert you that CED's first annual Globalization conference for entrepreneurs is February 14th. The event is expected to sell out.
Please plan to make your reservations today and also share with your clients and colleagues. Look forward to seeing you there!

---

http://www.cednc.org/conferences/globalization/2008/agenda/index.html

Get ready for more Richard Florida, the new Canadian Clipper

I was a HUGE fan of the The Rise of the Creative Class as I understood how to take the theories into action. Or more accurately, I was already working on similar theories in Charlotte and Asheville through my work with FirstRound and the Blue Ridge Entrepreneurial Council.

I got to know Richard over a few cold beverages in Greensboro, Austin (at the annual South by Southwest festival) and in Memphis when he personally invited me to participate in the Memphis Manifesto.

The message was not about creating a cool city or a cool state.
Just like you can not give yourself a nickname, you can't proclaim you are a cool place.
Or Miami and New Orleans would be different places with their economies.

The ability of a place to innovate through technology and profit from innovation was 75% of the T equation. This helps attract and retain talent.
But everyone focused on the tolerance and/or amount of nightlife of the Territorial assets.

I currently get a Google News Feed on Richard and the Creative Class and he is making huge waves in the Canadian Press. Richard Florida has left CMU in Pittsburgh and has also left GMU in Virginia and is now at University of Toronto.

Well, after The Flight of the Creative Class flopped as a book, here comes the next book.
The book Who's Your City will be released soon in March.
It seems to be an anti- The World is Flat book according to many early reviews.

I like both books. Mr. Friedman is VERY, VERY smart and has the respect of big time organizations such as Red Hat.

I know there is truth to the importance of place. There are places that I aspire to live and places where I hope I don't end up.

Hold on as it will either be the cold Canadian air or be full full of hot air. You choose for yourself.
http://creativeclass.com/richard_florida/books/whos_your_city/index.php?tab=special_offer

Be Part of the Solution! Decisions are made by those who participate!