National Speakers Association

In 2008 I finally qualified for membership in the National Speakers Association. There are three options to qualify, and I actually hit them all. I was surprised to find that I gave 47 presentations in 2008 and I estimate that was close to 3000 people who saw me speak in audiences from 10 people to as large as 1400.

I have heard mostly great things about the organization, and feel that it is an important milestone in my professional speaking career.... so I joined.

I look forward to attending their national conference and might try to hit a workshop in Florida in February. I have discovered that professional speakers are very giving individuals and most that I have met actively share both advice, brainstorming ideas and referrals when they are not available for an event (some are also selfish, arrogant and protective -- this is the real world, not Mayberry).

Since I teach that having a strong network pf professional contacts in any field leads to greater success.... I predict that my closer involvement with other speakers will be very beneficial. I hope I can find a way to bring value to other members of the organization.

Have A Great Day.

thom

ACG - January Speaker: Lew Little, CEO of Harden Healthcare

The Central Texas Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth continues to thrive as one of Austin's premier networking and business educational groups in town (and I do not just say this because I am on the board!).


ACG thrives as a direct result of attracting a great mixture of the best corporate speakers in the area. Month after month the "whose who" of C-Level executives address the ever growing crowds of the ACG membership.


This week 120+ professionals were in attendance to listen to Lew Little, CEO of Harden Healthcare.


Lew is an Austin native (not many of those around!) who is a local business legend. He has worked in a variety of roles in banking, investment/finance and now as the leader of one of the country's most talked about nursing home and home healthcare organizations.


Little gave up caffeine in April 2008, but you would never have know it from his energy presentation.


Much of the talk centered in on the history and recent growth of Harden Healthcare - along with information about the ever changing healthcare industry in the United States. However, Little peppered the information with nuggets of knowledge that can be applied to any company:

*"Deliver the right care and the rest falls into place".


*"Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you are and they will make you look good".


*"Be aware of the threats in your industry and the economy"


*"All service businesses are personal"


Little went on to site the many areas of focus and strategy that have lead to his company's continued success:


persistence, positioning, improving the product offering, diversification, increased patient (client) satisfaction, developing and tending to company culture, investing in training and development of managers and staff, creating a sales culture, showing appreciation to employees, etc....


When asked about why Austin is a great place to grow a business, Little was fast to point out the great amenities of the city which make it an easy place to entice people to visit or relocate. He does hate the fact that you must change planes to get anywhere when traveling --- but we in Austin have had that problem for generations.

Harden Healthcare has been able to attract a top team of executives who now call Austin their home. It is continuing to grow and looks toward a very bright future.


Thanks to Lew Little for his inspiring and insightful presentation at ACG.


If you have never checked out the Association for Corporate Growth meetings in your city, you are missing out.


Have A Great Day.


thom

Turnaround Management Association

Last night I made the trek from Austin to San Antonio for the meeting of the Central Texas Chapter of the Turnaround Management Association. The company where I work as the director of business development, vcfo, consults with businesses of all sizes with a variety of issues around operational accounting, finance, HR and recruiting issues - thus TMA is an organization I wanted to know more about. vcfo can serve as a vital resource for distressed companies looking for options, as our CFO's are all highly seasoned executives who have hands-on experience with issues facing businesses in transition. Thus, extending my personal network with those who focus on "turnarounds" is ideal.

The speaker for the meeting was Cliff Atherton, managing director from the Houston based investment bank GulfStar Group. His talk was titled "The Challenges For Middle Market Transactions in 2009", and he did a great job of detailing the ups and downs that companies face in the coming year.

I enjoyed the presentation and all the conversations with the other professionals in attendance. My head was left spinning from talk about the economy, but this is an important topic for everyone, regardless of what we do for a living.

While Texas is just beginning to feel the changes that have impacted the rest of the country caused by the panic that hit all the markets in October, we are not immune from the crisis.

M&A has shut down due to the limited amount of credit in the marketplace. Banks continue to preserve capital and are not making many new loans. Bankers are not being aggressive and debt is more expensive. As we enter the new year following Q4 2008, we are seeing fewer transactions and the lack of available money, coupled with the drop in the stock market values; placing both buyers and sellers onto the sidelines. Many do not believe we have yet to see the bottom, and that does not help companies that are currently looking for options to raise cash.

Not long ago it was a sellers market, but the abrupt shift in the past few months have left few options for businesses that need to sell. Owners are holding onto the "anchor" of their 2007 valuations, and those that do not need to sell (companies with little debt and plenty of cash on hand) are not looking to make any moves until prices rebound.

The good news is that there are strategic buyers / investors out there who are looking to invest. Companies need to be realistic and flexible. We also need consumer confidence to return, as the general public is a major factor in the overall economy. As as long as people are not spending, there will not be a rebound in other sectors.

I left the meeting with an upbeat feeling about the future for the economy. While there is still some tough times ahead, everyone seemed confident. The investment bankers and others in the room are looking for deals, and that is a good sign.

My 94-year-old dad has seen a lot of things transpire in the economy over his lifetime. He told me recently that there was one fact about an economic "bust". They have all been followed by a "boom" at some point.

I look forward to attending future TMA meetings in San Antonio and Austin. It is a good organization with some great people involved.

Have A Great Day.

thom

Work Hard And Hope Your Boss Is A Good Mountain Climber

Last week I had writers block and I asked the people who follow me on Twitter to help with some questions about networking, marketing, sales, career development, etc....

I received a lot questions via Twitter, Twitter DM and email. Thus writers block is now gone and I have plenty of topics.

The second question is below. As I write these posts over the next week I am not going to site the persons who asked the questions, as some many not want their identity exposed (a few came by direct message with a request not to use their name):

With the problems in the economy I am worried about my job, and I have a co-worker I feel is undermining me in the eyes of my boss. What can I do?

Ouch. This is a tough one.

I think that many people are worried about job security in the current economic situation. Many whom I talk to feel like their future is out of their control and their fear of the "what if's" are center stage right now.

All anyone can do is to work hard and do the best job that they can, and hope that their co-workers and superiors respect the efforts they make to advance the company's cause. The person who sent me the above question did not specify the type of role they play in their company, but regardless of job description, she should make sure that she is supporting the common good of the company.

Hard work is no guarantee against getting laid off, but if you do the best you can, then no matter what happens you will always feel good about yourself.

As for believing a co-worker is harming her reputation, I have seen this happen before in companies where I worked earlier in my career. Some people react to the touch economic situation by trying to "mark their territory". Often they do this by attempting to make themselves appear more important to the company by marginalizing the contributions of others.

Again, all you can do is work hard at what you do best for your company. I believe most people are not taken in by such tactics if they are engaged in the running of their departments. They understand the contributions that their people make, and frown on those who do not support their co-workers efforts.

Consider this (I love this analogy, but do not remember where I heard it):

Is you boss in the valley, on the hillside, or on the hilltop? Where they stand on the mountain will effect their perception when asked if the sun has risen. A boss in the valley will say "no". A boss on the hillside will say "I think the sun will be up soon". But a manager who is standing firmly on top of the mountain will say "yes, the sun is shining very brightly!!!"

An individual's perception is their reality. I hope her boss has reached the top of the mountain!

Have A Great Day.

thom

Your Co-worker Is A Jerk

Last week I had writers block and I asked the people who follow me on Twitter to help with some questions about networking, marketing, sales, career development, etc....

Wow, I got a bunch of responses, so now I have plenty of topics.

The first question is below. As I write these posts over the next week I am not going to site the persons who asked the questions, as some many not want their identity exposed (a few came by direct message with a request not to use their name):

"How do you respond when networking and people talk about how your colleague / superior is such a jerk? Umm?"

The person asking the question does not clarify if their co-worker really is a jerk or not, but the response is the same: never join in on the bad-mouthing. Defend the person or change the subject, but do not become part of such chit-chat.

I am surprised how often people will voluntarily say negative things about other people in public. Sometimes they know first hand the information they spread (that the other person is a jerk or did this or that). Sometimes they are just gossiping. Either way, a networking event is not the time or the place to explore character flaws.

If you work with someone who has a negative reputation you have probably encountered this type of chatter. If you do not like the person either it is tempting to jump into the weeds and join in the verbal bashing. Bad idea. Never say anything about another person that you do not want reported back to them. Someone might over hear you who will repeat what you said.

I one time received a call from someone I barely knew reporting about a conversation they had where another person said some bad things about ME. While I was hurt and sad to hear what a person (whom I thought was a friend) had said, I was more baffled that the person on the other end of the phone was pointing this out to me. But it was a great lesson that what you say always finds its way home.

When the person is someone you respect you will want to defend them. The best way to do this is with humor and a smile. Attacking the person who spoke the negative words or making a huge deal will cause a scene, and a corporate event is not the place.

The most important thing to remember is that anyone who will say bad things about your co-worker in public will not hesitate the do the same about other people (including you) at future events. Their behavior could be a good signal that they are not worthy of your investment to grow your relationship.

Our moms always said, "if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything". This is great advice when attending networking events!!!

Have A Great Day.

thom

You Cannot Force Viral

The more I participate in online social media, the more I learn about the off-line world at the same time. You cannot force people to take action. Never assume that others are motivated by the same things. You cannot force viral.

My participation in the HomeAway Vacation Giveaway was a wonderful experience. I did not enter with the plan of winning (although that would be very cool) - but instead I try to be an active student of how things take shape in social media (the medium is new and ever changing.... so everyone is still a student of social media!!!).

I very much enjoyed telling the story of my childhood vacation memory (yes, it really happened just as I wrote it... that is the reality of being the youngest of four boys).

My lesson comes from how few votes I have received. Nearly 1000 people have viewed my blog post asking for people to vote and I have over 700 followers on Twitter who have heard my plea. Yet as of now only 25 people voted for my entry.

1038 people have voted in the contest over the past 4 days for the 32 entries, with the leader having less than 200 votes. Voting closes on January 15th, and at his point I think that the trend is clear, that my peeps ain't voting.

This is not a gripe. It is actually totally cool, as you cannot force viral. Nobody can expect others to take actions for an event that is really all about me. The motto "Hey, win ME a free trip!" does not launch ships. It does not play into any body's self interest....other than mine.

Take this example off line and into our business lives. How often do we pepper our clients, prospects and referral sources with messages that are self serving? We forget that our self interest of making sales does not really matter to our audience. Sure we have people who like and respect our products and services, and they love us as human beings, but this is not enough to motivate them to take the actions we desire.

Of those who voted for me in the contest - one third of them were my family and close friends who live near Santa Cruz. These folks had a personal interest in my victory (as they would get to come to the beach house and party it up!). The same is true in business, our handful of evangelists sing our praises and we wonder why others do not follow suit. Those who buy or refer your company usually have personal motivation involved. It makes them look good.

Companies often make this mistake in their marketing when they lead with the history of the firm, their unique product, or all the victories they have had for other clients. "Look at Me" marketing makes the firm feel good, but does the buyer care? Will it drive them to action? Nope.

Those who will buy (or refer others) are interested in how they benefit. When they will win, they go viral and tell the world. Helping the other guy win for the greater good is a wonderful theory, but it does not motivate the masses. Sure, there are exceptions. We should cherish those who just like to help for the sake of helping others (these folks do exist!!!), but do not count on them being the majority.

While you cannot force viral, you cannot just sit on your butt if you want results. "Word of Mouth Marketing" or "Going Viral" are mysterious creatures. You cannot manipulate society into adopting and idea. But that does not mean we should not be trying. Much spaghetti will hit the floor.... but when it sticks to the wall.... Watch out. That is the holy grail of which all dreams are made.

Have A Great Day.

thom

Please Help Me Win A Free Vacation

Dear Reader of My Blog:

I need your help. I entered an online contest sponsored by HomeAway (a company that helps owners of vacation homes connect to those who want to rent them, based in Austin, Texas). The prize is a one week rental of a very cool beach house along the California coast.

The winner is selected via votes. (Yes, they will want to capture a real email address for your vote to count).

To enter the contest one had to write a blog post for the contest. I did that here.

Click Here to see my entry into the contest and to register your vote. And tell a couple of friends. The only way to win this contest is to get your extended network engaged to vote. Voting ends January 15, 2009.

Thanks. I wish I could take you all with me to the beach (sorry, the house is not that big), but I promise to share more stories of how my older brothers tormented me when I was a kid (you need to read the original entry for the contest to understand - It is funny).

UPDATE - There are only 32 folks in this contest, thus my chances of winning are very good... but the whole thing is based on the number of votes. One of the people in the contest has over 8000 followers on Twitter, thus he has a MUCH bigger platform than I do. Alas, I could win, if you tell two friends, and they tell two friends, and so on, and so on, etc......

Have A Great Day.

thom

Leadership Austin Engage Breakfast - Poverty in Central Texas

January is "Poverty Awareness Month", and while not the cheeriest of topics to launch into the new year, it is worthy of our attention.

This morning's Leadership Austin Engage Breakfast Series hosted a panel discussion on the topic of Poverty in Central Texas at Chez Zee Restaurant. Panel moderator Jim Walker and panelists Frances Deviney (Director of Texas Kids Count) and Dan Pruett (Executive Director of Meals on Wheels and More) addressed the issues facing the poor in our region.

There is not enough talk in Austin about poverty. As a community we place much of our focus on music, arts, health and lifestyle. While these are the good things that make Austin, Texas one of the coolest cities in the world, we sometimes forget about those who are in the shadows of our society. A truly GREAT city is judged on how it treats its young, old, sick and poor.

Austin ranks near the bottom when it comes to money donated to charitable causes based on a per capita basis. 48th of the 50 largest cities in America (I have heard that our ranking is rising, but still in the bottom third). This is not acceptable for a growth oriented community that prides itself on a powerful entrepreneurial spirit.

Texas is a state with very low taxes, but that also means we have very low spending on programs to help those in need. We are the 2nd fastest growing state in the country, which means that more people are coming to our region who will need more services. Federal and state programs come up short as they focus on those living under the "official" poverty level (which is way way low income levels). But there are many people who do not qualify for government assistance, yet still need help.

We have amazing non-profit organizations in Central Texas, but if the current economic conditions worsen, there will be more people in need. As a community we need to be proactive in providing the safety nets for our fellow citizens.

Often those who work in the business community do not see poverty first hand, so they assume it is not a major problem in our region. But it is. Poverty is not just a numbers game on some government chart, instead it is a state of being for real families who live and work close to us.

As you plan your new years resolutions and goals, have you looked toward giving back as one of the items on your "To Do List"? Make a commitment to philanthropy in your community (regardless of what city you live in, there is need all around you). If you do not know where to start with giving back in Central Texas, check out "I Live Here, I Give Here" or send me an email and I will help you find other sources.

You can also join the Some Assembly Required - Philanthropy Discussion Group on LinkedIn.

Thank you to Leadership Austin for a great program. If you are not familiar with the Engage Breakfast Series, each month they bring together a panel of experts and address the pressing issues of our community.

Have A Great Day.

thom

HomeAway $5K Dream Vacation Getaway Contest

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The whole world is the oyster for this vacation paradise contest and I pick a beach house in Santa Cruz, California? Yep. One reason. Memories.

I was raised in Southern California and every summer my parents rented a house in Newport Beach. One of my earliest memories was getting to sleep on the floor in a sleeping bag on our annual vacation. Wow, how cool! (yes, as a grown up I now know that the youngest kid got the worst sleeping conditions on vacation - dirty, sand covered carpet and an old army surplus sleeping bag - but to me it was an adventure).

I remember my siblings rolling me up in the sleeping bag when I was three-years-old and tossing me around. Disoriented they told me they had placed me on the top shelf of the closet, and if I moved I would fall. I cried. My mom found me rolled up sobbing in the bag on the floor of the living room while my brothers had gone out to play in the surf.

My older brothers were soon gone away to college and beyond (with that last story you probably think I did not miss them!), but those childhood memories of a week at the beach are burned into my brain.

We have not recreated the beach trip for our kids. A week of carefree exploring the coast with the sand between their toes, picking up treasures of rocks and seashells would be magic.



We live in Texas, so a week in California during the heat of the summer is a dream getaway. My brothers live nearby Santa Cruz and I might let them come visit us and enjoy the view.... if they apologize for that whole sleeping bag thing. But the cool part is that my 94-year-old Dad now lives 30 minutes away from the beach at Santa Cruz. Thus, I could drive him over the hill to enjoy the swanky house with his grandkids!!

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Click here to see the house I would rent if I won and go vote for me in the HomeAway contest.

New Year Enthusiasm

Today was the first official work day of 2009.

If each day of the year everyone worked with the same level of enthusiasm that they put forth today, there would be no recession.

I saw it in every aspect of my day. People were pumped up: At work, online, in restaurants, in coffee shops, on the street, ...EVERYWHERE!!! Never before have so many people been so happy to see the old year closed out and be over.

Good-bye 2008...don't let the door hit you in the ass!

SLAM. The last year is shut and nailed closed. Seems everyone had issues with 2008.

Today people had an optimistic glow about them. Smiles were returning to faces and their eyes again had that twinkle of hope that had been missing during the fourth quarter.

Everyone was working hard to launch 2009 with gusto. Seems they were looking ahead to all their big projects in the upcoming months and getting the ball rolling.

I had three meeting planners contact me in one day to inquire about my speaking at their events this year. That was exciting, as I am looking to do more professional speaking this year, and it was fun to talk with them and hear their plans for meetings, educational seminars and conferences.

The worries about the economy seemed to be melting away as people were tackling a variety of action items to move forward with the new year. Everyone had long "To Do" lists today and were plowing through leaving check marks behind them as they flew down the page.

Yes, it is just one day. But I was watching everyone I encountered on this first work day of 2009 as a way of looking into the crystal ball. I cannot really predict the future, but if today has any insight, this year has some great things coming for us all.

Happy New Year and Have A Great Day.

thom

Seeking Change In 2009: Then Do Something To Create The Change You Desire

If we all want change in 2009 we need to take action. As a society (not just Americans, but people all over the world) we have been calling for change for a long time. It is easy to look at history through our short term memory and point fingers at those in political power, while pretending the world was utopia in days of yore. But the change we seek goes deeper than just Barak Obama coming along to follow the Bush Administration.

While a small percentage of people are high achievers, and another small percentage are stuck in failure (sorry).... the majority are seekers. We seek more for ourselves, and our children, while working through our day to day lives. America was founded by generations of those seeking a better life.

Being a seeker is not a bad thing. It is great. It beats just sitting on your butt and accepting whatever comes along. But to seek we must do more than wait or hope that "The Law of Attraction" will magically bring us the goods. While I believe in the power of goal setting and visualization, we must take actions in conjunction with those things. This is true both individually and collectively. If we are "Waiting for Godot", Godot never comes. (There's a reference I wonder if anyone will get!).

Maybe I am missing it, but many people seem to just be talking a lot about the economy, the environment, health care, corruption in politics and corporations, employment / labor issues, human rights, and dozens of other issues.... but they are not doing anything.

In the course of this blog I cannot speak to the society as a whole about how to tackle the BIG issues of our day. That takes more than the views of some yokel blogger to digest. But as an individual I do know first hand that you can do the things that will bring you the change you seek in the new year - regardless of all the other stuff happening in the world around us.

Here are five suggestions to jump-starting your change:

1. Don't listen to the media. If you listen to the mainstream media then this is the worst economy since the great depression. OH? Go to a restaurant on a Friday night and look at the full parking lots. That was not the case in the 1930s. Yes, we have problems and yes many families are hurting right now. But the sky has not fallen. Accept that there are worldwide financial concerns and then go micro. Look at your own situation and make smart choices with your personal economy. You cannot change the whole planet, but you can take actions that effect your family.

2. Know what you want. If you do not know what success looks like, how would you ever know if you won? Olympic athletes know the goal - The Gold Medal. They visualize it. They practice for it. They make choices in their diet, health, sleep, etc... that lead them toward victory. They sit quietly and see the race in their heads. They visualize. Then they go out and try as hard as they can. No, they do not all win, but everyone of them tries hard -- and they are better off for it.

3. Connect with the right people. Yes, it all comes back to networking. The people you build strong, mutually beneficial relationships with will want to see you succeed. Seek out the people in your industry who have the knowledge. Be a resource for them and together you will both accomplish more. But never be selfish. If you look at them as just there to help you they will discover you as a "Taker". Takers get passed over.

And be sure to acknowledge those who help you and say "thank you". This is often overlooked when people reach their goals.

4. Get knowledge. Never before in human history have we had more access to information than we do right now. Invest the time to become educated on a variety of topics. Read books and blogs, attend seminars, take classes, participate in online communities, etc... Get knowledge, but with all your getting, get understanding. To only know something is not enough. You must understand it on a deeper level and realize how it impacts the greater community.

5. Be a voice for good. If you want change you cannot just observe the world as it goes past. You must take a stand for something. Support a local cause that can impact your community. People listen to those who make a difference. Too often people want others to listen to them, but they have no history of ever saying or doing anything significant. Thus when they do speak up they are just part of the noise. Rise above the noise by consistently being vocal about things that matter. This does not mean being pigheaded or disrespectful to those who have differing opinions. Instead it means finding ways to bring a variety of points of view into the discussion... and being the level headed one who stands for good.

Change is coming. We have started the ball rolling and cannot stop it. The question is what will that change look like? If you are one who seeks change, help shape that change.

Have A Great Day.

thom

Purging The Negative People

In 2009 I think it is wise to simply purge the people from your life who are negative influences, takers, posers, gossips, dream killers and generally rude or hurtful.

Think about it. We all spend a lot of time dealing with people who annoy us and bring grief. There are too few hours in the day to be spun into the web of these dark souls.

Now if they are your family or your co-workers you might not have the ability to totally eliminate them from your world, but you can curtail how you react to the drama that they bring to the planet.

It is easier than you think to clear your plate of these folks. Do not follow them on social media. I recently removed two people from my online platforms. Both I had met and both were self-centered "takers" whom brought little value. With a few clicks their presence was gone and I need not worry about them. They were acquaintances who I am sure will not notice I have unfollowed them.

Those whom you know better it takes a little more effort to navigate away from them. When you do cross paths, simply be polite (mutual friendships and participation in organizations will bring some of these people around often). Being rude just makes you look bad.

In a few cases you might need to "break up" with them, but in most cases you can orchestrate drifting apart and just get on with life!

That is my plan. Fortunately my list is short of those who need to be purged in 2009. But I am much happier in my avoidance of them already.

Life is short, spend it with those whom you have a mutually beneficial relationships and who brighten your world.

Have A Great Day.

thom

Welcome to 2009 and Your New Goals

Optimists love New Years Day. It is the ultimate calendar mark for a positive fresh start.

The negatives of 2008 were many (but so were the positives) and many closed out the old year worried about health of the worldwide economic system. While it has been battered and bruised, I do not subscribe to the "all is lost" mentality of the doom and gloom crowd. Besides, 2008 is so yesterday.

Today the page has turned and we each have a unique chance to reset our individual and collective goals for accomplishment. Dang, it is exciting if you think about it.

If you are not a goal setter, I encourage you to think about having a few things that you want to strive for in 2009. You will be surprised when you have clear, concise, and written goals how much easier it is to make the tough choices in all areas of your life. The fact that you have thought about what you want will make your year better than if you just let life happen to you.

Have you heard the expression "Shit Happens"? Yes, to people who have no idea what they want out of life!

Select one to three goals in each of these areas:

Career Goals. This pertain to your job, business, education, and income. What do you want to do differently in the new year that will bring you more satisfaction in this part of your life?

Personal Goals. These are things that effect your family, home and health. This part of our life brings us so much peace and joy when running well, and so much grief when out of sync.

Soul Goals. Here you need to examine your own spiritual journey. We all have different belief systems, but most people I know (even atheists) has some desire to connect to a higher power.

Make sure all your goals are attainable and realistic for your personal situation, but include goals that involve some hard work and dedication in their accomplishment. The good things in life always come with some level of sacrifice and hard work.

Years ago I began setting goals. Over time I have had people roll their eyes or scoff at my dedication to this process. But much of my accomplishments would never have happened without my focus on goals. I never could have written several books without having clear goals about the projects and dates of completion.

Do I meet all of my goals each year? Nope. That is not the point. Goals are not a guarantee or a magic wand. But they do make it easier when faced with any decision, as I can ponder if my actions will bring me closer or farther from achieving my goals. When I make a bad choice (and I do that often), I can quickly identify that I off course and take the steps to get back on track. With no goals how would you know what progress you were making advancing your life situation?

Embrace the power of the new year and think about where you want your live to be in 12 months. Write down your goals on paper and refer to them often. I can assure you that this process will cause no harm, but it might help... so why would you not even try?

Sure, there will be all kinds of trials and tribulations over the next year, but there always have been throughout history. The press highlights the negatives of the world because it sells papers (well, nothing sell "papers" any more, but it brings eyeballs to the news), But when you have goals, it lets you see past the headlines of disaster.

Happy New Year and Godspeed to you in 2009!

thom

"Celebrate Austin Entrepreneurship Project" - DadLabs

Does Changing Smelly Diapers Spur Entrepreneurship?


It Did for Clay Nichols, Brad Powell and Troy Lanier.


After becoming new fathers they quit their teaching careers and became the entrepreneurs behind DadLabs - and they have never looked back.


America is seeing a fundamental shift in the role of men in parenting. While many in the media and academia have observed this trend, no company has emerged to meet the needs of these "New" fathers, the modern dads. Enter DadLabs, Inc., a start-up company, based in Austin, Texas, dedicated to providing creative media content and information products to serve this new generation of "Super Dads."

DadLabs is an information and entertainment company that fosters the father/child relationship through media, instructional and retail products. The mission of the company is to strengthen families and benefit children by empowering today's fathers. The company provides resources to expecting, new and veteran fathers that will launch them into a more active and creative role in the lives of their children.


DadLabs speaks to the corporate executive and the delivery driver with a voice that is authentic and genuinely male (AKA- often irreverent!!! oh yeah!!!) with wisdom and self-deprecating humor of experience. The products and services offered are honest, informative, sometimes off-color, but always dedicated to the spirit of fatherhood. DadLabs speaks guy and presents information through guy-colored lenses.

Founded in 2004 DadLabs aims to be the voice of the new fatherhood. The company was founded on the core value that parents must be the primary movers in the lives of their children and fathers must play a leading role in this journey. The team at DadLabs is committed to assisting the busy father by providing him with accessible and digestible information and parenting ideas. DadLabs will not only inform and entertain fathers, but will also foster creative father/child activities through retail products.

The trio bring more than 30 years of teaching and hands on fatherhood experience, as well as professional film making and writing experience. Troy Lanier and Clay Nichols are accomplished authors and were named to the Austin Chronicle Best of 2005 for their book "Filmmaking for Teens: Pulling off Your Shorts." The company's first DVD, "DueDads: The Man's Survival Guide to Pregnancy" recently won a 27th annual Bronze Telly Award.

All three founders have been long time teachers at Austin's St. Stephen's School and combined have seven small children.


Daddy Clay answered a few questions for the Some Assembly Required Blog:


1. You were school teachers for years before becoming entrepreneurs.... What drew you to launch your own business? A number of factors led to me giving up a perfectly good steady gig to attempt to squeeze a living from web video. First and foremost, I wanted to write more. I have an MFA in Playwriting from the University of Texas, and my ambition has always been to be a writer. DadLabs has given me a great platform for my creativity. In addition to feeling little restricted creatively, I was also feeling a little hemmed in professionally working in schools. You can see the the road ahead, what the opportunities and limitations are. I don’t really feel those kind of limitations any more.


2. What it is like launching a Web based media related business from Austin? Would there be advantages to being in the Silicon Valley, Los Angeles or somewhere else? Austin is a really good place to launch a tech company -- although we’re also media/entertainment which is less of an ideal match. The great thing about Austin is that there are lots of fellow entrepreneurs in tech, lots of startups, practitioners, colleagues -- a solid community. There is also a small but significant pool of institutional and angel investors that understand the opportunities and that has been significant for us. The question of other places is moot for me. Our roots are here as a family. We’re not going anywhere anytime soon. Love Austin.


3. What will 2009 bring for the company? 2009 will see the release of our first book “DadLabs Guide to Fatherhood” and with it significant national mainstream media exposure. Explosive growth in audience and attention from major CPG companies. Also, profitability!


If you are a dad, and you have not checked out DadLabs....get on with it. You will laugh and learn all at the same time. DadLabs is yet another example of what makes the entrepreneurial spirit in Austin absolutely awesome.


Have A Great Day.


thom

"Celebrate Austin Entrepreneurship Project" - Paragon Prep

Can a middle school be an entrepreneurial venture?

It can if it is founded and run by and entrepreneur who treats the enterprise as a business.

Austin's Paragon Prep is such a school. Founded by former UT Football player Dave McGrath who serves as the school's headmaster, Paragon Prep is a different type of school. Dave played offensive tackle from 1986-1990 (#57). His final year he had the honor of playing on the 1990 SWC Conference Championship Longhorn Team while attending his first year of graduate school studying Educational Psychology.

Many parents and educators agree that middle school can be the pivotal period in a child's academic experience. With the ever increasing peer pressure and challenges outside of the classroom, students may become unfocused or lost altogether during this critical time. Paragon provides an alternative that is distinct among private schools in the area.

As the parent of a middle schooler, I know what a unique time this is for the student and the parents (my daughter is not a student at Paragon, but I wish we lived closer to the school, as I am a big fan of the Paragon program).

Paragon focuses strictly on middle school and has designed a program that fills a need for a limited private school experience for families that are not considering a twelve year financial commitment to private schooling. The curriculum is designed in such a way that Paragon students returning to public schools after the eighth grade will be exceptionally prepared to enter either regular or honors programs.

Paragon's Educational Team has outstanding credentials in academic fields ranging from economics to theater. They also have extensive experience working with middle school students and are committed to making the middle school experience at Paragon Prep one that reflects excellence in every way.

I asked Dave McGrath a few questions about his entrepreneurial venture and here is what he said:

1. What made you start the school and become an entrepreneur? In searching out a school environment in which to work with gifted children, I found that most public schools were bogged down in the bureaucracy of the state legislature and most private schools in the bureaucracy of the churches that sponsored them. To give bright students the proper balance of challenge and nurturing, a new paradigm was needed. Thus the educator/counselor had to become an entrepreneur/school founder.

2. Why is Austin the best place to start a business? It's the people. Austinites are enlightened folks who are receptive to innovative ideas and predisposed to supporting homegrown businesses that deliver what they promise.

3. What makes a school like a business? In the case of Paragon Prep, we are literally a for-profit cooperation whose existence depends on the satisfaction of the families we serve. We are constantly working to attract and compensate great employees, enhance our facilities, keep our curriculum fresh, and market to prospective families all while balancing the budget. So like most businesses, this school must be successful to survive.

4. Your favorite part of being an entrepreneur? My favorite part of being an entrepreneur is the empowerment I experience. Since I'm responsible for the success of my students, teachers, and programs - my focus stays sharp and my energy level stays high. By taking the risk of starting my own venture, I have tapped into great resources within.

Paragon Prep is another great example of Austin's unique entrepreneurial spirit finding it way into all aspects of our society.

Have A Great Day.

thom

Experiences Trump Things

I love reading the Sunday paper. I do not always have the time, but enjoy the ritual whenever the chance comes my way. I often take over a tiny corner of my local Starbucks and steal some peaceful time skimming by the events and opinions of those who make the written words come to life.

I almost never visit a Starbucks to get coffee "to go". What makes the over-priced coffee a true value is to sit in the inviting atmosphere and soak in the world around me. The experience of sitting and reading is what makes the coffeehouse so inviting.

One of my favorites reads in the Sunday paper is a relatively new syndicated column that appears in the Austin American-Statesman called "Yoder & Son". The piece revolves around money issues that face families and is written by WSJ journalist Steve Yoder and his 17 year-old son Issac. They split the column in a "He Said / He Said" fashion covering the topic of the day from the eyes of a frugal father and a young son just being launched into the world.

This week they wrote the column from their family Christmas trip to Slovakia. Each year the Yoders take an exotic trip, even though they are not "uber-wealthy". Steve began by pointing out that some might be offended during a recession that they were jetting off to Europe for the holiday break, but later pointed out that they do this by not having new cars or a fancier house. It is all about choices. It is all about providing the family with shared experiences.

Issac went on to write about how a lifetime of travel to unique places makes him appreciate experiences more than things. As a parent this touched my soul, as we live in a very materially focused world, and yet kids do get the messages that we send them by the choices that we as parents make.

I can relate to the trepidation about planning such trips in these tough economic times. A friend who received our holiday card (featuring my family in a gondola in Venice from Summer 2008) commented (with a hint of judgement) that we sure seem spend a lot of money on travel. Granted, our last four holiday cards photos have featured my family on trips to France, San Diego, Ireland and Italy. However, our 2005 trip to Italy and France was the first major vacation we had ever taken in over 13 years of being married. (Before we got married my wife had visited Europe and I had been to Asia and Brazil).

I resonated with Steve & Issac Yoder's viewpoint about the importance of travel and creating a library of memories with the family. I hope that my children will grow to have the same appreciation of the world that Issac Yoder seems to have grasped. I will continue to drive my little Mazda Tribute if it means my girls will continue to have experiences rather than things.

Everything we do in life is about choices. Experiences trump things, and thus the money spent on travel can become an investment in the family on multiple levels. I have been very stressed about the money necessary for our scheduled trip to Spain this year and was considering not going. But Yoder made the point of a trip he canceled in 1990 for the same reason and labeled it "the most expensive $2000 he ever saved", highlighting the cost of the experiences they missed. Amen.

If you are raising kids and money is an issue in your house, I recommend you read "Yoder & Son" in your local paper each week. Their prospective is spot on, and they will make you think about how you tackle the tough (and not so tough) issues.

I hope that when my daughters are 17 years old they will understand the choices that we have made for them along the way, and cherish the experience.

Have A Great Day.

thom

"I Don't Care Much For Soup Lines"

I was working on an article for ORIGINATE! (the world's leading online resource for legal marketing) on "Why Your Network Is MORE Important In 2009", and was in need of inspiration.

Thus I turned to Twitter and posted the question to those who follow me "Why is your network more important in 2009". I even offered a $10 Starbucks gift card to the most inspiring response.

While I got several great comments back, the best was from Drew Weaver of Joplin, MO (AKA: @drewmaniac) who said:

"My network of professional contacts is more important in 2009 because I don't care much for soup lines."

He was being funny, but his point was clear .... Your network is your lifeline. Without an established network of contacts who care for your future, you could quickly lose everything if the bottom fell out.

I hear from many people who are out of work and "just getting around" to networking. You can't expect to ignore your networking efforts for years (or decades) and then jump in looking for help when you are in need. A network is about give and take. You must create and cultivate relationships long before you need a favor.

With crazy bumps in the economy everyone seems to have taken a renewed interest in networking. That is smart.... but they really never should have let their attention to the power of business relationships falter in the first place.

If you have any concerns about your company and career, I suggest you look at the people in your business community who can have influence on helping you achieve in 2009. Don't wait until you are upside down.

Have A Great Day.

thom

Thank Your Network In The Last Week Of The Year

This post originally appeared as a guest blogger post on the Austin Startup Blog.

2008 is coming to an abrupt close. This year in business will not soon be forgotten (although many will try). We have seen many ups and downs, and the economy has been rocked on several levels.

As people begin to look toward 2009 most companies and business professionals are focused on the future, but with one week remaining on the calendar now is a great time to reflect on the people who have had the greatest positive impact on you and your business over the past 12 months.

Nobody lives in a vacuum: we all have employees, co-workers, family members, friends, clients, vendors, mentors and others who have impacted us for the better during 2008. In the busy world where we all live and work it is easy to forget to take the time to honor those who have assisted us in the good times and bad.

Sure, you sent a holiday card or an occasional email, but have you made the effort to praise the people in your network who make a difference? I suggest that before you go home on December 31st that you find some unique way to let those people know you appreciate them and what they have done to make your life better.

Select five, seven or ten individuals who stood out the most in helping you in the past year and reach out to them. Do not just send a blind cc’d email to the group, but instead make a personal contact that will specifically let them know how they made a difference in your life this year. Be clear that you want them to know you appreciate their influence on your life, and that you hope you can find ways to be equally helpful to them in 2009.

Sending an email is okay, but a handwritten note or a phone call would be even more meaningful. I am not discrediting emails, but they are the very easiest way to communicate. If you want to stand out, put in the extra effort and make it special (we are only talking about a few notes or calls).

In a tough economy your network matters more than ever. All opportunities come from people, thus if you respect the people who have helped you get this far, you will find they will be there for you again in the future. Everyone enjoys receiving a “thank you” for their efforts.

Have A Great Day.

thom

"Celebrate Austin Entrepreneurship Project" - vcfo

Founded in Austin, Texas in 1996, vcfo is the leader in providing outsourced solutions for the financial infrastructure, human resources and recruiting and staffing needs for companies both large and small.


Every vcfo client is assigned an onsite or virtual team of professionals that will fulfill the client’s current needs as well as plan flexible strategies to maximize business growth.


vcfo was established in under the name virtualcfo™ --Virtual Chief Financial Officer. The original idea was to provide part-time strategic financial support to companies that needed it but could not yet afford to add a CFO to their staff.


Timing was good for the idea in Austin with numerous small technology companies receiving early stage first rounds of capital. virtualcfo™ was well received by both the early stage and established businesses (and the venture capital and banking communities), allowing the young company to experience rapid growth. The company has since shortened its name to vcfo and expanded its base by adding offices in Dallas, Denver and Seattle.


The company also expanded its product line adding an HR Solutions service line in 2006 (now called vhr) and a recruiting and permanent placement group with the 2007 acquisition of Start up Staffing (now called vrecruiting).


Co-founder and CEO, Ellen Wood, was an experienced CFO who had worked for a local telecom company when she launched vcfo. The leap took her from accountant to entrepreneur, and she has never looked back. The company now employs close to 100 people in four cities and has served over 900 clients over the years. Ellen and the vcfo team have been an important part of the growth of several entrepreneurial growth companies, helping these businesses and their management teams tackle a varitey of complex issues.


Ellen feels strongly about the Austin community as a great place to run a business and raise a family (she is a graduate of both Anderson High School and The University of Texas at Austin - her son also graduated from Anderson High School). She has witnessed much of the ups and downs of the Austin economy and has weathered the storms as both a business owner and a trusted advisor.


I asked Ellen the following questions about Austin, the economy and entrepreneurship:


1. What do you enjoy most about being an entrepreneur? Wow – so many things I love about being an entrepreneur. I guess being able to respond to market requirements with what I think is the right solution and seeing it make it or fail on it’s merits. I love the opportunity to meet with other entrepreneurs and hear their ideas and enthusiasm and share experiences with them that I hope are helpful to them.

2. What makes Austin a great town to grow a business? Austin is an open town – open to new people, open to new ideas, open to new ways of doing things. I love that. There is a lot of great talent here and many folks willing to engage and advise new entrepreneurs.

3. What advice would you give entrepreneurs in today's economic climate? Do not overextend yourself right now no matter how great your idea is. This is not the year to build your business on your credit cards. Profitability and positive cash flow are key to your ability to live and grow another day.

vcfo is a great example of a home-grown Austin company that continues to thrive and contribute to the spirit of entrepreneurship in our fine city.

Have A Great Day

thom

** DISCLAIMER - I work for vcfo as the director of business development. I have been with the company for over a year - but I have known and respected the company and the management team for nearly a decade. I had considered not writing about vcfo because some might see this as a conflict of interest -- However, it is my blog and I decided as long as I disclosed that I report directly to the CEO, that I could (and should) write about a local company that I believe should be celebrated in this project.

Podcast - Coaching the Entrepreneur

It has been too long since I had done a podcast of "The Some Assembly Required Radio Show" on the Blog Talk Radio Network.

Today I inteviewed executive coach John Oberg on the topic of "Coaching the Entrepreneur".

Listen here.

Have A Great Day.

thom