A great new film about the lives of three American entrepreneurs- The Call of the Entrepreneur- is now available for direct purchase on DVD for $20. It’s a great film.
Here’s the trailer:
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Monday, May 12, 2008
Ralph Brown: Time for Entreprneurship, Economics and Investing 101
Commentary by Ralph:
How about having the Junior High, High and Vocational schools all add to their curriculum the following: Entreprenuership 101, Economics 101 and Investing 101? Won't happen because the socialists who run the education system in this country would have to admit that capitalism actually works and works great.
A distroted version of History, we teach, but not the part about the great march of capitalism and the role that companies have played in improving the way we live. We teach Math, but not the part about how simple arithmetic can be used to tell the story of a company and help us figure out whether it will succeed or fail. Home economics we teach: how to sew, how to cook, even how to prepare a budget and balance a checkbook - but not how saving money from an early age is the key to prosperity. Patriotism we teach, but we talk more about armies and wars, politics and government, then we do about the millions of businesses, large and small, that are the key to our prosperity and our strength as a nation.
It is my goal to get those three subjects introduced into the education system in Kentucky.
Just a little thought for the day:
"Watch Out!, He is a serial entrepreneurer. Stop him before he makes another killing."
How about having the Junior High, High and Vocational schools all add to their curriculum the following: Entreprenuership 101, Economics 101 and Investing 101? Won't happen because the socialists who run the education system in this country would have to admit that capitalism actually works and works great.
A distroted version of History, we teach, but not the part about the great march of capitalism and the role that companies have played in improving the way we live. We teach Math, but not the part about how simple arithmetic can be used to tell the story of a company and help us figure out whether it will succeed or fail. Home economics we teach: how to sew, how to cook, even how to prepare a budget and balance a checkbook - but not how saving money from an early age is the key to prosperity. Patriotism we teach, but we talk more about armies and wars, politics and government, then we do about the millions of businesses, large and small, that are the key to our prosperity and our strength as a nation.
It is my goal to get those three subjects introduced into the education system in Kentucky.
Just a little thought for the day:
"Watch Out!, He is a serial entrepreneurer. Stop him before he makes another killing."
Friday, May 9, 2008
Farm Bill Supports Rural Entrepreneurship, But Faces Likely Veto
The good news coming out of the nearly $300 billion farm bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this week is that it made available “$15 million in mandatory funding for the establishment of a rural entrepreneurship and microenterprise grant and loan program.”
The bad news is that President Bush has vowed to veto the bill that he calls overly expensive.
Aside from the blurb above, I have little idea about the details of this program. If we were blogging for the whole world to see this would be a good time to call on Rep. Ben Chandler and Rep. Geoff Davis to get their take on this particular line item. It’s possible that it will come back in, in a subsequent revision if the President vetoes and the House and Senate can’t override him.
As for who’d be eligible for the grant: Grants may be made to qualified organizations to provide training, operations support or rural capacity-building services to qualified organizations to assist them in developing microenterprise training, technical assistance, market development assistance, and other related services.
Qualified orgs… like KECI? Is it time for KECI to set up a 501C3 and avoid the red tape inherent in a University system. Maybe this could be our opportunity to move into Eastern Kentucky?
The bad news is that President Bush has vowed to veto the bill that he calls overly expensive.
Aside from the blurb above, I have little idea about the details of this program. If we were blogging for the whole world to see this would be a good time to call on Rep. Ben Chandler and Rep. Geoff Davis to get their take on this particular line item. It’s possible that it will come back in, in a subsequent revision if the President vetoes and the House and Senate can’t override him.
As for who’d be eligible for the grant: Grants may be made to qualified organizations to provide training, operations support or rural capacity-building services to qualified organizations to assist them in developing microenterprise training, technical assistance, market development assistance, and other related services.
Qualified orgs… like KECI? Is it time for KECI to set up a 501C3 and avoid the red tape inherent in a University system. Maybe this could be our opportunity to move into Eastern Kentucky?
Rural Ausies Want Greater Focus on Outback, Entrepreneurship for the "Hearbeat of the Nation"
Rural delegates in Australia say they want entrepreneurial policy focus. Here’s some of what the Aussie’s said at a recent rural development conference:
Author and Northern Territory farmer Terry Underwood says 40 years ago she became a city convert and now, with four children and three grandchildren on the ground, she knows there are plenty more potential converts out there.
"That is my dream and vision, that we reverse the drift, revitalise the bush, the outback is the heartbeat of the nation," she said.
"We have to have infrastructure, incentives, everything we can do to get the bush up and running and to awake in each of us the profound mystery of simply being Australian."
Dean Belle says the aim should be to better equip rural Australia to cope with and find opportunities in change.
"Rather than just seeing it as a negative along the way," he said. "To do that we need the IT, we need the alternative energy and a range of other subsets to that."
Mr Belle also called for investment in human capital, entrepreneurship and leadership skills.
Catherine McGowen says she is self-employed, running her own business from her small farm.
"I would like to see us think about building on our strengths, and I know in rural Australia our strength is our independence," she said.
"If we could build on our strengths and create millions of self-employed people, then working in that portfolio arrangement to do it, but to give us the infrastructure to do that.
"I want lots more women to be working from home, running small businesses and making lots of money."
Author and Northern Territory farmer Terry Underwood says 40 years ago she became a city convert and now, with four children and three grandchildren on the ground, she knows there are plenty more potential converts out there.
"That is my dream and vision, that we reverse the drift, revitalise the bush, the outback is the heartbeat of the nation," she said.
"We have to have infrastructure, incentives, everything we can do to get the bush up and running and to awake in each of us the profound mystery of simply being Australian."
Dean Belle says the aim should be to better equip rural Australia to cope with and find opportunities in change.
"Rather than just seeing it as a negative along the way," he said. "To do that we need the IT, we need the alternative energy and a range of other subsets to that."
Mr Belle also called for investment in human capital, entrepreneurship and leadership skills.
Catherine McGowen says she is self-employed, running her own business from her small farm.
"I would like to see us think about building on our strengths, and I know in rural Australia our strength is our independence," she said.
"If we could build on our strengths and create millions of self-employed people, then working in that portfolio arrangement to do it, but to give us the infrastructure to do that.
"I want lots more women to be working from home, running small businesses and making lots of money."
Biz Week: Degrees Designed for Rural Business Allow Grads to Apply Skills to Farms and Businesses in Rural America
Colleges across the nation are increasingly creating Rural Entrepreneurship programs. That’s the story from Business Week Magazine. Here are highlights:
The problem of getting business grads to apply their skills to the farms and businesses of rural America is a pressing one in states such as Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Dwindling populations, empty storefronts, and the shutdown of manufacturing plants have made the economic problems facing rural towns even more acute in recent years. Business school administrators are starting to realize they can play a role in helping to reverse—or at least slow down—the economic slide of some of these areas by creating innovative courses and extension programs that will encourage people to move back to these areas and start or work for local businesses.
Some schools, such as Edgewood College in Madison, Wis., are creating master's degree programs in urban and rural economic development. Other large land-grant state universities, such as the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, are encouraging the growth of rural businesses through entrepreneurship centers, research grants to study rural entrepreneurship, and rural business mentorship programs. One school, Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, is launching an MBA in community economic development for the first time this fall.
Indeed, business schools can play a key role in helping to rejuvenate the nation's rural areas, said John Fernandes, president of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the accrediting agency for business schools. The problem is that most haven't begun to think about developing programs or curricula in this area, he said. Of the AACSB's 671 member schools, only about 40 have programs that mention a focus on rural or local economic development and collaboration in their mission statements. "I think it is one of those things that has kind of flown below the radar of most business schools," he said. "It might be sort of a natural extension of schools in rural areas, but maybe the rest of the world hasn't been paying attention."
The problem of getting business grads to apply their skills to the farms and businesses of rural America is a pressing one in states such as Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Dwindling populations, empty storefronts, and the shutdown of manufacturing plants have made the economic problems facing rural towns even more acute in recent years. Business school administrators are starting to realize they can play a role in helping to reverse—or at least slow down—the economic slide of some of these areas by creating innovative courses and extension programs that will encourage people to move back to these areas and start or work for local businesses.
Some schools, such as Edgewood College in Madison, Wis., are creating master's degree programs in urban and rural economic development. Other large land-grant state universities, such as the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, are encouraging the growth of rural businesses through entrepreneurship centers, research grants to study rural entrepreneurship, and rural business mentorship programs. One school, Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, is launching an MBA in community economic development for the first time this fall.
Indeed, business schools can play a key role in helping to rejuvenate the nation's rural areas, said John Fernandes, president of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the accrediting agency for business schools. The problem is that most haven't begun to think about developing programs or curricula in this area, he said. Of the AACSB's 671 member schools, only about 40 have programs that mention a focus on rural or local economic development and collaboration in their mission statements. "I think it is one of those things that has kind of flown below the radar of most business schools," he said. "It might be sort of a natural extension of schools in rural areas, but maybe the rest of the world hasn't been paying attention."
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
From Quilt Squares to Apple Baskets: Arts in Appalachia
this post is a newspaper article I wrote for our local paper. It tells of a very interesting road trip I had yesterday.
If you’re looking for a good day trip to visit some interesting places without spending a lot of money, you can do it in our own area of the Eastern Kentucky Hills.
Because I have not completely fulfilled my obligations as a community scholar, the Kentucky Arts Council asked that I take pictures and write stories about quilt squares in eight Eastern Kentucky Counties for a book they will produce. Monday, I took a vacation day and started driving. I left Sandy Hook looking for Stanley Franklin’s farm in
Then it was on through
From
A visit to Butcher Holler was a treat. Van Lear was once a coal camp. We stopped by what was once the Company Store, which still has the same furnishings and atmosphere. It is owned by Herman Webb. Madonna, the niece of the great country music stars, Loretta Lynn and Crystal Gayle showed us a video Crystal Gayle recently made on the Front Porch of the
Nothing prepared me for “The Black Barn Produce” on Route 23 between Paintsville and Louisa. I was told it was a produce stand. In my mind it would be a shed closed in on three sides and open on one long side. My mental picture had rough lumber supported by saw horses with baskets of produce displayed on them.
Well I was shocked to find a log barn with a hip roof and a sign that said “Black Barn Produce, a step back in time. Penny candy for kids”. I could have spent the day in the Black Barn Produce.
Before I went inside I took pictures of the quilt square that was made to honor Hylo Brown, a bluegrass star who paved the way for many other artists from the hills o f Eastern Kentucky. Two men walked by as I was snapping pictures “It’s a family operated business” I heard one say “Me, My wife and daughter run the place” he said. This really interested me.
Inside you can cut your personal amount of cheese off the chunk sitting atop an old barrel. Barrels of “penny” candy angled just right for a child to put in a hand and pull out a bunch, supported other items for sale….all the candies that were in RC May’s store when I was a child was there. I’m sure my eyes lit with delight just the way they did when R.C May gave me a piece of Taffy and pack of Kits. Yesterday, I reached in the barrel, got a handful, and paid for them! Wash tubs, wood baskets, handmade dolls, and relics that bring back memories of “the good ole days” are there waiting to be purchased.
“The Barn belonged to my Grandfather” Shanna said. “He was a logger and he parked his trucks here in the barn”.
They took a part of their history and recreated it into a treasure for today emphasizing the past. The Black Barn is a family heirloom made into a business with its own niche. “Our major concern is the amount of customers we have. We didn’t expect the business to be as successful as it has been”.
On into Louisa to snap one more shot then onto route 32 and home. What a day! There’s so much to see and enjoy here at home. I feel extremely lucky to live in an area with so many assets, such a rich heritage, and history and opportunities.The vacation continued today as I drove around Boyd and Greenup Counties. Have you visited the McConnell House in Greenup County. It was built in 1833-34. Pre-Civil War!! Renovations have kept it as original as possible and it is an educational treat to visit.
Entrepreneurship in Africa a "Poverty Alleviation" Strategy
Why not Kentucky?
Snippet: African countries have been challenged to promote employment creation through entrepreneurship development. The appeal was made yesterday in Dar es Salaam at the start of a three-day African Continent Regional Workshop on the Promotion of Decent Work through Women Enterprenuership Development. The workshop, the first of its kind that has brought together 36 participants from the African continent, is being held under the auspices of the International Labour Organization (ILO)-Irish Aid Partnership Programme. ``The promotion of decent employment through enterpreneurship development is banked upon to play a significant role in poverty alleviation.
Link: http://www.ippmedia.com/ipp/guardian/2008/05/06/113802.html
Snippet: African countries have been challenged to promote employment creation through entrepreneurship development. The appeal was made yesterday in Dar es Salaam at the start of a three-day African Continent Regional Workshop on the Promotion of Decent Work through Women Enterprenuership Development. The workshop, the first of its kind that has brought together 36 participants from the African continent, is being held under the auspices of the International Labour Organization (ILO)-Irish Aid Partnership Programme. ``The promotion of decent employment through enterpreneurship development is banked upon to play a significant role in poverty alleviation.
Link: http://www.ippmedia.com/ipp/guardian/2008/05/06/113802.html
These aren't your Grandpa's Lemonade Stands: Youth Entrepreneurship in Texas and Florida
As coaches know, KECI is discussing launching one big, coordinated project at some point in the near future. The thinking is that this would be a Youth Entrepreneurship project, since there’s nearly universal support for that.
Here are a couple of articles on some Youth Entrepreneurship efforts around the country:
From Texas, this story:
Six-year-old Maggie York, donning a purple plaid apron, wasted no time trying to drum up customers Sunday afternoon in front of Travis Elementary in Houston.
After setting up a wooden puppet theater stand with the word "lemonade" scrawled backwards on a chalkboard, Maggie ran to the curb yelling, ''Lemonade! Get your homemade lemonade! Small cup only 50 cents. Big cup $1."
Yes, times have certainly changed. Lemonade stand prices — once a nickel or a quarter — have increased along with gas prices. And, now you can super-size your order just like you do at the local hamburger stand.
That seemed to be the going trend during the second annual Prepared 4 Life Lemonade Day as thousands of youngsters across Houston tried their hand at entrepreneurship.
More than 10,000 lemonade stands were set up throughout the city, up from 2,600 last year, said Michael Holthouse, co-founder of Prepared 4 Life.
''America is about free enterprise," Holthouse said while visiting a stand run by a group of Jackson Middle School students. ''In the future, many of these kids will be in business. Prepared 4 Life is designed to teach them how to start and operate their own lemonade stand business and see what running a business is all about."
Throughout the school year, the nonprofit organization prepares middle school students for life by instilling life skills, character education and entrepreneurship through activities in afterschool programs.
Editor's note: This foundation even has a celebrity spokesman… hmmm… maybe we could bend Coach Gillespie’s ear. Better yet, Ashley Judd. I’ll volunteer to go talk to her about it... the sacrifices me make for the team.
At Gulf Breeze Elementary in Florida there’s an entrepreneurial wind blowing:
The Jazzy Jellyfish Café doesn't just serve food. It teaches Gulf Breeze Elementary School third-graders about entrepreneurship and community service.
Started by Leslie Jolly, teacher and CEO, the café is in its third year. This year teacher Cindy Shaw is participating with her third-graders.
About 38 students have been preparing all year for the cafe, which opened Thursday. They organized committees: auction, marketing, accounting, management, advertising, decorating and production.
"We had job interviews and applications. We selected on where the best fit was," Jolly said.
Shelby Taylor, 8, landed on the advertising committee. She enjoyed the first field trip where students learned how to write a business plan at the Gulf Breeze Chamber of Commerce. Other field trips have taken students to Global Grill and Gulf Breeze City Hall.
[…]
Last year, the café raised $6,300. Jolly hopes to hit $10,000 this year—in profits, not revenue; her kids are learning the difference. To that end, 152 meals will be served each Thursday night, up from 100 last year. Also, there will about 50 take-out orders, a silent auction and door prizes each night.
Here are a couple of articles on some Youth Entrepreneurship efforts around the country:
From Texas, this story:
Six-year-old Maggie York, donning a purple plaid apron, wasted no time trying to drum up customers Sunday afternoon in front of Travis Elementary in Houston.
After setting up a wooden puppet theater stand with the word "lemonade" scrawled backwards on a chalkboard, Maggie ran to the curb yelling, ''Lemonade! Get your homemade lemonade! Small cup only 50 cents. Big cup $1."
Yes, times have certainly changed. Lemonade stand prices — once a nickel or a quarter — have increased along with gas prices. And, now you can super-size your order just like you do at the local hamburger stand.
That seemed to be the going trend during the second annual Prepared 4 Life Lemonade Day as thousands of youngsters across Houston tried their hand at entrepreneurship.
More than 10,000 lemonade stands were set up throughout the city, up from 2,600 last year, said Michael Holthouse, co-founder of Prepared 4 Life.
''America is about free enterprise," Holthouse said while visiting a stand run by a group of Jackson Middle School students. ''In the future, many of these kids will be in business. Prepared 4 Life is designed to teach them how to start and operate their own lemonade stand business and see what running a business is all about."
Throughout the school year, the nonprofit organization prepares middle school students for life by instilling life skills, character education and entrepreneurship through activities in afterschool programs.
Editor's note: This foundation even has a celebrity spokesman… hmmm… maybe we could bend Coach Gillespie’s ear. Better yet, Ashley Judd. I’ll volunteer to go talk to her about it... the sacrifices me make for the team.
At Gulf Breeze Elementary in Florida there’s an entrepreneurial wind blowing:
The Jazzy Jellyfish Café doesn't just serve food. It teaches Gulf Breeze Elementary School third-graders about entrepreneurship and community service.
Started by Leslie Jolly, teacher and CEO, the café is in its third year. This year teacher Cindy Shaw is participating with her third-graders.
About 38 students have been preparing all year for the cafe, which opened Thursday. They organized committees: auction, marketing, accounting, management, advertising, decorating and production.
"We had job interviews and applications. We selected on where the best fit was," Jolly said.
Shelby Taylor, 8, landed on the advertising committee. She enjoyed the first field trip where students learned how to write a business plan at the Gulf Breeze Chamber of Commerce. Other field trips have taken students to Global Grill and Gulf Breeze City Hall.
[…]
Last year, the café raised $6,300. Jolly hopes to hit $10,000 this year—in profits, not revenue; her kids are learning the difference. To that end, 152 meals will be served each Thursday night, up from 100 last year. Also, there will about 50 take-out orders, a silent auction and door prizes each night.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Al Cross Plugs KECI Among E.KY Political Heavyweights
I attended the recent East Kentucky Leadership conference (see here and here) at which there was quite a bit of discussion about economic development. On one panel a group of Eastern KY political and business heavyweights including the Gov's Chief of Staff- Jim Cauley, Bill Weinburg, Jerry Johnson, Ron Eller (as much a heavyweight as a policy wonk and academic can be) and others waxed about the ways E. KY could grow it's economy.
At one point Al Cross, another panelist and the Dean Emeritus of the state's political journos, stepped in to really plug KECI. He suggested that E. KY Leadership Foundation look into expanding the club into far Eastern Kentucky.
At another point Jim Cauley stepped in to smack down a conversation that seemed to be tipping its hat to industrial recruitment. I can't remember the exact quote, but he essentially said the Governor rejected the strenght of that strategy and wanted to invest in KY companies instead. Several folks clapped loudly and awkwardly... me included.
I think there's an opening to expand KECI into the mountains with the right strategy. Wonder if an EDA grant would support that? Ron, Katie, Mel... you out there? Thoughts?
At one point Al Cross, another panelist and the Dean Emeritus of the state's political journos, stepped in to really plug KECI. He suggested that E. KY Leadership Foundation look into expanding the club into far Eastern Kentucky.
At another point Jim Cauley stepped in to smack down a conversation that seemed to be tipping its hat to industrial recruitment. I can't remember the exact quote, but he essentially said the Governor rejected the strenght of that strategy and wanted to invest in KY companies instead. Several folks clapped loudly and awkwardly... me included.
I think there's an opening to expand KECI into the mountains with the right strategy. Wonder if an EDA grant would support that? Ron, Katie, Mel... you out there? Thoughts?
Engaging Entrepreneurs via the Web
I'm really looking forward to this session:
Reaching Out to Young Entrepreneurs in the Internet Age: Engaging the next generation of entrepreneurs can be your key to a steady pipeline of high-potential start-ups. Discover inexpensive and effective ways to engage tomorrow’s business leaders in this age of Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, blogs, viral marketing and other online social networking phenomenon.
Melony, Gwenda, Kyle Robinson (Ashland Ext. Agent and coach by adoption), Katie and I have all been kicking around ideas related to this for a couple of months now and I hope I can learn something.
Reaching Out to Young Entrepreneurs in the Internet Age: Engaging the next generation of entrepreneurs can be your key to a steady pipeline of high-potential start-ups. Discover inexpensive and effective ways to engage tomorrow’s business leaders in this age of Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, blogs, viral marketing and other online social networking phenomenon.
Melony, Gwenda, Kyle Robinson (Ashland Ext. Agent and coach by adoption), Katie and I have all been kicking around ideas related to this for a couple of months now and I hope I can learn something.
VC Money Moves towards Green Tech Creating Opportunities for Environmentally Friend Tech
I’m in Texas this week for the annual National Business Incubator Association conference. The theme of the conference is Innovation for a Strong Economy and Healthy Planet. Several of the conference’s breakout sessions are devoted to green energy. These facts reiterate a point I heard an expert on VC financing make recently: the smart money among Venture Capitalists in Silicon Valley is headed towards Green Tech… and I don’t just mean green as in the color of money, I mean green in terms of the environment.
Of course it’s possible that there is as much irrational exuberance in this phenomenon as the IT market of the 90’s or the housing market of the 2000’s, but hey, we’ll let Ben Bernanke worry about that.
Bottom line: if you know of a company working in areas such as the environment, now’s the time for them to get funding.
Of course it’s possible that there is as much irrational exuberance in this phenomenon as the IT market of the 90’s or the housing market of the 2000’s, but hey, we’ll let Ben Bernanke worry about that.
Bottom line: if you know of a company working in areas such as the environment, now’s the time for them to get funding.
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