The Silver Creek Economy 2014

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

An Entrepreneurial Community Launch for Our Local Economy

A Closer Look: Goals, Objectives & Action-Steps

"Our dreams inspire us, our goals & objectives chart our course,

and our appropriate actions accomplish our objectives, achieve our goals,

and fulfill our dreams."

-J.S.

Launching and maintaining an Entrepreneurial Community (EC) is a balanced blend of vital goals, targeted objectives, and timely action-steps. In addition, ongoing evaluation of progress toward those objectives and goals give us valuable feedback as to how well we are doing. Each objective provides direction towards our goals and each goal direction towards fulfilling and maintaining our purpose.

With that in mind, I suggest the following; not as a final answer, but as a beginning point for our purpose of Launching & Maintaining An Entrepreneurial Community.

Goals, Objectives & Action-Steps

Assessment of each of the six activities essential to growing an EC. This will give us a good idea of where we are in journey to that end.

1) Entrepreneurial Density

2) University

3) Transportation

4) Local Early-Stage Risk Capital

5) Local Entrepreneurial Community Entrepreneurial-Driven Events

6) Business Community Support

(http://steveblank.com/2014/01/24/engineering-a-regional-tech-cluster-part-3-of-3-of-bigger-in-bend/)

I am addressing each of the above activities in six consecutive posts, first giving a brief assessment, then identifying three goals, three objectives and three action-steps for each that can move The Silver Creek Economy toward becoming a strong and resilient EC.

This effort to strengthen our local and regional economy is in no way intended to replace the dedicated efforts (past, present & future) of local businesses, chambers of commerce, city & county governments or regional organizations, but complement them.

At Partnering Technologies, we will commit significant manpower to this project as local individuals enroll in our SPP (Strategic Partnering Program) as OPI's (Online Partnering Interns).

Closing Thought

This closing remark from the above cited post (http://steveblank.com/2014/01/24/engineering-a-regional-tech-cluster-part-3-of-3-of-bigger-in-bend/)
highlights the opportunity we have to launch a new era of economic prosperity for the White Mountain Region as well as our Silver Creek Community:

The democratization of entrepreneurship has created a huge opportunity for any region [community] with the right characteristics to create its own sustainable tech cluster. But, as with any true democracy, it won’t happen without the combined participation of the community and desire of entrepreneurs to lead the movement. This is happening in Bend, and I look forward to hearing from others about your own experiments.

A Question for Your Consideration

How do these suggestions agree or disagree with your approach to launching an“entrepreneurial community” for our local economy?

What Do You Think?

As always, your constructive comments are welcomed.

Next Post

Goals, Objectives & Action-Steps for Local Entrepreneurial Community Entrepreneurial-Driven Events

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The Silver Creek Economy 2014 blog is sponsored by Partnering Technologies, an Arizona-based Learning & Development Company. Their focus is helping individuals and organizations learn, consistently apply, and master a skill-set that is always in high demand, always highly valued, and always highly paid. Its founder is Jim Sanderson.

Visit their website at www.partneringtechnologies.blogspot.com and find out what they are doing to build a more prosperous economy for our community in 2014.

Saturday, August 30, 2014

THE ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET: Engineering An Entrepreneurial Community for Our Local Economy

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity

an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."

-Winston Churchill

With the rapid advancement of hyper-communications, our community has the opportunity, as never before, to engineer & build an entrepreneurial community.

In my post today, I will share six elements necessary to engineer and grow, what I call an entrepreneurial community. They are taken from a series of posts from Steve Blank, serial entrepreneur turned educator and mentor in the lean startup movement; teaching at Stanford University, Cal Berkeley, and Columbia University. He cites what is being done in the Bend, Oregon Region (http://steveblank.com/2014/01/24/engineering-a-regional-tech-cluster-part-3-of-3-of-bigger-in-bend/). For obvious reasons these six elements require adaptation to our Silver Creek Community and White Mountain Region.

These following are the six elements of engineering an entrepreneurial community (he refers to it as a "tech cluster") and adaptations as appropriate.

Entrepreneurial Density

In layman's language, that is a high concentration of entrepreneurs in a geographic region; for our purposes the Silver Creek Community and the White Mountain Region. In his post he defines density as follows:

...the connection of like-minded firms and their support services...

Adaptation: As mentioned above, hyper-communications are making it easier and easier to tap into resources worldwide (high tech expertise, mentoring, etc.). The resources are available. The difficulty/opportunity is how to best access them.

University

He suggests a local tech university is an element that "provides a source of technical talent, research, etc."

Adaptation: Our Northland Pioneer Community College recently added a Associate's Degree in Mechatronics (http://www.npc.edu/course/mechatronics) to their offerings. In addition, NAU offers a number of programs offering technical education and research opportunities at the graduate level. This may sound like a broken record, but again, hyper-communications are making these types of resources increasingly available to rural communities such as ours.

Transportation

The Show Low Regional Airport and Taylor Airport provide us with some promising opportunities to reach major airports throughout the West, especially Sky Harbor in Phoenix. Additionally, our local railroad adds to our commercial logistic capabilities. We are also located on one of the major north/south highways in the state (Highway 77) and regionally connected to a highly traveled east/west interstate route (I-40).

Local Early-Stage Risk Capital

This is a major opportunity to be exploited in our region. Again, hyper-communication offers greater access nationally and internationally to such resources. Furthermore, as our entrepreneurial community develops the pool of local investors grows to help in meet these demands and attracts interest from out of region investors.

Local Entrepreneurial Community Entrepreneurial-driven Events

These are solely determined by local initiative. Local chambers of commerce can play a substantial role in this respect. Partnering Technologies, an Arizona-based learning and development organization is in process of developing such events and currently offers a program including paid internships, training in key skills/competencies, and peer coaching/mentoring (http://partneringtechnologies.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_22.html).

Business Community Support

This is a direct quote from his post:

One of the most difficult things to do is technically the easiest – a dispassionate self-assessment to understand what assets your community has and what you lack.

First, what is your value proposition to a family or business to locate in your region? Recognize that a big part of your job is to remove friction, drive awareness, and amplify the efforts of your local entrepreneurs. Successful entrepreneurs attract other entrepreneurs, so it’s vital to kick start the cycle.

Next, identify your goal. Is it creating a job works program? Stopping brain drain in the region? Attracting and building some key core competency in the region? Ideally your existing talent base and ecosystem naturally support the “core competency magnet” you want to develop.

Adaptation: Again, remember resources are available, the opportunity is in accessing them.

Summary

The key to engineering and growing an entrepreneurial community is cultivating the practice of entrepreneurship. Quoting again from his post:

In the past most regional growth strategies have focused on attracting established companies looking to expand or open a new plant. While it may be strategic for the region to recruit some of these established businesses, those deals usually involve huge tax subsidies and typically create a small finite number of jobs. What isn’t part of most regional growth plans is the organic growth of an entrepreneurial tech cluster in the region. If successful, sewing the seeds of entrepreneurship can lead to a more rapid and sustainable job growth for the region.

A Question for Your Consideration

In what ways could you promote and cultivate the Silver Creek Community as an “entrepreneurial community”?

What Do You Think?

As always, your constructive comments are welcomed.

Next Post

Local Entrepreneurial-Driven Events

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Visit their website at www.partneringtechnologies.blogspot.com and find out what they are doing to build a more prosperous economy for our community in 2014.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

CREATING HIGH-PAYING JOBS FOR OUR COMMUNITY...

Online Internships: A Key To Creating High-paying Jobs in Our Community, Now and in the Future...

Definition of an Online/Virtual Internship: An internship that can be performed anywhere and anytime Internet access is available. This makes it possible to do work for an organization anywhere in the world from your location and work with a team that is geographically dispersed statewide, nationwide, or worldwide.

The following are just three of the many advantages Online Internships can provide You:

High-paying Online Internships Are Available Now

Online internships do not require you to wait for companies to relocate or expand into our local area. They provide opportunity now. In addition, as local talent is developed, businesses outside our geographic area will recognize the compelling value of local human resources and relocate/expand here. In the world of business, our community will be identified as Entrepreneurial Community (EC). A community that is dedicated to becoming and maintaining itself as a desired place to live, learn and work.

Valuable Training & Experience

By working as an Online Intern, you gain training, experience, and build a career network that is always in high demand, always highly valued, and always highly paid. In addition, a number of Online Internships offer you a extremely flexible schedule that complements your desired work/life balance (part-time, full-time, work when and where you want to, etc.).

They provide you a gateway to build a rewarding, high-paying online career (OC); a career that is mobile and responsive to your changing needs and circumstances.

Online Internships Available in More & More Industries

These internships are available in a growing number of industries (i.e. healthcare, education, retail, utilities, sports and entertainment, life sciences, travel and transportation, media, banking, etc.) and different lines of business (i.e. value creation, marketing, sales, value delivery, sourcing and procurement, logistics, supply chain, finance. etc.). Wherever your interest lies, you can, in most situations, find an Online internship to pursue what's important to you.

Because of the Internet, you can access the talent and expertise of key partners for projects that create compelling value for individuals and organizations worldwide.

Conclusion

Online internships are not for everyone, however they provide our local economy a platform to create abundant opportunity and prosperity now and in the future by creating a rewarding, high-paying career for you and other like-minded local residents. In turn this produces financial resources to meet the recreational, cultural, shopping, and other needs of our community and the White Mountain Region.

A Question for Your Consideration

In what ways could you, or someone you know benefit from an online internship?

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Partnering Technologies offers you the platform to become a highly-paid online intern and build and maintain a rewarding, career online. Check us out at http://partneringtechnologies.blogspot.com/

You can get on a fast track to a high-paying internship and career with our Strategic Partnering Program.

Visit their website at www.partneringtechnologies.blogspot.com and find out what they are doing to build a more prosperous economy for our community in 2014.

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Finding The Resources You Need (Step Three of Three)

The following post is part three of three. Taken in order these three steps will help you get the resources you need to accomplish what's important to you... even making our local economy more resilient and prosperous.

Step Three: Get The Action Habit!

"The future depends on what you do today."

-Mahatma Gandhi

Dreamers and Doers...

Earlier this month, I read a captivating new book, Creativity, Inc., by Ed Catmull, current President of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios.

Since my early childhood (mid-1950's) Walt Disney has been one of my heroes. If anyone doubts the validity of the American Dream, a trip to Disneyland is a good way to experience it and become a believer. Walt Disney was a "dreamer" and "doer". He assembled and led one of the most gifted teams of artists to create a number of outstanding animated films that are classics in the industry. His vision of wholesome family entertainment provided the energy and commitment to create and build Disneyland; an amazing work that is still in process.

So, at the suggestion of my daughter, I bought the book and didn't put it down until I read it cover to cover (actually I got the ibook version). To say the least, the work of Disney profoundly affected the life of Ed Catmull. Disney was and continues to be one of his most influential mentors; as evidenced by what Catmull has accomplished, or more to the point, what he has "done and is doing", as the leader of the highly gifted artists and creators at Pixar and Disney. Like Disney, he is committed to a definite purpose and by continuously acting on that purpose secures the resources to fulfill and keep it vibrantly alive. He, too, is not only "dreamer", but a "doer".

I recommend the book to all who are ready to not only dream but do; to break-out of a limiting comfort zone and realize their untapped potential.

The ASK Process...

The big take-away from the book for me and hopefully for others is "get the action habit". Make it our default behavior. We may not know where the resources are going to come from to accomplish our purpose or see how to fulfill it, but by taking action, taking the first step of a worthwhile journey and continuing, step by step, we are able to acquire the resources we need, produce the results we want and reduce the risks of undesirable outcomes. The resources we once thought impossible to access, become available because taking action clarifies what they are and where and how to get them.

We act instead of being acted upon. We learn and understand the priceless value of the "ASK PROCESS": Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For everyone that asketh, receiveth; and him [her] that seeketh findeth; and to him [her] that knocketh it shall be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8) It is a process of "action"!

We understand that regardless of circumstances we always have a choice. When we act in harmony with principles that produce our desired outcomes we move closer and closer to them instead of passively being tossed about by circumstance. As we exercise our freedom to choose and act, we demonstrate to others, and more importantly to ourselves, that in an ever changing world, instead of being a victim we are responsible and take effective action to accomplish our objectives, achieve our goals, and fulfill our purpose.

Action is a potent antidote for successfully eliminating the roadblocks that can stop our progress toward our desired outcomes, even that of building a more resilient and prosperous local economy!

Getting and applying "the action habit" is the capstone-step for acquiring the resources we need and finding the way to fulfill our purpose.

The moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.”

-Goethe

Why Entrepreneurship?

What Do You Think?

As always, your constructive comments are welcomed.

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Visit their website at www.partneringtechnologies.blogspot.com and find out what they are doing to build a more prosperous economy for our community in 2014.

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Finding The Resources You Need (Step Two of Three)

The following post is part two of three. Taken in order these three steps will help you get the resources you need to accomplish what's important to you... even making our local economy more resilient and prosperous.

Step Two: Be Specific!

"When we leverage, we aggregate and organize existing resources to achieve success."

-Richie Norton

Clarity about the desired outcomes of a resilient and prosperous local economy is the next step in getting the resources we need to make it a reality. Be specific. Ask questions that promote your best thinking on this important issue. For example: What outcomes are important? What do they look like? What advantages will they provide us?

Consider a time frame: 90 days from today... How has building a more resilient and prosperous economy improved our lives? What advantages and benefits are we experiencing? What about 6 months from today? 12 months? 2 years? 5 years? 10 years? Why are these important?

Again, the key is, be specific! Only by creating a clear vision of our desired outcomes can we effectively move toward and achieve them. "Where there is no vision, the people perish..." (Proverbs 29:18).

Let's focus on just three of the many areas vital to our local economy: Quality Employment, Attractive Community Amenities, and Inspiring Education.

Quality Employment

Creating an environment that provides quality employment for our residents and attracts others to our community is certainly essential to a sound economy, if not the cornerstone.

So how do we define quality employment? Is it more jobs? How many? What kind? When? Who will create those jobs? Where will we find individuals to fill these positions? How much econimic value will these jobs create inside and outside our community? Why will such quality employment move us toward a more resilient and prosperous economy, now and in the future? How agile is our local workforce? How will they fare over the next 5 to 10 years and beyond?

Who will be the entrepreneurs that start companies that create products and services that are in high demand throughout the world and provide our residents and others with rewarding, high-paying careers?

Attractive Community Amenities

What community amenities are important to you? How will they attract others that can help our local economy become more resilient and properous? Our community swimming pool, for safety and financial reasons, has been closed. How does that affect the attractiveness of our community to others and ourselves?

What are other amenities that make for an attractive community; the reasons why we and others want to live here? Is it our parks? What about more shopping options? Is it well paved and maintained streets and roads, well-landscaped sidewalks? What are the things that we want to offer our children and that will attract others to our community? How can a more resilient and prosperous local economy help provide these amenities?

Inspiring Education

What kind of atmosphere promotes a culture of inspiring education? Above the basement entrance to the Snowflake Stake Academy Building is the quote, "Self-effort Educates". What can we do to insure that education in our community is inspiring, whether it be "formal" or "informal"? How can we insure that we are promoting life-long learning that encourages a resilient and prosperous economy for our residents and others? What kind of learning models will help our residents (children, youth, and adults) develop their talents and abilities and make contributions to prosperity not only on the local level, but regionally, nationally and worldwide?

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Being specific about our outcomes and committed to achieving them are essential to identifying and securing the resources we need. It is not only important, but necessary to "drill-down" to the details!

"When we deal in generalities, we will never have a success, but as we deal in specifics we will rarely have a failure."

-Thomas S. Monson, President LDS Church

Finding the Resources You Need (Step Three of Three)

What Do You Think?

As always, your constructive comments are welcomed.

******

Visit their website at www.partneringtechnologies.blogspot.com and find out what they are doing to build a more prosperous economy for our community in 2014.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

UNLEASHING PROSPERITY IN TODAY'S ECONOMY...

Is the Economy Holding You Hostage...?

"Don't let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."

-John Wooden, Legendary UCLA Basketball Coach

Over the last seven years, many explanations have been offered as to why the economy is "in the tank". Taxes are going up, government regulations are on the increase, investors are going overseas with their money, the big corporations are down-sizing, consumers are cutting back on spending, and so it goes...

While all these factors and many others are a matter of record, are you "allowing" them to determine your present and future prosperity? Are you letting circumstances determine your outcomes? Are you being "held hostage" by economic circumstances?

Amid this turmoil, there are a number who are prospering. What are they doing? Taking a closer look you will find they focus on three things: change, principles, and choice.

With that in mind, consider three things you "can do" right now (and in the coming weeks, months, and years) to make sure "the economy" doesn't hold you hostage.

1) Learn how to become more agile; increase your capacity to tolerate uncertainty in a rapidly changing world and then act appropriately. Change is with us round-the-clock; without it life would become rather boring and useless. The more you embrace change the greater will become your ability to respond effectively to it and prosper in so doing.

What can you do now to respond to the changes in the world that affect your prosperity?

2) Discover and hold fast to universal, timeless principles. The law of cause & effect is ever present. As you learn, apply, and master the principles upon which your prosperity is based, your power to make choices that benefit you and others increases. In a rapidly changing world, you are able to navigate a course that frees you from being held hostage by any circumstances.

What timeless principles are involved and how can you apply them now to maintain and enhance your prosperity?

3) Understand and believe that you "always" have a choice. Certainly, the overall economy has been "in the tank" in the recent past and many have experienced financial setbacks; we must confront reality. However, you can always choose your response. When you choose to "act", you increase the control you have over your outcomes; instead of circumstances determining them, your choices do.

What can you "choose" to do now to maintain or increase your prosperity, financial or otherwise?

Remember: Focus on what is changing, the principles involved, and make your choices accordingly.

Next Post

We will resume: Finding The Resources You Need (Step Two of Three)

What Do You Think?

As always, your constructive comments are welcomed.

******

Visit their website at www.partneringtechnologies.blogspot.com and find out what they are doing to build a more prosperous economy for our community in 2014.