Socrates Cafe Online, each Tue, Fri, Sat, 1st. Sun, 6:30 pm Denver MDT (303)861-1447 Socrates Cafe Dialogue Groups: Watch1 Lead1 Start1. Meeting ID and password emailed to members 30 minutes before each meeting. For free membership write JohnScottWren@gmail.com.

Friday, July 31, 2009

I was set free, because my greatest fear had been realized, and I was still alive, and I still had a daughter whom I adored, and I had an old typewriter and a big idea. And so rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life. JK Rowling, author of the Harry Potter books, born this day in 1965.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

I just sent out this release to Denver media re IDEA Cafe.
Exceptional speakers these next couple of weeks.
Help us get the word out to those who need help, OK?
Forward this along to those who might be interested.
Thanks! John

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 21, 2009

Contact: John Wren cell (303)861-1447

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO MONDAY MORNING?
Since 1994, the Denver IDEA Cafe has been helping people with their career-bump or bright idea.

DENVER—Free help is available each Friday afternoon for people as they start in a new direction with their career, with a new project or campaign, or with a new business.

The Denver IDEA Cafe startup workshop meets from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Panera Bread, 13th and Grant in Denver, near the State Capitol. More information and RSVP at http://ideacafe.meetup.com/1 or (303)861-1447.

Upcoming speakers:

This Friday, July 24: Pedicab founder Steve Meyers, www.Pedicab.com; Personal trainer April Sharrock, Sharrock Fitness Consulting; and Colorado State Senator Pat Steadman http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/Senate/members/Sen31.htm

July 31: School founder Sr. Susan Swain, S. L. http://www.escuelaguadalupe.org; founder of several businesses and consultant Dave Westfall http://www.dewpointe.com; and Le Central restaurant founder Robert Tournier, www.LeCentral.com.

Since 1994, the Denver IDEA Cafe has been helping people who are starting in a new direction by providing a free forum where successful people share their startup experience and then brainstorm specific questions or problems.

“We help people find their own path,” says entrepreneur and long time community-activist John Wren, the founder of the group.

Wren says the name IDEA Cafe comes from a four-step business creativity model he developed when he was Mountain Bell in the 70's. "I had the great privilege of spending 6 months researching business creativity and we did a seminar called, 'Creative Marketing in a Recession' that was featured in AT&T's Long Lines Magazine," said Wren.

IDEA is an acronym for: I= Inspiration or Identify the Problem; D= Develop Alternatives; E= Evaluate the Alternatives; and A= take Action. The meeting is free and open to anyone who is starting a new career, a new campaign or project, or a new business.

Why does he do it? Wren explained, “Dan Brogan, publisher of 5280 Magazine, says the group has infused Denver with a spirit of entrepreneurship over the past decade. I hope that is true, for the sake of my grand kids.”

###

John S. Wren, MBA is the founder of the Denver IDEA Café and Franklin Circles. He is a business consultant and adult educator. He is the father of 4 grown children, and the grandfather of 4.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Donald Trump goes MLM.

Donald Trump, whom many Americans associate with good entrepreneurial
judgment, is now urging people to become distributors in a multilevel
marketing company called The Trump Network. In a video on the
company's Web site, Trump states that his plan is "designed to lead
millions of Americans to better health and financial independence."
http://www.trumpnetwork.com/ The company, operating since 1997 as
Ideal Health, was renamed The Trump Network several months ago when
Trump partnered with the founders. Its flagship product is a
"customized" dietary supplement said to be based on the results of a
urine hormone test called the PrivaTest. In 2004, Quackwatch
criticized the test and many of the company's health claims and noted
that the FTC had received seven complaints from people who lost from
$5,000 to $25,000 by investing in questionable television advertising
programs. [Barrett S. Ideal Health's PrivaTest: Another scheme to
sell you something. Quackwatch, Nov 19, 2004]
http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/Tests/privatest.html
It will be interesting to see whether Trump's involvement triggers
media and regulatory attention to any wrongdoing.

From Consumer Health Digest

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Innovations can generate jobs—if they materialize. For instance, in 2003 a quarter of American workers were in jobs that weren't listed in the Census Bureau's occupation codes in 1967. You sure won't find words like "Web designer" or "mobile-phone salesperson" in the LBJ-era list.

"What's unpredictable are the physical gizmos that will trigger a multiplier effect with employment," says Amar Bhide, visiting professor of economics at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Daniel Boorstin, the late historian, captured the dynamic this way in a 1987 essay: "Who, for example, could have predicted that the internal-combustion engine and the automobile would breed a new world of installment buying, credit cards, franchises, and annual models—that they would revise the meaning of cities, and even transform notions of crime and morality with no-fault insurance."

Problem is, no one can say whether such innovations will appear.


From Business Week

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

I just got this email from my friend Scott Heiferman. Scott is the founder of Meetup.com, we've had lunch here in Denver a couple of times:


Gotta share this inspiring Meetup news -- I was invited to visit the White House and met President Obama a few days ago.

Maybe you'll be inspired hearing what it was about...

The President gave a speech about the importance of "community solutions" --- and I was invited to be there because so many of your Meetups are examples of people coming together to solve problems -- big and small.

Here's a 2-minute (sort of covert) video I made for you while I was there!

http://meetupblog.meetup.com/2009/07/white-house.html


The President said "the best solutions don't come from the top-down... Solutions to America's challenges are being developed every day at the grassroots." And when he said that, I thought of you -- almost 50,000 Meetup Organizers, with millions of people in your Meetup Groups -- creating real communities and solving real problems in people's lives.

Sometimes it's hard being a Meetup Organizer. But it's worth it when you think of the enormous potential of your Meetups -- and the Meetup Groups yet to be started. What's possible for the future of your Meetup?

Scott

--Scott Heiferman
Meetup Co-Founder & Chief Organizer

PS. If you use Twitter, follow @Meetup!


I've started following Scott on Twitter, how about you?

Friday, July 10, 2009

I made this media release yesterday about the Franklin Circles that are being formed now in Denver. The goal is to have 10+ groups going by the end of fall here in the metro-Denver area. If you'd like a copy of the attachment "What is a Franklin Circle" email me at John@JohnWren.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 9, 2009

Contact: John Wren (303)861-1447

NEW FRANKLIN CIRCLES FORMING IN DENVER, FIRST STARTED IN 1727.
Adult self-directed learning groups may have been Ben Franklin’s best idea, says John Wren.

DENVER—Young, struggling Ben Franklin formed a group in Philadelphia for “the purpose of mutual improvement” as he put it in his famous Autobiography. In 1996, inspired by Franklin, entrepreneur and long-time community activist John Wren formed the first of what he now calls Franklin Circles here in Denver, and he’s now actively working to spread the concept.

“I’ve conducted startup workshops and done consulting with small businesses for years,” said Wren. “This experience has convinced me there is a real need for this. The intention is to help people start and grow their own business, and to help them become better citizens through active participation in local government and politics.”

Each group is autonomous, and Wren is encouraging others to start similar groups. Those who are interested are invited to attend one of Wren’s free meetings. Help is then available to start or join a free or tuition-based group.

Franklin Circle Denver Open Groups, Thursdays at noon, Perkins, 1995 S. Colorado Blvd., Denver and Fridays, 3:45 p.m. at Panera Bread, 1330 Grant, Denver. Free. More information and RSVP at http://meetup.com/Franklin-Circle-Denver-Open for more information, contact John Wren at (303)861-1447 or John@JohnWren.com.

###

Attachment: What is a Franklin Circle?

John S. Wren, MBA http://www.JohnWren.com is the founder of the Denver IDEA Café and Franklin Circles. He is a business consultant and adult educator. He is the father of 4 grown children, and the grandfather of 4.

Wednesday, July 08, 2009

I just made this release to the media, please forward this along to any of your friends or family in the Denver area who might find the meeting helpful, OK?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 8, 2009

Contact: John Wren (303)861-1447

FREE MEETING HELPS BUILD BUSINESS COMMUNITY FOR STARTUPS.
Since 1994, help for people with their career-bump or bright idea.

DENVER—Free help is available each Friday afternoon for people who are starting a new career, a new project or campaign, or a new business.

Denver IDEA Cafe startup workshop meets from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Panera Bread, 13th and Grant in Denver, near the State Capitol. More information and RSVP at http://ideacafe.meetup.com/1 or (303)861-1447.

Upcoming speakers:

This Friday, July 10: Steve Meyers www.pedicab.com; John-Paul Maxfield www.wastefarmers.com; and Donna Feldman www.TheNetworkingGurus.com.

July 17: Julie Yack JulieYack.blogs.com; Gloria Shanstrom www.ColoradoTheatreGuild.org; and Doug Laub www.RMI.org.

Since 1994, the Denver IDEA Cafe has been helping people who are starting in a new direction with their career by inviting successful people to share their startup experience and then brainstorming to address specific questions or problems.

“We help people find their own path,” says entrepreneur and long time community-activist John Wren, the founder of the group.

Wren says the name IDEA Cafe comes from a four-step business creativity model he developed when he was Mountain Bell in the 70's. "I had the great privilege of spending 6 months researching business creativity and we did a seminar called, 'Creative Marketing in a Recession' that was featured in AT&T's Long Lines Magazine," said Wren.

IDEA is an acronym for: I= Inspiration or Identify the Problem; D= Develop Alternatives; E= Evaluate the Alternatives; and A= take Action. The meeting is free and open to anyone who is starting a new career, a new campaign or project, or a new business.

Why does Wren do it? “Speakers are people who I want to hear myself, and I let others listen in. I tell people it’s a learning group and to not attend to just network, but of course it is a networking tool for me,” Wren explained.

“Dan Brogan, publisher of 5280 Magazine, says that the group has infused Denver with a spirit of entrepreneurship over the past decade. I hope that is true, for the sake of my grand kids.”

###

John S. Wren, MBA http://www.JohnWren.com is the founder of the Denver IDEA Café and Franklin Circles. He is a business consultant and adult educator. He is the father of 4 grown children, and the grandfather of 4.

Sunday, July 05, 2009

What's on your mind? Join us Sunday afternoons, 4 p.m., Denver Civic Center for Denver Speakers Corner. More info and optional RSVP at:

Minnesota is deeply married to the precinct caucus approach, which means the grass roots flourish and frequently overwhelm would-be kingmakers. From today's New York Times.

We love our neighborhood caucus-assembly system for nominating to the primary ballot here in Colorado, too. That's why Amendment 29, which would have killed the system, was defeated 60% to 40%, despite the would-be kingmakers outspending the opponents $1.4 million to $12 thousand.

Saturday, July 04, 2009

Steve Jobs, 2005 Stanford Graduation Address.
Stay hungry, stay foolish.

Thursday, July 02, 2009

My friend Mike, an MIT grad, sent me this about the talk next week by Prof Low (see yesterday's post, below)

THE GUYS FOR REAL. HE'S WRITTEN BOOKS ON HEDGE FUNDS. HI WEB IS:
http://web.mit.edu/alo/www/

Wednesday, July 01, 2009

Free Public Lecture on the role of mathematics in the U.S. financial crisis.
Andrew W. Low, MIT.
Next Wednesday, July 8, 6:15 p.m., Colorado Convention Center.
Part of the Society for Industrical and Applied Mathamatics Annual Meeting.
http://www.siam.org/meetings/an09/
Happy Mid-Year!

To: My family, friends, and associates.
(If you're not, and if you got this directly from me, return
this email with "cancel" and I'll take you off my list.)

From: John Wren

We're over the hump for 2009!

And I know the best is yet to come!

Here's how things have been going for me,
and what my intentions are for the next 6 months:
(click on any item for more information)

Denver IDEA Cafe:
We've had some great speakers & brainstorming sessions!

Attendance is good most weeks, since we're the oldest and one
of the largest meetup.com groups in Denver. Contact me if you'd
be willing to share your startup experience some Friday. We
now announce speakers for the week each Wednesday.


Denver Socrates Cafe
:
We've added a talking stick to the format, has been a real
improvement. Good discussion each week. Lou, Walt, John,
Dmitri and others have shared the leadership role, a new group
has spun off recently, and the Friday night group continues.


Denver Speakers Corner
:
Loyal core group including Barb, Keith, George, Sal, and a few
others show up each week, others drop in from time to time and
there are usually a few passers-by who join in each week. We
are going to start attending Denver City Council Meetings at
least once a month and encouraging their participation.

Franklin Circle Denver Open:
This is just getting started, it's a group with no commitment, to
give newcomers a sample of the Franklin Circle format. Join us
any Friday, right after the IDEA Cafe.


Franklin Circle Omega Group
:
I'm calling this the Omega group because it is the last Franklin
Circle I will ever personally lead. This is a Franklin Circle of
Franklin Circle leaders, we intend to have 10 new groups of 10
going by 2010. Let me know if you might like to join this group
(we'll meet Thursdays for lunch) or if you might like to join one
of the 10 new free or tuition-based groups that will be forming.

Joining and/or starting a new Franklin Circle can be a great way for
you to find new clients/friends, maximize what you are learning from
your experience, and to have fun doing it! For an invitation to a
meeting, contact me via return email or at (303)861-1447.

I'm going to focus entirely on helping to start new Franklin Circles.

In 2010 it is my intention to take what we are doing here in Denver
to other states. If you'd be willing to help, I'd love to talk with you.

I cannot do this alone.

Together, I believe that we can have a real impact and strengthen
the grassroots in both business and politics.

Together let's make the rest of 2009 the best of 2009!

Contact me now, and let's set a time to talk about how we can
help each other over the next few months. Contact me via
return email or (303)861-1447.

I look forward to working with you.

John

John S. Wren, MBA+
Life's short, start now!
www.JohnWren.com
(303)861-1447
Chris Anderson’s new book, “Free: The Future of a Radical Price” (Hyperion; $26.99)...Anderson is the editor of Wired and the author of the 2006 best-seller “The Long Tail,” and “Free” is essentially an extended elaboration of Stewart Brand’s famous declaration that “information wants to be free.” The digital age, Anderson argues, is exerting an inexorable downward pressure on the prices of all things “made of ideas.” Anderson does not consider this a passing trend. Rather, he seems to think of it as an iron law: “In the digital realm you can try to keep Free at bay with laws and locks, but eventually the force of economic gravity will win.” To musicians who believe that their music is being pirated, Anderson is blunt. They should stop complaining, and capitalize on the added exposure that piracy provides by making money through touring, merchandise sales, and “yes, the sale of some of [their] music to people who still want CDs or prefer to buy their music online.” From Malcolm Gladwell's review in the current New Yorker magazine.