Very informative 10 minute video, follow up audio discussion is even better. Listen to followup audio by joining (free) the new Denver Startup Forum http://DenverStartupForum.ning.com

Where will solution to the current world financial crisis come from? If you don't have time to watch this entire 2 hour video, it allows you to fast forward ahead to 1:36 to find the answer:

A Matter of Choice

On Monday February 16, 2009, Pacific Lutheran University hosted Dr. Eliyahu M. Goldratt, who alarmed by how business managers around the world have responded to the world financial crisis, spoke to a significant crowd of Business Executives of very large organizations, showing how too often they let emotion and irrational inferences guide their decisions. He challenged the media to temper its sensationalism and stick to the facts. He cautioned against layoffs and urged the U.S. not to isolate itself from the rest of the world at a time when U.S. consumption is rapidly becoming a much smaller percentage of worldwide consumption.

This is a little long (15 minutes) but makes a great point!

My friend Joe Sabah, who sent it to me, says "If Dale Carnegie was alive today, this is what he'd be doing."

Here's the great talk Rick Raddatz gave yesterday at the Denver Startup Forum.

There was a very interesting followup discussion, listen to the recording on http://DenverStartupForum.ning.com This is turning into a worldwide discussion of startup, join us yourself and forward this along to any of your friends who are entrepreneurs or their advisors who might like to join us!

Billionaire Mark Cuban has made an offer to fund new businesses.

I just invited Mark to join Denver Startup Forum, and to be our speaker at a Thursday luncheon meeting. Next step: Form new Franklin Circle with Mark as the co-leader. :) If you want to be part of it, the first step is for you to join Denver Startup Forum, too. It's free,and you can join in our discussion of Jim Arkebauer's talk from yesterday.

Jim Arkebauer at Denver Startup Forum today. For audio tape of this talk and followup discussion you can use to burn a CD for your car, join (free) Denver Startup Forum http://DenverStartupForum.ning.com

I just sent out this email to a few hundred of
my closest friends. If it missed you, hope you'll
join DSF, then forward this along! Thanks! John

((Would you do me a favor & forward this to
your favorite CPA, lawyer and/or consultant?
Thanks! John))

Dear Friend,

As you know, my passion is to help people as they start a new career, campaign or new business.

For over 10 years my little book on startup, Daring Mighty Things, and my Denver IDEA Cafe startup workshop have helped hundreds, if not thousands, start down a new path.

Now I'm building on this experience and creating the new Denver Startup Forum, a vehicle for you to enhance your own independent learning by being in a community of practice focused on business creativity with people who are interested in startup and taking their business to the next level.

And, it’s free!

Here's how you can help yourself and others start and grow to the next level:

1) Please join today yourself and see how this unique learning community focused on business creativity will help you learn what you need to know, when you need to learn it, and have fun in the process! Join at http://denverstartupforum.ning.com/.

2) Please forward this email to someone else who might be interested. The Denver Startup Forum is open to entrepreneurs, owners, creative managers, and their advisers(CPAs, lawyers, consultants, and teachers)

It's my intention to make this a valuable resource for me, you, and others when we are at a turning point in our lives. Thanks for your help in this important effort!

Sincerely,

John

John S. Wren, MBA+
This life is short, let's get started!
www.JohnWren.com
(303)861-1447

How do you get your hockey news?

Interesting column in the Rocky Mountain News this morning comparing the various ways to get news about a recent hockey game. http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2009/feb/07/kopel-dying-newspapers-vanishing-coverage/

This is the comment I posted:

The fax machine brought down the Berlin Wall, it looks like the Internet is bringing down major newspapers that don't change.

The Rocky Mountain News doesn't have to die, but it must change. Joseph Shumpeter called the process of economic adjustment to accomodate technological change creative destruction. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Schumpeter

What if the Rocky became more like Wikipedia, with reporters being editors of the "citizen" journalists.

I'm going to make newspapers, changing technology, and creative destruction the focus of an upcoming meeting of the new Denver Startup Forum. Join us (free) to get an announcement of the meeting. http://DenverStartupForum.ning.com

And what about all the other games? I get much better news about the phenomenal University of Denver basketball program in places other that the major newspapers right now.

I've just posted a video and an audio recording of Joe Sabah on the Denver Startup Forum. http://DenverStartupForum.ning.com On the online "Forum" there I just posted this question for Joe:

Joe: You recently had a stroke. How has that changed your thinking about business?

Joe is a stroke "thriver" not just survivor and a real inspiration. He shares with us how he's turned data into dollars, continuing to be a great service to people who want to get a better job, make a living from public speaking, or promote their product, service or cause on radio talk shows.

Watch the video, burn a CD from the audio and listen to it in your car, then pass the CD along to a friend who is struggling with finding a new direction with their work life, OK?

Another resource for people starting a new career, campaign, or new business is my weekly Denver IDEA Cafe. It's for people who aren't sure what they are going to do Monday morning. If that's you, join us! More info and RSVP at http://ideacafe.meetup.com/1

Finally, what do you think of the new Twitter Google gadget I'm using here now? Each morning a read several online newspapers, then post items that seem most helpful. If you see things I've missed, post them here as a comment or email me about them, OK?

This life is short, let's get started!

John

I just sent out this media release:

FUELED BY FINANCIAL CRISIS, 100th MEMBER IN LESS THAN A MONTH EXPECTED TODAY OR TOMORROW FOR NEW DENVER STARTUP FORUM. Starting something new?

DENVER--John Wren announced today the 100th member of the new Denver Startup Forum is expected today or tomorrow. (The 98th member joined yesterday, Feb. 3). The new group has been formed to connect people and exchange ideas and experience about how to start a new business. For more information contact John Wren at John@JohnWren.com or (303)861-1447.

“When I announced this new group January 6, I said that no one starts a business without help. More people than ever before are now starting a new business, which has fueled our growth,” said Wren. “We should be able to recognize our 100th member at the luncheon meeting this Thursday with Joe Sabah.” Joe Sabah www.JoeSabah.com is the speaker this Thursday (Feb. 5). Speakers at the first two meetings were John Brackney, President of the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce, and “Citizen” Dave Lewis.

Free membership in the new group is open to all entrepreneurs, business owners, and CEOs as well as certified public accountants, lawyers, consultants and representatives from organizations such as: chambers of commerce, schools, colleges and government programs that have a special interest in entrepreneurship and startup.

The group has a free weekly luncheon meeting that serves as a forum for sharing startup experience, information, and research. Attendance is limited to the first 12 to RSVP each week. A video the speaker from each meeting, and an audio of the speaker and follow up discussion will be posted online for members each week at http://denverstartupforum.ning.com/

Fred Brown in the Denver Post writes about “Journalism on a Shoestring.”


I posted this comment:

Fred Brown, I've heard knowledgeable and experienced newspaper people like yourself complain that corporate owned newspapers such as the Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News were forced to cut back on reporters and good coverage of local news while profits of their corporate owners increased.

Is it possible that the real problem with newspapers today is global capitalism, what Irving Crystal called "socialism in sheepskin."

We've got a great chance to find out here in Denver. Either or both of the papers need to be set free of their corporate master to operate as a free, independent business.

Where is the oversight of the Joint Operating Agreement the corporations entered into to preserve competition? Seems to me that under the terms of the JOA the debt that has been incurred by the corporations should go to the corporations, and that the debt not be allowed to be used to bury the competitor by the surviving paper.

Set the papers free: Sell the name, URL, and archives to entrepreneurs and/or a community group, for an example of how this is done, take a look at the community ownership of the Green Bay Packers.

The accumulated debt? The JOA should force the corporations to eat it as their just reward for the damage they have done to the papers and our community. The Rocky Mountain News and Denver Post are dead! Long live the new Rocky Mountain News and the new Denver Post!