Today (Tue, May 28)!

4 pm MDT, IDEA Cafe Startup Google+ Hangout. Free. We share startup experience and go on Fresh Thought Hunts. Come back here at 4 pm Mountain (6 pm Eastern) to watch broadcast, to be on video roundtable RSVP for next week's Hangout at http://Meetup.com/Small-Biz-Chamber  . Questions? Want help now? Call The Startup Line (303)861-1447 24/7

Here's today's show, John Mixon joins us from Houston at about 30:00, and he has a great idea from Houston for something that might work in other parts of the country, Okra-- A bar that raises money for three charities each month:

 :

On Memorial Day We Also Remember "In God We Trust" From Ben Franklin to President Eisenhower.

Ben Franklin's faith in God grew stronger as he saw the hand of providence in so many of the events that lead to the founding of our country. "The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth-that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the Ground without his Notice, is it probable that an Empire can rise without his Aid?" said 80+ year old Ben Franklin at the Constitutional Convention encouraging his colleagues to look to that God for help. 

The same thing happened with who many consider the best President we've ever had, Dwight D. Eisenhower.  From the Eisenhower Library in Abilene:

"In the 1950s the United States was experiencing a postwar upsurge in religious activity and interest.
Religious leaders, such as Norman Vincent Peale, Fulton J. Sheen, and Billy Graham, attracted large
followings. Church membership rose from only 43% of the U.S. population in 1920 to a peak of 69%
by 1960. It fell back to 63% by 1970. A 1954 survey showed that 9 out of 10 Americans believed in
the divinity of Christ. During the Cold War years religion was seen by many as playing an important
role in the struggle against Communism.

"When Dwight D. Eisenhower entered the political arena in 1952 he had never belonged to any
organized church. One reason he gave for this was the fact that he was subject to constant relocation
during his military career. However, he believed himself to be a ―deeply religious‖ man. After his
election as President he was baptized and joined the National Presbyterian Church. The Eisenhowers
frequently attended this church during the eight years of his administration.

"After being sworn in as President on January 20, 1953, Dwight D. Eisenhower began his first
Inaugural Address with a prayer he had composed. During his administration, the phrase ―under
God‖ was added to the Pledge of Allegiance and Congress adopted "In God We Trust" as our
national motto. As president Eisenhower spoke many times about the importance of religious faith as
an ―essential foundation stone‖ for democracy, and he supported such programs as the American
Legion‘s ―Back to God‖ campaign. He expressed the belief that man was a spiritual being and that
God was ―the author of individual rights.‖ Cabinet meetings were begun with a moment of silent
prayer, and he had frequent meetings with religious leaders, such as Rev. Edward Elson, Francis
Cardinal Spellman, and Billy Graham. Some historians have referred to Eisenhower‘s use of
religious ideas, concepts, and symbols as the promotion of a civil religion..."

DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER LIBRARY
Abilene, Kansas 67410
July 2001

Hear John Wren on "Our Small Business Chamber: the last 20 years, next steps now."

I'll be sharing where we've been, how our various activities got started, projects, campaigns since then, and what's on the horizon now at our IDEA Cafe Startup Workshops for the next week.

Big news, you can schedule an IDEA Cafe right away now yourself and post it on our meeting.com site. Check it out, then join us today (Fri, May 24) at Tony's Market, 2 p.m., online next Tuesday or next Friday at the Englewood Library. See http://Meetup.com/Small-Biz-Chamber  Questions? Call me at (303)861-1447

I have new author's page on Amazon. Check it out. Here's the link to it I just sent out via Twitter:

Amazon's John Wren Page amazon.com/John-Wren/e/B0…@amazon #Startup #SmallBusiness #career #jobs #entrepreneurship #entrepreneur #consulting RT
— Small Biz Chamber (@IDEACafe) May 19, 2013

Making money as a spiritual exercise.

Danial Lapin, author of Thou Shall Proper: 10 Commandments.for Making Money (click here.)

From Poets.org Death to the Death of Poetry

Death to the Death of Poetry by Donald Hall Some days, when you read the newspaper, it seems clear that the United States is a country devoted to poetry. You can delude yourself reading the sports pages. After finding two references to "poetry in motion," apropos of figure skating and the Kentucky Derby, you read that a shortstop is the poet of his position and that sailboats raced under blue skies that were sheer poetry. On the funny pages, Zippy praises Zerbina's outfit: "You're a poem in polyester." A funeral director, in an advertisement, muses on the necessity for poetry in our daily lives. It's hard to figure out just what he's talking about, but it becomes clear that thispoetry has nothing to

24/7 Start Line/ a prayer for Ruthie

Your Small Business Chamber is now offering the Startup Line, call if you want help as you start in a new direction with your work. Also call if you are a C.P.A., lawyer, or experienced consultant who would be willing to volunteer to talk with those who call us. To get help or to volunteer call the Startup Line, (303)861-1447

For my friend Ruthie, as I try to come to grips with the fact that I'll never see you again, never wonder if you calming cheerful presence will elevate the discussion at Socrates Cafe, wishing now I'd been a better friend. 

This prayer is for you and for all of us longing to have the faith of C.S. Lewis, looking back at his friend, and us, after that last lunch storming away, looking back and yelling, just as he'd told us God yells with pain, "Don't you know, Christians never say good-bye."

Meditation and startup.

Tony dSouza talks with John Wren about Discovering Awareness, simple techniques that can relieve stress, free our minds for clearer thoughts and more decisive actions. To watch the 55 minute interview, click here.

Grief Will Become Joy

Grief Will Become Joy

So far in my life I have not had many occasions to be close to dying friends and their families, though that will surely increase through the coming years. Five years ago a friend was in her mid-thirties when lung cancer was detected late in pregnancy. She and her husband were valiant throughout, enduring with parents and siblings as they faced the disease, struggling to care for each other and for the baby. It was impossible during that time to believe that grief could become joy.

Meditation and startup:
Video streaming by Ustream

Howdy, partner! Join us this afternoon (Tuesday, May 7) for our online IDEA Cafe Startup Workshop. RSVP and get more info about it on our Meetup.com site http://Meetup.com/Small-Biz-Chamber

Or just come back here at 4 p.m. Mountain Time, we'll have a link up to the group. It will be a Google+ Hangout. If you haven't started using Google+ Hangouts yet with your friends, family, and people you work with, this is a great time to get started! Just Google the search term "Google+ Hangouts" take you pick of several good, short instructional videos and write up, get your computer ready to go, then be back here at 4.

This life is short, let's ride!

This life is short, let's get started! I look forward to talking with you! I usually pick up right away from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Monday thru Friday, call (303)861-1447 first, then email John@JohnWren.com

Do you want to take your business to the next level?

Do you want help to find your first or next great customers? Then let's talk.

Whether you want just a few good customers or hundreds more, satisfied customers who give you repeat sales and referrals, let's talk about how I can put my proven skills to work for you, to help you get your business started or help you get it to the next level, quicker, for less money, and we'll have fun doing it.

I've helped scores of companies in nearly every industry, startups and businesses that wanted to grow to the next level. Confidential, no one will know we are working together unless you tell them. No interruption of your business.

After doing business consulting and a variety of jobs since 1979, a few months ago I started focusing on starting our Small Business Chamber of Commerce. I've had experience in nearly every industry. I owned and operated Wren Marketing, one of the first one-to-one marketing agencies from 1979 (after I was with the Bell system, when we coined the term telemarketing and I was the founding president of the Rocky Mountain Direct Marketing Association) until 1985 (when I went to work for the Denver Symphony as Director of Marketing--we had more sell outs than ever before or since, our secret sauce was a highly effective telemarketing center) MORE ABOUT ME AND THE WORK I'VE DONE ON LINKED IN, see www.linkedin.com/in/johnswren/ 

I will only accept 2 new clients each week, call me Monday and let's get started!

Best way to get me on the phone, call me at (303)841-1447 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. any Monday or Tuesday morning, I usually pick the phone up right away. Or call me any time and leave a voice mail message.

I suggest that right now you mark you calendar to give me a call at (303)861-1447 Monday or Tuesday morning, Rather call right now? Leave a message, and I'll get back to you.

When we talk, let's confidentially discuss your situation, what's needed, and how we can get started to  take your business to the next level. You'll get ideas and be glad you called whether we decide to work together or not.

WHY AM I STARTING TO DO CONSULTING AGAIN? THE REVENUE WILL ENABLE ME TO KEEP DOING VOLUNTEER WORK FOR YOUR SMALL BUSINESS CHAMBER (FREE IDEA CAFE STARTUP WORKSHOPS, FRANKLIN CIRCLE PEER ADVISORY GROUPS, AND THE STARTUP SHOW.)

HAVE FRIENDS WHO NEED HELP WITH THEIR BUSINESS/CAREER? PLEASE FORWARD THIS ALONG TO THEM, THEY WILL THANK YOU, AND SO WILL I IF YOU'LL LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU'VE DONE.

John Wren's The Startup Show, Monday, 4 p.m., more at http://Facebook.com/SmallBizStartup

Greatness can be the common life well lived, doing the ordinary, small things with great care, as spiritual exercises, doing them for the greater glory of God.

Alphonsus Rodriguez's father died when he was 14, he left school to help with the family business. His young wife died in childbirth, his mother and son a short time later. His business failed. He applied to be admitted to the Jesuit order, but was turned down because of lack of education. He went back to school.  In 1571, the Jesuits accepted him as a lay brother. He was sent to Montesione College on Majorca. He served as doorkeeper for forty-five years. He greeted each person as if he were meeting Jesus, he'd say as he went to the door, "I'm coming Lord."  He had a profound effect on the people who knew him, especially those who knew him at the end of his life when he was plagued with very poor health until he died October 30, 1689.  His canonization took place on January 15, 1888.

Gerard Manley Hopkins  

St. Alphonsus Rodriguez
Lay brother of the Society of Jesus


HONOUR is flashed off exploit, so we say;
And those strokes once that gashed flesh or galled shield
Should tongue that time now, trumpet now that field,
And, on the fighter, forge his glorious day.
On Christ they do and on the martyr may;      
But be the war within, the brand we wield
Unseen, the heroic breast not outward-steeled,
Earth hears no hurtle then from fiercest fray.

  Yet God (that hews mountain and continent,
Earth, all, out; who, with trickling increment,      
Veins violets and tall trees makes more and more)
Could crowd career with conquest while there went
Those years and years by of world without event
That in Majorca Alfonso watched the door.

Need new clients?

Have phone--Will Travel (but its usually not necessary.)

If you just need one or two new client, or if you need hundreds or thousands, I can help you.

I was with the Bell system when we coin the term telemarketing, we spent millions of dollars advertising the term to differentiate from "telephone sale", which at the time was the most hated word in the English language, my being the founding President of the Rocky Mountain Direct Marketing Association was part of that effort, then Judge Green broke up the Bell system, and nearly everyone forgot the very real difference between telephone sales and the then new telemarketing, based in part on Bell Labs research.

But I haven't forgotten.

If you need and want new customers, give me a call between 9:30 and 11 am Monday thru Friday, I'll pick up or get back to you in just a few minutes.

Mark your calendar right now, then call and let's talk. Let's not miss this opportunity to work together to help you help more people. Call 303-861-1447 from 9:30 to 11 am Monday thru Friday.

 Today is the feast day of Saint Joseph the Worker, instituted by Pope Pius XII on May 1, 1955  as an alternative to the Communist May Day marches.  Today is also the Victims of Communism Day. For more click here.  In the video about Fr. Martin, who from time to time posts a question for us in our online faith sharing group click here explains how St. Joseph can be useful to us all as a role model.

Please pray that I can finish the work that was begun with Fr Steve and Fr Vince at Sacred Heart Jesuit Retreat House here in Colorado, inspired in prayer this morning, that our Small Business Chamber of Commerce be of real service to local chambers of commerce and local community news papers across Colorado, the USA and the world in their efforts to strengthen the grassroots civic participation, traditional families, neighborhoods, and life. Planted by Christ in my heart that first morning, nourished with my confirmation there with Fr Chamberlain from Mother of God parish here in Denver, and with Fr Martin over these last four yearshttp://Facebook.com/groups/Jesuit.Guide.Group Dedicated to Pope Francis, St Ignatius, and St Joseph on the feast of St Joseph, May 1, 2013.

For more about the work I'm doing see the video below, or give me a call. I try and pick the phone up right away if you call from 9:30 to 11 a.m. each morning. Call and let's talk about what you are doing, and how we can help each other, call (303)861-1447.