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.

Sunday, December 27, 2015

Dialog or dialectic?

I listened to "Plato, Socrates, and the Dialogues" by The Great Courses. Try #Audible and get it free:

https://www.audible.com/pdasin=B00DLM8PF6&source_code=AIPORWS04241590BD 

Have you listened? Let's discuss, ok? Call me at (303)861-1447 or if you're in Colorado join some Saturday evening for Socrates Cafe at University of Denver, more about it and parking map at http://Meetup.com/Colorado-Socrates-Cafe-Society 

Lock organized crime bosses up!

The Big Short should trigger justice against organized crime. http://www.thebigshortmovie.com/

Just saw The Big Short, great acting, great writing and film making, great movie, but take a barf bag, the behavior at top of our economic system will sicken you. 

There is no statute of limitation on fraud and organized crime. 100s should be in jail right now, top management at investment banks, bank, mortgage companies, and rating agencies, Ben Bernancke and maybe Pres Geo Bush, US Senators who knew what was happening and did nothing, some even participated to great personal benefit. 

This movie may finally bring justice. Go see it. 

Then do what you can, at a minimum get your representatives, candidates you support, political party leaders, college presidents and professors, and editors of magazines and newspapers you subscribe to immediately, before the end of the year,  go on record to take all wealth away from those who precipitated the 2008 financial meltdown. Fraud of this magnitude cannot continue to be ignored.

Saturday, December 26, 2015

Cry Room


Would you help me?

It's hard for me to stay focused on the day and what's in front of me right now in the final days before the start of a new year.

Is that a problem for you?

I've just about decided to put lots more energy into using either my Google+ Page or my SBCC Blog for helping foster more real help for startups.

Do I need both?

Doubles the amount of work, does it add anything at all to the experience for you, the reader?

Here are the ways I stay connected right now:

For Small Business Chamber of Commerce of Colorado, Inc.:
Google+:https://www.youtube.com/c/SmallBizChamberOrgUSA
Website: http://www.SmallBizChamber.org
Linked In: http://www.LinkedIn.com/groups/SmallBusinessChamber
Twitter: @IDEACafe

For Online Education:
http://Facebook.com/SelfDirectedEducation
http://Facebook.com/Colorado.Caucus.News
http://Facebook.com/UniversityofDenverNeighborhood
http://www.COCaucus.org

And a dozen or so others. You get the idea.

I need to either boil this down, or start viewing myself as a publishing company. Either way, I need help. Your ideas right now as a comment right here, an email to John@JohnWren.com or a call to me at (303)861-1447 would be very much appreciated.

Someone will undoubtably ask, because it's what we are all trained to ask, "what are you trying to do?"  Of course all of us are much better at asking this question than we are at answering it ourself.

But here goes. What do I want?

I want to start a successful business, which to me means it does Good Work:

1) makes a good living for everyone concerned with it, employees, vendors, investors, too;

2) provides a necessary and useful product or service that delights our customers; and

3) is an opportunity for learning and growth for all of us.

The purpose I've had of starting this successful business for the last 20 or so years is to strengthen the grassroots, the voice of the common person, in business and politics.

What a waste of time. I almost delete this. No one will answer my question. Almost no one will read it. But no, I'll keep it up. Can always delete it later. Sorry to have wasted your time.

Late for Mass... "Speak Lord, your servant is listening."

Friday, December 18, 2015

Startup Show-- Watch me start. Finally!

Delayed start at Noon rather than 10 a.m. Sorry!

Today, a very special (at least to me) edition of the Startup Show.

I'm going to share what's ahead between now and the 2016 elections with my various educational activities for Colorado Voters: Grassroots Rules and Colorado Caucus News Facebook Page.

In a way, today is a rough draft of what I hope to share with you this time next week on our Christmas Morning Show, it will be pre-recorded and it will air at 10 a.m. Dec 25, or any time after then via link here for the recorded version with comments from those who watched live, after which comments will be shut off.

Anyone who is willing to take just a minute to make a comment about today's show is very much encouraged to do so. Your comments here at the botton of this page will very much influence what we do with next weeks show. More about this from me here now:



https://talkgadget.google.com/hangouts/_/c5z5ftmfqkru26pupvrwfnwshea

Thanks for watching, and I very much look forward to your feed back by your comment at the bottom of this post of mine or call me at (303)861-1447 and leave a complete voice mail, it's confidential, I'm the only one with the code to the voice mail box, and take as long as you like.

The show will start at 10 a.m. Mountain time today (12/18), before the show you'll see the live feed from my home studio (kitchen.) Any time after you can watch via recording at this same link. Please click on the above link now. Thanks again, and PLEASE share with your friends, ok?

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Life's short, finish now.

Yellow pad always near.
Think, write, do. Then check. Re-check.
Measure twice, cut once.

Monday, December 14, 2015

Share a startup story?

Share your startup story with us!

On our Facebook Page first, then "Like" and "Share."
http://Facebook.com/Small.Business.Chamber

Written startup story? Submit for publication, see tab on
http://www.SmallBizChamber.org

We may invite you to then be our guest at IDEA Cafe
or on the SBCC Startup Show.

Questions? Call me at (303)861-1447

Friday, December 11, 2015

We are trying something new...

 Google ad for SBCC, as we start integrating into IDEA Cafe "new" Method for Spiritual Startup and Growth +AGDM+ . Spending $4 per day, $120 per month, but ad can change and we can stop early if it's just not working.

 What is your guess? Will this be a hit or a miss? (Hit is lots of new visitors to http://www.SmallBizChamber.org and then increased attendance at our free meetings and Startup Show.)  

Your feedback would be very much appreciated, either here as a comment or join us this afternoon (Fri, 12/11) for Denver IDEA Cafe or tomorrow at Socrates Cafe @ DU. More about meetings at http://Meetup.com/Small-Biz-Chamber or call me (303)861-1447

 Thanks! 

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc. +Recover+Start+Grow+Flourish+ : Do Good Work? Want to?

Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc. +Recover+Start+Grow+Flourish+ : Do Good Work? Want to?: Free meetings now, Christmas, January, check them out, click on above link.

Starting? Growing? Flourishing?

Join us as we share experience and ideas about recovery, faith, business startup and growth this Friday for our Denver IDEA Cafe Startup Workshop.

Each Friday, 2 pm, Panera, 13th & Grant, Denver. Free. Now part of Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc. More about SBCC and our SBCC Spiritual Startup Method at at http://www.SmallBizChamber.org or call (303)861-1447  +++AGDM+++. PLEASE SHARE

Friday, December 04, 2015

Join us!

Special Edition of the Startup Show
How the SBCC can help you now!





Joining is free. Just post an introduction of yourself and/or your business on our Facebook Page click here, then Like and Share the page.

Startup Show CANCELLED FOR TODAY ONLY

Due to a technical problem today's edition of the Startup Show is cancelled.

You can watch previous shows on our SBCC YouTube Channel, click here.

We'll be back next week. To be on it or some other future show as a guest,
please post an introduction of you/ your business on our SBCC Facebook Page, click here
then call me at (303)861-1447.

Life's short, start now!

John Wren
(303)861-1447

Wednesday, December 02, 2015

Startup Show live at 10 a.m. each Friday.

PLEASE SHARE

Watch live at 10 a.m. Mountain Time or any time after 10:30 a.m. via recording on www.JohnWren.com or Google+ Hangouts Live.

TO BE ON THE SHOW introduce you/your biz on http://Facebook.com/Small.Business.Chamber




Self-Directed Learning for Teachers and Organizers.

Finally, after a 2 month delay! Will you join us?

New online group and new Denver group now forming.

The purpose of both new groups: Self-Directed Learning for
Teachers and Organizers. Initial focus: Civic Education.

Watch this 20 minute video, then let me know if you
want to be involved.

John Wren
www.WrenCollege.org
(303)861-1447





Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Give us!

God gave us this bird,
With bread and all of the rest.
Thanks HP for the grub.
“


— 
Occasional Haiku by John Wren.
*On Amazon.com John Wren’s Daring Mighty Things: The Simplest Way to Start Your First (or Next) New Business.

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Does this terrify you?

Most of us left comments like this back on the elementary school playground.

I'm with the Wall Street Journal, it's time to consider Trump's finger on the nuclear button.

Terrifying! 

Karl Rove's new book is dynamite!

Just out, endorsed by author of The First American, my favorite Ben Franklin biography, and by Doris Kearns Goodwin, author of Team of Rivals,

I'm just into the first couple of chapters after getting my copy today, it's terrific! Check out this interview about it on CBS:

http://www.rove.com/appearances/2719

Poem a Day with Your Help!

Ill write a poe'm a day for you, but only when I get feedback from at least two or three people per day.

Check out what I wrote today, let me know what you think of it.

Here's link to today's poem, let me know via comment here or there what you think of it, ok?
http://johnwren.tumblr.com/post/133885743657/governor-john-evans-celebrated-back-then-but-now

John Wren
Consultant + Citizen + Old Crow
"Have poem, will travel."

Celebrated as hero, DU now vilifies.

http://johnwren.tumblr.com/post/133885743657/governor-john-evans-celebrated-back-then-but-now

Sunday, November 22, 2015

Photo? Memory?

Do you have any photos of Mom and/or Pop? Please share any photo and/or memory here as a comment. Or call me and I'll share it here or keep it just between me and you if you'd prefer. Thanks! John Wren (303)861-1447


Friday, November 20, 2015

Startup Show-- Live at 10 a.m. each Friday, or by recording.

Startup Show with John Wren. Sponsored by
Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
"Help to do more Good Work."
http://www.SmallBizChamber.org
To be on the show call next Monday, (303)861-1447



Saturday, November 14, 2015

The 4 Practices of our SBCC Startup Method

JohnWren.com +Recover+Start+Grow+Flourish+: The 4 Practices of our SBCC Startup Method. Real ...: The 4 Practices of our SBCC Startup Method. R eal help for people who want to go in a new direction with their work , those people who...
The 4 Practices of our SBCC Startup Method.

Real help for people who want to go in a new direction with their work, those people who want to start a new career, project, campaign, or a new business, and those who help them start, accountants, lawyers, consultants, etc.

If formal market research and formal planning were useful tools for going from zero to first customer or first day on the job, we’d have a planned economy rather than the market economy that has served us, the citizens of our United States, for centuries.

Our SBCC meetings are optional, of course, but each of these four practices is essential  a startup in our market economy.

For each practice suggested reading and an optional, free, facilitated meeting. We will help you start one of the meetings in cooperation with your local chamber of other group. Call John Wren for details. (303)861-1447. 

1. The practice of imaginative action.
Group: IDEA Cafe Startup Workshop.
Books: Just Start; What Color is Your Parachute— 2013; Daring Mighty Things.
Confidential meetings where we teach the IDEA model, share startup experience and brainstorm. Best held each Friday afternoon, if we are successful participants are too busy to attend the following week, but they can if needed.


2. The practice of critical thinking.
Group: Socrates Cafe
Books: Socrates Cafe; Dialogs of Socrates. Inspired by Chris Phillips book Socrates Cafe, we don’t just talk about philosophy, we practice doing philosophical thought about great ideas.


3. The practice of (true)Self-directed Learning.
Group: Franklin Circle
Books: Self-Directed Learning for Teachers and Learners; Praxis of Suffering.
Based on the group Ben Franklin and his friends had they called the Junto, it’s much the same as Malcolm Knowles recommended.


4. The practice of recovery.
Group: Root & Branch Open Discussion Meeting Books: Alcoholics Anonymous (Big Book); Breathing Under Water; Discovering Awareness.
An introduction to the 12-steps as a spiritual path and to meditation.


Other Recommended Books:

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. The True Believer, Human Accomplishment, ReWork, Bowling Alone, The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything, The Origin & Evolution of New Businesses, Care of the Soul.
What books have helped you?

Visit us! Denver Free Sample Groups:

IDEA Cafe
Startup Workshop. Fridays, 2 to 3:30 p.m. Panera, 13th & Grant.

Socrates Cafe @ DU, Saturdays, 6:30 p.m.

Root & Branch Open Discussion Group Monday’s, 4:30 p.m. 1311 York St. 3rd Floor.


More information about these model groups and  optional RSVP (walk-ins welcome) see www.Meetup.com/Small-Biz-Chamber

SBCC MEDIA:
Colorado Caucus News, Strengthening the voice of the grassroots: http://Facebook/Colorado.Caucus.News
Startup Show, live each Friday at 10 a.m. via link on http://www.JohnWren.com 
Grassroots Rules Online, http://www.COCaucus.org
Daring Mighty Things— The Simplest Way to Start Your First (or Next) New Business. On http://www.Amazon.com/JohnWren/a Money back if not satisfied 

Join us today, get a free online membership now in your Small Business Chamber:

Go to http://Facebook.com/Small.Business.Chamber, Then 1) post intro of you/your biz, 2) Like & 3) Share. 7000+ members now, we’d love to have you join with us, too, if you’re starting something new or if you help startups!

Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
+Recover+Start+Grow+Flourish+AGDM+
1881 Buchtel Blvd. #501, Denver, CO 80210 www.SmallBizChamber.org (303)861-1447

Teach for us! See SBCC’s new http://WrenCollege.org
Those attending SBCC meetings are encouraged to also be an active participant in at least one of the following: Local chamber of commerce; business incubator; 12-step fellowship; NAMI; individual and/or group therapy; spiritual direction; pastoral or other counseling; consulting; coaching; mentoring.

In SBCC discussion meetings we maintain confidentiality for these resources, especially if they have NOT been helpful; what was helpful or not for me might have an entirely different effect for you. We cooperate with all who are trying to help 

Friday, November 13, 2015

"Death of Dreams?" Startup Show Nov 13, live 10 a.m. or by recording after 10:30 a.m.

Is the American Dream still alive? Nearly everyone sees there is a problem, what's the solution? Finding it starts with a decision, does the USA need hospice care or recovery? John Wren shares his thoughts about this today. To be on the show call (303)861-1447 Monday morning. SPONSORED BY JOHN WREN'S SMALL BUSINESS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, INC. Meet with us this afternoon and every Friday afternoon at Panera Bread, 13th & Grant here in Denver, soon in 30 cities across Colorado. PLEASE SHARE



Saturday, November 07, 2015

Imagination is more important than knowledge.

I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world. 
Albert Einstein


Einstein 1921 by F Schmutzer - restoration.jpg
"Einstein 1921 by F Schmutzer - restoration" by Ferdinand Schmutzer - http://www.bhm.ch/de/news_04a.cfm?bid=4&jahr=2006 [dead link], archived copy (image). Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons.

Wednesday, November 04, 2015

Socratic Startup

I've been working with startups since before it was popular.

Today, there are startup weekend, workshops, consultants, college classes, a flood of books, Shark Tank and many other TV and radio shows, we've gone from one extreme to the other.

Same thing is true of business and management advice, but it's much further along. First MBA was awarded by Harvard in 1912.

So how is all this observation and instruction working out?

Are we better off today than in 1994 when I started my TV and radio shows about startup, published my little booklet that's still sold on Amazon, and started meeting each week with entrepreneurs and those who wanted to be entrepreneurs?

Used to be about a million startups a year in the US, now there are about half that many. The more we are talking about startup, the few startups we are actually getting off the ground.

Some say, yes and that's a good thing, those that haven't started would have failed.

I'm not so sure.

Businesses with 10 to 100 employees have suffered a dramatic drop, too. If we just have more business that don't fail, seems to me this number would not have had as sharp a drop. Other factors enter into this statistic, but I believe fewer startups is at lease part of the problem.

So what is to be done? I'd like to see a return to people thinking hard on their own about what they are doing. Few teach that any more. Now the big virtue is listening.

Edmund Phelps, the Nobel Prize winning economist in his newest book Mass Flourishing sees productivity world wide taking a dramatic fall. Scroll down here or search on this site for his name and you can see the interviews I've done with him.

Phelps sees that we've lost our sense of adventuresomeness, the strong desire to blaze a new trail, to set off in a different direction.

Looking back, maybe Athens was having a similar problem when Socrates started asking his questions. Do you suppose his purpose might not have been so much to get to the truth as to start a fire under the young men he was questioning?

Maybe it's time for at least a few of us to do the same.

If so, what's needed is not all the motivational, positive thinking talks and seminars that we are flooded with, not all the how to do it books and classes, but more people asking in a kind, helpful way, why do you think that? How do you know? What are you doing with your life?

The problem is we've all become domesticated, like the cow chewing his cud contentedly, happy to just give milk, to eat, to live out the days contented.

Men have become as domesticated as women have been for centuries. Instead of liberating women what the women's movement seems to have done is domesticated men so they are equally miserable.

"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away."

Maybe it's time to just do it!

If so, there is no time to wait. This life is very short, let's get started!


Friday, October 30, 2015

Friday, October 23, 2015

Today! (Fri, 10/22) Startup Show live at 10 a.m. or by recording at:

Today on the Startup Show I'll talk about the new Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc and our new Startup Method. Take a look! Same spirit as my little book on Amazon, Daring Mighty Things-- The Simplest Way to Start Your First (or Next) New Business.

Starts here at 10 a.m., or come back any time after the show to see the recording:






To be a guest on the show next week or some other Friday, call me Monday or Tuesday at (303)861-1447.

This life is short, let's get started!

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Startup is like...

Startup is more like recovering a fumble than running a play.

Friday, October 16, 2015

Friday, October 09, 2015

Today's Startup Show

John Wren's Startup Show, live here each Friday, 10 a.m. or here by recording after the live show.


The topics this week: Denver Startup Week and what really helps startup and small business. Be one of the first 10 to join us today from here via your computer with a webcam to be on the video roundtable.

We'll continue the discussion at the Denver IDEA Cafe, see post below and RSVP on EventBrite or go to our Meetup site for more info and optional RSVP http://Meetup.com/Small-Biz-Chamber

Thursday, October 01, 2015

10 a.m. Startup Show Oct 2 2015

Startup Show

Business Basics. Plus join us to tell us about
Denver Startup Week.


Denver Startup Week

Big events are being held around the country
celebrating people who are starting new businesses.

In my experience people who are really serious about
starting are just too busy to attend.

And when inspiration hits, usually it's time to get
started. It's true, this life is very short!

That's why we hold IDEA Cafe Startup Workshops every
week. http://Meetup.com/Small-Biz-Chamber

Every week is startup week at Denver IDEA Cafe!

Life's short, start now!

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Special Edition of the Startup Show

This week instead of the Startup Show a webinar.

Any of the topics discussed today can be expanded on in a follow up webinar next week.

Call me with your suggestion, if it's the topic picked I'll take you to lunch here in Denver.

Now here's the founder of the Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc., me, John Wren


Socrates Cafe @ DU

Socrates Cafe @ DU. Free. 
We pick topic, share, ask questions.
Saturdays, 6:30p, Anderson Commons.
More info & optional RSVP (walk-ins welcome)

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Problem/ Solution SBCC

The Problem:
Declining innovation, productivity and standard of living because of greatly diminished 
dynamism and vitalism brought about by the heavy hand of Corporatism and Socialism.
Source: Edmund Phelps, Nobel Award Winning Economist in his latest book 
Mass Flourishing— How Grassroots Innovation Created Jobs, Challenge, and Change.

The Solution:
John Wren and his Small Business Chamber of Commerce Inc.

For Free Membership: 
Post introduction of yourself, then Like and Share SBCC Facebook Page.
See link to Facebook Page on our www.SmallBizChamber.org

Free Meetings Each Week:
*Root & Branch.  An introduction to the 12-steps of recovery and meditation. Mon, 4:30 p.m. 
*IDEA Cafe Startup Praxis. We share startup experience and ideas. Fri, 2 p.m.
*Socrates Cafe @ DU. We pick a topic, share thoughts and ask questions. Sat, 6:30 p.m.
*Franklin Circle. Peer Advisory/ TrueSelf-Directed Learning Group. Varies.
For more information see link to our Meetup site on our www.SmallBizChamber.org

Get With The Program:
One day at a time, with God’s help we:
Love God. Love Neighbor. Be helpful.

SBCC Startup Method: 4 Practices:
Faith. Imagination. Logic and Decision Making. TrueSelf Directed Learning.

Next step? Call now and invite John Wren to:
Speak at your fraternity/sorority, service club, neighborhood or church group meeting; 
and/or
Meet with you to discuss how he and SBCC can best help you now. 

John Wren’s Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
We do Good Work and help others to do Good Work, too.
+Recover+Start+Grow+Flourish+AGDM+
1881 Buchtel Blvd. #501, Denver, CO 80210 (303)861-1447


One day at a time John S. Wren, MBA+ is a business consultant (see www.JohnWren.com) and founder of his SBCC, IDEA Cafe, Franklin Circles, Root & Branch, and Socrates Cafe @ DU. He is the author of Daring Mighty Things— The Simplest Way to Start Your First (or Next) New Business, which is available on Amazon. He has spoken at national association meetings and local clubs and associations. He is a long-time community activist with a passion for strengthening the grassroots in business and politics, (see his Grassroots Rules site at www.COCaucus.org.) He is the father of four adult children and the grandfather of four. Formal Education: Cornell College and the University of Denver BA’69 MBA’80 and classes in education at Regis University. New! WrenCollege.org. for TrueSelf-Directed Learning.

Friday, September 11, 2015

Startup Show

Watch here at 10 a.m. live, any time after that via recording:


Friday, August 28, 2015

Startup Show, today's topic: "Politics of Startup."

Each Friday we talk about startup, starting a new career, a new project or campaign, or starting a new business. Today we'll be talking about the politics of startup. For more see http://www.COCaucus.org



Friday, August 21, 2015

The Startup Show, each Friday, 10 a.m. Link on YouTube, Google+ and here.

Today, repeat of last weeks show. I will be at Panera Bread this afternoon at 2 p.m. for the IDEA Cafe Startup Praxis, other meetings on newsletter below.

Click here for The Startup Show:
JohnWren.com +Recover+Start+Grow+Flourish+: The Startup Show 8/14/15:

Printed copies of this newsletter are at various locations. If you'd like your event in next Thursday's edition call John Wren at (303)861-1447.


Friday, August 14, 2015

The Startup Show 8/14/15

Today, books that have been important to getting to this point,
and more about what this point looks like and the road ahead.
To be on the show call (303)861-1447


Friday, August 07, 2015

Special Edition of The Startup Show 8/7/15

Today we'll talk about the history and future of the Small Business Chamber of Commerce and what's ahead right now.

Thursday, August 06, 2015

Who are our role models? Who do we want to know more about?

What we are curious enough about to search on Google:

The world's view of startup and entrepreneurship. It's not the big story.

Startup and Entrepreneurship searches on Google and mentions in headlines compared to the same on the term Management. Very instructional.


Saturday, August 01, 2015

PamBG's Blog: Faith Sharing

I'm going to start our 1st faith sharing group with this blog post I just found responding to Fr. James Martin's suggestions about the practice in his book The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything, written by a Methodist pastor, you can see her blog at:  PamBG's Blog: Faith Sharing

05 September 2010

Faith Sharing

I am currently reading The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything by James Martin, SJ.

In the book, he talks about a practice in the Jesuit community that is called "faith sharing". I immediately recognized this process as the one we used when I belonged to the Ignatian lay community called the Charistian Life Community.

Many Methodists talk about reinstating the original Methodist classes and many people wonder what they might do in such a "class" when they gather to hold their fellow members accountable in love. My own experience of "faith sharing" (I didn't know of this term until I read the book) was that it was the most profound experience of fellowship and growth in faith and prayer that I have ever had. And Fr. Martin can explain it better than I can, so I offer his words here: 
Every Sunday night in the novitiate our community gathered for "faith sharing," which meant speaking to one another about our spiritual lives: where we had experienced God in our daily lives and what our prayer was like.

There were two rules. First, everything was confidential. Second, no comments were allowed after someone spoke, unless it was a question asked to clarify something.

The first rule made sense. The second seemed ridiculous. Early on, when people expressed their struggles, I wanted to say, "Why not try this?" If someone talked about being lonely, I wanted to say, "Knock on my door." I couldn't understand why the novice director wanted us to be silent.

Gradually I realized: it was so we could listen....

Gradually I grew to love faith sharing. When my fellow novices, as well as Gerry and his assistant, David, shared about how they had experienced God in the previous week, I was fascinated. What a wonder to see how complicated these men were and how much they were all trying to grow in holiness, trying to be better men, better Jesuits.
I've wanted to write about my experience in CLC for a long time. But it's hard to write about because it's so simple. I personally found the rule of "no talking except to clarify" to be rule that made the entire process work and I think that many people find it a bit silly. But here is what I found:

* When no one can tell another that they disagree with his or her experience of God or that the speaker has got their doctrine wrong then people begin to be totally honest with each other.

* When no one interrupts others, the speakers don't get desperate to talk more in order to be heard and the listeners actually listen instead of worrying about what to say.

* The Spirit of God does move to challenge people and hold them accountable without any human in the group needing to don the mantle of Spiritual Rule-maker.

* When people are really honest about what is genuinely going on in their faith-life, the group members grow to love and appreciate each other and to understand their challenges.

In my experience in CLC, neither accountability nor faith-sharing required a human police(wo)man to make sure everyone was on track. God managed just fine without human intervention.

I'm not an historian of exactly how Wesley did things, but my hunch is that this format would work well for many accountability groups in our time. But the urge to make exceptions to the second rule really does need to be resisted at all cost.

Friday, July 31, 2015

The Startup Show

Watch each Friday, 10 am MDT or via unedited recording here until the edited version is posted a day or two later. Guests on the show meet with us in the afternoon at the SBCC Denver IDEA Cafe Startup Praxis, more info and optional RSVP at http://Meetup.com/Small-Biz-Chamber. To be a guest on the show call (303)861-1447


Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Rise of the entrepreneur.




From: http://books.google.com/ngrams

Management Science

I remember the late 60s and early 70s when there was talk of "management science" sparked by Fredrick Taylor and his concept of the "one best way."

We've learned that is just not how humans do well.

So why is it that those involved in business startup seem to be thinking of the one best way to start a business? Understandable for the government to think that way with the Small Business Administration.

But why others? Seems like everyone from university programs on entrepreneurship to local chamber of commerce programs all talk about doing market research, writing a convincing business plan, finding investors, although almost no small business actually gets off the ground using those tools.

That's why I say I'm a recovering MBA, much of what I learned in graduate business school has had to be overcome to be helpful to people who want to start something new.

Want to talk with me about this? Post a comment here, watch The Startup Show Friday mornings, or when you are in Denver let's get together at the Denver IDEA Cafe Praxis. For more see http://www.SmallBizChamber.org 

If you did formal market research and formal planning before your first sale, I'd very much like to talk with you. I've been talking with people who have started successful businesses for over 20 years, you'll be the first I've met that did it that SBA-way.

Sunday, July 26, 2015

Family

An Episcopal priest Bruce Youngquist became a good friend. He taught me many thing, maybe the most important had to do with today's gospel, the feeding of the 5,000. 

An interesting commentary is on http://GiveUsThisDay.org 

I responded with a comment on the author's website http://NotStrictlySpiritual.org 

Is the feeding of the world every day any less of a miracle? 

Friday, July 24, 2015

Friday, July 17, 2015

Today! The Startup Show

Me and old college friend Karl Rove.
This morning and each Friday, right here at 10 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time,

It's The Startup Show! 

Mark your calendar and come back here at 10 a.m. this morning, or watch here anytime after that via recording.

This week I'll talk about the new WrenCollege.org for Adult Self-Directed Learning and the faculty we are recruiting for it.

I also share with you about the new learning group patterned after Ben Franklin's original group that I'm forming now, why it will probably be the last one that I personally organize and facilitate, and why I'm buying dinner for everyone who comes to our first meeting.

Here's today's show:

Thursday, July 16, 2015

The Startup Show

Right here on each Friday at 10 a.m. or any time after that via the recording. Mark your calendar for 10 a.m. each Friday, John Wren's The Startup Show on www.JohnWren.com

Grassroots Rules. : Colorado Caucus? Isn't it just a waste of time? Wo...

Grassroots Rules. : Colorado Caucus? Isn't it just a waste of time? Wo...:   This editorial by a long time Colorado political reporter and editor does a great job putting the light of reason on the Colorado Caucus a...

Friday, July 10, 2015

Freedom Fest #2

Was too tired to post anything yesterday, still am. Glad I'm headed home tomorrow.

Speaker after speaker, loads of info, coffee, very big crowd. Food a breaks goes quickly, feel guilty eating it anyway after hearing presentations on having a better diet yesterday.

Several mentions of problem with education, we've given monopoly to those offering certification. Shouldn't matter where we learned, just certify what we've learned. Seems to me this could be a case of being at the right place at the right time for WrenCollege.org

This conference makes me more of a believer in independent, self-directed learning. This many people showing up to get this little real, solid information.

Highlights: Hearing John Mackay, Whole Foods talk a couple of times, able to ask him the big question I've had since hearing President of Colorado Medical Society talk about the surprising way to cut health costs.

Also hearing Charles Murray a couple of times, and getting program with lots of movies that should be good, documentaries that just don't get much PR.

Connecting with PlantPure and finding they are open to killing two birds with one stone with their movie in Colorado. Could be just that one connection made the trip worthwhile.

Couple more speakers in a.m. before I head for airport in the morning. Should be back for Socrates Cafe at DU at 6:30 p.m. Join us? :-) http://Meetup.com/Colorado-Socrates-Cafe-Society.

Wednesday, July 08, 2015

Las Vegas for Freedom Fest

Allen West gave a powerful, powerful talk to conclude first day of Freedom Fest.

Much of the crowd is Libertarian, West's strong advocacy of the need for a strong national defense won't sit well with some of them, but it very much did with the gentleman I sat next to, after 20 year career in the military, worked for a government contractor and just retired from it after a similar time. He want to get involved, he likes Libertarians except for the utopian stance some take on nation defense. West spoke directly to his concern.

No mention today of Pope Francis in South America. Hasn't he been meeting with the World Meeting of Popular Movements? He was quoted in the paper last week as saying the "Evil Financial Empires" need to be brought to an end, a play on Ronald Reagan's use of Evil Empire to describe the enemies of the United States. 

CEO of Overstock.com talked about his battle with the Federal bureaucracy and why he thinks peer-to-peer replacements for government centralized services will be growing. He likes Bitcoin, still seems like a giant con to me, and he likes a peer to peer stock exchange, of which I'm even more leery. He doesn't like pooled clearing done now, looks to me his peer-to-peer is much more risky and it really put me off when he refused to discuss the details, what he calls "the plumbing." 

Martin Luther King reenacted by Jim Lucas was very moving. Immigrant from North Korea shared what life was like there, why she escaped and how she did it. Similar story from woman who escaped from China, a man who's family had escaped from Nazi German.  Makes me very grateful for the freedom we do still have here.

Lots more tomorrow, popular New York Times columnist, CEO of Whole Foods, Donald Trump has announced he's dropping in sometime.

Interesting mix of economics, politics, and financial advice. I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow. 

If you want more check out Twitter #FreedomFest or @TheFreedomFest where I'll be posting pictures tomorrow, battery died today.

Thursday, July 02, 2015

The Startup Show, today with Russell Dennis.

Live here Friday, July 3 at 10 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time or anytime after that via video recording, Russell Dennis! Russell is well-known in Denver and elsewhere because of his economic development work, work with veterans, and now his public speaking and consulting work with non-profits. He'll be with us today to share about some difficulties he has recovered from and then used new strength to start in a new direction. We hope you'll join us and please share this with your friends who might find it helpful. You'll be able to ask questions online about your situation if you want.


Friday, June 26, 2015

The Startup Show

John Wren's views about startup and other things. 10 a.m. Mountain Daylight each Friday. To be a guest on the show call (303)861-1447 on Monday or Tuesday.


Thursday, June 25, 2015

Google I/O 2015 - Keynote

Just out-- Today's University Journal.

Published each Thursday. Click on the image to get a clean copy. Please print and post on your favorite bulletin board. Thanks!

After the storm



Yesterday (June 24) at end of the storm and at the very beginning from my apartment.

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

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GET STARTED TODAY!
All you need is: 
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Call 303-954-FAST (3278)

24 Hour Recording. Leave info.
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Monday, June 22, 2015

Denver Magna Carta Park: Planning for 2016 celebration.

Denver Magna Carta Park: Planning for 2016 celebration.: It took 10 years for the final adoption of the Magna Carta, so we are considering making this gathering in Denver Magna Carta Park an annual...

Friday, June 19, 2015

The Startup Show

Are you starting? Want to start? Join us here live each Friday morning, 10 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time, or anytime for the recording. To be on the show next Friday post an introduction of yourself and/or your business on http://Facebook.com/Small.Business.Chamber and then call John Wren on MONDAY, call (303)861-1447. Here's today's show PLEASE SHARE:


Monday, June 15, 2015

Denver Magna Carta Park: Join us today in Denver!

Denver Magna Carta Park: Join us today in Denver!: The reason we are celebrating Magna Carta's 800th aniversary today is because without it the events that followed, including the found...

Friday, June 12, 2015

Friday, June 12

Dear friends,

I'm going to try something new with this Google form.

My hope is to find 10 or 12 people to meet with either here in Denver or via the Internet in a Franklin Circle.

One of Ben Franklin's keys to success he told us in his autobiography was a group he put together with his friends. To learn more about Franklin's group and suggestions about becoming part of such a group yourself Google "How to start a Franklin Circle."

If you'd like an invitation to a Franklin Circle I'm forming now, please complete the form below.


The Startup Show 6/12/15

Friday, June 05, 2015

Live at 10 a.m. Mountain, The Startup Show

Each week at 10 a.m. Mountain time or here via recording later John Wren talks about startup, going in a new direction with your career, a project or campaign, or a new business. To be on the show call (303)861-1447, if you get the voice mail leave a complete, confidential message and John will get back with you ASAP.

Thursday, June 04, 2015

Sunday, May 31, 2015

Y Combinator's "How to Start a Startup" video and text.

Y Combinator has worked with hundreds of startups, this is distillation of their experience.

Worth reading and watching, if you take this as a way of building your own method, not as a cook book that you can use to avoid really thinking about anything when you're starting.



Saturday, May 30, 2015

5 facts about the minimum wage



My dad used to say that like the definition of a living wage (enough to live on), whether someone is for or against minimum wage laws depends on whether you are receiving it or paying it out.

Interesting article about the minimum wage over the years, check it out, decide for yourself: are the minimum wage laws good or bad for the poor? For employers? For our economy?

Click here:  5 facts about the minimum wage

Friday, May 29, 2015

The Startup Show, 10 a.m. each Friday.

Starting something new? Join us!
To be on the show next week call (303)861-1447

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Want to sell more books?

Have you written a book?

Is your book helpful, interesting and/or entertaining for someone who is starting or growing a small business?

Or is it a book written for someone who owns and/or works in a successful business but is not flourishing personally? (By not flourishing I mean the reader might look successful but he or she has a problem with alcohol and/or drugs, depression or other mood disorder, hates their job, relationship problems, is cynical and unhappy, and is just not able to personally accomplish what they intend to do.)

If so, send me or have your publisher send a review copy of your most recent book I'll read it and if I like it I'll announce you as one of the speakers at an IDEA Cafe, I'll write about your book and what you share at the IDEA Cafe you attend, and I'll an endorsement of you on Linked In, and on this website an others announcing you'll be my guest on The Startup Show. 

If your interested call me a week or so after the review copy of your book and the media kit are sent and we'll pencil in dates. 

Review copy and media kit best sent by you or your publisher via link posted here as private Facebook message or to John Wren, The Startup Show, Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc., 1881 Buchtel Blvd., Denver, CO 80210  

Call me any morning except Sunday at 9:30 a.m. to have the best chance of me picking up, or call any time (right now's ok) to leave a complete, 100% confidential (I'm the only one with the code to the voice mail box) voice mail message and I'll get back to you as quickly as possible. 

My phone number is (303)861-1447.

Saturday, May 02, 2015

Grassroots Rules. : Save the Caucus? Why?

Grassroots Rules. : Save the Caucus? Why?: Why is it worth fighting for the Colorado Caucus? No one has ever explained it's value better than my friend Sue:   Caucuses ar...

Kill the Colorado Caucus Killing SB15-287

Is Mitt Romney paying Ryan Call to clear the path for Colorado's delegates?

It's a well known fact Call was 4-square behind Romney, his backing candidates in primary races is the #1 reason he was not re-elected Colorado State GOP Chair.

Now will Steve House, the new GOP State honcho let Call get away with pulling the rug out from under the Colorado GOP with the Senate Bill 287 he has ginned up.

Call has fool reporters into thinking he still speaks for the GOP, he really never did with his primary race diddling, he certainly does not now.

Owen Hill was the only Republican on the Senate kill committee to see through the smoke screen. Hopefully the Republicans will kill it in Appropriations Committee, possibly at 8 a.m. on Monday.

I wish Steve House would attend and put this caucus-killing measure down.

For more about why it's so bad see http://Facebook.com/Colorado.Caucus.News and links there.

Thursday, April 23, 2015

What Americans Talk About

This is the frequency of occurrence of words in books Google has put online by year.
We'll talk about this tomorrow on The Startup Show, come back here for link at 10 a.m.
Mountain or after for a recording. For more see http://www.SmallBizChamber.org

Friday, April 10, 2015

Monday, March 16, 2015

Real recovery.

Guest Columns

WREN: ADVICE TO EVERYONE FROM TEA PARTY MEMBERS TO VETERAN ACTIVISTS

Real recovery after this year’s election begins with these five basic steps

By John Wren
GUEST COLUMNIST
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” — President Theodore Roosevelt, April 23, 1910
The spirit of the true American Dream has been stirred again. New representatives have been elected, new solutions are being discussed, new legislative sessions are on the horizon, and each of us who has been active in politics, some for the first time, are left with the question: what’s next?
Let me suggest a few things that we citizens, from new Tea Party members to veteran activists, might consider as we decide what contribution we can make between now and the next election to be more than just a critic:
1. Take stock of yourself. Real recovery starts with personal recovery. In football this is called getting back up into a good hitting position. If there is a mental, physical, or spiritual problem, now is the time to address it. If you don’t know where to go for help, call 211, help is just a phone call away if you really want to change. If you do nothing else, get more rest and exercise, eat better, and use recreation to recharge.
2. Connect and reconnect. None of us can do much in isolation. If you don’t already, subscribe to your local newspaper, become a more active reader, post online comments and send letters to the editor. Completely commit yourself to your church, temple, or synagogue and/or your 12-step recovery program. Join or become more active in your service club, chamber of commerce, trade association, neighborhood, or other group that is important to you. Go back to school or become more active in your alumni group. Join or start a peer advisory group or book discussion group.  
3. Do good work that allows you to be an active citizen. If you are a business owner or manager, create a new job and hire an assistant who will allow you the free time to participate. If you are unemployed or underemployed in a job that makes your life all business look for an opportunity to become that assistant or another job that allows community participation and insist part of your compensation be time to be a good citizen. Or start your own business.
4. Lead, follow, or get out of the way. Run for elected public office, party leadership, or just help other good people get elected. Google Republican or Democrat and your ZIP code, make a phone call, and volunteer to help in your neighborhood. In 2012 you’ll be in position to make a real difference.
5. Finally, become more computer literate. If you don’t know how, ask your local librarian.
In the spring of 2012, across the state in over 3,000 neighborhoods we’ll once again have the opportunity to gather again for our potentially wonderful Colorado caucuses. If colleges, high schools, libraries, service clubs, church, neighborhood, and other groups and clubs across Colorado would make active citizenship a major focus between now and then, we can convert the enthusiasm of the moment to bring about a major advance towards the recovery of our American Dream. For more information about it see http://www.COCaucus.org.

John Wren is a Denver resident and long-time community activist, business consultant, and adult educator. He is the founder of the new, free Small Business Chamber of Commerce, which is now the sponsor of Wren’s Denver IDEA Café startup workshop for people starting a new career, new project or campaign, or new business, which he has been facilitating for over 10 years.