Join me this weekend:

LoDo IDEA Cafe, Fridays, 2 p.m. LoDo Panera Bread, 16th & Market.
More at www.Meetup.com/Small-Biz-Chamber

LoDo Socrates Cafe, Fridays, 6 p.m., LoDo Panera Bread, 16th & Market
More info and optional rsvp on www.Meetup.com/Socrates-Cafe-Society

Socrates Cafe @ University of Denver, Saturdays, 6:30 p.m. Anderson Commons.
More at www.Meetup.com/Socrates-Cafe-Society

Questions? Call me (720)495-4949

Columbia Journalism Professor Evaluation of Political Media Coverage

What happened over the last two years?

It changed journalism and created the current political situation.

Great insights from a solid journalist who has been a reporter for the New York times and who has taught journalism at Columbia. Check it out: Imprimus (click here.)

Want to start in a new direction?

Adults learn best by being the teacher. "See one. Do one. Teach one."

Socratic Startup Groups: 

Weekly 90-minute peer-led sessions. People with similar backgrounds starting in a new direction with their career.

Week 1:

You are OK now: Start where you are.

Week 2:

Heros: Lessons in living.

Week 3:

Higher Power: Spiritual living.

Week 4:

Proceeding: What’s next?

Agenda for each meeting:

Introductions/Where are you now? 

Reading from book group has selected. 

Discussion. 

Final words/What has changed?

Ask us for an invitation to a free information session, usually held on a Friday afternoon near you, or apply online now to be group facilitator or new student:

Wren College for 

Social Learning.

New groups forming now. 

www.WrenCollege.org 

(720)495-4949

A project of the Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc.  Denver, CO 80210 

Media Release: Magna Carta Day in Denver

Denver Magna Carta Park: Media Release: Magna Carta Day in Denver: Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc. 1881 Buchtel Blvd. #510 Denver, CO 80210  www.SmallBizChamber.org Twitter: @IDEACafe Facebo...

Denver Magna Carta Park: Invitation for Celebrity Speakers. PLEASE SHARE!

Denver Magna Carta Park: Invitation for Celebrity Speakers. PLEASE SHARE!: OPEN MICROPHONE. We will invite whoever wants to speak at an open microphone. Signup list will open at 11:30 a.m., celebrity speakers will ...

Which is it, go or look?

Which is it, go or look?

When an idea for doing something new crops up are we best off if we “Just do it?” or should we “Look before you leap.”

Which has worked or not worked for you?

Topic right now online, to be part of it Tweet with #IDEACafeChat #StartFinish

The video posted this morning from Entrepreneur Magazine on https://Twitter.com/Small.Business.Chamber suggests the best way to start is to just do something, whatever it is that will get you moving.

“Just Start,” as described in this video and in more depth in the Harvard Business Review Press book published with this as it’s central theme, can be powerful. 

Amar Bhide’s findings from research with Inc 500 founders and then published by Oxford Press (“The Origin and Evolution of New Businesses) strongly make the case for not writing a business plan, not doing market research, not raising money, but rather to do what you can with what you have to get underway quickly with a new business idea.

Cynics point out, Bhide’s research is biased because it only takes into account the survivors of the “leap before you look” approach.

Today’s Wall Street Journal has a book review headlined “Cold, Doomed, Hungry;” it reviews the new book “The Best Land Under Heaven,” the tragic story of the Donner family migration to California from Illinois. I suggest you read it, I'm about to post a link to it on our https://Twitter.com/IDEACafeChat 

The Donner brothers George and Jacob had read the then popular new book, “Emigrants’ Guide to Oregon and California” and they took their families on a new route described as much faster and safer. and they stuck with it despite the warning of mountain man James Clyman.

Let’s discuss the philosophy of start and finish. 

Right now you can Tweet your comment with #IDEACafe #StartFinish to be part of today’s online conversation. If you are in metro-Denver today or later this week join us this evening (Tue, 6/6) at Trinity Church, Friday at LoDo Panera, or Saturday at the University of Denver where I’ll be suggesting this as the topic. More info about these Socrates Cafe meetings and optional rsvp at https://Meetup.com/Socrates-Cafe-Society 

No video session of our IDEA Cafe Chat again today. Hopefully it will get underway soon. First we want to finish a conversation with a mountain man…

John Wren

www.JohnWren.com

(720)495-4949

Who do you trust?

JohnWren.com SBCC Method-Practices of: Imagine, Think, Learn to; Start, Grow, and Flourish. +++: Claire Martin writesin the Denver Post this mornin...: Claire Martin writes in the Denver Post this morning about the passing of Bonnie Brae Tavern’s Hank Dire (click here) and the restaurant ...

Happy birthday, Mike! Hope you'll be with us live here soon at 1881. Just take a minute and click on  https://Meetup.com/Small-Biz-Chamber  , then rsvp on the IDEA Cafe Chat date that would work best for you, ok?

Are you happy? #2

Why I fight for the grassroots.

Or maybe a better headline would be "DO YOU want to be happy? #2"

It occurs to me that to understand what happened next with me and George (see yesterday's post) you need a little bit of background about me. Even if you are in my family there are things you probably don’t know.

First, I believe this little book about startup was divinely inspired. It’s been selling online ever since it first came out and I’ve never had a negative review. Check it out: click or copy and paste into your browser: 

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=John+Wren+Daring+Mighty+Things

Did you have a chance to read yesterday's post? I’m not sure why there were no comments, according to Google it was downloaded over 100 times. Did you see it? I hope you'll share it and this post with any of your friends who are starting in a new direction with their work or who want to make a career change.

I’ll talk more about my background, how my little book came into being, and what all this has to do with happiness on today’s Startup Show. Link to it here at Noon MST (2 p.m. Eastern) or you can watch live or by recording via the same link.

Your positive comments, including constructive criticism, are welcome below:

If you are in Denver now or if you will be soon, join me at one of our Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc's free, live meetings (click here.) No rsvp is ever required, but if you do we will save a seat for you until the start of the meeting. If you have a question about them or anything I post here, call me ok? John Wren (720)495-4949

See you back here tomorrow?

Are you happy?

I was at a very, very low spot in my life 20 years ago. Suicide and/or homocide were definite possibilities. George saved my life and maybe your's too if you knew me back then. This is what he did, the best I can remember. 

A friend I'd known for decades introduced me to George, an old guy who was over weight, smoked constantly while he was on oxygen, and who I'd noticed before at a club my friend and I both belonged to and where George was sort of the towel boy.

I'd noticed George because despite his only working part-time at minimum wage, some big health problems, he was always telling stories and laughing at his own jokes. On my own, I would have never asked him for help. But my friend told me George had helped him, and George could maybe help me. I was desperate enough to do almost anything.

My friend left us alone. After telling George my bedevilments he said something that made me mad until I suddenly could see it was true, "Your life is exactly like you want it and you've worked damn hard to get it that way." In other words, George was telling me in so many words, you don't want to be happy.

When I try to say this to people who want my help, they almost always get angry and storm off. But George had a very unique way of saying it with a sparkle in his eye that made me want to laugh. It was also clear that George wanted to help me. So I kept listening.

"You are selfish, dishonest and afraid. You are restless, irritable and discontented. We can talk about the homosexual tendencies later." With this I did laugh out loud, looking at his big grin.

"I was just like that," George said. "I was deliberately manufacturing my own misery. I'm not now. I'm happy, joyous, and free. Yes, I still have problems from time to time. Some days are better than others, but compared to then I'm happy. Do you want to be happy, joyous and free?"

I just stood like the fool that I was, staring at him. It was a hard question. He got firm, the smile went away. "Well do you? If you don't want to be happy, don't let the door hit you on the but on the way out." I told him yes. We made an appointment to meet the next morning.

I'm asking you that same question right now.

Do you want to be happy, joyous, and free? If so, mark your calendar for 10 a.m. tomorrow morning Mountain Daylight Time (noon Eastern) and let's meet back here on www.JohnWren.com This tread will continue, and I'll share more with you about what George shared with me that saved my life.

Please, no online debate. If this makes you angry, if you disagree, make a short comment and link to your URL if you want, but don't fight it out here, ok? If you have similar experience and have positive comments, still keep it on the short side, and limit yourself to no more that two posts here per day, ok?

Finally, if you are desperate and think you are in danger of harming yourself or someone else call 911 and get help immediately.

I hope to see you back here tomorrow.