Startups Try Harder.

I wrote this as a staff member of the' 65 Denver Thomas Jefferson High School yearbook, 5 years before Robert Townsend wrote the best selling "Up the Organization" about learning in 2nd place. "We try harder" is how CEO Townsend put it in the headlines of the ads for his #2 Avis (Hertz was #1 in market share.)

But throws fall short,

And scores come too late,

All teams can't finish first.

Learning is second place.

From TJ Yearbook, thanks Classmates.com

For more about my thinking about startup see my "Daring Mighty Things." 

Startup Show Mentions Today.

Below are items that were mentioned on today's Startup Show, which you can still see if you "Visit Group" on www.Facebook.com/Small.Business.Chamber and join us. I suggest you check it out first or these cryptic notes may not mean much to you.

The Startup Show is looking for sponsors, call me if you might be interested. (303)861-1447 For now I'm the only source of money for what we are doing, it's been a decades long labor of love. More about my alt-ego, the Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc at www.SmallBizChamber.org

Also see www.Meetup.com/Small-Biz-Chamber and www.Meetup.com/Socrates-Cafe-Society for more information about the free meetings here in Denver. 5280 Magazine has said they have "infused Denver with an entrepreneurial spirit," and I'd like to help you and your local chamber do the same thing.

A new group we are trying is the Speakers Corner Dialogue Group, it's each Wednesday morning at 10:30 a.m., next week we hear from one of the statewide candidates, join us if you can! www.Meetup.com/Franklin-Circles where you'll also info about our two Faculty Club meetings.

This is the issue I mentioned on the startup show today as a way to meet new people. Check it out:

TAX PLAN ENDORSED BY MILTON FRIEDMAN: Progress and Poverty: Full and Fine Text of 1880 Edition (Illustrated) by Henry George.  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BXJONIM/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_4ncWBbE84J3XS via @amazon

New! Free! Better Online Franklin Circle.

A new Better Online Franklin Circle (click here) is now forming. Join Better, the new app, by clicking to the left, if you like it join (it's free) and check out our new Better Online Franklin Circle and consider co-leading or joining!

Want free help? See my new offer on Linked In Profile (click here).

The SBCC (Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc click here) Join us! We offer real help from real people to business owners, entrepreneurs,  consultants, accountants, and lawyers who want to find their first or  next great customer.

The SBCC Method is comprised of  7 Practices: Recover, Imagine, Think, Learn; to Start, Grow, and Flourish. 

Contact me if you want to start a new hyper-local SBCC branch office in your neighborhood to help your neighbors start new careers, new projects or campaigns, and new businesses.

The first step towards opening a new branch office is for you to take an hour or so and read my little book Daring Mighty Things, available to down load right now on Amazon (click here.)

Then attend a free meeting in Denver, and if you like it we will give you free help to start a SBCC group in cooperation with your local community newspaper, local bank, association and service club or other group offering a free monthly IDEA Cafe (Imagine); free Socrates Cafe (Think); and Franklin Circles (Learn.) 

More info and optional rsvp (walk-ins welcome) at https://Meetup.com/Small-Biz-Chamber (click here) 

If you have questions call me right now while it's on your mind. Leave a complete confidential message, I'll have a volunteer get back to you ASAP. Call now, I'd hate for us to miss this opportunity to work together.  (720)495-4949

What is your foundation? Rock or sand?

I try to end and start the day listening to Pray as You Go (click here to hear it.)

This morning's meditation particularly powerful: "Can you share your deepest desire with God?"

I'm going to suggest the topic of "Foundations" at Socrates Cafe tonight at DU, next Tuesday at Trinity Church, and Friday at LoDo Panera. Join us? More info on our meetup site about all 3, or let us help you start a new one at a time and place that would work better for you. More info and optional rsvp on our Meetup site, check it out: www.Meetup.com/Socrates-Cafe-Society 

For more about the Small Business Chamber and the Startup Show click here.

PLEASE RE-TWEET AND SHARE you never know who wants to start in a new direction with their work and would really appreciate knowing about the free help we offer.

Also, please share it in a personal email to the board members of your local chamber of commerce and the publisher of your local community newspaper, we would be delighted to talk with you or them about how the Small Business Chamber of Commerce can help them start a new Socrates Cafe.

Call first for an appointment. A volunteer will return you call asap, usually by the start of the next business day, Monday- Friday except holidays. FOR MORE NOW SEE "Daring Might Things-- The Simplest Way to Start Your First (or Next) New Business." click here

John Wren
Founder, President, and CEO,
Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc
Ask us how to start doing more Good Work.
1881 Buchtel Blvd. #501, Denver, CO 80210
www.SmallBizChamber.org 

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

Startup Show

Noon each Friday, now via Facebook Live. To be on the show call John Wren (303)861-1447

Startup Show (click here.)

Startup Show: What's love got to do with it?

Next Friday (Oct 14) at noon MDT the Startup Show will address the question: "What does love have to do with business and politics?"

To join us on the show next Friday or any Friday rsvp yes or no on our Meetup site (click here,) let us know in your rsvp comment a teaser about the startup story you'd like to share, and we will give you a call to schedule a date.

Watch the show live or any time by recording via the link that will be posted here just before we go on the air, or see it each week on YouTube Live Events by subscribing, see www.YouTube.com for details.

This could make a good topic for a Socrates Cafe. Partial list of Socrates Cafes here in Colorado (let me know if you'd like me to add yours) at http://Meetup.com/Colorado-Socrates-Cafe-Society

John S. Wren, MBA+ 

1881 Buchtel Blvd. #501

Denver, CO 80210

www.JohnWren.com  "Just start!"

www.SmallBizChamber.org  "SBCC Startup Method!"

www.COCaucus.org "Save the Caucus!"

(303)861-1447 cell (720)3495-4949

Startup Show today or by recording:

Startup Show today (Fri, 4/22) noon MDT, topic: start of Save the Caucus in 2002 and restart in 2016. To be on the show next Friday or some Friday soon to share your startup experience call John Wren Monday or Tuesday, (303)861-1447

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 

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! 

Free ad on Small Business Chamber Facebook Page

Post a short (one sentence is best) intro of yourself and/or your business on the Small Business Chamber Facebook Page. I promote one a day into the main news feed. See http:/www.Facebook.com/Small.Business.Chamber 

If you have any questions about this, post them here as comments. 

New! 500% money back guarantee for 99-cent Kindle book on Amazon.

My little book on startup has helped many, many people since it was first published.

There is a good chance it will help you, too.

Here is a new special offer. First join our Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc. Meetup.com group. Mark your calendar and RSVP  to be with us online next Friday morning and/or next Friday afternoon here in Denver, or if not next Friday one Friday soon. http://Meetup.com/Small-Biz-Chamber

Then take just a minute to click on the image of the cover of my little book on the upper right corner of this page. Take a couple of hours and read it, then give me a call.

If you don't find the book and talking with me  helpful, I'll give you your money back five times over for the Kindle edition,  I'll mail you a $5 bill.

But do us both a favor and don't wait.

This life is very short, let's get started now!

Click on the book cover, read, then give me a call later today or tomorrow at (303)861-1447.

Rule #11: Know when to walk away, know when to run.

John S Wren’s Rules for Family & Neighbors, Work & Citizenship.

DRAFT -- 10/7/14

1.       Recovery (body, mind, spirit) first: Thinking is a wonderful tool, a terrible master.
2.      Love (do HP’s will) God and love (help) my neighbors. Don’t love any rules or plan.
3.      Be hard on myself, watch for dishonesty, selfishness, self-centeredness, and fear.
4.      No resentments: Be gentle and forgiving of others, give them the benefit of the doubt.
5.      Examine/ 11^th step 2x/ day: Pause, connect, be grateful, correct, ask for help.
6.      Simple plan: What does HP want me to be, what am I called to do next?
7.      Start now. Tomorrow morning start again. Persistence is actually repeated starts.
8.      Be a life-long learner: Watch one, do one, teach one, then write about it.
9.      PERMA Metrics 0 to 5: Positive, Engaged, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplished.
10  Don't have a group meeting when we can talk 1 to 1. Don't call when I can be there. Don't write when I can call. Don't post comment when I can write message.

 (Inspired by Investor Business Daily’s 10 Secrets to Success: 1) How you think is everything; 2) Decide upon your true dreams and goals; 3) Take action; 4) Never stop learning; 5) Be persistent and work hard; 6) Learn to analyze details; 7) Focus your time and money; 8) Don’t be afraid to innovate; be different; 9) Deal and communicate with people effectively; 10) Be honest and dependable; Take responsibility.)

SBA may call business with 1,500 employees small.

This is crazy. I just received this media release from the Small Business Administration. New director's first major effort is to make larger businesses eligible for SBA assistance by changing the definition..

The definition of "small business" that the SBA has used for years of 300 employees does need to be changed, but they are going in the wrong direction.

Here's my idea: let's cut from 500 employees to 300. EF Schumacher (author of Small is Beautiful)  makes a good case for 300 being the right number, beyond that it's hard for the owner/manager to know all the employees personally.

Below is contact information. If you think cutting to 300 is a good idea, I hope you'll take a couple of minutes and send in an email. Thanks!

John S. Wren, MBA+++
Founder & CEO until fired, Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
www.SmallBizChamber.org  Facebook.com/Small.Business.Chamber
(303)861-1447

SBA Proposes Revisions to Size Standards for Wholesale Trade and Retail Trade Industries WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration has proposed increasing small business size standards affecting businesses in 46 industries in North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Sector 42, Wholesale Trade, and in one industry in Sector 44-45, Retail Trade.  If they are adopted, nearly 4,000 more firms will become eligible for SBA’s loan programs.  The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register today.   The proposed size standards would define the maximum number of employees a firm in these industries could have and still be a small business.  The proposed revisions reflect changes in marketplace conditions. SBA proposed to retain the current size standards for the remaining industries in those sectors.  SBA reviewed all of the employee-based size standards for both sectors to determine whether the size standards should be revised or retained.  The SBA has also proposed to retain the current 500-employee size standard for federal procurement of supplies under its non-manufacturer rule because Wholesale Trade and Retail Trade NAICS codes and their small business size standards cannot be used for procurement of supplies.  These proposed revisions primarily affect eligibility for SBA’s financial assistance programs.  Comments can be submitted on this proposed rule on or before July 18, 2014, at www.regulations.gov, identified by the following RIN number: (RIN 3245-AG49).  You may also mail comments to Khem R. Sharma, Chief, Office of Size Standards, 409 3rd St., SW, Mail Code 6530, Washington, DC  20416. As part of an ongoing review of all size standards, SBA takes into account the structural characteristics of individual industries, including average firm size, startup cost and entry barriers, the degree of competition, and small business share of federal government contracting dollars.  This ensures that small business size definitions reflect current economic conditions and federal marketplace in those industries.  Under the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, SBA plans to continue its comprehensive review of all size standards for the next several years.  An SBA-issued White Paper entitled, “Size Standards Methodology,” which explains how SBA establishes, reviews and modifies its receipts-based and employee-based small business size standards, can be viewed at http://www.sba.gov/size. For more information about SBA’s revisions to its small business size standards for various industry sectors, click on “What’s New with Size Standards” on SBA’s Web site at  http://www.sba.gov/size.                                                              ###

Pope Francis as Economist.

I love Pope Francis, he is my spiritual leader.

But he needs to catch up on economics. I've suggested that he read Edmund Phelps, Nobel economist, especially his new book Mass Flourishing. Who would be interested in a study group using it? Take a look at the book, then call me. We could do face to face or as a Google+ Hangout. Maybe Pope Francis would join us.  Here's the book: http://press.princeton.edu/titles/10058.html

SPECIAL EDITION The Start Show

Today, Tueday, October 29, topic "How

to close sales over the Internet using Google+ Hangouts and the other powerful Internet tools that are now available." 

Join us right here at 10 a.m.Mountain to watch, link will be posted here when the show goes up. Or come back here anytime after the live broadcast, the link converts to connection to the recording.

Or watch live on Google+ Live Hangouts or YouTube Live Broadcasts.

Lack education/opportunities?

See my comment on this news article about youth not in school, unemployed, what did Ben Franklin do? Works for all ages. Just do it, or call me and I'll help you. (303)861-1447 

http://bit.ly/Hag3Xe

Please share! Thanks. 

PLEASE help me help the grassroots

Just posted this on http://Facebook.com/Small.Business.Chamber. Please go there and "Like" if you haven't already, "Share", then be sure to watch Inspiration Monday on The Startup Show right here and encourage your neighbors to do the same with as much social network and personal phone call power as you can.

Here, in celebration of Christopher Wren's birthday, is the message that was posted there I hope you'll "Like" and "Share":

Our vision: A healthy small group in every neighborhood. 

Why? To strengthen the grassroots, the voice of the common person in business and politics, in cooperation with everyone, especially with local chamber of commerce, community newspapers, and schools. 

To join just "Like" this Facebook Page, "Share" with your Facebook friends with your note about why you like what we are doing.

Then watch our weekly broadcast tomorrow or any Monday for our new feature "Inspiration Monday" about how we can each take action locally in our own neighborhood to help accomplish this world- wide vision.

What we are trying to make viral is what was first and best expressed over 2000 years ago: "Love God and love your neighbors, those who 1) live right next door, and 2) those who you are directly helping, as God has loved us. +

Help to strengthen the grassroots.

For years I've had an interest in the Colorado caucus-assembly system for nominating to the primary ballot, in my opinion the best chance the common person has for serving in elected public office. See http://www.COCaucus.org 

Here's a new idea. Let's created a new business, doing well by doing good, with grassroots civic education and a Welcome Wagon type neighborhood marketing network. 

Let's write a handbook for Colorado citizens, update every year, sell to newcomers through a network of neighborhood representatives who will welcome newcomers and be the hub for neighborhood communications.

The citizen handbook will cover the caucus system, referendum , recall and initiatives, as well as how to get elected to public office. 

If you'd be interested in being part of this project as a sponsor, neighborhood representative, writer, or advertiser, contact me via John@JohnWren.com or (303)861-1447 see http://Facebook.com/goodNeighborsWeVote PLEASE SHARE 

Go+Groups, a new program for startups to generate earned income for Small Business Chamber, scholarships based on need will be offered.

This information went out to the local Denver media last

week. I didn't receive any calls about it, we'll try again.

It would be great to have you in a public Go+Group, no

cost, RSVP on  http://Meetup.com/Small-Biz-Chamber

Those in these first public meetings will become our Go+Group

leaders. Call me if you have any questions. John (303)861-1447 

Longtime Denver Community Activist Asks for Volunteers and Donations.

Denver— Community activist John S Wren today asked for help to expand the work he’s been doing for the last 20 years to “strengthen the grassroots in business and politics.”  For more see www.JohnWren.com or contact Wren at John@JohnWren.com or (303)861-1447

            Making the appeal Wren said, “For nearly 20 years my purpose has been to strenghten the voice of the common person in business and politics,  

            “I’ve had a TV or radio show off and on since the early 90s, I’ve just started a YouTube “Channel” where I’ll be posting new episodes and some of the old. I’ve held hundreds of startup workshops that 5280 Magazine says have ‘infused Denver with an entrepreneurial spirit.’ New Go Groups provide consulting for the price of a workshop, and they will be made available for free to as many as possible. For more about the new Go Groups, see http://www.meetup.com/Small-Biz-Chamber/events/133753932/

            “The Rocky Mountain News named me in their editorial that recognized Save the Caucus for defeating Amendment 29 in 2002 which would have killed our wonderful neighborhood caucus-assembly system, the best friend of the common person who wants to serve in elected public office.  I continue encourage informed participation with COCaucus.org.

           

            “As I have since 1994, I continue to invite you to call me if you want help starting in a new direction with your work. But now also please contact me if you’d be willing to help with this work with startups as a volunteer or if you’re willing to contribute financially,” said Wren.

###

John S. Wren, MBA+ www.JohnWren.com John@JohnWren.com (303)861-1447 has done business consulting since 1979. He is past President of the University of Denver Graduate Student Association, the Denver City Club, Metro South Optimists, and the founding President of the Rocky Mountain Direct Marketing Association and the new Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc. Wren has been a candidate and local leader as a Republican and as a Democrat, he is currently registered Unaffiliated, something he rarely suggests for others. He’s an active member of Denver St. Ignatius of Loyola Church and 1311 York Street Club.