CorePurpose - Joan Koerber-Walker's Blog

Leading by Example: Intel and us

On January 26, 2011, Intel Labs announced a $100 million cash investment in U.S. university research over the next 5 years, marking a new model of collaboration for the organization. The Funding will support a number of Intel Science and Technology Centers; the first such center will be led by Stanford University and focus on next-generation visual computing. According to the Intel Labs press release, this new model of university-lead research is expected to provide U.S. researchers with up to 5 times more funding from Intel Labs compared to the previous approach, and enable engagements across a broader set of universities.

In the video below, Justin Rattner, Intel’s chief technology officer, explains the “what” and the “why”.  For  information click here

Intel’s CTO Justin Rattner shares the vision for Intel’s new investment on science and technology with U.S. Universities.

On the same day,  Intel announced that forty high school seniors from across the country were named finalists in the Intel Science Talent Search 2011, a program of Society for Science & the Public.   You can see  more about people sharing their stories with the hope of becoming a catalyst for action and a voice for change in global education at www.inspiredbyeducation.com.

Leaders by Example

Intel has long been a strong voice in the choir of U.S. technology companies calling for a greater focus on science and technology in our schools and universities.  They are doing more that talk about it.  They put their resources behind it.   “Intel has sponsored the Intel Science Talent Search and the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair for 13 and 14 years, respectively. Because Intel views education as the foundation for innovation, over the past decade, Intel and the Intel Foundation have invested more than $1 billion and Intel employees have donated close to 3 million hours toward improving education in more than 60 countries.”

Here in Arizona, Avnet, Inc., the worlds largest technology distributor, sponsors the The Avnet Tech Games (ATG) an annual college technology competition that provides students with an opportunity to apply what they learn in school to real-world scenarios and compete for scholarships.

 

Great Examples, but I’m not a multi billion dollar company…

Most of us don’t have the luxury of billion dollar wallets and thousands of employees who can volunteer their time and talents, but that does not mean that our leading by example is any less important.  We each have skills, knowledge, and experiences we can share in the areas where we passionately lead.  Here are some more examples:

Francine Hardaway of Stealthmode Partners combined her passion and experience in entrepreneurship with a desire to help at-risk individuals find economic self-sufficiency through entrepreneurship.  By rolling up her sleeves, and recruiting many others (including me) to help both The Opportunity Through Entrepreneurship Foundation and the Arizona Entrepreneurship Conferences were created and continue to make a difference year after year.

Lon Safko’s passion is innovation.  A celebrated inventor whose work appears in the Smithsonian, Lon’s study of the evolution and innovation in social media lead to the bestselling book The Social Media Bible was volunteering his time and sharing what he knew with a gathering of Arizona teachers, so that they in turn could share with their students.

Patti Blackstaffe has a talent for helping businesses grow and a passion for helping children.  She combines these things as a volunteer to support Providence an very special place in Calgary with a mission to enhance the health and development of preschool children with disabilities & their families with early intervention and high quality health, education and therapy services within their community

Morris Callaman is an engineer,attorney, venture capitalist and  entrepreneur.  There was a time in his youth when as a teen runaway he dealt with the harsh realities of living on the street.  Today he has quietly donated his time and talents to local organizations like OTEF and St. Mary’s Food Bank as well as providing legal assistance pro bono to those who really need a hand and could never afford his services.  It’s his way of being the change he would like to see in our societies.

Gloria Feldt and Alex Barbanell believe in the power of women in changing our world.  They created and sponsor the Women of the World lecture series at Arizona State University to inspire current and future women leaders.  In addition, Gloria shared her experiences as part of a multi generational group of women leaders who took their show on the road to college campuses around the country to do the very same thing.  Today, her new book: No Excuses inspires women of all ages to use their power to lead.

See, it’s not just companies like Intel.  We can lead by example too.

Leading by example means putting your time, talent, and money where your mouth is.  It’s not just something for “them” to do.  It’s an opportunity for all of us.

Thanks for stopping by.  Stay tuned…

Joan Koerber-Walker

 

About the Joan:

An entrepreneur, author, speaker and corporate advisor, Joan Koerber-Walker's journey has spanned from corporate America to entrepreneurship and non-profits as well as to community leadership and into the halls of Washington D.C.  Her past career includes two decades on the team at  Avnet, Inc. and service as Chairman of the Board of Advisors to Parenting Arizona.  Today, she serves her community as the Chairman of the Board of the Opportunity  through  Entrepreneurship Foundation.  To learn more about how CorePurpose and the CoreAlliance can help you grow your business in 2011, you can contact her by clicking here.

CorePurpose  is a registered trademark of CorePurpose, Inc.  CoreAlliance is a  service mark of CorePurpose Inc.  All rights reserved

 

Technorati Tags: Joan Koerber-Walker,CorePurpose,Intel,Intel Labs,Avnet,Avnet Tech Games,investing in the future,OTEF,Opportunity through Entrepreneurship Foundation,Lon Safko,Morris Callaman,Gloria Feldt,Alex Barbanell,Patti Blackstaffe,Providence,leadership,leading by example,innovation

Big Doings in the Big Apple This Week

As the song goes, my bags are packed and I'm ready to go.  This coming week I'm headed to NYC for the biggest book launch I've ever done.  May 9, 2010 (Mother's Day morning I'm off to the airport for a whirlwind week.) And it would not be possible without some absolutely wonderful friends who have all pulled together to help spread the word about CorePurpose Publishing's newest release - The Recipe: A fable for leaders and teams by Amilya Antonetti. 

After sharing some of what has been happening with my friend Marty Zwilling (@StartupPro) he even wrote this great post about it.

Monday May 10th

It's a Celebration of Leaders and Teams as we head for a private party with the media and VIP guests as we honor three great leaders:  Lynn Tilton founder of Patriarch Partners, Monica Crowley of FOX News, and Ken Colburn, CNN Tech Commentator and founder of Data Doctors. 

Tuesday May 11th

No private party this time.   Everyone is welcome to the official launch of The Recipe at Barnes and Noble at Lincoln Triangle (Broadway and 66th Street) at 7:30 PM.  Lots have friends have already RSVP'd on EventBrite for this great evening.  We have a fabulous panel of leaders joining Amilya.  Experts will be sharing ideas for leaders and teams.  We're so grateful to have such a great panel, including women's leadership expert Gloria Feldt, The Toliet Paper Entrepreneur Mike Michalowicz, Kevin Daum with his new book ROAR, Dr. Liz Cruz, Donna Tarantino-Loyle from ShopNBC, and Anthony Tesoriero of Lucky Napkin.    If you can be in NYC on May 11th - PLEASE COME TOO! It's free.

I'm so thankful to my friends at Innovator's Warehouse, Barnes and Noble, Barrington Printing, and Shwaag for sponsoring and hosting these events!

Come Wednesday Morning...

the parties are over and it's time to get to work with a full week of meetings and presentations, key connections, and lots more as Amilya and I work together on our next collaboration. (It's still a secret - I'll tell you as soon as I can - stay tuned...)

But everything was not perfect.

Even though many of my friends were coming to New York from as far away as Arizona, California, Missouri, and Rhode Island plus the gang from NY Metro Area, EVERYBODY could not come celebrate.  I just HATE leaving people out.  When I shared this with my friend Eric Keosky-Smith, co founder of Shwaag , he FIXED it so that everyone can have some fun and excitement too.  Not just the folks in NY but all over the country.  Here is Eric's Solution - Check this out:

Shwaag is giving away a 16GB iPad w/ The Recipe by Amilya Antonetti

The best of everything - in your hands!

Amilya Antonetti's fabulous new fable, The Recipe, is now available at Amazon.

Need a copy? Buy it on Amazon now and learn how you can make your army of 2 - or 200 - a rip-roaring success!

It's a great book about startups and team building. In coordination with the book launch, we have teamed with Shwaag to release a SINGLE electronic version of the book, that comes with it's own 16GB WiFi iPad !! Now Apple doesn't comment about the book, but they do say the iPad is the best way to experience the web, video, books, photo's and even email - hand's down. That seems pretty amazing. But public reaction so far seems to be holding that up.

What's Shwaag™ and how can I win The Recipe on an iPad?

Shwaag™:\`shwāāg\ Premium stuff given away that you can choose to keep or pay forward

Shwaag™ is an online movement built to encourage generosity among social networkers and advertisers and to provide a genuine forum for brand loyalty. By giving away products, brands can demonstrate authentic generosity, create new and unbreakable bonds with social networking trendsetters, and help create a new generation of consumers that rely on trust networks to choose brands.  

It's easy and it's fun.  If you have experienced Shwaag™ before, just go to www.Shwaag.com and log in. 

If you are a first timer on Shwaag you need an invitation code.  And Eric and the gang gave me some for the launch this week.   Use code: JKW2525  (We only have so many so don't delay and miss out!)

Then, this week when the "Shwaag Drops" they will let you know  via Twitter, Facebook, email etc. Here's how you can get  started: 

1.  Click here and fill in your info and invite code JKW2525

2.   Log in and look around.  See something you like on Featured Shwaag?  Click the "Shwaag Me" button.  As you go through the options you can get more chances to win by sharing the message with friends on Twitter or Facebook.  It's really easy. 

Who knows, this time next week you might be the proud new owner of a 16GB iPad loaded with your personal copy of The Recipe courtesy of Shwaag.  Good Luck!

So this Mother's Day...

I'm leavin' on a jet plane.  Unlike the song - I DO know when I'll be back again.   And I will be bringing lots of great new ideas, stories about adventures, new opportunities and more back in my bags.

 

Thanks for stopping by.  Stay Tuned - I'll be sure to send pictures and videos from the Big Apple.  :-)

Technorati Tags: Joan Koerber-Walker,CorePurpose Publishing,CorePurpose,The Recipe,The Recipe A Fable for leaders and teams,Amilya Antonetti,Shwaag,iPad with The Recipe by Amilya Antonetti,business book,leadership book,leaders,teams,teamwork

Get Your Business on the Fast Track to Success

As I make my way around the business and investment communities, too often I see and hear examples  of businesses that have terrific potential but just need a boost to turn potential into reality.  More often than not, what they need MOST is a plan to move from concept to commercial success.

Getting Your Business on the Fast Track to Success Takes...

Capital

I can't recall a conversation with an entrepreneur where the subject of money or Capital has not come up.  It usually goes something like this...

"If we had the money we could..."

"If you invest in our company we will..."

"We would have hit our goals if we had the capital for ..."

Yet when I ask to see the business plan and the other information that is REQUIRED for access to capital by almost any bank or investor, the conversation suddenly goes a different direction. 

So hint #1 - If you need CAPITAL to Fast Track your business, you need a SOLID plan to demonstrate that you know how to not just grow your business, but also how to PAY BACK the investor or bank.

You need that thought process in place and you need it written down so others can see it.

Cognition

The next step in the process is the cognitive step.  Cognition is the process of perceiving, thinking, reasoning and analyzing.  This forms the foundation of ANY plan.

As my friend Francine Hardaway says:

"It's not enough to know just  technology or science. To be successful, you need to understand the business behind it. "

Here in Arizona, a great example of a tool to move your business forward is a program for business plan training that  includes the FastTrac^® programs of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation of Kansas City, cosponsored locally by Stealthmode Partners.

 

 

You can find the

 Arizona Winter 2010 Schedule here!

 

Some of the areas this program covers include: How do you generate interest? How much is it worth? How do you profit from it? How do you sustain ongoing growth? How do you get the needed financing?   That's where FastTrac® TechVenture™ makes a difference.   Here's what Francine had to share...

"Just as you thrive on the frontier of technology and life sciences, we operate on the cutting edge of business and entrepreneurship. During FastTrac TechVenture, this knowledge is shared with you. Learn how to determine the best way to apply it to your situation to produce a product, build your company, and fulfill your vision.

This program will be offered by Stealthmode Partners under the auspices of the City of Tempe, and best of all, thanks to the City of Tempe, Arizona, the course is free to Tempe based companies or other local companies who commit to create jobs fro Tempe residents(except for the cost of materials $150) . Begins March 8 at 5:30 PM. Register at http://www.tempeft.com"

Collaboration

Last but not least - you need to get others on board.  Collaboration is key to fast tracking ANY business.  Whether it it effectively building high performance teams inside your business, or finding other businesses or community resources to partner with, NO ONE succeeds alone.    When it comes to moving a business along the growth path you have to collaborate to get things done.  Don't just take my word for it ... ask ANY successful entrepreneur.

Thanks for stopping by.  Stay Tuned...

Joan Koerber-Walker

Resource Links:

http://www.fasttrac.org/

http://arizonaft.com

Technorati Tags: Arizona,Arizona Business,Arizona Entrepreneurs,Francine Hardaway,Ed Nusbuam,Phillip Blackerby,StealthmodePartners,Fasttrac,Fast Track your busness,Kauffman Foundation,Ewing marion Kauffman Foundation,Tempe Arizona Business Programs,Gilbert Arizona Business Programs,Mesa Arizona Busness programs,FastTrac Arizona

 

Helping Others Make the Most of Their Conative Strengths - Kathy Kolbe

This year I got an extra special treat - I got to meet and get to know Kathy Kolbe.

I had known about Kathy's work for years and had my own Kolbe A™ Index done in 2005. (My M.O. is 4-3-9-2) Since then, I have used the Kolbe Assessment Tool Set and Kolbe certified consultants to gain insights into creating high performance teams.  But it was not until we started chatting on Twitter that Kathy and I actually set a date to get together for lunch and started to share ideas. 

About a month later, at Kathy's suggestion, I got certified myself so that I could better apply the power of understanding my own innate abilities to what I do an and learn how to use Kolbe Wisdom™ to make the most of the natural strengths of others in my home life, at work, and in my various community activities.

I continue to learn something new about conation every time I listen to Kathy (here's a podcast she did recently with Koren Motekaitus) or by following @KathyKolbe on Twitter.  Here is an article Martha Beck wrote in O Magazine about the Kolbe Index.

Understanding what my natural strengths are and how I can make the best use of them has been a huge advantage for me over the years.  So when I started the "People Making a Difference Series on Little Life Stories - Kathy was a natural to interview. 

An Interview with Kathy Kolbe - the world's leading expert on Conation.

JKW: Kathy, I hear your name every time someone talks about Conative Abilities.  How would YOU describe yourself?

KK: Theorist by nature, entrepreneur by preference & writer by pure determination, I’m also a severe dyslexic who has created paths to my freedom to be me. I strive to develop expertise & opportunities to help others do the same.

As the author of 100+ books & programs teaching creative problem solving for kids - thru my biz, Resources for the Gifted -Time Magazine named me (1985 Man of the Year article) 1 of 7 people representing America’s Can-Do Spirit.

Shortly after, a near-fatal car accident left me unable to walk, talk, read or write. I’d been exploring little known instinct-driven conative actions & reactions, and this provided the unique opportunity to experience the isolated use of that source of personal power. The recovery process gave me a higher education in the conative part of the mind. When the book I later wrote (Conative Connection) became a best seller, it was clear that my life’s work was to help others discover the power of the differing but equal innate abilities I’d unearthed. I do that through Kolbe Corp and the non-profit Center for Conative Abilities.

JKW:  Many companies are learning the importance of understanding conation in the workplace - but it does not stop there.  You've shared some great examples with me.  Would you share one with our readers?

KK:  A favorite application of my work is what happened when I was helping a CEO build and lead his exec team. He asked if I could also help with family problems. His wife and 16 and  12 year old kids completed the Kolbe A Index or Kolbe Youth Indexes, and by phone we discussed natural conflicts in their MOs (or Kolbe Index results). His wife came to realize she was on his son’s case because he didn’t stick to her sense of order. She was also uncomfortable with her husband’s innate degree of risk taking. The daughter, who they feared was ADD, was actually able to thrive once they understood her conative need for hands-on, multitasking activities. In three teleconferences, a family in crisis became one with an appreciation – even a sense of humor - about their differing instinctive responses to one another. And, like a doctor who faces family illnesses, the CEO became a better leader.

JKW:  You have inspired thousands.  Who inspires you?

KK:  My greatest inspiration has come from my grandchildren. When I see their joy when they have the freedom to be themselves, their persistence in overcoming obstacles, their compassion for each others’ conative needs, and the great wisdom in how they use this information, I am in awe of both the power within them and the way they put it to use.

JKW:  Why do you do what you do?

KK:  I do what I do because it is what I believe I was meant to do. I am fulfilling my sense of purpose.

JKW:  If you had three wishes, what would they be?

KK: Wish #1 – That every human being knew the nature of his or her instinct-driven conative powers, found joy in it, humor in their differences from others, and had the freedom to use it purposefully. 

Wish #2 – That our culture would stop pathologizing conative strengths (false ADD and other misdiagnoses ) and stereotyping these universal traits by gender, age , and race (“men are more mechanically inclined”).

Wish #3 - That the combination of human intelligence, compassion, and conative creativity could be used to rid humankind of poverty, pain and wars against one another.

A Special Gift from Kathy Kolbe

Kathy Kolbe's gift to all of us is the ability to better understand HOW we will do what we do to solve problems, find solutions, and get things done. Understanding our personal M.O. (Modus Operandi) and identifying our natural talents helps us understand how we do our best work and why certain things come so easily to us while others do not.

Kathy even has set up a special page on her website just for you as a thank you for reading this post.  For a limited time, you, our readers can receive a 20% discount ($10.00 off) on the Kolbe A™ Index. See offer and more information at: http://kolbe.com/jkw .

When you take your Kolbe A™ Index, be sure to listen to the audio portions of your report, recorded specially for you by Kathy.  They are incredibly helpful. 

Plus - as a special gift from me (I can't let Kathy do ALL the work) - I'll be happy to spend an hour with you on the phone or via Skype chatting about how you can put this knowledge to work for you.  Just send me a note by clicking on this contact link.  In your note, include Your Name (exactly as you entered it in the Kolbe system) your four number MO (mine is 4-3-9-2) and your email address so I can review your report and get back to you to set up a time.

Taking the Kolbe A™ Index is the first step to learning how to emphasize the things that come most naturally to you and how to stop fighting your natural instincts.  Isn't that a great way to kick off 2010!

Thanks for stopping by.  Stay tuned...

Joan Koerber-Walker

For information on Kolbe Corp copyrights and trademarks, click here

Technorati Tags: Kathy Kolbe,Kolbe Corp,Conation,Problem Solving Skills,Success,Success Tools,Kolbe A Index,Joan Koerber-Walker,CorePurpose

Exploring The Entrepreneurial Myth - an interview with Michael Gerber

I first met Michael Gerber in November of 2006 when he generously gave of his time and knowledge to come to Phoenix as a volunteer to speak at the First Annual Arizona Entrepreneurship Conference.  OTEF was a fledgling organization in those days - but we had a dream - to provide entrepreneurial education, mentoring, and support to at risk populations in finding economic sustainability through entrepreneurship.  To do that we needed the funds to offer programs and the conference was a way to share our message and raise the funds to pursue the dream.  Our project captured Michael's imagination. 

Since that day, we've had the opportunity to get to know each other better.  During my years as CEO at the ASBA, Michael was a wonderful supporter, sharing his knowledge on teleconferences with our members, coming, with his wife Luz Delia, to share in the celebration of the 2007 Arizona Companies to Watch, sharing ideas with me and our small business community at the Enterprise Business Conference in 2008 to celebrate Small Business Week, and best of all inviting me to The Dreaming Room and plopping me down in the Hot Seat for a challenging one on one session.

Over the years he has had many titles - but my favorite - is Chief Dreamer.   When you get to know him, you see how important the dream is to him and to the tens of thousands of entrepreneurs he has worked with.

In the video below from the Cisco Innovators Forum, Michael shares some of his thoughts on how entrepreneurs can get it right from the beginning.  After the video - I have a few questions of my own to ask the one and only Michael Gerber.

“A life without a dream is a life without a purpose. A life without a purpose is a life without meaning.” Michael Gerber

JKW:  Michael, in your books, seminars, and programs, you share the secrets of entrepreneurial success.  You have spent decades sharing these secrets - WHY do you do it?

MG: What else would I do? Everywhere I look, people are suffering for a lack of direction. During my life I have worked with thousands of those people, and as they begin to see their lives through the entrepreneurial prism dramatic shifts occur. It’s a fantastic feeling to witness those shifts.

JKW:  You have made a career helping entrepreneurs succeed in achieving their dreams.  Have you always been successful or was there a time when something happened that others would term an entrepreneurial failure?  If so, how did you recover?

MG: I’ve had so many failures I can’t count them. In fact, I don’t even want to, the pain is too great. But, at the same time, my failures have always led to successes. Not necessarily connected, perhaps, but the one, the failure, taught the other, the success, that the deliberate straightforward path is not always the best path, that the success is most often realized as an epiphany that arises out of the failure in a completely unexpected fashion. So, I have come to look forward to the unexpected.

JKW:  You have written over 13 books for entrepreneurs and you have a new one being released in January 2010.  Can you give us a little sneak peak at what it's all about?

MG: It’s name is The Most Successful Small Business In The World: The Ten Principles. It speaks to the essence of what I believe must exist in an enterprise, and an entrepreneur’s relationship with it, for it to truly flourish. You’ll have to read it to find out the secret.

JKW: When you are not writing, speaking, and inspiring others, I know that you like to read – a lot. Whose book inspires you – and why?

MG: I read fiction, not business. I rarely read anything to do with business. The reason is, I don’t learn from books, I learn from action. On the other hand, I highly recommend that all small business owners and entrepreneurs read my books. Because unlike all other business books, my books are born out of the actions I’ve taken, and the conclusions I’ve reached as a result of those actions. In short, they are less books, than they are cautionary tales.

JKW: You and I have talked about social media, blogs, Facebook, and Twitter as it has been evolving. So Michael, do you tweet?

MG: Not yet, but soon.

JKW: I’ve heard that this year, as a special gift, you are hosting a FREE con call on New Year’s Day with entrepreneurs to help them kick the year off right. How can our readers participate?

MG: Very easy. Just call in at +1 (866) 951-1151 (Conference Code Number: 1984938# )

It starts at 4 p.m. PST and will last 90 minutes. I do this every year, but this year is special, as my new book comes out on January 6^th, and during my Teleconference I’ll be sharing The Ten Principles for creating the most successful small business in the world.

JKW: Thanks so much Michael for taking the time to answer a few questions. As you know, I always have more. I guess I’ll just write them down and heave them ready for when I see you in Phoenix for a Meet Up on January 25th. (Readers: Stay tuned to @joankw for more details in January.)  Who knows – maybe some of our readers will be there too and have new questions for both of us.

So readers, what do YOU think. Are you ready to kick off the new year right? I’ll be on the call - will you?

Thanks for stopping by. Stay tuned…

Joan Koerber-Walker

Tags

Technorati Tags: Michael Gerber,E-Myth,Inspiring the Entrepreneur Within,The Most Successful Small Business in the World,In the Dreaming Room,Business,Business Tip,Entrepreneurship,OTEF,Joan Koerber-Walker,CorePurpose

The Generous Nature of Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs are dreamers, creators, innovators, and builders.  They come in all shapes and sizes, and have businesses that run the gamut from global ventures and high technology to localized products and services.   But if there is one thing that entrepreneurs have in common, it is their generosity and willingness to help others.  It's probably because entrepreneurs understand what it means to strive, to struggle, and to work towards a dream.

Every year for the past 5 years as Chairman of OTEF ,  I have watched as entrepreneurs from Arizona and across North America gather at the Arizona Entrepreneurship Conferences to learn from each other AND to help OTEF, the Opportunity Through Entrepreneurship Foundation, raise the money need to fund programs that help at risk populations realize economic self sufficiency through entrepreneurship with classes, mentoring, and other resources.  To learn more about OTEF and it's programs - click here .

But even after the 'show' is over, the continuous challenge of funding these activities continues. 

 

This week, we got yet another example of the generosity of entrepreneurs when the team at  Pillsbury Wine Company, reached out with a wonderful offer to help in furthering our mission.

Pillsbury Wine Company is the brainchild of Sam Pillsbury, award-winning New Zealand  and American film-maker (The Quiet Earth, Free Willy 3, Endless Bummer) and former co-owner of Dos Cabezas winery in Southeastern Arizona. Wine is his passion and Sam has done it all- from planting vines to serving Dos Cabezas wines at the White House. Dos Cabezas wines have received stellar reviews over the years and Sam is now ready to take his skills and experience in a new direction.

 

Sam is joined in the project by winemaker Eric Glomski, formerly with David Bruce and Caymus wineries in California and by Rob Dunaway, attorney/businessman, voted one of Phoenix's top 12 business advisors in the New Times 2001 Readers Poll.

Rob, also a founding member of OTEF's board of directors, brought us a special opportunity and now I am sharing it with you.

Your Opportunity

It is the opportunity to support  the Opportunity Through Entrepreneurship Foundation this holiday season with a gift of wine to yourself, to a loved one, or for a valued business associate. 

In return, PILLSBURY WINE COMPANY, the hot Arizona Wine Company that critics are raving about, is donating 12% of the wine sales to OTEF.

It's really easy - just email LindseyHigginson@aol.com and let her know which and how many of the AWARD WINNING, FOOD ENHANCING RHONE VALLEY STYLE WINES  Pillsbury has to offer you would like to order plus  your contact information so Lindsey can get back to you and "This is for OTEF" to trigger the donation!

Bottles signed by Sam Pillsbury can also be arranged.

See this really is a great opportunity.  In one fell swoop, you get to help OTEF teach entrepreneurship skills to at risk groups as well as present great programs like AZEC09, plus you get access to wonderful, award winning wines, AND if you have not finished your holiday shopping - here's your chance. 

The Wines of the Award Winning Pillsbury Wine Company

For your shopping pleasure - here is the list of wonderful Pillsbury wines...

Pillsbury 2008 Rosé     $20

Provençal style ‘onion skin’ pink with hints of watermelon, red cherry and strawberry on the nose, bright and refreshing in the mouth, with a clean finish. It will pair well with any light fare, especially salads, fresh fruit, and cheese and crackers. 94 Cases made. Alcohol 14%.

'Local Product of the Month' Phoenix Magazine, August 2009.

Pillsbury 2008 Pinot Gris ‘Casa Blanca’    $20

We call this ‘Casa Blanca’ because the Pinot Gris made from these high altitude Arizona vines have twice been served at White House State Dinners. It has a nose of freshly chopped apple, followed by ripe peaches and apricots on the palate. It pairs well with salads, seafood or lighter chicken dishes. 230 Cases made. Alcohol 12.5%. Not yet rated.

Pillsbury 2006 Roan Red    $24

A blend of Grenache and Mourvedre with a small amount of Syrah and Petite Sirah, aged in neutral oak. Bone dry, unfined and unfiltered. Fragrant herbal nose with hints of lavender and honeysuckle. It has spicy ripe red-cherry fruit, with hints of vanilla and tarragon and an autumnal, forest-floor character, with a lovely long finish. Pair with pastas and lighter meat and poultry dishes. Alcohol 13.7%, 329 cases made.

93 points. Mark Tarbell, AZ Republic (highest score ever given an AZ wine)

Pillsbury 2007 Roan Red  $24

93.2% Syrah, 6.8%Grenache. This Roan Red is different than the 2006. Our Syrah vines are an Aussie Shiraz clone we planted in the Arizona High Desert in 2000. This is an intense wine with a spicy nose, cherry/cranberry and dark berry fruit with silky tannins and hints of sweet walnut, cucumber and blood orange. Pair with lamb, pasta or robustly flavored chicken dishes. 186 cases made. Alcohol 14%. Not yet rated.

Pillsbury 2007 Diva  $36

64.3 % Grenache, 21.4% Petite Sirah, 14.3% Mourvedre. This blend is a Chateuneuf du Pape style blend, and once again made with our ripest fruit and matured for 15 months in neutral American and new French oak. A fragrant wine with suggestions of super-ripe wild strawberry, macadamias, tobacco and bitter-sweet chocolate with ample tannins, making it perfect for steak or barbeque and big rich casseroles. 173 cases made. Alcohol 14.5%.

Gold Medal, 2009 Arizona Wine Growers Association Competition. 2006 Diva called Best Wine in AZ by San Francisco Examiner and Wine Spectator gave it 89 points.

Pillsbury 2007 Petite Sirah.  $54

This monster Petite Sirah was picked late at 28 brix and develops an intense, almost chewy chocolate-like quality and some real fruit complexity. We tend to avoid late-pick reds as the overripe fruit and high alcohol tends to obscure the complexity of the fruit, but Petite Sirah seems to come into its own when made like this. It is bone dry, has hints of intense black berry fruit, roasted cocoa, green apple, sweet blueberry, crème brulée and rose petal with big tannins. 30 cases made. Alcohol 15.4%.

 

Ya gotta love it!

Glorious wines from Generous People coming together to make life better for others. Like I started off saying - entrepreneurs are some of the most generous people I know.

Thanks for stopping by.  Stay Tuned...

Joan Koerber-Walker

 

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The Quest- In search of a transformational company

In literature, as in legend, there have been many great quests. One in particular that has captured imaginations, for over two thousand years, is the search for a simple cup used in a great tale of transformation. Yes, The Quest for The Holy Grail.

This quest has been the inspiration that sparked great literature, epic poems, and motion pictures running the gamut from Monty Python to  Indiana Jones.

While my quest is not one of such mythical proportion, as I sat pondering how to share my plans with you, the legend of The Holy Grail leapt to mind. 

My Quest

I am, together with a valued group of friends, looking to acquire a controlling interest in a very particular company.  Our search and the legendary quest have more than a few things in common. In both cases they combine Innovation, Leadership, and Growth to create Lasting Value.  These are my personal passions. There is nothing like the feeling you get when you discover something with true potential and then do what it takes to Make It Great.

What's been happening?

This year, I have been working with a small team of friends and advisors to search out really cool deals.  We've found some great ones, but not the right one. Not yet. 

Along the way, I have gotten much more active in connecting to friends old and new via a range of social media tools. 

However, it all came together when I was having lunch last week with Morris Callaman at a beautiful resort nestled against a mountain in Paradise Valley called Montelucia. 

Morris asked -

"Joan, what do you think about expanding this search and inviting your social media network to participate? You could literally ask for help crowd-sourcing this acquisition search."

And that's how it started.  So, here I am asking if you will help me locate the company I would like to lead next. If so, then what follows are some of the criteria we find necessary to successfully recognize our "grail" when we find it.  Ready? OK. Lets discuss a little detail around what this company is, and perhaps even more importantly, what it is not. An ideal company will be one where we can combine Innovation, Leadership, and Growth to create Lasting Value.

Innovation

Innovation in my book is doing something in a new way to make life better for the people who matter most to us - in this case employees, customers, investors, and strategic partners.  It is a company with a product or service that can transform an industry or niche.  For example, my friend Amilya Antonetti changed the way we look at soap in her quest to save the life of her son and now she is on a quest to help other entrepreneurs ask the right questions, get the right information and the things they need to succeed.

Criteria #1:  A product oriented company that will transform its market by creating new value through a better way of doing something(s). 

Unlikely Fits: Singing pop bottles, Presidential Pet Rocks, the corner store, or the next great social media tool.  While there may be lots of investors looking for these, I am not one of them.

Leadership

A great idea only gets you so far before it needs more.  In this case more is the ability to see the future direction of the company's journey and to predict and obtain what it will need along the way.  Many a great new company has lost crucial momentum when the leader that led the way for the first stage of the journey is not ready for the next stage of that steep uphill path, which many entrepreneurs forecast and yet few would want to travel alone. 

The prize we seek on this quest will have a founder and a team that is looking for a new guide as they begin the climb to revenues and profitability so that everyone, employees, customers, investors and strategic partners alike, benefit from the next stage in the company's growth.

Criteria #2: A dedicated team in search of experienced leadership and resources to help them successfully move along the growth path.

Unlikely Fits:

• If ALL YOU NEED IS MONEY so that you can continue along the path you are already on.
• If your goal is to maintain the status quo.
• If, as the owner, you are not interested in passing the baton to the next runner in the growth relay.

Growth

The company must have solid growth potential and demonstrate how it could scale to provide a more than reasonable return to the investors.   

Growth curves come in all shapes and sizes.  There's the steady incremental growth of a mature business, the graceful leaps of the Gazelles, and the inevitable 'Hockey Stick" that appears over and over at every venture conference I have ever attended.  Yet, in the real world, it's not the pretty charts and pictures that matter, it’s the foundational elements that make a transformational company stand out.  Some Gazelles grow to be great companies, while others rapidly run out of steam after the initial burst of growth.  Hockey Stick Growth Curves can be 'the big pay day' or they can simply be a sign of a business in danger of snapping under the pressure of too much, too fast.

Criteria #3:  The best true indicators of growth potential are not charts and graphs, but rather how does the company (or product) provide a solution that is usable by a large number of people and BETTER than substitutes (or lack thereof)?

Unlikely Fits:

• One more “me too” solution in an already overcrowded market.
• A terrific solution for a very small customer base (since these rarely can scale.)
• Product or services that are not designed to fill a genuine customer need (since customers must ultimately be willing to pay and karma is important to me).
• A 'great idea' that has not ever been built, tested, or sold to ANYONE (since I'd like it to already have at least one customer).

Lasting Value

And in the end, building a great company is more than just creating a widget, jobs, or shareholder value. 

Criteria #4:  It's creating something to believe in, and be proud of, for the people who matter most to us (employees, customers, investors and strategic partners). 

Unlikely Fits:

• Products or services you would be embarrassed to discuss with your parents.
• Products or services that add no value to or potentially even harm the community, the environment, or others (since that just isn't who I am). 
• Any product or service that makes promises it cannot keep (since that certainly isn't me either).

So that's my list.  Have YOU seen this company?

Of course, there are at least two BIG differences between my quest and the search for The Grail of legend.  One, I know that I'm going to find what I am seeking, and Two, this is more than a personal journey, it is also an experiment in the power of social media.  So, if you've seen this company please let me know.   You can always leave me a note here, on my blog or, if you want to keep it confidential, you can also contact me by clicking here.

As long as we are on the subject, if you happen to be looking for a company too, just let me know what YOU are searching for and I'll be happy to pass along what I may find for you along the way. Unlike the fabled Holy Grail, there is more than just one great opportunity out there.

Thanks for stopping by.  Stay Tuned...

Joan Koerber-Walker

P.S.  One of the best parts of this journey is connecting, engaging, and being inspired by fellow entrepreneurs.  On Thursday, November 12th in Phoenix Arizona I will be doing just that at AZEC09.  Who knows maybe I will see YOU there and we can chat.

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Drawing a Crowd in the Cabbage Patch

I was scanning some articles on line this morning when I cam across a fun one at How Stuff Works titled 23 Must-Have Toys from the 1950s and Beyond.  So I decided to check it out.  Of the 23 'must haves', only Strawberry Shortcake never made it into either my or my children's toy collection.  But it was the Cabbage Patch Kids that brought back the memory of how one innovative toy really drew a crowd.

Xavier Roberts was a teenager when he launched his Babyland General Hospital during the 1970s in Cleveland, Georgia, allowing children to adopt a "baby." In 1983, the Coleco toy company started mass-producing these dolls as Cabbage Patch Kids. Each "kid" came with a unique name and a set of adoption papers, and stores couldn't keep them on the shelves, selling more than three million of the dolls in the first year.

 It was just before the Christmas holidays in 1983, and my fiance Chris worked at Coleco, home of the Cabbage Patch.  EVERYONE was trying to get their hands on the little darlings - even employees.  The company had to even hold a lottery for employees to be able to purchase them.  So after months of lotteries, we had a small collection of six Cabbage Patch Kids ready for adoption. 

I really did not give it too much thought when I lined up the 'Kids' on the back seat of my car and left my home in South Windsor, Connecticut on a Saturday afternoon to drive down to see our families in Danbury, Connecticut.  But I got a real lesson on what it is like for an innovation to draw a crowd when I stopped at a McDonald's along the way to get a Diet Coke.  The young girl at the drive thru window saw into my back seat, and exclaimed!

WOW!  Where did you get all those Cabbage Patch Dolls!

That's all it took.  Before I had even been given my cup, my car was surrounded by Moms, wallets and checkbooks in hand, asking me what it would take to sell them "Just One."  I explained that they were gifts and that they were not for sale, but finally the manager had to come out and move the eager Mommies away - before I could put my car in gear and make my escape from the drive thru.  I learned a lesson that day...

When an innovation capture's the public's imagination - it draws a crowd.

Over twenty-five years have passed and I have seen many innovative new products come and go.  Some are just a passing fad, but others have real staying power.  As an investor, I look for those companies with inventions or solutions that can make life better in one way or another.  Products or services that capture the imagination and can, with the right resources, literally draw a crowd in their chosen marketplace. 

Some of these companies have been in technology - like when Bernie Vonderschmidt, the first Chairman and CEO  of Xilinx, shared his vision of the next generation in silicon technology,the FGPGA, or when Dr. Michelle Hanna of RiboMed helped me to imagine a day when we could detect and treat diseases like cancer BEFORE it was too late and our loved ones were suffering.  Others have not. 

But none of the innovations I have invested in have been toys.  Perhaps because I never got over the experience of being 'mobbed by Mommies' at McDonalds.

Thanks for stopping by.  Stay tuned...

Joan Koerber-Walker

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Valuing a Company

From time to time, I get involved in answering a tricky question.  "What is this company worth?"  Sometimes the question comes up when speaking to a business owner or executive who is truly trying to increase the value of their organization.  At other times the question is raised from someone looking for investors or buyers.  And then most importantly - I ask it myself when the buyer or investor might be me.

Years ago, in business school, I had great professors at the W.P. Carey School of Business.  They taught me the science of financial valuation and how to look at the opportunities  and systematic business risks that lie buried behind the balance sheet.  There where times in the learning process when I might have cursed my teachers for being so exacting, but the lessons they taught combined with the insights I gained from my fellow students were worth more than a pot of gold.

Measuring a company's value falls into 3 categories

What it has - it's assets

Assets can be real and tangible.  We all know about these: property, plants, and equipment plus firm contracts and money in the bank.  We can see it, touch it, count it up.  Other assets are intangible.  We know that there is some level of value, but measurement is often subtle, involving an estimation of the worth.  This can be a patent, a trademark, or a customer or prospect list that in and of it self has no hard value, but when put to good use can be converted to tangible assets in the future, 

What it lacks or  owes - It's liabilities

On the other side of the equation are the liabilities.  Some are easy to measure and take the form of debt, contractual obligations, or other factors that reduce the company's assets.  But there are other more intangible liabilities to factor in like adverse economic conditions, holes in the team, or a lack in organizational bandwidth - you know - too much to do and not enough resources to do it with.

What It promises - Its brand as an organization

And most important of all, I look at what the company promises to its people, its customers, its partners and its investors through its brand as an organization, PLUS  its ABILITY to keep those promises.

We all make promises, and most up us do everything in our power to keep them.  The question I focus on most closely is can the company turn promise into reality with its unique combination of assets and liabilities. 

• Does it have a clear and simple plan that the team can follow to keep the promises it makes? Are there clearly defined goals, strategies, tactics? Are there clear measurement milestones along the way?
• Does it have a culture that supports its team in achieving shared objectives.  It's sad but true.  Objectives and goals that are not shared by the team are rarely achieved.
• Does it have the resources to give to that team so that they can execute on the plan? And if not - does it have the ability to get them?
• Does it use its assets wisely?  Is it investing in its people and its product to take and hold a leadership position in its markets  in the future?
• Does it look at its customers, supply chain, and investors as collaborative partners and treat them accordingly?
• Is leadership committed to keeping the promises it makes to the team, the partners, the customers, and the investors.
• Does every member of the team share that commitment?

The Value of the COMPANY

When I am done with the measuring, I add it all up.  What I then have is a valuation of the company in a form that they rarely teach in business school.  A clearer picture of whether the company can keep its organizational promise and create value as well as what it may to make that happen, and what I can do to help along the way.

Because, at the end of the day, the true value of any company is in the promises it makes, and its ability to keep them.

Thanks for stopping by.  Stay Tuned...

Joan Koerber-Walker

 

Technorati Tags: Joan Koerber-Walker,CorePurpose,Business,Business Tips,Valuation,Entrepreneur,Entrepreneurship,Investing,Investor

The Best Marketing Strategy Ever

A business owner asked me the other day, what was the best marketing ever?  I did not have to think very long.  To me, the answer is Southwest Airlines in its early days.   In a day when Southwest was competing with industry giants to launch a new airline, they broke through and succeeded by demonstrating that they were the airline you wanted to fly by doing the following things.

1. They offered an affordable and valuable service.
2. They put their employees first and let them know it.  The Employees became their marketing ambassadors on EVERY flight and at every gate.
3. They empowered their employees to do what ever it took to make the customer experience both safe and enjoyable.  The employees felt good about being part of Southwest and that spirit was contagious.
4. They got people fired up about the service they were offering and encouraged them to tell a friend.  They mastered the art of the testimonial!

From silly slogans by peppy flight attendants and from little things like birthday cards or free drink coupons and ads that made you smile, Southwest integrated the customer experience into every step of what they did and how they marketed.  The rest, as they say, was entrepreneurial history. One friend told another - and they told someone else.  People chose to fly the fledgling airline to see what all the buzz was about.  They liked the experience, kept on flying, and kept on telling their friends.

I've been thinking about this - the creating of an experience  - a lot lately for two reasons. 

One is a company that I am hoping to become much more involved with.  They have an offering that will revolutionize their category in a way similar to what Southwest did to the airline industry.  As I look at what would be needed to do just that, I start to get really excited.  (You'll have to stay tuned to learn more about this project....it's a developing story.)

But the other project, is one that I can tell you all about.  It's the Fourth Annual Arizona Entrepreneurship Conference or AZEC09.  For the last 4 years, I have worked with the team at OTEF (The Opportunity Through Entrepreneurship Foundation) to provide entrepreneurial training, support, and inspiration to at risk populations here in Arizona.  Programs have included helping women, who have faced huge challenges, start over and launch a new business.   Teens got a fresh start in their own entrepreneurial venture and now, through Blue Print for Survival, displaced workers are finding a new purpose through their own businesses.  The funding raised each year at AZEC09 makes this possible!

So, how could I apply what I have learned through the  years from studying Southwest make AZEC09 better?

Valuable and Affordable -  at $99 for early registration and $150 for the regular conference rate, it is probably one of the best full day conference values you can find.  And the learning you can gain is invaluable from both the speakers and the people you meet.

Our team is first rate from our sponsors and community partners to our volunteers.  It is important that we make the experience as good for them as possible so that they will make the conference great for our guests.

We need to make sure that all of our team understands, this is not just another conference.  It is an opportunity to make a difference in our businesses AND our community all at the same time.

And it's time to get folks fired up and to do something different to make things more fun.  So I asked out great partners at the Phoenix Business Journal for help and they came through with  the perfect gift  to give away at different times throughout the day - I love presents!  Another friend has gotten into the spirit of this and is also helping to bring other surprises.  So now, on top of great speakers, the opportunity to connect with thought leaders, and some of the top exciting entrepreneurs around we have presents to.  How cool is that!

So all I needed was a few testimonials.  I went through the conference file and asked friends for permission to share their words with you.  Here are a few...

"Dollar for dollar the 2008 Arizona Entrepreneur's Conference was the best money and time spent on any conference.  Period!  I'm expecting even more on Nov 12th 2009!"

   Eric Keosky-Smith  CEO, Co-Founder, Shwaag (tm)

"... this is the best educational and networking opportunity in the state.... It’s an opportunity to network with and learn from people who have achieved entrepreneurial successes in health care, digital media, sustainability and cloud computing PLUS lots of ideas shared by CEOs on the front lines who are making things work!. "

   Pat Elliott, Western Marketing Group

See, the thing that makes testimonials from delighted customers the best marketing strategy ever is that what THEY say matters most.

So, I have a favor to ask.  If you have attended one of the last three Arizona Entrepreneurship Conferences, leave me a comment and share your experience. And if you are coming this year, tell me why so we can work on making sure you have the best experience ever!

I'll be watching for your ideas!

Thanks for stopping by.  Stay Tuned...

Joan Koerber-Walker

P.S. Remember those great Sponsors and  Community Partners I mentioned.  Here is who they are:

The Business Journal Phoenix and Infusionsoft – who have generously stepped up EVERY year, as well as Mashable, Microsoft, Affordable Image, The Town of Gilbert, Metro Studios, Pour Masters, Gangplank, Stealthmode Partners, CorePurpose, Brent Spore, Chuck Reynolds, The Performance Magazine, and  The Social Media Bible.com, PLUS our great friends and community partners at The Knight Center for Digital Media, EO, TiE-Arizona, and The Arizona Technology Council, Social Media Club Phoenix, The Phoenix Innovation Foundation, PodCampAZ.

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