How Comfortable Are You Being Uncomfortable? Todd Vernon-Lijit

Todd Vernon, Founder & CEO of Lijit talks to Sandy Grason about:

• being acquired in one of the most significant transactions in Colorado's last decade
• becoming an entrepreneur "you have to become obsessed about something"
• how long it takes to build a successful business
• hiring people smarter than you
• having Plan B & C
• the ability to delay gratification & drinking your own kool-aid

Some of my favorite quotes from Todd are:

"I believe humility is the best tool you have as a CEO"

"Are you really just a cowboy that wants to get paid a lot and likes saying you work at a start-up because it's sexy?"

"How comfortable are you being uncomfortable?" Disclaimer: Todd may have stolen this quote from Brad Feld, and Brad may have stolen it from Sandy Grason :-)

Here's a link to the article in Inc magazine with Todd's great advice for finding great people for your company:  "Ask These 5 Questions Before You Hire".

Pathfinder Solutions

 

Community service industries such as Pathfinder Solutions are preparing to show a new work force how to get into the civil service/non-profit field of work.  This industry anticipates job opportunities will continue to open as the baby boomer generation retires.  Pathfinder Solutions is building a bridge to connect the right talent with the civil service industry.

Alexandra Mitchell is co-founder and president of Pathfinder Solutions.  Pathfinder Solutions principle goal is cultivating a diverse civil service workforce.  Mitchell related to ICOSA that 1.5 million people work in the civil service industry which is about 10 percent of the national workforce.

Dr. Jeff Pryor, co-founder and CEO of Pathfinder Solutions has decades of experience in philanthropy.  Pryor served for 20 years as the Executive Director of the Anschutz Family Foundation.  Both Pryor and Mitchell believe civil service organizations need to equally spend time developing and inviting talented individual into the industry.

Pathfinder Solutions is a 15 member, team based consulting firm.  They work on projects, with each member bringing their unique skill-sets.  At the forefront is the Talent Develop Inititive Project in Colorado which inspires individuals to consider working in the civil service industry.  Other states are invited to participate in this project.  Currently Pathfinder Solutions is partnering with the National Council on Nonprofits.  People interested should contact their state nonprofit association and mention the Talent Develop Inititive.

Another Pathfinder Solutions project is with the University of Mongolia in China.  They have asked Pathfinder Solutions to develop a non-profit degree program which will offer a certificate or master’s degree.  A symposium has also been proposed for companies, funders and non-profits focusing on non-profits within China.

For more information, visit; www.pathfindersolutions.org or email [email protected] or [email protected].

http://www.icosa.co/magazine/looking-for-jane-goodall

Colorado Gives Day, The Nonprofit & The Success Story.

Colorado Gives Day is hosted by FirstBank and the Community First Foundation.  The two dedicated collaborators, Marla J. Williams, president and CEO of Community First Foundation and Jim Reuter, executive vice president of FirstBank has set 2011’s goal of exceeded last year’s total distribution of $8.7 million.  Ever wonder how your donation supports the community?  Here are two nonprofits with one their many of their success stories.

The Nonprofit

Rocky Mountain MicroFinance Institute Development Director and Co-Founder Stacey Saggese provide low income entrepreneurs with learning, lending and coaching.  Figuring out the right timing paired with resources such as capita and loans is RMMFI best service.

The Success Story

Radiant Gardens owner Rebecca Dolan participated in RMMFI’s boot camp where she solidified the unique structure within Radiant Gardens and now not only maintains a profit but has four employees and contractors.

The Nonprofit

YouthBiz Executive Director Sonya Garcia Ulibarri work provides youth with the benefits of advancement in community, education and business.  YouthBiz’s future entrepreneurship project plans to take youth step by step from an hourly job, to salary, to business ownership.

The Success Story

Phill Douglas a former YouthBiz graduate and now program coordinator works with a diversified group of youth including those whom he is guiding through and hopefully past gang membership through helping them focus on better avenues in life such as college.

For information on how you can donate visit; www.givingfirst.org.

Related articles

• Innovation and Job Creation (theicosamagazine.com)

The Vx

The Vx, headquartered in Colorado, brings together members of existing women’s affinity groups in a collaborative environment, giving women access to an exceptional resourceThe Goal of The Vx is to: • Secure exceptional resources to foster a community of interest • Inspire women to achieve their personal and professional potential • Integrate the full potential of this community to focus on extraordinary problems Pam Jeffords, Co-Founder and Partner of Via Management Consulting, is an experienced entrepreneur in the Denver community. Pam founded her first company, Maid to Fit, at the age of 30 and sold the company to a competitor three years later. Pam was recruited by ShopAtHome.com to move their offering to the web, growing the consumer base of on-line members to over 1Million and delivering over 1,000 advertisers with banner revenue. In 2007, she joined PAETEC as the General Manager with responsibility for launching six new markets in twelve months. Pam is the Co-chair of the Women’s Leadership Council at Mile High United Way, where she has played an instrumental role since 2003. Pam holds a Bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and a Masters in Business Administration from Georgia State University.

Vic Ahmed

 

Plug and Play Tech incubator will open in November 2011 in Colorado.  It is the first branch opening outside Silicon Valley in the nation.  Plug and Play Tech incubator also has three international locations. Vic Ahmed, CEO of Plug and Play incubator in Colorado is well versed in growth challenges and exiting companies once successful.  He has experienced the gamut of being an entrepreneur.  He offered advice to young and young at heart entrepreneurs.

Find mentors to avoid obvious mistakes.

If you fall on your face, GET BACK UP!

Ahmed relates entrepreneurship to swimming.  Practicing strokes outside the pool doesn’t teach you to swim.  You have to get into the pool and into the water to learn.  Being an entrepreneur is just like that.  Taking the first step is always the toughest.   And the spirit of becoming an entrepreneur is contagious which makes Plug and Play a hot spot for innovation.

Ahmed collaborated with university students in researching best practices for incubators and discovered Saeed Amidi’s first Plug and Play in the Silicon Valley.  Plug and Play provides access to financing, partners, mentors, networks and ecosystems for collaboration.  Individuals in software, social media, clean tech, gaming, animation and video are encouraged to contact Ahmed for both on-site and virtual opportunities at [email protected].

Related articles

• Great Start-Up Opportunities at the Plug & Play Tech Center (news.dice.com)

The Results Are In! Best State To Be An Entrepreneur

Last week, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln released its State Entrepreneurship Index.  Eric Thompson, an economics professor and director of the university’s Bureau of Business Research said,

"The annual index ranks states using the number of businesses that open and close, the average earnings of its entrepreneurs, the number of patents per capita, and other data..."

What surprised me after looking at the stats is how low my home state of Colorado was ranked.  I've always thought that CO was a great place to start a business.  With an international airport, a tech community stretching from Denver to Boulder, an approachable community of investors, and other factors;  I was thinking we'd at least be in the top 20.  Apparently my assumptions were not founded on real data.  According to the report, CO has fallen from her former glory dropping 15 spots to number 33.

First on the report and holding the position for at least the last 3 years is NYC.  Any guesses on who come in last?  South Carolina.  Guess I don't have a comment one way or another as I know nothing about the state's economic and entrepreneur climate.

Despite this poor ranking there are several noteworthy organizations making great strides in developing and producing entrepreneurs for Colorado.  One of which is Boulder based TechStars.  A quick glance at their website and one can see that this organization is proud of the work being done for CO based techies.

"TechStars provides seed funding from over 75 top venture capital firms and angel investors who are vested in the success of your startup, as well as intense mentorship from hundreds of the best entrepreneurs in the world."

TechStars also has operations in Boston, New York City, and Seattle.  It should be noted that these three cities parent states hold the number 1,2, and 3 top spots according to the study.  Coincidence?  I think not.

The other organization happens to be have a global reach made up of members and charter organizations.  TIE Rockies is the CO chapter of TIE.org.

"The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), was founded in 1992 in Silicon Valley by a group of successful entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and senior professionals with roots in the Indus region. There are currently 13,000 members, including over 2,500 charter members in 57 chapters across 14 countries. TiE’s mission is to foster entrepreneurship globally through mentoring, networking, and education."

With the state of economic affairs in our country I believe that entrepreneurs play a tremendous role in revitalizing our economy.  Entrepreneurs are innovative and the lifeblood of what makes our country great.  They are problem solvers, job creators, community minded, and are keepers of the American Dream.   For those of you folks who have the itch, are on the fence, are tired of corporate America, and want to be your own boss-  TAKE THE PLUNGE!  Our state and our country need more of you.  There are organizations to support you.  What are you waiting for?

When is NOW the right time?

Recommended books on entrepreneurism:

Uncertainty: Turning Fear and Doubt into Fuel for Brilliance

Making Ideas Happen

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• TechStars CEO David Cohen On Giving Startups A $100,000 Shot In The Arm (Or A Kick In The Pants) (fastcompany.com)
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• TechStars Officially Grows Up: Adds $100,000 of Funding for Every Startup (mashable.com)