How to ask for support

Have you had to engage people around you to support your hobby projects? GOOD has just released a nice interview with Chimero, who is a designer/writer that is using kickstarter to fund his book. He is actually about to double his goal of $27,000 and getting some great press. Here's a nice quote:

"That's the thing about Kickstarter: if you do it right, it's less about asking people to give you money for your idea, and more about saying 'I'm about to go on this journey. Do you want to come with me?'"



Here's the full article: http://www.good.is/post/how-to-kick-ass-on-kickstarter-a-q-a-with-frank-chimero/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+good%2Flbvp+%28GOOD+Main+RSS+Feed%29


- from my mobile life -

Where to incubate?

Here's an awesome article that outlines the differences about incubator styles. I still find them all too formal and cold. It's like joining an elite club - and really everyone should be getting help and motivation. Let gravy work on disrupting this!



http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/27/business/smallbusiness/27sbiz.html?_r=4&src=dayp

- from my mobile life -

gravy logo design contest on LogoMyWay.com

Check it out! Trying to design something better? Trying to get your passions out of the garage?

Gravy will help! Check the logo contest here:

gravy Logo Design Contest LogoMyWay.com ™

Post-its!

Last week I received a very interesting email by one of my CCA fellows: What are the right methods to use post-its?

All I could think in the moment was... Just kinda do it? And well, in reality there is no right or wrong way, any IDEOer can tell you that there's plenty of styles. Some color-code, others would rather keep it more disorganized to let the clusters happen naturally, and some people actually just hate post-its and ban them from their creative process.

I am a big fan. It's my way to set all of the options out there, see them in one place and then organize them, judge them, sequence them, kill them, you name it.

So if you want to start using post-its for design thinking, here's some basic recommendations:

1. Start with a wide open wall or foam core boards. It's going to look messy but have it close to you. It's the best reference for your thoughts!
2. The more the merrier, have a stack of post-its in front of you at all times, give some to all of your team and post them in the same place. This will allow for everyone to see the collective conscious.
3. One idea or thought per post-it will let you move them around easily. You can write, draw ideas, make symbols, annotate, create categories, get feedback, etc. You get the idea.
4. Don't worry about being wrong. Just put it up there! You can always tear it down later. Use the lo-fidelity of post-its to your advantage. It's ok to re-do a post-it 30 times, every wrong will get you closer to what you want to say. Keep it rough & flexible!
5. Cluster & re-cluster! Try moving them around as many times as needed until your thoughts make sense. If you feel like it's perfect the. Take a picture and keep playing around with the clustering.


Anyway, here's my wall this afternoon and it will change pretty soon.



How do you use post-its? What are your methods?

Oh Facebook, how can I use thee?

So I tried and failed. So who cares! The idea was to use facebook communities to create conversations that would inspire my research for this project. But all I got was lame comments and nonsense. Are people just not in the mood when they're in facebook? are they more in a spectator mode? Do they just not want to think that deep?

I still believe there is hope to use online communities for research but how can we make it more relevant and compelling? Is it about

a) using more relevant types of communities? (eg. LinkedIn, Twitter, or another)
b) giving people something tangible to react to?
c) using humor to get people to participate?
d) what else!?!?!

Help me!!!!!

Keep the vision, evolve the rest: La Victoria

This is the story of a second generation business in transition and maybe we could all learn from them. Jaime Maldonado is the owner of La Victoria Bakery, a 60-year-old panaderia on 24th Street that is reinventing itself.  Authentic mexican bread is their core vision but their resilient nature has made them change to serve the new type of residents in their neighborhood. 

"We can't stop being an authentic panaderia and a kitchen, we've been doing this since the 1960's. It's just going to morph into what people want. The families that used to be here would come in and buy 50 dollars a week on tamales and basic bread. Those families are not here anymore, the people who live here spend five dollars each sporadic visit. so we need to have a paradigm shift to serve what is going to be the new type of neighborhood." 

I love it! Reminding ourselves why we are here in the first place is so basic and important. Remember the legacy that anchors you to your business and then feel free to move everything and anything that you need in order to keep that legacy alive and well. 

I wonder what made Jaime Maldonado want to pursue the change. I wonder what he was observing that made a click. I wonder how we can replicate that observation power to let other business owners figure out when it's time to change.

Do needs of men and women leaders differ?

What do you all think? Is it the same? Well, Sharon Hardary, Former Executive Director and Founder of the Center for Women's Business Research is very sure that this is true.

"I am convinced that the problem is twofold. First, you have women's own self-limiting views of themselves, their businesses and the opportunities available to them. But equally problematic are the stereotypes, perceptions and expectations of business and government leaders."

In her article from the wall street journal, she discusses how women are holding back as business owners. Clearly, women can have vision and everything it takes to run a successful business.

"Research also shows that the differences between women and men entrepreneurs begin with their own reasons for starting a business. Men tend to start businesses to be the "boss," and their aim is for their businesses to grow as big as possible. Women start businesses to be personally challenged and to integrate work and family, and they want to stay at a size where they personally can oversee all aspects of the business."

What needs to be done is a my personal favorite part of the article. It take the thoughts it to an actionable plan which could be an inspirational part for creating tools and structures created to help them be better business leaders. Change your mindset. Learn from other women. Use banks in your favor. Get advisors. Measure it all. Think even bigger.

Here are some possible futures: What if we created an online advisory network for them? Or what if we created metrics that were more relevant so they could use to validate their efforts? How could we help them to broaden their ability to think bigger?

This especially makes me want to go deeper into talking and observing women business owners because it seems like they have even more tensions present. Do you know of any women who would be inspiring to talk to? Let me know!

Thank you again Elizabeth Glenewinkel for this in-depth, thought provoking article. It's priceless!