Entrepreneuring in Chicago

Fast Company has a great article about why you should start a company in Chicago.   Chicago is where many Internet mainstays were launched, from the jobs site CareerBuilder and travel service Orbitz to RSS technology innovators Feedburner (bought by Google in 2007) and the online audience measurement outfit comScore. One hot [...]

12 Powerpoint Presentation Rules When Presenting to VC’s

Having raised more than $300 million in numerous financings, I have learned a few rules along the way that help to make strong, effective and impactful presentation.  I have found that VC’s invest, generally speaking,  in three things:  an idea, a top management team, and a big market for the product and service.  In your [...]

The Need for Relational Skills in the C-Level Suite

Just read a great article from CFO Coach about a recent survey by Accountemps that is indicative of a growing trend in finance. CFOs not only want people with people skills working for them, they themselves bring higher value when they bring relational skills sets to the table. The Accountemps survey shows a dramatic increase [...]

10 Secrets to Business Success

10 Secrets to Business Success
Investor’s Business Daily has spent years analyzing leaders and successful people in all walks of life. Most have 10 traits that, when combined, can turn dreams into reality…. 1. HOW YOU THINK IS EVERYTHING: Always be positive. Think success, not failure. Beware of a negative environment. [...]

McKinsey’s Top 10 Articles of 2Q-2009

As an entrepreneur, I am always looking to learn more about strategy, trends, etc so I came across the top ten articles from McKinsey Consulting in the second quarter of 2009. Represenative topics include:

1. STRATEGY

Strategic planning: Three tips for 2009<
Even in these tumultuous times, strategic planning doesn’t have to be an exercise in anxiety—or futility.

2. CORPORATE FINANCE
Timing is key as companies weigh whether to make strategic investments now or wait for clear signs of recovery. Scenario analysis can expose the risks of moving too quickly or slowly.

3. STRATEGY
In this interactive presentation—one in a series of multimedia frameworks—McKinsey director Rob Latoff offers insight into the industry cost curve, a business school classic for understanding pricing. By bringing discipline and a practical set of definitions to bear, this framework can be applied to real-world, competitive markets.

4. ECONOMIC STUDIES
Surveying the economic horizon: A conversation with Robert ShillerIn this video interview, the noted economist explains and explores the downturn’s root causes—and possible ways forward.

5. CORPORATE FINANCE
What next? Ten questions for CFOs
As companies shift their attention from fighting the crisis to getting the most from the recovery, CFOs must keep executives focused.

Politics as Usual with $900 Billion Stimulus Bill — Take a Look; It’s Your Money

I want CHANGE but it looks like Washington is just to big for Obama to make a dent.
As the new Obama government begins to look at how to get the economy going, many of our legislative leaders are using the bill to spend YOUR money on non-stimulus items and the truth is, our kids are [...]

Things I Love — Hollingworth Toffee

One of our friends runs an great service for other moms (and dads) with things that she loves and she does it each Thursday.  So I am linking to her and adding my own personal Christmas favorite for all of you to try.  Check out her site thediaperdiaries.net for many other great things to love.

I [...]

Thanksgiving Top 20

In September of 1620, a small wooden ship called the Mayflower set sail from England, headed for the New World. Crowded on board were 102 passengers, most of them Christians who believed that God was leading them to establish a new community where they could worship freely. After sixty-five days of tossing [...]

What a Downer Week…..

Stock market ….DOWN
Michigan throttled by Illinois  45-20
Cubs Lose in first round of playoffs
White Sox Bounced from playoffs
At least we got Jesus and the Promises of God below in our corner…..
The Promises of God

WHEN

REFERENCE

Seeking the best investment…
Matthew 7

Starting a new job…
Psalm 1; Proverbs 16; Philippians 3:7-21

You have been placed in a position of responsibility…
Joshua 1:1-9; [...]

Solar Cells Get to 20% Conversion Efficiency

I am becoming a big fan of solar power as it begins the long march toward parity with current power supplies — I would love to get off the Commonwealth Edison grid and not have to pay that big electricity bill every month.

So I was excited to see today that Suniva Inc. announced that its [...]

Solar as Alternative?

I am beginning to look into solar options but I live in Illinois (never really known as the land of the uninterrupted sun) so I wanted to find out how to calculate whether an investment in solar makes sense in Chicago.  I learned that the total solar energy available to the earth is approximately 3850 [...]

Burma Disaster Relief: Park To Send a 10,000 gallon/day Water Purifier

As many of you are already aware, last weekend Tropical cyclone Nargis claimed thousands of lives in Myanmar early Saturday morning 2:30am. By daylight, the full effect of the storm was obvious. Homes were destroyed, giant trees crashed through buildings, and were lying uprooted, blocking roads. Blackouts, water shortages and rapidly rising prices [...]

Which Choice Do You Make? Food or Fuel?

Look at this article and then reflect on which choice you would make — it is obvious what choice Al Gore would make but what would you do if you were the country’s policymaker?
NEW YORK SUN – The campaign against climate change could be set back by the global food crisis, as foreign populations turn [...]

Easter Creativity – God is at Work!

It’s now a week after Easter and I am checking out the blogs and news to see how God used people this Easter weekend and what drew people in to hear the Word of God on Easter. Wow! There is lots of creativity out there and that affirms that God is working His [...]

The First Mobile Hotel Room

Fan attending any of the big festivals this summer might wish they have access to one of these – the “world’s first mobile hotel room”. The Travelodge hotel chain recently announced that its Travelpod would soon be available at events such as music festivals and sporting competitions. Designed to be set up anywhere you might [...]

5 Rules with a Mentor

As a serial entrepreneur, I love to spend time with folks who are getting their own company going. I remember the days when I was getting started and I was searching for people who knew more than me that would take time to meet with me and impart some wisdom into my situation. [...]

Most Innovative Companies in the World

The March 2008 issue of Fast Company magazine profiles their view of most innovative companies in the world. It’s an eye-opening and interesting read, in particular that the companies named hail from all industries: automobile, high technology, airlines, retail, attire. I have listed the top 10 below, and I like the selection of [...]

Faith at Work

As I get ready to transition out of Park with the soon-to-open new ministry center, I am reflecting a lot on my new role as the CEO of a new company FanFuego.com, the leading multi-sport social network for sports fans, and my leadership style and faith at work. I came across a great article [...]

Next Page »