How to Take Your Social Networking to the next level - Business Networking - Biznik

How to Take Your Social Networking to the next level - Business Networking - Biznik

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Networking without pressure

By Mary Gottschalk

Networking is a bit like flossing your teeth. You know you should do it every day, but often you don't start until you have a crisis on your hands.

Networking can be useful as a crisis tool for finding the next job or getting a referral. But beware. There's a subtle psychological shift in the balance of power between you and your contact if the purpose of the meeting is to get a job. You go into the meeting needing something and wishing you didn't. Your contact knows he is expected to deliver a job lead, a referral or at least a good idea.

This situation can be awkward. It makes sense to present what you think your contact should know about you, what you think will be most impressive. But whether it works has as much or more to do with a contact's ability to provide a relevant job lead or referral as to the effectiveness of your presentation. And if that contact isn't in a position to offer something, he may try to bring the conversation to a close, to relieve discomfort and avoid creating false hope.

The odds are high that you will walk away from such meetings discouraged, something you don't need if you're out of a job. Even worse, a lot of valuable information - valuable to your contact as well as to you - never gets communicated.

An alternative approach is based on the notion that people love to give advice. Don't say that you're looking for a job, even if you are. Instead, explain that you're exploring your career options ... that you want to learn what other jobs or careers your skills might be suited to ... that you don't plan to make any decisions until you have more information.

That approach takes much of the pressure off, if only because both people go into the meeting expecting nothing more than an interesting conversation. You can present a more honest picture of yourself and explore the career implications of your weaknesses as well as your strengths. The format leaves lots of room for a contact to make suggestions and share personal experiences. It allows him to ask what you think about "X" or how you'd handle "Y," thus learning about you in ways that might never have come up if the purpose of the meeting was to "sell" what you assume are your most important skills.

Because it's a dialogue, a contact will feel freer to talk about opportunities in her firm or industry, long-term opportunities even if they are not available on your current time frame. Because it's a dialogue, you can ask probing questions about the pros and cons of her job or profession, the how and why of her firm's internal decision-making and its biggest challenges. She can see first-hand how your mind works. You get more honest answers. And if your contact sees you as interesting rather than needy, she is far more likely to make referrals.

A significant fringe benefit of this approach - a critical one when you actually need a job - is that you rarely walk away feeling disappointed or discouraged.

The best fringe benefit is that interesting conversations lead to interesting job offers, often from the people you really only approached for advice.

Mary Gottschalk is the owner of MCG Strategic Services, which provides financial services to nonprofit organizations.

Improve Your Website’s Usability in 30 Minutes or Less

Written by: Tom Now

You can eat lunch in 30 minutes. You can watch a primetime TV show in 30 minutes. You can even organize your sock drawer in 30 minutes.

Given that an easy-to-use website is one that is much more likely to generate sales for your business, it would behoove you to take 30 minutes out of your day (in addition to organizing your sock drawer…) to implement fixes to your site that will improve usability and deliver better results.

Five Simple Steps to Improve Website Usability in 30 Minutes or Less

#1 Eliminate the Technospeak
Don’t assume that all of your website visitors are going to understand your industry lingo and acronyms. Strive to use easy-to-understand language.

#2 Focus on the Site Visitor’s Goals
Think of the major objectives of your website visitors. Why are these people on your site? Make it clear right on your home page what they should do next in order to accomplish what they set out to do.

#3 Get Right to the Point
State the most important information at or near the top of each page. Remember that many people do not scroll down web pages.

#4 Include Contextual Links & Make Sure All Links Work Properly
Add links to the copy within your website to guide your readers to more detailed information and answers on specific topics found on other pages in your site. Internal, contextual links is a great way to add usability without cluttering the page. There are a variety of tools on the market to automatically check the links on your site.

#5 Give the Site Visitor Options to Contact You
Make sure that you are offering your prospective customers at least three options (e.g., telephone number, email address, online form, chat functionality, Twitter, etc.) to contact you with questions.

These are just a few suggestions to help you quickly crank out a number of usability improvements to your website. If you need additional help, let me know below or at http://www.websitemarketingnow.com/.

How To Market To People Who Are Not Like You - Business And Breakfast

How To Market To People Who Are Not Like You - Business And Breakfast

One of the most important issues to address within your marketing plan is new market segmentation. No longer does mass marketing and mass media effectively reach your audience. Diversity marketing is the new norm, and this doesn’t simply mean racial diversity but extends to gender, race, age, life stage, sexuality, special interests, etc. By recognizing and segmenting these different groups, you can tailor your product/service and its message to reflect customers’ uniqueness. Kelly McDonald will share her insights on how to effectively segment new markets and then devise messaging to reach them.

This opportunity is made possible through sponsorship assistance from MyEntrenet at the Regional Business Development and Incubation Center at the University of Northern Iowa. Maureen Collins - Williams, Director

Join us for breakfast, networking and a wonderful presentation.

Kelly McDonald is a marketing and advertising expert with more than 20 years of global advertising agency experience, in both the general and Latino markets. Prior to starting her own company, Kelly was Director of Client Services at one of the nation’s top Hispanic ad agencies, where she worked with Nissan, Bank One, Kimberly-Clark and Budweiser. Learn more about Kelly McDonald and her business at McDonald Marketing.

The New-Iowa Group is the home for the Coalition and is sponsored in part by American Express OPEN and by E-Myth Benchmark. You can Contact Bob or Susan Clements at 888-959-0621 for more information about E-Myth Benchmark.

Date & time
Wednesday, September 9, 2009 7:30 AM
Location
StayBridge Suites
6905 Lake Drive
West Des Moines, IA 50238
1-515-223-0000
Who's organizing?
Kent Sovern
“ Look for the NIEC Signs ”
Price
$10.00 per person – RSVP at http://www.meetup.com/New-Iowa-Entrepreneurs-Coalition/


New Iowa Entrepreneurs' Coalition The New-Iowa Group is the home for the New Iowa Entrepreneurs' Coalition which is sponsored in part by American Express OPEN and by E-Myth Benchmark. Please visit our Sponsors' web pages and you can Contact Bob or Susan Clements at 888-959-0621 for more information about E-Myth Benchmark.

SBA Launches YouTube Channel

To reach a larger audience, the U.S. Small Business Administration is now posting informational videos on YouTube. The Small Business Administration recently launched it's own YouTube channel, joining an increasing number of federal agencies that are taking advantage of the popular video-sharing platform to reach a larger audience.

“With millions of visitors, most of them under 35, YouTube offers a prime opportunity to use current technology and the appeal of a popular online platform to further promote the agency’s programs and services,” SBA Administrator Karen Mills says. “By expanding its outreach, SBA will be providing more current and potential entrepreneurs with the necessary tools to start, grow and succeed in their businesses.”

In a statement released Aug. 26, SBA said it is intent on reaching this audience with its message of entrepreneurship, the importance of small business to the nation’s economy and information on the agency’s programs and services.

The SBA YouTube channel debuted with a 60-second introduction to SBA, its programs and services, and a 10-part “Delivering Success” series co-produced with the U.S. Postal Service.
Future content will include a variety of videos with more in-depth information about SBA programs and services to inform current and potential entrepreneurs. Topics will cover how small businesses can take advantage of the Recovery Act loan programs, government contracting opportunities, exporting to increase market share, counseling and training on how to start and grow a small business, and small business success stories.

Immigrants a Plus for the Economy

I've taken a break from the business blog for a month and with Labor Day just around the corner it is time to bring attention back to the New Iowa Entrepreneurs Coalition and these musings. I'm just back from a delightful 10 days in the Pacific NW - visiting grandchildren and relaxing.

While on the flights to and from SeaTec, I had some time to catch up on back issues of Business Week and Newsweek magazines that have languished in my inbox over the past few weeks. Here is one of the short takes that caught my eye.

Immigrants a Plus for the Economy

Immigrants create more jobs than they take. That is the take home message appearing in a recent issue of Newsweek from the following 'Smart List' item:

Lou Dobbs, take note: immigrants are good for our economy. The most skilled create jobs in technology and engineering, says Duke professor Vivek Wadhwa, who estimates that in 2005 immigrant-founded engineering and tech companies employed 450,000 people and generated $52 billion in sales. But even the least skilled more than repay their costs in schools and health care. Two highly respected Australian economists, Maureen Rimmer and Peter Dixon, studied the issue for the libertarian Cato Institute. "The net impact on U.S. households from tighter border enforcement is unambiguously negative," they found, because even low-skilled immigrants expand the economic pie and create jobs farther up the ladder. Cato's Dan Griswold says the study shows a $250 billion difference between the most and least restrictive immigration policies.

Not surprisingly, the blurb has generated a number of reader comments. And unfortunately, a majority use it as a misguided chance to complain about high unemployment rates in the US and jobs going overseas (a completely separate issue). My personal favorite mixes in a bit of anti-corporate conspiracy theory with its xenophobia:

"Only a magazine that makes its money from the ads it sells to soulless, nationless corporations would say immigrants create jobs. I guess the more immigrants, the happier the corporations are and the happier Newsweek is to sell them ad space. Corporatism is cracking. The American middle class won't take much more of their jobs being transferred to India. India needs to create its own jobs instead of sucking jobs from "American" firms."

Top Seven Tips for Taxpayers Who Have Started or Are Starting a New Business

John Berger
Communications Analyst at US Government

Anyone starting a new business should be aware of their federal tax responsibilities.

Here are the top seven things the IRS wants you to know if you plan on opening a new business this year.

1. First, you must decide what type of business entity you are going to establish. The type your business takes will determine which tax form you have to file. The most common types of business are the sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation and S corporation.

2. The type of business you operate determines what taxes you must pay and how you pay them. The four general types of business taxes are income tax, self-employment tax, employment tax and excise tax.

3. An Employer Identification Number is used to identify a business entity. Generally, businesses need an EIN. Visit IRS.gov for more information about whether you will need an EIN. You can also apply for an EIN online at IRS.gov.

4. Good records will help you ensure successful operation of your new business. You may choose any recordkeeping system suited to your business that clearly shows your income and expenses. Except in a few cases, the law does not require any special kind of records. However, the business you are in affects the type of records you need to keep for federal tax purposes.

5. Every business taxpayer must figure taxable income on an annual accounting period called a tax year. The calendar year and the fiscal year are the most common tax years used.

6. Each taxpayer must also use a consistent accounting method, which is a set of rules for determining when to report income and expenses. The most commonly used accounting methods are the cash method and an accrual method. Under the cash method, you generally report income in the tax year you receive it and deduct expenses in the tax year you pay them. Under an accrual method, you generally report income in the tax year you earn it and deduct expenses in the tax year you incur them.

7. Visit the Business section of IRS.gov for resources to assist entrepreneurs with starting and operating a new business.

To keep up with IRS new, announcements and products and services, subscribe to e-News on IRS.gov at http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=154825,00.html , click “Subscribe Now” at the bottom of the page and enter your e-mail address.

IRS Link for New Businesses: • Small Business and Self-Employed Tax Center http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/index.html

How To Turn An Idea Into A Business in 1 Day

Have an Idea For a New Product, Service or Business?

FREE INFORMATIVE SEMINAR – June 30 (5 – 7 pm)
WHERE: Impromptu Studio, 300 SW 5th St #220, Des Moines, IA 50309

Join Us & Preview the Weekend Startup Business Boot Camp Where:
· You Bring the Idea, We Help You Launch It
· Save Thousands of Dollars and Tons of Time
· Test Your Ideas Quickly & Cheaply
· Identify and Head Off Potential Points of Failure
· This Event is Hands ON! Don’t Just Learn It, DO It!
· Do In-Room Market Research & Enjoy the Synergy of Fellow Entrepreneurs
· Meet 1 on 1 With the Experts (attorneys, CPAs, etc.) at no Additional Charge
· Learn Effective Ways to Market Your New Business or Service For Next to Nothing
· Little Known but Simple Ways to Get Capital for Your Idea
· The Information and Our Process Will Last You a Lifetime

Call 641-204-9476 For More Info and To Register For This FREE Event
http://www.blogger.com/www.StartupBusinessBootCamp.com/desmoines
1-877-Biz-Nation (877-249-6284)

WHO BENEFITS MOST FROM ATTENDING:
People Currently Employed – Looking to start a side business to supplement their income.
Job Seekers – Who are tired of the humiliating job hunting process and want to take control.
Stay At Home Parents – Who are looking to supplement their household’s income.
Business Owners – Who want to learn how to rapidly launch most any idea in under 24 hrs.

New Small-Business Loans: Financial Help for a Few Lucky Shops

By Diana Ransom SmartMoney

According to the Small Business Administration, thousands of needy small-business owners are about to receive some debt relief — just in the nick of time. Beginning on June 15, the agency will begin doling out 10,000 deferred-payment loans of up to $35,000 to small businesses that are struggling to stay afloat.

Under the American Recovery Capital (ARC) program, small businesses (private, for-profit enterprises with up to 500 employees) that are at least two years old and can demonstrate an immediate financial hardship including a 20% decline in sales, revenues or working capital, may apply for loans directly with participating SBA-approved small-business lenders. Businesses must use the loans to pay off certain types of outstanding small-business debt, including credit-card debt, capital leases and notes payable to vendors.

While this quick injection of cash could help some small businesses stay afloat, it will only help a small fraction of the struggling businesses that are out there, says Mark Deo, chief executive of the SBA Network, a small-business consultancy in Torrance, Calif. In addition, it will be difficult for businesses to find lenders willing to dole out the loans (and take on the risk).

Here's a breakdown of the pros and cons of the SBA's new lending program:
Pros
Lack of fees: Unlike previous SBA loans, borrowers won't have to pay any fees. Lenders aren't allowed to charge ARC Loan recipients any fees or costs. (Though, they may charge for direct costs associated with securing and liquidating collateral if the borrower defaults.)

No interest: The SBA pays the loan's interest (Prime plus 2%) for the life of the loan and fully guarantees it.

Deferred payments: The disbursement period, which lasts up to six months, is followed by a 12-month deferral period in which borrowers aren't required to repay the ARC Loan principal. After the deferral period, the borrower makes payments on only the principal and can take up to five years to repay the loan.

Extra cash flow: By using the loan to pay off company debts, it frees up other funds that can be put toward business expenses, such as buying inventory or making payroll, says SBA Network's Deo. "They can pay off their credit-card debt and even free up some assets for reinvestment," he says.

If Bill and Lorraine Flegenheimer, co-owners of Flegenheimer International, an El Segundo, Calif., customs broker, are able to lasso an ARC Loan, they're planning on using the proceeds to pay down a $40,000 secured business loan and add a staff member. "Hiring an additional person would be a tremendous help," says Bill. "We can expand our service, which can help boost business."

Cons
Limited number of loans: There are, according to the SBA, roughly 30 million small businesses in the U.S. However, there are only 10,000 loans available under the ARC program — meaning that the program will only help a small fraction of small businesses get back on their feet, says Deo.

Lenders may refuse to participate: Even though the ARC loans are 100% guaranteed by the SBA, participating lenders will still be required to issue funds without receiving any of a loan's principal for a full year, says Deo. And since lenders aren't allowed to charge fees for these loans, they'll also take on the administrative costs, he says.

Another problem: Many lenders may not have the financial muscle to finance the loans, the demand for which is expected to be high. "We're having meetings all week to see if we have the capacity to participate in the program," says Marylee Gotch, a spokeswoman for KeyBank.

Strict eligibility requirements: Businesses are required to show that they were either profitable or maintained a positive cash flow in at least one of the past two years. A business also needs to demonstrate — via quarterly cash flow projections — its ability to meet current and future debt obligations, including future repayment of the ARC Loan.

Lou Hoffman, chief executive of the Hoffman Agency, a San Jose, Calif., public relations firm, would welcome the opportunity to reduce his business's debt burden. However, he doesn't believe his business will pass muster. "Banks won't make loans unless there's a recent track record of profitability." That, he adds, "rules out most small businesses (including us)."

Diana Ransom writes the "Starting Up" column and joined smSmallBiz in August 2007. Previously, she spent two years at The Wall Street Journal Sunday, where she wrote personal-finance articles and a column about young people starting out. Ransom has held internships in the New York bureau of the Christian Science Monitor, where she covered banking and politics, and the New York Daily News, where she tracked everything from marketing and personal-finance topics to the New York Stock Exchange and various corporate criminal proceedings. Before that, she spent a year at Fast Company magazine covering entrepreneurs, technology and marketing. Ransom has a master's degree in journalism and a certificate in business and economic reporting from New York University. She also holds a bachelor's degree in marketing from George Mason University.

Copyright 2009 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

SMALL BUSINESS WEEK: ‘Building a Community around your business'

This is the week that small is big.

National Small Business Week begins Monday May 18, and the New Iowa Entrepreneurs’ Coalition will note the occasion with a series of education and networking events throughout Central Iowa. The Coalition's theme for the week is "Building a Community around your business".

The week will kickoff with two featured events on Monday. The first is a 'Lunch N Learn' titled 'Building Business Intelligence and managing reputation through social media'. The event will begin at 11;30 am at the The Des Moines Social Cub—1408 Locust in the Western Gateway.

What are your customers saying about you online? This workshop teaches you and your team how to harness listening and monitoring technology (Google Reader, Technorati, Twitter Search, etc.) for the purpose of scanning conversations in blogs, social networks, user forums, message boards and online communities for mentions of your business, competitors and other relevant topics. You'll also learn how to effectively engage your online audience on their own turf with honest, human-to-human discourse, as well as how to deal with detractors.

This session is conducted by Nathan T. Wright and Hillary Brown of Lava Row, a Des Moines-based social media education, consulting and strategy firm.

Register through the New Iowa Entrepreneurs' Coalition web site or through a hot link from the New Iowa Group web page. Tickets are $25/person. You may want to arrive at 11:30 for conversation and casual networking. Bring your own lunch…

Small Business Week Events continues at 5:30 PM with a second featured event —'Personally Powerful Presentations: Two-Minute Make-Over Moments.'

Our featured presenter is James Sandin of Dynamications, LLC who will explain how to present yourself and your business with power in "making over" your prospect's impressions and interests in you and what you are offering. It's the two-minute commercial approach supersized.

This meeting will be held at the RDG Offices at 301 Grand Avenue in downtown Des Moines. Register through the New Iowa Entrepreneurs' Coalition web site or through a hot link from the New Iowa Group web page.

You can download a complete listing of the Coalition's Small Business Week events from the 'FILES' section in the New Iowa Entrepreneurs’ Coalition web site. Visit the Calendar page for mote networking and education events.

Update on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: Help for Small Businesses

On Monday, Sen. Tom Harkin and Gov. Chet Culver hosted a community event at the Dallas Center - Grimes High School that offered participants insights into the details (as they are known) of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act).

A panel for small businesses and workforce issues presented some very useful information and a few members of the The New Iowa Entrepreneurs’ Coalition were there to take notes. We were told that videocast of the event would be available but I have not found it yet.

Click on the title of the next section for a podcast from the SBA.

Here's a summary of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's programs specifically targeted to small businesses (as defined by the SBA) and the banks that lend to them.

We've all read about the bail outs for big banks and big businesses over the last several months. Now, the current administration has launched a series of programs specifically targeted to small businesses (as defined by the SBA) and the banks that lend to them.

The goal of the program, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, is to provide entrepreneurs and lenders some financial relief from the current economic crisis that will help encourage borrowing and lending to all small business, including start-ups. It also provides a new program to help businesses that are struggling to make payments on an existing loan.

This loan program, called the America's Recovery Capital (ARC) will soon offer deferred-payment loans of up to $35,000 backed 100 percent by SBA to viable small businesses that need help making payments on an existing, qualifying loan for up to six months. (Note: the existing loan does not have to be a SBA loan to qualify.) Repayment does not begin until 12 months after the loan is fully disbursed and will be for the principal amount only. (ARC loans cannot be made to cover payments on an existing loan that was guaranteed by SBA before February 17, 2009, the day the bill was signed into law.)

As of this writing, the final details on the ARC were still being worked out and the loans were not yet available. Check with your local bank or SBA Website to find out when these loans will be available.

The other part of the program involves up to $15 billion from the Treasury Department to unlock the secondary markets for small business loans. The secondary markets for 7(a) and first lien 504 securities has ground to a virtual halt over the last year. That, in turn, has made banks less willing to make the loans as they depend on these secondary markets to buy up their existing loans, thereby gaining liquidity for future lending. The government has now announced that the government will stand ready to purchase 7(a) and 504 first-lien securities. The goal is to encourage banks to make loans as they now have a ready buyer in the form of the Treasury Department committed to buy those loans from the bank once they are made.

In addition, to the above programs, the Act also includes temporary elimination of 7(a) and 504 loan fees. Fees for a 7(a) loan are based only on the guaranteed portion of the loan and depend on the size of the loan. Fees range from 2% to 3.75%. Fees for 504 loans generally run about 1.5% for the application fee. This, along with the fee to the mortgage lender, will be waived.

Also under "discussion" is the allowance for allowing some use of 504 funds restructuring of existing debt that was previously used to acquire fixed assets. Further guidance regarding this provision is expected to be released soon.

The SBA formally guaranteed participating banks 75-85% of their portion of 7a loan funds. They have now raised this guarantee to 90%, again in an attempt to decrease the risk to a participating bank and encourage lending to small businesses. This increased guarantee and loan fee waivers are good through the end of 2009 or until the designated funds for them are exhausted.

The Recovery Act includes other initiatives to help business owners with under $15 million in gross receipts, including targeted tax relief. If you experienced a loss in 2008, you can "carryback" this loss for up to the previous five years to receive a tax refund for taxes previously paid on your profits. Previous carrybacks were limited to two years. If, after applying this carryback to previous years you still have a net operating loss (nol), you can carry it forward for up to 20 years. This new extension applies only to businesses that have gross receipts of $15 million or less.

New extensions on depreciation rules allow you to accelerate depreciation taken on new assets purchased in 08 and 09.

Last year, lawmakers allowed businesses to recover the costs of capital expenditures made in 2008 faster than the ordinary depreciation schedule would allow by permitting these businesses to immediately write-off 50 percent of the cost of depreciable property, such as equipment, tractors, wind turbines, solar panels and computers acquired in 2008. Increase deductions mean less taxable profits to your business.

The new rules extend this 50 percent bonus depreciation allowed for property with a recovery period of 20 years or less for 2009. In addition, Code Section 179 which allows for accelerated depreciation for used or new assets, has been increased from $125K to $250K. Unlike Code Section 179, depreciation expensing that is available for new or used property, bonus depreciation is available only for new property or equipment.

Just remember, the more you increase depreciation for 09, the less you'll have available for future years. Contact your CPA or tax accountant about how these new provisions might allow you to decrease your taxable income for 09.

To find out more about these programs, visit the SBA website or the Des Moines Area SBA District Office to obtain a list of SBA-participating lenders in our area.

Our Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) are partially funded through the SBA. These offices offer free counseling and research to small businesses. They also are knowledgeable about other resources in your area and can connect you to other service provides and possible financing sources.

Finally, you will find a collection of other useful links by visiting the New Iowa Group web site and clicking on the 'Business Resources' hotlink.

In Good Times and Bad, Innovation Can’t Wait

Jonathan Ortmans, President, Public Forum Institute

Every day—while building roads, giving inoculations, sitting at computer screens—individuals are quietly thinking: “I know a better way to do this.” Or: “I could create something new that would make this easier for everyone.”
And then they go back to work, never transforming their thoughts into action. Why does this happen, and how can we unleash these hidden ideas?
Especially in times of crisis and uncertainty, innovation can be stifled by hesitancy to risk. People are tempted to hunker down in their cubicles until the storm passes. Yet that could be the most dangerous course.

As entrepreneurs know, timing matters in launching a new business, or improving an existing one. If you wait too long, your great idea may become irrelevant.

Yet many workers wait until a worst-case scenario—such as a layoff or corporate bankruptcy—leaves little choice but to finally take a risk. Anecdotes abound of people who say losing their jobs was “the best thing that ever happened to me” because they finally had the impetus to follow their dreams.

But that’s an impetus no one should wait for. Innovation is the engine that powers cultural development and economic growth—and when an idea sits stagnant, that engine stalls.
To get it moving again means fixing a number of paralyzing misperceptions. The Kauffman Foundation’s 2008 Economic Crisis Survey reports that seventy-one percent of Americans believe the economic crisis has made it more difficult to become an entrepreneur. While half of respondents saw a market for their ideas, only a quarter would consider starting a business within the next five years; even taking into account the economic crisis, this may be an excess of caution.

“The study shows a gulf between opportunities and those willing to seize them,” the survey reports. Ironically, in this same survey, the majority said they trusted entrepreneurial leadership to be the force for economic revitalization and survival.

To transform economic crisis into success requires more ordinary citizens seeing the world the way entrepreneurs do: perceiving the opportunity in the risk. In a World Bank study in China, for instance, entrepreneurs saw economic instability as far less of a problem than did non-entrepreneurs; the former were more worried about tax law.

Of course, great opportunity does not necessarily require huge risk. “American entrepreneurs work progressively; Russian entrepreneurs look for a breakthrough,” observed Sergey Borisov, president of a Russian public organization of entrepreneurs, during a Russian-American entrepreneurial forum. Regardless of nationality, countless entrepreneurs have found that relatively small risks and incremental progress can yield large results. Many successful entrepreneurs got where they are today by doing so; they innovated based on processes and science they are familiar with. I encourage you too read some of the profiles on our website of entrepreneurs who started during economic downturns.

Now more than ever, it is vital to support entrepreneurial innovators who are willing to take risks with the resources and connections to make it happen. Striking out on your own does not have to mean going it alone. Despite the stereotype of long hours spent working solo, entrepreneurs often find they network more, not less, as they create new businesses. Many form international alliances in which they can share strategies, get inspiration and learn smart ways to manage risk.

One of these new communities, http://www.unleashingideas.org/, connects entrepreneurs at all levels from around the world. It is being launched as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week, held annually the third week of November in more than 75 countries. A visit here or with other like-minded innovators is a way of making that first move out of the cubicle to turn a great idea into a reality.

And there is no better time than now – especially if you’re already employed. In its research study, “The Entrepreneur Next Door,” the Kauffman Foundation reported that people in the United States who already hold full- or part-time jobs are actually more likely to venture into entrepreneurship. Many find opportunities to work within their current position to make their ideas happen, transforming and strengthening their places of employment, as the Japanese corporate model has taught.

In uncertain times like these, we need to redefine notions of risk and opportunity, and we must embrace insecurity as a necessary pathway to a brighter future. After all, in today’s economic climate, a secure position is a relative term. Our global economy needs massive infusions of new ideas and entrepreneurs with the discipline to develop them. Innovators who are already employed and are willing to dare will be the ones who lead the way out of economic danger and toward greater prosperity for all of us.

In the words of Goethe, “The dangers of life are infinite; among them is safety.”

Untangling Your Comingling: How to Separate Personal from Business Finances

All business owners know that before their business opens they have expenses. You may have incurred expenses in researching your business, preparing your business plan, advanced rent, remodeling or decorating, furniture and equipment, inventory, advertising or marketing, etc. Since your business wasn't "officially" open many business owners just use their personal checking account and/or personal credit card to pay for these expenses. This seems natural and easy and the last thing a new business owner wants or needs is something more complicated.


As time goes by the business owner may have established a business checking account and perhaps even a business credit card, but the habit of using their personal checking account and credit card has already been established. The business owners don't think twice about depositing business income into their personal account or picking up some personal items when paying with a business credit card. This bad habit has its own name – it's called commingling.

The main problems with commingling are:

• Unless you are very well versed in accounting you undoubtedly have a much bigger mess than you think you do. It's not uncommon for me to see people who have expensed their personal car payments as "auto expense" even though the business doesn't own their car. Even more common is multi-level marketers who purchase and expenses their inventory on their company books, but use it personally.
• Your financial statements (income statement and balance sheet) are pretty much useless. If you're commingling then it's impossible to determine what your actual net profit or loss from your business is.
• If the IRS suspects that you've been commingling you become an ideal audit candidate. This is because the IRS knows how difficult it is to clean up the mess you've created; thus they know you most likely have not properly reported your income and expenses on your tax return. In addition, the IRS is also aware that the most common items which are commingled include personal use of autos, computers, phones, meals, etc.
• If you live in a state that has sales tax, you may end up on their audit list. Since you are allowed to buy products which you intend to resell without paying sales tax these states want to make sure that you sell every product that you didn't pay sales tax on. If you instead took the product home for personal use, you are required to pay the sales tax or you're in violation the law.
  

Obviously the best course of action is to never get into this mess in the first place. However, if it's too late for that, try these steps to help straighten things out:

• First, stop the commingling. Always have a business debit card and credit card with you. If you are at a store where you intend on purchasing both personal items and business items, separate them before you get to the check stand and have them ring up two separate invoices.
• Second, review all your business and personal receipts. Highlight all your business expenses on each receipt and total them.
• Third, review your accounting program against your highlighted receipts and correct any errors you may have made. If you've recorded a personal expense on your company books remove it. If you've forgotten to record a business expense on your company's books add it. If you're not sure if an expense is a business or personal expense ask yourself these questions:
  1) Is this expense necessary to generate income in my business?
  2) Is this an expense that other businesses in my industry would also have?
  

If your answers to the two questions above are "yes", then chances are it's a legitimate business expense.

• Fourth, review all your sales and trace them to your deposit slips. Make sure that any deposits which you entered into your personal account have been accounted for in your business. If you've deposited any personal money into your business make sure it has not been recorded as income, but rather a loan or capital, etc.

After sorting out this mess once you won't want to do it again, which is usually good enough incentive to start doing things right.

Co-Working Townhall Meeting at Impromptu Studios

Impromptu Studio is hosting a "Townhall" meeting Wednesday March 25th at 7pm.

The Townhall meeting is aimed at three types of people and part of the meeting will address each:

• Those who want to learn more about coworking and Impromptu Studio.


• Those who interested in finding out what big announcements, including upcoming events, and changes Impromptu Studio has in store for it’s community.


• Those who are interested in lending a helping hand to make Impromptu Studio better than they found it.

The Townhall is a meeting where you can bring your questions and suggestions about coworking or Impromptu Studio. This is an open invitation to shape the way Des Moines works!

For those that are curious about who you might see at the Townhall…. some of the speakers that will be either talking about coworking, Impromptu Studio, or making an announcement include:
Brian Anderson of CoLab in Ames
Member, Andy Brudtkuhl of 48Web
Scott Kubie of Market Street Media Foundry
Member, Doug Mitchell of CreateWowMedia
Nathan T. Wright of Lava Row

We hope to see you there! During the Townhall meeting we will also be collecting video testimonials in our green screen room.

For more information contact Abbie Shipton aeshipton@gmail.com
(515) 868 - 0060 - Located at 300 Southwest Fifth StreetSuite 220 - Des Moines, Iowa 50309

Big Ideas for Iowa - Part Two - Government

Restructure Government to Improve Efficiency
TERRY E. BRANSTAD, governor of Iowa from 1983 to 1999, is president of Des Moines University.

During the 1980s farm crisis, Iowa established a sister state with Hebei Province, China. In a 1984 visit, our delegation learned that the Chinese symbol for crisis and opportunity is one and the same.

In normal times, the size of government tends to expand in response to the demands of various interest groups and constituencies. Cutting budgets and reducing or eliminating programs and bureaucracies are not possible in good economic times. Those who work for or depend on government programs are always going to lobby for more employees and more spending.

In times of economic crisis, private businesses and individuals cut spending and eliminate unnecessary overhead. Private-sector jobs are cut.This economic crisis provides an opportunity to change the size and structure of all levels of government in Iowa, improving efficiency and delivery of services.

At the depth of the farm crisis in 1986, we passed a massive restructuring and downsizing of state government. At the time, 38 Iowa banks had closed, and the value of Iowa farms had decreased by 63 percent. The result of our action was a smaller, more efficient and accountable state government. We went from more than 80 state agencies to 25 and got more accountability by having all department heads appointed by the governor and confirmed by two-thirds of the Senate. It saved more than $60 million annually and established stronger spending and program oversight through the

Department of Management.

There has not been a restructuring of government since.It is long overdue.



Be Really Radical: Reduce the Size of Government
FRED GRANDY, a Sioux City native and an Iowa congressman from 1987 to 1995, is host of "The Grandy and Andy Morning Show," 630 WMAL, Washington, D.C.

I first asked the editor for clarification about implementing the bold moves of the Emanuel Doctrine: "Are we talking about Iowa or Iowans?"" Iowa," I was assured. Custodians of the public sector, the governor, the Legislature, the mayor of Humboldt. As opposed to private individuals, who when left unregulated and under-taxed, inevitably grow up to be Bernie Madoff or George W. Bush.

OK, I'll play by those rules. If government is the end, I respectfully propose:
Gov. Chet Culver should quietly mobilize the Iowa National Guard and other quasi-military units at his command and without provocation attack South Dakota. (I have nothing against South Dakota, but of all states bordering Iowa, these guys would clearly be easiest to beat.)

The purpose is not to achieve military victory but to provoke intervention by the federal government and the following sequence: stern warnings to rebellious leaders in Des Moines, protracted negotiations, a fragile cease-fire and major infusions of foreign aid to placate Iowa from going rogue again. This strategy has worked like a charm for North Korea, Iran and now the Palestinian Authority.

The other option is for public officials in Iowa to go in the opposite direction of the new administration and drastically cut taxes, deregulate business and industry, reduce the size of government and in so doing make Iowa an oasis for investment and growth amid a vast national desert of spending and debt. A kind of Obama-Free State. But some ideas are just too radical for serious consideration.

Build Consensus About How to Govern Better
ROBERT RAY was governor of Iowa from 1969 to 1983.

No governor or any citizen of Iowa wants a crisis to be the catalyst for doing "the right thing," but nothing brings more consensus on "the right thing" than the necessity of the moment.

Turf battles, partisanship and bureaucratic inertia are more easily left at the door when people sit down at the table to figure out new ways of doing things. Reorganizing, streamlining, whatever you call it, is done when the need is obvious.

During the energy crisis in the late '70s, a period of double-digit inflation, we saw the value of looking at state government structure to see how well it was meeting expectations. The Governor's Economy Committee found many ways to make government better. We mobilized support to make changes because the value of better government was more evident during a stressful time.

Government grows in good times and must reduce and reshape when things go the other way. Times change, bringing us better tools of governance, such as information technology.

The worrisome demographic changes forecast by the Iowa 2010 Council nearly a decade ago and today's national economic crisis of historic proportion are unfolding in front of us.
Iowans are a fair people, and the notion of shared sacrifice is respected, if not welcomed. When the economy turns upward, and it will, Iowa's demography and slow growth will remain our challenge.

Iowans should ask, "How can we be better?" It's a rare opportunity to build consensus on how we can better govern ourselves.

Big Ideas for Iowa - Part One - Business

Support Entrepreneurs; Recruit; Tell Iowa's Story
JACK EVANS, a former CEO of SCI Financial Group, is president of The Hall-Perrine Foundation, Cedar Rapids, and a member of the Iowa Board of Regents.

We in Iowa are fortunate. Common sense has kept our state finances in reasonable shape. Good judgment has kept our commercial banking industry healthy. Education and health care in Iowa are the envy of other states.

Iowans are also realistic. Although our unemployment rate is well below the national average, we know we're in a recession. What can we do?
- Insist our elected leaders create an environment conducive to entrepreneurial development. Finding the next Maytag, Collins or Deere is vital.
- Go out more. Attend local events, particularly at institutions of higher education. See that play, enjoy the ball game. Interaction with others is healthy and intellectually stimulating.
- Recruit. When visiting with out-of-state friends and family, tell Iowa's story. Describe our schools, and stress our quality of health care. Take notes; relay the information to local economic-development professionals.
- Volunteer. It's often said, "You make a living by what you get; you make a life by what you give." Make a life by volunteering.
- Walk. A healthy state is a better state. Walking gives you time to think, time to evaluate progress on your personal goals. Pick up litter along the way to keep Iowa beautiful.
- Take pride. Iowa has wonderful communities and world-class colleges and universities. Celebrate their successes and nurture their growth.

We in Iowa have a great story to tell. Let us all accept cheerfully our responsibilities. We Iowans are loyal and happy to help influence our destiny. Together, today's challenges will become tomorrow's opportunities.


Support Growth of the Private Sector
PAUL SCHICKLER is president of Pioneer Hi-Bred, Johnston, and DuPont vice president and general manager.

As Gov. Chet Culver and our state legislators face tough choices ahead to manage the state's budget through the recession, they must continue to do what has proven to drive growth over time - support private-sector investment and emphasize Iowa's strengths.

Current policies have encouraged Pioneer to increase its investment in Iowa by more than $100 million over the last five years. At a time when unemployment is reaching record levels, Pioneer has added more than 120 new employees in Iowa so far this year.

Now is the time to put policies in place that will stimulate business growth. Private investment, combined with a focus on our agricultural base, will carry us through this recession.

I'm Outta Here: How Coworking Is Making the Office Obsolete

Is the Office Obsolete?
Steve King

One indicator that a social or business trend is entering the mainstream is the publication of books on the topic. The release of the book I'm Outta Here: How Coworking Is Making the Office Obsolete is a clear signal that coworking is spreading.

Coworking office facilities combine the structure and social environment of corporate office space with the flexibility of working from home. They have desks to rent, conference rooms, Internet access, and office equipment. Most of the facilities rent space by the day, week, month, or year.

They appeal to freelancers, entrepreneurs, telecommuters, and other laptop nomads who are tired of working at home alone or in crowded and noisy coffee shops. And unlike traditional office suites, coworking facilities provide a community of like-minded people to collaborate and socialize with.

Written by coworking industry pioneers Drew Jones, Todd Sundsted, and Tony Bacigalupo, I ' m Outta Here covers the people, places, and trends that are creating this workplace revolution.

Not just for independent workers, the book also covers the growing trend of corporations reducing their office space and experimenting with telecommuting, hoteling, and other forms of remote work. This is leading to an increase in the number of

corporate employees using coworking facilities.

I'm Outta Here is quick and easy to read and useful for anyone freelancing, working from home, or telecommuting.

For more on coworking, including a list of coworking facilities, visit the

Coworking Community Blog.

Steve King is a partner at Emergent Research, where he leads a research project to identify, analyze, and forecast the global trends and shifts affecting small business. He blogs at http://www.smallbizlabs.com/.

If you are interested in co-working in Central Iowa - please take a moment to complete a brief survey about the assets, services and preferred locations for co-working offices in the Des Moines Metro. Just click on the 'New Iowa Group' logo and then click on the 'Survey Monkey' logo on the home page.

The Elevator Speech Is Just An Introduction: What To Do Next!

Have you ever given your elevator speech and gotten an excited and enthusiastic response of "I need that!"? Most of us misinterpret this reaction and mis-play our response. We take this as a buying signal and move forward in full selling mode. We don't take the time to discover what they mean, or what they need, or what exactly they are reacting to.

We believe we have a real prospect in front of us, and take that statement as authentic and true. In a sea of lukewarm or non-responsive reactions, this seems a definite "yes" to our offerings. Realize that the elevator speech is no more than an introduction, and that an animated reaction may or may not indicate genuine interest. Here are some ideas for reacting to such a response:

1) Don't go into automatic sales mode, describing features and benefits. That is as welcome at this point as trying to French kiss a stranger you've just met. Interest shown is simply that--interest--and an invitation for further dialog. It is a mistake to jump on this type of casual comment and confuse it with a desire to buy.

2) Appropriate response on your part would be curious inquiry as to their meaning, listening, and dialog with great care to focus on the other person. Your purpose in this conversation might be things like learning about the needs BEHIND their statement of need, getting to know them better, or understanding their business. Don't make the mistake of taking your focus off the business aspect of the business conversation. It's not about befriending at this point, though that can likely come later.

3) The critical thing to be aware of is that you need to listen more than you talk. If you are blabbering and blathering about yourself or what you will do for them, your monolog will soon cause the other person to start to squirm and edge away. You cannot learn anything about them or their needs or their business by talking. You cannot build rapport or connection by talking. If you are talking, talking, talking--you are losing a chance for business.

4) Develop the art of questioning from genuine curiosity. This is not nosiness, manipulativeness, salesmanship, or "needs analysis". This comes from a true interest in and genuine curiosity about your fellow humans. This is a result of an ego-less and arrogance-free acceptance of all beings as valuable and worthwhile. The more that you genuinely feel this, and authentically come from and behave as if this is your truth--the more magnetically attractive you become. We are all attracted to those who are sincerely interested in us. It cannot be faked!

5) In the course of this conversation, what might you aim to discover? Of course, you want to learn what their true need is and why they reacted so positively to your elevator speech. Were they expressing a real need or simply a momentary reaction to your statements? You may want to learn a few essentials about their business and perhaps its current condition.

Typically though, these sorts of inquiries are premature and should be handled in a gingerly fashion. Often, you can glean information through observation--"reading between the lines", body language, inferences, and reactions.

6) There is plenty of time to discover what you need to know. There is no rush and no hurry. Take it easy and gently discover what you need to know. Never pry or inquire prematurely. Observe the reactions to your questions and don't "cross the line". Conversely, keep your business purpose in mind as you dialog. Use your business purpose to guide you in the conversation.

7) Always, always, always aim to develop relationships. Take the time to care. Get to know the true person. Be a caring presence. Develop trust. Be thoughtful. Think of others. Be present to the interactions.

8) Pay attention to how you can be of service to those you meet. Can you send them referrals? Can you provide them information? Can you connect them with a provider? Do you know someone who could help them? Do you know someone they could help? Could you increase their business, social or spiritual connections?

It's important to understand and realize that the elevator speech is simply an introduction. Don't mistake it for a definite desire to buy. It is simply an expression of interest in response to your concise description of your business. React realistically to these responses and you will move your marketing game further along every time you get such a response to your elevator speech.

Suzi Elton is a success coach working with highly creative types to create income that matches their talent. She has coached hundreds of clients to approach their goals strategically through tiny steps to bring about quantum leaps.

Learn more about the author, Suzi Elton.

Community Activist Bob Mickle Dies

Our friend and neighbor Robert Mickle, a passionate and tireless voice for the people of Des Moines, passed away yesterday after a long battle with cancer. During his 43 years in Des Moines, Mickle, 84, was a strong community activist, first launching the Central Iowa Regional Planning Commission in 1968 and then serving in numerous city positions and volunteer roles.

He was planning director for the city of Des Moines from 1972 to 1982 and a private consultant on urban planning issues for the city and its suburbs until 1986. After "retiring" from city planning, Mickle continued to work as an avid volunteer. He most recently served as a board member of the Sherman Hill Neighborhood Association, president of Des Moines Neighbors and a planning consultant for the Iowa Council for International Understanding (ICIU) and the state in a joint cultural, government and small business exchange program between Des Moines and Cherkasy, Ukraine.

As the original director of the Neighborhood Investment Corp., Mickle helped develop and preserve the Sherman Hill and East Village districts. The Robert W. Mickle Neighborhood Resource Center in Sherman Hill was named in his honor.

According to an article on the Sherman Hill Association's Web site, in an acceptance speech after receiving the lifetime achievement award at ICIU's 30th anniversary dinner, Mickle said, "The most important lesson I've learned in life is that you must live up to your potential; always strive for excellence. And the second most important lesson is that you must give back and give generously."

Mickle grew up in Boone during the Great Depression and served in World War II as a Navy gunner. After the war, he moved his family to New York, where he owned a dairy farm and worked as a private planning consultant for 25 years before returning to Des Moines.
He is survived by his wife, Nelda, and numerous family members.

A funeral for family only will take place tomorrow in Boone. A community celebration will take place at the Mickle Center in Des Moines at a later date. A blog will be live later this afternoon for people to post comments and pictures; a link will be available at

www.dmneighbors.org.