Archive for August, 2006

A Dark Spot on The Map

Aug 22 2006
A Dark Spot on The Map

Some of you may think I’ve stopped showing for work (after all, I haven’t blogged since the 12th of this month, and before that I took what amounted to an eight-day ‘blogging hiatus’). To satisfy anyone’s curiosity, I haven’t [stopped coming to work, that is], but if I ever did, it would probably be because I found a dark spot on the map and I’m staying put!

Click here or above for a birds-eye view.

For now, after having recently spent five hours on a plane flying back to Utah from Boston, I’d choose a dark spot close to home, like further west here in the Beehive State or somewhere up in Montana. How about you… where is your dark spot

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‘Kidpreneurs’ Gain Respect, in The Netherlands!

Aug 12 2006

Why are the Dutch always beating everyone else to the punch, especially Americans? Springwise reports that Dutch Postbank recently started a campaign aimed at budding entrepreneurs.

Kids who open one of Postbank’s “Easy Blue” accounts qualify to receive a briefcase containing materials for printing their own t-shirts (aka bizznizz attire), stickers, letterhead, flyers, and business cards. To get started, the young businessperson logs on to bizznizz.postbank.nl and decides what type of business he or she would like to run. Postbank suggests washing cars, walking dogs, household chores and mowing lawns, as well as an intriguing ‘entertainment’ category.

Then it’s time to pick a name, create a logo using an online design wizard, print promotional material and start advertising: throwing flyers through



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Drinking ‘the Kool-Aid’ versus Lemonade

Aug 4 2006
Drinking ‘the Kool-Aid’ versus Lemonade

I don’t know what it is about me and kids and their lemonade stands, but I stopped by another one yesterday afternoon; this time while on my way out of town to speak at Utah Business Week.

How long have you guys been out here?” I asked. “Since this morning,” one of the older kids replied, ” adding, rather dejectedly, “and you’re our first customer“.

It didn’t occur to me until I drove off that I could do something to help their business (aside from paying a quarter for my own cup of their delicious lemonade). The traditional lemonade stand business model is this… set up shop and wait for people to come to you.

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connect Magazine Profile

Aug 2 2006
connect Magazine Profile

Back in the middle of July, I was honored to be included among four Utah entrepreneurs profiled by connect Magazine, a Salt Lake City-based publication that provides an inside look at Utah and Idaho’s regional economic landscape and the people driving its development.

From the intro to the article:

It’s that time of year again for connect to profile four of the more promising young entrepreneurs in Utah. People have great ideas all the time about new products or businesses, but few actually turn those ideas into something tangible. These four young entrepreneurs, nominated by you our readers, not only had great ideas to fill a need, but also had the tenacity and courage to turn those ideas into innovative products



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