Fridays At Five

We are at Lucky Noodle this week and I am really looking forward to it. Nothing like blowing off a little steam at the end of the week with fabulous, hard working, dedicated business folk. I especially love that we are coming together to help each other - it's the most positive experience in my week. I really hope this group thrives and we can starting sharing our successes! Large or Small!
On a side note, I am encouraging everyone to pop over to 5th street at some point before going home on Friday - They are lighting the trees and our dear friends and amazing super women at NextStep Recycling are launching The Kith n' Kin Project with their very own decorated tree! We must support them. Kith n' Kin is all about recycling and refurbishing your old unwanted technology and redistributing to children in our community (AKA "Kith") who would otherwise not have access to this critical medium. Research has shown that kids who have access to technology are WAY more successful than those who don't. Our kids are our future (I know, I know - so cliche - but ain't it true?!).....
See you Friday!

Lorraine Kerwood

There are so many times where I am moved to tears....sometimes it's a bit embarrassing - for instance, I have been known to cry at Safeway openings (new jobs and fresh produce has that affect). The truth is, I'm an emotionally connected woman - emotionally connected to my work, my love, my family, my clients, my friends and occasionally a reality show or two. I can't help it...It's just who I am. However there are also truly fabulous moments that not only move me to tears but stick with me forever. I believe I experienced one of those today when Lorraine Kerwood was awarded the Woman Business Leader of the Year Award. The nominees and finalists were amazing - truly women I look up to. But Lorraine is one of those individuals who is so focused on others and on her mission that during her acceptance speech she actually used that platform to recruit from a room of 158 business owners - She asked us to create a mentoring program. You had to be there. Fabulous.
Congratulations, Lorraine. Well deserved. Well done.
Please go to Youtube and search nextStep recycling and watch Lorraine's story as documented by the Vovlo Hero award.

Fridays At Five

This weeks event is at The Loft - the absolute coolest new Piano Bar in Eugene. Owned by Kate Boney (yes, the very same restaurateur extraordinaire who owns Turtles, home of the best house salad in America!).
Don't miss out on the most fun, laid back and effective networking group in the Eugene/Springfield Area. We are businesses supporting each other...every week we ask how we can help our host as well as the lucky businesses whose cards gets drawn in the drawing. We can' t help you if your card isn't in the bucket!
Check back here every Monday for a full report on who was there, what they said and what happened.

Warren Buffet's 3 I's

As fallout from the current economic crisis continues to mount, thoughtful people are beginning to ask what we can learn from this experience. In a post at Harvard Business Online, Bill Taylor highlights a Warren Buffett interview on Charlie Rose in which the billionaire investor responds to the question "Should wise people have known better?" in the affirmative, with the note that there's a natural progression when things go wrong:

• Innovation
• Imitation
• Idiocy

An innovator spots an untapped opportunity; the imitator attempts to capitalize on its merit; finally, explains Taylor, the idiot goes and apes the imitator, and with avarice "undoes the very innovations [he is] trying to use to get rich."

According to Taylor, avoiding this cycle means developing the ability to distinguish between "genuine innovation" and "mindless imitation." In other words, he asks, "Are you prepared to walk away from ideas that promise to make money [when] they make no sense?" Taylor, like Buffett, concedes this is easier said than done when you see competition heading in a particular direction and fear you'll never catch up if you don't join the charge. It takes discipline, notes Taylor, to remain conscious of the difference—taking advantage of innovation without getting caught up in the idiocy.

The Po!nt: "[D]on't use the financial crisis as an excuse to stop taking chances or downsize your ambitions," says Taylor. "But do use the crisis as an opportunity to take stock of what really matters—and to stop looking over your shoulder."