Rarely is the easiest way to reach out to a potential new client the best way to reach out to a potential new client. Consider the email below:
From: [Sender Name Withheld]
To: [The full name and email addresses of 29 people]
Subject: Real Estate Needs
Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:07:53 -0400
Hello all,
Just wanted to touch base […]

As an entrepreneur, you do it all, you work long hours, you sweat the details. Clients come first. Also investors, employees, family. There’s no “me” in “entrepreneur.”
That means professional development often takes a sideline to business development. Investing in skills seems selfish - a waste of resources better spent building the business. […]

Microsoft has been an invaluable asset to Google in its effort to brand itself, “as Air.” There’s no doubt who the “Don’t Be Evil” mantra refers to. And it doesn’t hurt that Steve Ballmer looks a little like Dick Cheney.
In contrast, Google wants to be Air. Who doesn’t like Air? It’s […]

Clayton Stobbs, the facilitator of SWA2, invited me to join him in my old stomping ground of Research Triangle Park, NC for the next Startup Weekend event, July 11-13.
Clay liked the new format beta-tested by SWA2 poobah, Laura “mitten” Fisher: 97 participants pitched 34 ideas, formed 13 Teams and started 11 new companies. (Previous SW’s […]

Ed concocted a startup cafe crawl:

Get up early and hit Zola’s for funding - that’s where the VC’s and angels eat breakfast.
Head to SweetWaters to network for your BizDev talent.
Thence to Primo to recruit developers.
Lunch at Vinology, home to the marketing-types.

What, no beer? “Leopold’s closed.”
Undaunted, I headed to Fraser’s Pub - that other Wi-Fi-equipped […]

First off, it’s not about the Startup, it’s about the process.
Second, it’s not a Weekend, it’s a lifestyle.
Ann Arbor won StartupWeekend’s “primary election,” garnering the most signatures on its petition to host an event, besting little towns like San Diego, Minneapolis, and Columbus (whose own event comes in July), and further reinforcing Ann Arbor’s place […]

The Ann Arbor Drupal User’s Group “a2drupal” was formed last year to serve local open source content management system adherents - publishers and geeks, marketers and bloggers - providing a forum for f2f social networking, professional development, mashups, and beer.
a2drupal is only the umpteenth group to emerge from Ann Arbor’s heady IT ecosystem and join […]

Yesterday morning, leaders met in Ypsilanti to list local challenges and solutions.
Yesterday afternoon, one brave leader, Jim Hettinger of Battle Creek Unlimited, addressed the BC-Connected technology networking group on a similar topic, but a very different approach.
Jim introduced his comments by quoting All Along the Watchtower:
“No reason to get excited,”
the thief, he kindly spoke,
[…]

An SRO crowd at this evening’s Knights of the Marketing Roundtable program heard PR luminary Sam Fine and his panel dissect buzz-marketing strategies for small product, service and nonprofit organizations.  The Q&A went wide, participants peppering the panel with issues from TV and Web 2.0 to sucking up to journalists and bloggers.
Top story was Liz […]

Our economist-in-chief has a new (old) bogeyman on which to hang the economic ills of the country/world.  “It’s all congress’ fault.  I didn’t do it.  Really.”
Canada can only roll its eyes, and slowly shake its head at the inanity of the developing nation, “our neighbors to the south.” They’re now considering a border fence stretching […]