Building Possibility
What Rural People Say They Need: The Survey of Rural Challenges
We all know what rural towns need, right? They need jobs, and to recruit some manufacturing and they have a huge poverty problem. Right? Well, no. At least that’s not what rural people told us. Becky McCray, my partner at www.saveyour.town, ran a survey of subscribers and visitors on SmallBizSurvival.com. Over 200 people who identified themselves as…
Read MoreYou’re the Expert
I flew back to Iowa on Saturday. Seated next to me was a gentleman from Korea and he asked me what I did for a living. I told him I was an Executive Director for a local Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Jeong asked me what was a Chamber of Commerce. I explained I had the pleasure of…
Read MoreThree Words: 2016
Usually I have this post written in November. Much has happened this year for me – most of it personally. Thinking about how three words can direct the course and intention of my life in this year has not been at the top of my thinking list. Yet.. yet, those three words and the idea…
Read MoreBlab – Tour of Empty Buildings
Blab.im is a new place to have conversations online with up to 4 people who can see each other. The listening audience can ask questions via a text option. It’s pretty smooth running and meets a lot of needs. Becky McCray and I ran a blab last night to answer questions submitted to us about…
Read MoreWeed Whackers and Windex
Ninjas Needed I visited Roscommon County, Michigan and toured a few empty buildings. On one corner, a major intersection into town, there was an empty building on each corner. We talked about building possibility, working with the county and the town and hosting a tour. Next to one of the buildings that needed to be…
Read MoreChristmas is the PERFECT Time to Shop Where You Live
If you’re a small business, you’re neck deep in Christmas. It’s only 23 days until Christmas. We all know how fast time goes, and even faster as you get older. Do you buy gifts for your employees? Many do. Many give out cash. Why not purchase Chamber bucks instead of giving out cash? Ours can…
Read MoreEight Thinks to Do on Small Business Saturday
Buy new furniture. Locally. Go visit your local furniture store and be surprised. The value, the customer service and the attention to detail will simply blow you away. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at what is now available in the better lines of furniture and how affordable the pieces are. Don’t big box it…
Read MoreWhat is Showrooming?
You see something on tv, or online. You go to your local store to actually look at the item. Then you go online, often on your phone while you’re in the store, to find it somewhere else cheaper. That is showrooming. We live in a small town. Small towns need local jobs, sales tax revenue,…
Read MoreTEDx Brookings – My Presentation
October 1 I presented at Brookings, SD on the Tour of Empty Buildings. it was an honor and a pleasure. Enjoy the video!
Read MoreKindness Matters – Take an Hour
Kindness really matters. Often it’s the real difference in relationships. My misfit friends are hosting 24 hours of speakers in an online free conference called GenKind24. Take a look at this speaker lineup! I’m asking you to take an hour out of your day to listen to one of these phenomenal speakers – and to…
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