Why Are You Here?

We want to know!  State your intent, so we can better serve you!

Re: Why Are You Here?

JSDUIT used to be my license plate.  2007 is my year to move from reflection to action.  Such adrenalin laced with fear.  I will start Citizen Chefs this Spring.  Citizen Chefs will offer recipes for action submitted by front line organizations and citizens themselves - “taste a better world”.  Beginning as a nonprofit (going fiscal agent route) eventually adding revenue generating arm (for profit) to sustain.  I am currently creating database of more than 600 global and local organizations focusing on 12 categories (monthly programming).  My goal is to complete this database by April 30.  I just deleted my ramblings about May and June goals so as to stay closer to two week goal focus.

12 categories are: Aging, Animals, Arts & Culture, Children, Education, Environment, Health, Homeless, Human Rights, Peace, Poverty and Technology.

btw, I am an HR manager by day and moonlighting citizen chef :-)  Any other moonlighters out there?  I am here for the relationships - to learn from all of you who have traveled this road ahead of me or those of us traveling together and to leave bread crumbs for all those still yet to arrive.

Thank you Fred for creating this space…….Why are you here?

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Hello Sufolla,

What a great response!  I am very interested in your project. Please keep us updated.  I also moonlight currently.  I am a web developer by day ;)

Why am I here at Zaadz?  The big answer can be found in my weblog post “On Success” (http://fredbliss.zaadz.com/blog). 

The short answer is that I have always had the entrepreneurial fire within me, and over the last eight months, I have found myself developing my first winning idea along with a business partner (http://chefchris.zaadz.com) whom has jumped in and made progress possible in ways that wouldn't be possible without him. 

The Big Idea is not a public one as of yet, but I can tell you it involves craft breweries and the Internet. 

I first found Zaadz last week through Kelly Perdew's weblog here.   He was the winner of “The Apprentice” in the second season.  He is an engaging, inspirational figure, and when I saw that he took time out of his busy schedule to interact here, I thought this would be the right place to be to continue to further success and to meet wonderful, like-minded people.

So, here I am, embracing and running with this truly remarkable community.  I love it!

Fred

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Hello Momentum Group~

I am here to start! I have been successfully running a casting company in Los Angeles and have been moving into creating documentaries and educational films. I have completed two. One has distribution and one is still in my control for licensing and distribution. It’s called Organic Gardening made easy. I have a trailer of it on my main page here.

Just now it is going through the marketing process. I have it in one Target store and one sample out to 12 countries. It’s a start. I took it to the Whole Foods convention–bought a booth with balloons and sold my first 200. I am getting a feel for my publics. Vegans love it as it shows all organic from soil on up to the harvest. This has been a great learning curve from concept to reality.

I love helping actors/artist launch their careers and do that on the side. I wrote a book on it called “Business of the Business” and have a cd called “The Actor’s Tool Kit”. I have lectured for about 10 years around the U.S. helping artists.

I am here to help in a good way. Having a team to play with helps and i want to contribute to that motion.

To all of your success!
Kathy

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Hi Kathy

Wow, what a great intro!  Thank you for sharing here.  It's going to take people like you to make it a great pod.  Obviously, you have definite skill in getting things done, and we will all benefit from your insight and wisdom, I'm sure.  Thank you again!

Fred

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Hello all.
I am here becasue I am trying to open a Spirtual retreat and education center and a Ministry(i don't like to term “church”) focused on teaching empowerment, accountability, sustainability and self awareness.
I also want to write a book…which is really already written, but where to go from here.

My challenge is- what status should it have as a not for profit or profit.
Being a rebel or sorts, I have an issue (personally) with authority and being told what to do (as my Mother will attest) 
If it is a not for profit, I feel that the “man” (lol) would have alot of control over many aspects of the business, and being that it is spiritual work, I have an issue with  more taxation which would limit the philanthropic work and solicitation for donations that  the work would need…

So…..HELP…..
I called a non profit attorney and talked for 10 minutes, he ssent me a bill for 280.00 and Istill have no answers…lol

I am a Pisces..details are not my strong suit, and this is the part I did not like about  my business the first time…. I would very much appreciate the insight of entrepreneurs such as yourselves…maybe a Capricorn or Virgo(just kidding!)
Thanks in advance,
Marianne

Re: Why Are You Here?

Hi Marianne

Well, regarding your business venture, I guess which way you go depends on your state and related tax breaks or incentives.  I would imagine that you would greatly benefit from going to your local Community Development Center or the SBA (Small Business Alliance) to speak with them.  If you are going to go to the SBA, it would be better to have a business plan in-hand, as they will do more to connect you to the right resources that way.  The SBA has a free former company executives consulting connection, where you can speak with some great people who really know the inside and out of running a business.  I will be visiting the SBA when my business plan is complete.

Of course, if you look hard enough around here, you may find some former executives waiting to help you out.  Isn't this at least part of the goal of Zaadz? 

I think if you can be resourceful, and you can really REALLY commit to doing this, with a business plan, then you will really see things start to take off.

Believe me, I know intimitely how challenging the beginning is.  I am a Libra, in fact, I share John Lennon's birthday (October 9th), and I have always been the one that leans towards the visionary approach to business ideas - “Wouldn't this be great? I know that we could do this?” But actually getting there requires more than vision!  Now, before you read the lower section, please know that you are getting just my personal perceptions. I do not attempt to be a mentor or expert, just a person who has a clear idea of how this all works for himself.

I hope others will add or offer their point of views, and you can extract something that helps.  While I have not finished my business plan yet, and I have never run a business, I do consider myself successful in many ways.  I took the first step, I am jumping the hurdles, I am committed.

Let me offer you a very powerful concept.

Perception Is Reality

So, what is reality is mostly comprised of your perceptions.  If you can alter your perception of this part of the business from being something you do not like to being something that is exciting, fun to work on, growing, moving forward, progressing every time you touch it (and liberally scatter terms around like that in your mind) you will find that it will be much easier to get through this portion of the process. Of course, make sure that you do something, anything while you are reinforcing your positive perception!

The rewards will be great, but for great rewards, you must reach higher than ever before.  Make it your habit to do something, anything, no matter how small related to you business every day.  It will become second nature, part of your routine.  Write one paragraph for your business plan.  Read an article on other spiritual retreats, or any sort of similar business.  Admire the success of other retreats, acknowledge the bar they have set, and set yours a little higher.

So, here you can see that I've focused some of my energy and the result is that I have made great, steady progress.  If you can bring yourself to perceive such an exciting opportunity this way, you will be off and running, and when you come to a hurdle, you will jump over it and keep running.

This is what the Momentum Group is all about!  Great post, and I hope that you find this post energizing and useful.

Fred

Re: Why Are You Here?

Fred!
Thank you for the wonderful insight..
Did I mention I have an issue with the “Man”
In my first venture I tried to go thru the SBA which is also spelled MAN…

I'm looking for info from people who have had this worked out. The SBA is not for me, went there for 3 years before I opened my last business..I was very discouraged and they they picked it apart..I opened, without borrowing money 1 year later…I am not impressed by government agency “help”
I don''t believe that you need to start a business with indenture to the federal government, who will be up your butt from now till doomsday becasue they “loaned you money”.. Most people don't meet the criteria to get a loan from them.They will micromanage you forever more.

The SBA is the long way to the goal, for me anyway..
Marianne

Re: Why Are You Here?

Hi Marianne

Sorry to hear about your experience with the SBA.  It's great that you opened your business - congratulations on that!  I hope that you can find someone through Zaadz who is interested in talking with you, please continue to do what you are doing, you will make this work!

Re: Why Are You Here?

Fred,
Thanks for creating this platform for growth…
Growth is painful for everyone, having  a sounding board such as this gets the fear, limitations and blocks out in the open so we can collectively all persue our dream…

If I could express my biggest block in this journey it would be details….I am a visionary, but the detail hangs me up every time…lol

You are a detail guy, so we bring a balance to this arena…as do all of the other members…
Thanks for the support!
Marianne

Re: Why Are You Here?

Marianne,

I had a problem of balancing details.  An exercise that helped is to get a journal or notebook just for the new business.  Have a separate calendar to make appointments that is like a Dayrunner to keep names and #'s, e-mails of new clients and friends.

At the beginning of the journal, write down the key words of your business like the name of the company, the various jobs the need done and job titles, materials used to run the business, brochures, surveys of your clients needs, production levels, certifications, awards, public relations, new public, press releases, photos to take to show what you do, charities you support, books you recommend, just everything in your mind - in the beginning write it down and keep making your list til you've emptyed the thoughts of any detail.

Have a good high school dictionary…lots of simple answers are there on running a business and if you feel overwhelmed or blanked out, look up some of the words that go with this business and use them in sentences of your own.  A burst of joy will soon arrive.  Who know how many words.  (I had to do about 200 before I felt less scattered and “blonde”.

Hope this helps.  You can e mail me anytime.
Kathy

Re: Why Are You Here?

Hi Marianne,

If you have questions with details or anything else I would be glad to help. 

When I began my business 18 years ago the SBA could only help me with the simple basics.  I found most of my mentors in my industry initially.  Have you talked with people doing businesses similar to yours?

Re: Why Are You Here?

Momentum is great and I found it important to my creative flow when building my former business.  Small actions weave together and build a larger whole than can often be imagined.

Since about January my wife and I been producing conscious media in the form of podcasts on the three different sites.  The primary podcast / site is Earth Harmony Home.  In Horse Harmony and Sustainable Consciousness are the other 2 podcasts.  It has been a lot of fun and we have an abundance of interviews.

We are going to be adding our own videos in the near future.  I'm beginning production on a series of vegan cooking videos and we have a couple more ideas in development.

I've been considering how I could combine “the shows”  into one larger network.  I'm using Wordpress and would like to stick with it if it can be customized enough.  If not I will need to shift to a different CMS.  My thought is to turn Earth Harmony Home into more of a multimedia magazine style site so I can better separate the various topics and keep it all integrated.  I would appreciate any feedback.


The podcasts are growing and I feel like we have a good beginning.  I have been planning how to build momentum more quickly for these podcasts / sites.  I am committed to developing this adventure over the long term.   I would appreciate feedback on the sites and ideas about marketing and PR.

Enjoying the Momentum!

Mark

Re: Why Are You Here?

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Hi Kathy,

Which pod are you redesigning?  I'd love to check it out.  Also, what is a “molly screw”? 

Thanks for the thoughts.  I think that like the committment board, we also need a Weekly momentum board.  What do you think?

Fred

Re: Why Are You Here?

A molly screw is a type of wall anchor :)

Kathy, you've certainly peaked my interest!