I personally like the term. It definitely conjures up feelings of hope, unyielding optimism, and a “nothing can stop us now” attitude. It’s usually inspiring to engage people in this startup phase of business or organizational development. Most startups carry a contagious zeal for their work and its potential to impact many. Exciting indeed.

It’s no wonder that so many are jumping into the startup world. I’m all for it because I completely believe that the world needs new ideas and solutions for some of our most pressing needs.

In light of this growing trend of startups, I’d like to offer a word of caution and some words of advice (in hopes that more will succeed)…

• It’s incredibly difficult to sustain and scale a new venture. Once the hype around a concept subsides, we have to do real business (i.e., real work). I think this is where a lot of visionaries get stuck. If you’re in this place, be careful with your next move. While it’s important to build a strong team around your weaknesses, you must never forget that you still need to know enough to intelligently engage the various areas you hope to delegate or hire around. This must be an active form or engagement and not just a “farming out” of specialties. Keep learning.
• Develop a strong network of people to surround your work. Whether it is financial or human capital, you’re going to need the honest input and help from others. These individuals have to be more than cheerleaders of your work or casual supporters of the idea. Do you have people who will literally invest in what you’re doing if you needed them to? Plans rarely work out exactly as you plan. Sometimes things turn out better than expected, but in some cases, they don’t. If you’re an optimist (and you probably are), develop a habit of thinking through multiple scenarios of outcome. Is there a plan B or C or D? I’m definitely not saying that you should set yourself up for disappointment or have excuses ready in case things don’t work out. Rather, be realistic with some “what if it doesn’t pan out as planned” scenarios to make sure your work continues. The issue here is not about the success or failure of a project. It’s really about long-term existence of your work.
• Do your homework. Resist the urge to settle for “I hope it works out.” Although we can’t predict the future, we can be somewhat prepared. There’s a huge difference between startups that understand current trends and strategies in the market versus those who are banking on their passion. The former will be more resilient through difficult times. I know it’s common sense, but you will be surprised at how many don’t use it.
• Make it better. Never settle for an idea. We must tenaciously be committed to making our work and concepts better. Yes, Kaizen! What you start (or even launch) with is never the goal. After launch, make it even better. Edit what you don’t need and add what you do to strengthen your core competency. Work towards clarity and create a culture of unending improvement. You’ll thank me later.

If you feel that your idea is worth implementing, get ready for a huge gut-check. Good ideas that want to be great must through the reality of what it takes to be a successful startup. Still want this? Get ready to roll up your sleeves and kiss mediocrity and verbal passion good bye.

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

One of the new features we have this year is our Pre-Conference Intensives on Monday May 7th.

We are hosting these intensives for those interested in adding an extra day to their conference experience. These 6 hour intensives are designed to be interactive and will be facilitated by thought leaders and practitioners specializing in the following areas of focus:

(1) The Art of Collaboration and Finding Unexpected Partnerships (with Groupon & Friends)

In this intensive, numerous thought leaders from socially minded companies and organizations in Chicago will present their insights and stories on effective collaboration. Attendees will learn about the business models, the latest technologies, how collaboration is being used and how to give discarded products a new life. In addition, learn about profit models for social change and how leaders are selling impact to benefit to the community and their bottom line. You may download the agenda for this intensive by clicking on the following pdf link: Collaboration Intensive PDF

(2) Leveraging Social Media for Social Good (with Claire Diaz Ortiz of Twitter, Paull Young of charity: water, and Mark Horvath of InvisiblePeople.tv – Sponsored by the W Hotels of Chicago)

There’s no doubt that social media is becoming an integral platform for communication, community building, and marketing. Come spend a day with some of the leading thinkers in the area of social media and good as they share their insights and strategies on platforms and developing digital campaigns.

(3) The Courtship of Fundraising: The Core Functionality & Importance of Relationships in Raising Funds (with Keith Kall of World Vision)

This lab is designed for anyone, experienced or not, who is interested in strengthening their ability to raise financial support for non-profit organizations or causes. This learning lab will cover the total value chain of relational fundraising from prospecting to closing and all the challenges and opportunities in between.  The session will focus on best practices derived from professional experience on how to raise support and build partnerships from major Individual donors to corporate and foundation donors. The goal of the lab is by the end of the day to provide the participants with some new real-world, nuts and bolts, operational skills that will translate into improved fundraising performance. This lab will be an interactive session, so please be prepared to share your experiences, thoughts, questions and expertise.

(4) Idea-Making for Social Entrepreneurs & Startups (with Brent Freeman of Roozt.com & Charles Lee of Ideation)

We all have ideas—things we want to do or create—but only some of us will do what it takes to see those ideas come to pass. In this intensive, participants will discover some of the essential values and principles that guide successful idea-makers, including the leveraging of mixed environments for creativity, working through resistance and setbacks, developing a practical plan for implementation that works, funding ventures, navigating collaborative opportunities, and communicating your idea to make it truly remarkable. You’ll walk away with tangible next steps for making your ideas come to life.

There’s still time to register for these intensives as well as the conference! If you’re anywhere near Chicago, don’t miss out on this opportunity to connect, share, and learn with others who desire to create good for our world.

Hope to see you soon!

Created by: Online MBA Programs

As an update, here are 2 recent interviews and a guest post I did around the book this past week:

• Audio Interview with Bill Ringle, Host of “My Quest for the Best”.
• Blog Interview with Dan Portnoy of Portnoy Media Group.
• Post about Execution on “Three Thoughts On” Blog.

If you have any thoughts about the book, I’d love to hear from you!

Also, be sure to like the book page on Facebook. There’s a new discussion page for readers on there as well.

Jesus continues to be my greatest source of inspiration for living life the way I do. There was a time when my faith made no practical sense in the real world. Ironically, I think my experience in childhood of institutional Christianity blinded me from seeing the life that Jesus modeled; a life filled with compassion and commitment to justice.

It wasn’t until college that I began to read more intently the thoughts of my heroes like Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King, Jr., and a handful of others that I realized that Jesus’ life had shaped their worldview and practice of human care.

Over the years, I’ve explored the life of Jesus and here’s what I’ve learned about his approach to loving humanity:

• Love does not discriminate nor require prerequisites.
• Jesus gravitated to the margins of society and spent significant time with those who were considered the fringe of culture. He did not center his attention on the most powerful, popular, or polished. Jesus did not place a standard on the kinds of people he would love and care for. In fact, if he did have bias, it was towards those who were ignored, discarded, or undervalued. How bias or selective is your love?
• Care is not just talk. It must be tangible.
• Talk was cheap to Jesus. He did not spend his time talking about how compassionate he was. Jesus embodied love this world in a way that always considered the physical and spiritual needs of people. While it may be nice to tell others about our hearts for compassion via social platforms like Twitter or Facebook, it’s ultimately our actions that provide care for people.
• What can you do today to bring tangible care to a fellow human being?
• Compassion calls us to slow down, stop, and make time for people.
• No matter how busy Jesus was in his life, he always took time to stop in order to care for people. This is powerful. In a day and age in which busyness consumes us, we must never forget that we have to stop (or at least slow down) to take care of others. Who will you stop for today?
• Love by nature is sacrificial and c0-suffering.
• Jesus gave his life so that many others could find hope in life. He said that true love and friendship is embodied in laying down one’s life for another. In addition, he described compassion as an act of “suffering with” others. In other words, caring for others deeply requires us to live along side with them by bearing some of their pain and agony. I think this kind of co-suffering stirs the kind of creativity we need to better care for people. Pain has a way of inspiring much needed action. Who do you suffer with and how will you live sacrificially to bring relief?
• Care must be transparent and honest.
• Jesus was transparent and honest in the way he dealt with people. This kind of straightforwardness was not rooted in an argumentative spirit or a distaste for people. He deeply cared about truth no matter how offensive it may have come across, especially with those that didn’t understand his heart. Jesus’ goal was not to win an argument. His focus was on bringing something that would be most beneficial to those he encountered. When will you communicate what’s really on your heart to the one you love (even if it is uncomfortable)?
• Compassion must seek justice for lasting impact.
• Jesus knew that compassion that does not lead to a whole new life was only bandaging a wound. He spoke up regularly for those who didn’t have the stature to be heard. Jesus regularly recognized that many of the systems that man had created lacked care for those who most needed it. Compassion must lead to systemic change and the other way around. Does your compassion lead to lasting change? How committed are you to justice?

Regardless of where you stand in your own faith and spirituality, I think these are principles that would truly make our world a much better place.

Good Friday.

It introduced Invisible Children to a new world of supporters as well as invited critics to arise to the surface (a common outcome of fame).

There have been tons of questions, critiques and attacks on their model, methods and proposed solution to this horrible problem. In response, Invisible Children made the following 20 minute film to show three things:

• Details on the creation and purpose of the campaign.
• The progress that has already been made. (Two Resolutions have been dropped in Congress, African Union announced huge new commitment against the LRA, etc)
• What people can do right now to help, including their April 20th event details.

Look forward to hearing your thoughts on this.

It’s been thoroughly inspiring and encouraging to hear stories of people working through the book to help their ideas come to life! There’s no doubt that a growing number of people are choosing to move forward with their passions.

In order to help these conversations move forward, several have asked me to set up a Facebook discussion page for the various sections of the book. I thought this was a great idea so I set up a page this morning

I look forward to engaging your thoughts about the book in the weeks to come. If you haven’t begun reading yet, no problem! I’ll be introducing topics for each section at the beginning of each week starting today. The good news is that you can join the conversations whenever you like. I plan to be engaging people on the discussion page for months to come.

I’d love to see you on our Facebook discussion page!

There are no blueprints or formulas or guarantees.

It ebbs and flows as it wishes both with pain and pleasure.

Life can ignite hope one moment and then turn around to punch you in the gut.

It continues to move forward whether or not we’re ready.

It’s as if life has a life of its own. Funny. A sobering truth indeed.

For some, this reality has led to despair.

For others, it’s become a challenge to overcome or “win”.

Unfortunately, for many, it’s not even on their radar.

Life is life and that’s it, right?

After all, who even has time to consider such things?

Well, the consequences of not thinking about these things can be detrimental (if not fatal).

Framing the twists and turns we face in life can help us endure and even flourish.

Lean on wisdom whenever you can find her.

She lives between the two extremes of (1) Giving up on life and (2) attempting to control “everything” in life.

There’s hope in between.

When life throws you a curveball, breathe, step back, reflect, refocus, and decide to reengage the difficult.

A fellow sojourner trying to discern what really matters…

Well, I have. Many of those products now sit in my closet and I have categorized them mentally as “donations”. Over the years, I’ve gravitated towards companies that make products for good and still keep the quality that I’m looking for when possible.

This is why I’m so happy that my good friend Brent Freeman and the team at Roozt.com are officially launching their new online platform today that allows purchasers to access great products while doing good! Roozt transparently calls it “Bringing Sexy Back to Giving Back”.  The idea is that purchasing for personal benefit (or style) while supporting the efforts of companies that focus on social good should not be a contradiction. Roozt.com offers top quality products of some of the leading companies in this space. Here’s what their newsletter today stated:

Featuring the world’s sexiest cause-related brands and products all under one roof, the new Roozt lets you Discover, Shop, and Share the hottest and most inspiring companies at the click of a button.

Roozt saves you time and money by letting you browse multiple brand’s products and deal catalogues in one streamline shopping experience.

Earn points for discovering new brands, making purchases, and sharing with your friends. The more points you earn, the better the prizes and discounts you unlock.

Here’s an interesting infographic that outlines some of the shifts in consumer thinking in recent years. I think Roozt is smart in its approach to the way consumer behavior, especially as it relates to good, is evolving.

Check out Roozt.com today. I think many of you will like it!.