Herd or Community?
When does a community become a herd, with a herd mentality? And how can leaders of a community prevent this from happening, without stifling the community? Photo by sean_hickinLast week, I attended my first Ignite Boulder event. The day after...
A Community of Suicidologists
I was struck by this blog post, "Reflections on the Family of Suicidologists" from fellow wisdom entrepreneur and friend, Sally Spencer-Thomas. After her brother, a successful business man, committed suicide several years ago, Sally took on as her life's work...
Academic Boundary Crossing
If I were twenty years younger, I would go back to school. I would return to my alma mater, Northwestern University, and enroll in the engineering school again (yes, again!), so I could learn about design and complex networks and...
Branding Lessons from BMW and Salvation Army
To attract kindred spirits to your community, it's important to know your brand. Earlier this year, BMW had a hefty poster-size insert in the Wall Street Journal, with photos of their cars and this text:We do not make cars.We are...
Finding Inspiration in New Places
Inspiration is most appreciated when you least expect it. Waking up this morning, after three days of travel for work, my mind was foggy and my body a bit sore. (Sitting on airplanes and lifting suitcases into overhead bins will...
The Impact of Good Intentions
Recently, a participant from a program that I delivered several years ago emailed me, saying how much she enjoyed my ezine. In the process of re-connecting, I asked her how she had fared in the recession as a small business...
Online Video, One Year Later
Over a year ago, I decided it was time to learn about online video, not as a consumer but as a creator, to understand how I could make use of this medium. I bought a Flip camcorder because of its...
Springtime in the Rockies
Tulips seem to be pretty hardy, even with a recent snowstorm that left a foot of wet snow......