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Archives for May 2010

The Rise of the New Church

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Although I am a humanist I have been impressed by the courage and commitment shown by many of the new churches in Leeds as they take on disused warehouses, old factories and other low cost previously commercial space to set up large evangelical churches often with broad and future thinking social missions.

This does not mean that I think they are ‘good thing’.  I love the way they help to build social capital.  And I love the way they engage people in thinking about the future and hope.  I also love some of the very practical projects that they run to make our communities better places to live.

It is just the religion that worries me.  And the ‘business model’ that implies a double bottom line measured in cash and souls.

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/11501569]

Real Change, Grass Roots, Bottom Up….

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“I learned as a community organiser in Chicago, real change comes from the bottom up, the grass roots, starting with the dreams and passions of individuals serving their communities.” – Barack Obama – Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship 2010

We know this as community development practitioners.

Our funders know it too.

So why do we still so often corrupt the community development process in order to impose the strategic objectives of our planners and policy makers on the grass roots?  Just to pay the mortgage?

In the second city of the Empire
Mother Glasgow watches all her weans
Trying hard to feed her little starlings
Unconsciously she clips their little wings

Are we still clipping wings….?

Entrepreneurship – Obama’s Foreign Policy?

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These quotes of Barack Obama are taken from the recent Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship:

Why Entrepreneurship?

“A sustained effort to listen to each other, to learn from each other, to respect for one another”… “By listening to each other we have been able to partner with each other, we have expanded educational exchanges, because knowledge is the currency of the twenty-first century.”

“Entrepreneurship because you told us that this was an area where we can learn from each other. Where America can share our experience as a society that empowers the inventor and the innovator. Where men and women can take a chance on a dream. Taking an idea that starts around a kitchen table or in a garage, and turning it into a new business or industry that can change the world. Entrepreneurship because throughout history the market has been the most powerful force for creating opportunity for lifting people out of poverty. Entrepreneurship because it is in our mutual interest…”

“And social entrepreneurship because as I learned as a community organiser in Chicago, real change comes from the bottom up, the grass roots, starting with the dreams and passions of individuals serving their communities.”

“we are forging new partnerships in which high-tech leaders from Silicon Valley will share their expertise in venture capital, mentorships, technology incubators, with partners in the Middle East, in Turkey and Southeast Asia”

The Entrepreneur’s Workshop – A Seminar for Entrepreneurs and Their Advisers

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Workshops are fascinating and dangerous places. In the right hands they can produce things of great beauty and real lasting value.  In the wrong hands they can do great damage and wreck lives.

The Entrepreneur’s Workshop is no different.

True enough; the tools have no sharp edges, burning furnaces or high-speed drills.  They are a set of ideas, principles, practices and habits that, applied with care and passion, can produce a wonderful lifestyle.  Learn to use these tools properly and they will serve you well.  Misuse them and the consequences are likely to include debt, damaged relationships and misery.

This 2 hour session introduces 10 of the most powerful tools that the entrepreneur can use to build a business with real lasting value:

  1. The Truth Detector – How to decide what might work for you
  2. ‘Want to’ or ‘Have to…’?
  3. The Double Edged Sword
  4. Getting Organised – doing what has to be done, and doing it well
  5. Entrepreneur or Artisan?
  6. Have, Do, Become…
  7. Build a Team OR Do it All – the choice is yours
  8. Writing the ‘investment ready’ Business Plan
  9. Situational Enterprise – technique and motivation
  10. Towards the Total Quality Enterprise – a tool to decide ‘What’s next?’

The Entrepreneur’s Workshop is fast paced, honest and highly practical.  Participants will understand each of the tools and be able to use them to build a better business – or to put their entrepreneurial dreams on hold – at least for now.

Who Would Benefit from a Visit to the Entrepreneur’s Workshop?

I have run The Entrepreneur’s Workshop is fast paced, honest and highly practical introduction to 10 of the most powerful tools for entrepreneurs. in many different settings, from a University post-graduate course on Creative Enterprise to pre-start entrepreneurs on a Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI) programme. The workshop is relevant and accessible to a wide range of entrepreneurs from pre-start through to experienced business owners.  It has also been well received by a wide range of advisor’s and coaches.

Costs:

If you would like me to run the workshop for a group of entrepreneurs and you provide the venue, refreshments and manage the administration then the cost of the workshop is £750 plus travel and subsistence and VAT.

For more information contact Mike on 07788 747954 or just leave a comment and I will get back to you.

You can see some recommendations of my work here

How to Make a Living Working From Home, Grimsby, May 21st

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“How to Make a Living Working From Home”

Free Efactor Event

Friday 21st May

12pm – 2.15pm

At Efactor –  Wellington Street

84 Wellington Street (white chapel building next to Boyes car park)

Guest Speaker is Emma Jones (Founder of UK’s largest home business website www.enterprisenation.com)

  • Market stalls of Efactor’s current home worker clients
  • Free Buffet Lunch
  • Free Transport Available (arranged when you book)
  • Free Raffle
  • Book your place ! Telephone Stephanie on 01472 254920 or email Stephanie.barker@e-factor.co.uk

Hello Everyone

Efactor is holding an exciting  event that may be of interest to you and your clients!.  The event is aimed at inspiring people who wish just to explore the idea of setting up a business from home or who may even have an idea or a talent to start a new home business!

We would love to offer the opportunity for you and your clients to …

  • Listen to expert tips from our lovely, truly inspirational guest speaker Emma Jones – (founder of www.enterprisenation.com the UKs largest home business website)
  • Find out about cheap ways to start up a business from home
  • Talk to some of Efactor’s customers who will be exhibiting their goods and services from their home-based businesses
  • Free (local) Tranport / pick up points available when you book by calling Efactor 01472 254920
  • All this at our Efactor Wellington St office on Friday 21st May 12pm to 2.30pm!

Tips  on starting a business from home from fabulous guest speaker, inspirational  Emma Jones, Founder www.enterprisenation.com – the UKs largest Home Business website.

Buffet Lunch – Market stalls of Efactor current home workers.

If you would like to talk to an Efactor enterprise coach about this event  on behalf of your clients  please call our office on 01472 254 920 or 0800 952 0181 and we would love to come and talk to you about it and other training and events Efactor is planning this year!

Leaflet attached – earn a living from home leaflet.