We decided to promote the events with Ignite style presentation from the members. The Ignite presentation format of 5-minutes, 20 slides, automatically advancing every 15 seconds has produced some truly enlightening presentations. We filmed almost all of the presentations and they’re available to you online: http://ignitesteamboat.com/videos/

The Ignite Steamboat events are completely free.

Growth

2 years ago this thing started with just a handful of people. Now, there’s 142 on the list and we’ve had great participation at the Ignite events. If you’ve been looking for a group that promotes fresh thinking, connects entrepreneurs and interesting people, Ignite Steamboat may be your thing.

Spark Talks

In November we introduced Spark Talks. Spark talks are live video interviews via Skype with thought-leaders and entrepreneurs from around the country.

The hope is that their words ‘spark’ you to start something meaningful. The response from these special guests has been nothing less than enthusiastic and supportive of what this group is about.

If you’ve missed these, they’re available online for you here: www.ignitesteamboat.com/spark-talks/

A Night of Innovation

Next Thursday (April 7th) we have our biggest event yet with 3 incredible Spark Talks Lined up:

• Charlene Li – Author & Social Media Innovator
• Brad Feld – Entrepreneur, Venture Capitalist & Founder of Tech Stars
• Chase Jarvis – Professional Photographer, Entrepreneur & Innovator

Charlene Li

Charlene Li

First up is Charlene Li. This woman is amazing and we’re really honored for Charlene to spend some time with the group. If you have any interest in forward thinking business practices, social media or the new rules of leadership, this is for you. 
- Named by Fast Company as one of The Most Influential Women in Technology
- Named by Fast Company as one of The 12 Most Creative Minds of 2008
- “Groundswell” named by Fortune Magazine as one of the 3 best Web books of 2008
- “Groundswell” named by Advertising Age as number 3 of 10 Books You Should Have Read
www.charleneli.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bu6iCb6Xhgk

(Can’t see the video? Click here.)

Chase Jarvis

Chase Jarvis

Next will be world-famous photographer & entrepreneur Chase Jarvis. This guy has taken the photography industry to a new level and he got his start here in Steamboat! 
What Chase brings to the table is way more than photography.  Sure he’s a phenomenal photographer but his approach opened up what had traditionally been an industry built on secrecy and fear. So even if photography isn’t your thing, Chase has a lot to offer.

There’s no doubt you’ve seen his work for brands like Nike, Pepsi, Volvo, Reebok, Apple, and Red Bull!
www.chasejarvis.com
Chase Photographs New Zealand

(Can’t see the video? Click here.)

Brad Feld

Brad Feld

We have Mr. Brad Feld scheduled to speak with us live via Skype. Honestly I wish just typing his name would be enough for you to camp out in front of the Smokehouse to ensure a seat but I realize that some of you may need more convincing. Brad has been the driving force behind the incredible technology & startup growth in Boulder.   


The current book club book, Do More Faster was co-written by Brad. 


Brad has been an early stage investor and entrepreneur for over twenty years. Prior to co-founding Foundry Group, he co-founded Mobius Venture Capital and, prior to that, founded Intensity Ventures, a company that helped launch and operate software companies. Brad is also a co-founder of TechStars.
www.feld.com
Brad Feld on Techstars

(Can’t see the video? Click here.)

What Are You Waiting For?

This promises to be our biggest Ignite event yet! There’s a cap of 60 max – so the first 60 to RSVP are in. There are a few spots left so please RSVP now if you’d like to go!
 
Act now and save your spot!

Videos & More

I posted several videos of our Spark Talk guests on the site. Go here to check it out: http://ignitesteamboat.com/2011/03/a-night-of-innovation/

Special Thanks

Special thanks to Noreen Moore, Chad James, Jens Owen & John Moyer, all co-organizers, for their persistence, hard work and value they’ve been providing this group.

Altera Marketing Group - New Media Marketing & Technology

In recent weeks, many of my business contacts have discussed the economy and the pressure we are all feeling on a daily basis. They all have a sense of pressure. I am sure many of you can relate. If you are not feeling the pressure these days, then you may want to step outside or turn on the TV, or read a newspaper.
It has brought up a topic to me that has always been a challenge for me. The difference between panic and urgency. Panic is a sudden overwhelming fear, with or without cause, that produces hysterical or irrational behavior, and that often spreads quickly through a group of persons. We have all seen what panic looks like. Panic has no sense of purpose. Panic makes us run away from the problem. Panic gives a sense of hopelessness. Panic says there is no way out. For example, I am claustrophobic. When I feel trapped, I panic.

continuously purging irrelevant activities to provide time for the important and to prevent burn-out.

On the other hand a sense of urgency is different. John Kotter, Harvard professor, stated that true urgency may sometimes involve moving fast. But the most important aspects of true urgency are relentlessness, steadiness and the purposeful pursuit of a goal while “continuously purging irrelevant activities to provide time for the important and to prevent burn-out.” Go back and read that again and let it sink in.
Kotter gives a few suggestions to organizations and leaders:

1. Create a sense of urgency: he believes that organizations need a sense of urgency if they are going to change and be successful. I believe we need a culture of urgency. NOT PANIC. But urgency. We need a relentless, steady, purposeful culture that is pursuing our goals, purging irrelevant activities, and spending time on the important things.

2. Team Members must behave with urgency every day. Anxiety, panic, or anger are bad responses – team members should transmit their urgency in meetings, emails and in everything else they do each day

3. Look for the opportunities that are obscured by emerging crises. Fear can paralyze a business and prevent us from taking necessary action. A sense of urgency can carry us successfully through to success.

4. Deal with the NoNos – those “relentless urgency-killers” who would rather that their complacent existence was left undisturbed. Basically, Kotter is saying that complacency is a feeling that a person has about his or her own behavior, about what he or she needs to do or not do. “This point is also extremely important, because it is possible to see problems and yet be astonishingly complacent because you do not feel that the problems require changes in your own actions. So, we become complacent and lose the sense of urgency.”

Panic makes things worse. Urgency should make things better. I hope you can see that our leadership team is communicating a sense of urgency. Let me be clear, we are not in panic mode. I refuse to panic at work or at home. I hope you see us focused on pursuing our goals. I hope you see us purging irrelevant activities which include expenses, etc. I hope you see our relentlessness and steadiness. I hope you see our sense of determination to achieve our goals.

My challenge to each of you is that you wake up each day and have a sense of urgency both at work and in your personal life. I challenge you to evaluate your surroundings and look for opportunities to drive revenue and to make a difference in your clients. Look for ways to be productive for yourself and for our company. One key ingredient I know without a doubt you all have is talent unlike some of the singers in the last few weeks on American Idol. I know each of you have the talent for this business. So…
Don’t panic…but be urgent!

(Original post)

Altera Marketing Group - New Media Marketing & Technology