I am trying to break a habit. I have a bad habit of saying “thanks”. What I really mean is “Thank You, I really appreciate it” delivered with full eye contact and full engagement. A friend introduced me to a new marketing start-up here in Des Moines called Saturday Manufacturing. I got a real [...]
Continue reading →Biting the hand that feeds
February 23, 2010 By Mike Colwell
Image by gadgetgirl via Flickr I am a true believer that you give back. One way I give back is to mentor and support young entrepreneurs both through my work at the BIZ with high growth companies and by mentoring individuals. Recently a person I have spent time with and provided two job referrals [...]
Continue reading →Insuring your self the best value in Insurace
February 18, 2010 By Mike Colwell
Joe Hinke of JA Hinke and Company presented to the BIZ networking group today on the subject of Business Insurance. He had a couple great tips for businesses: Image by Getty Images via Daylife Find an insurance carrier that specializes in your type of business. If you are a technology company, do not pick a [...]
Continue reading →Business Partners and Investors: Check those references
February 16, 2010 By Mike Colwell
Image by Getty Images via Daylife I started my working life in the car business. I quickly came to the conclusion that people spend more time researching the purchase of a television than a car. In other words, people buy cars on emotion and looks. When engaging with business partners do not connect based on [...]
Continue reading →You want to do what?: A patentable idea does not a business make!
February 11, 2010 By Mike Colwell
Many new to the world of products believe that a patented product is the sure road to success. Nothing could be further from the truth. While a patent can have value, it is only because others wish to purchase what you have invented. To obtain a patent on your invention it must be useful, novel [...]
Continue reading →Crocodile Sales and Other Poor Pitches
February 10, 2010 By Mike Colwell
Image by Thai Jasmine via Flickr Pitching your product or company is key to succeeding. For those of us who have listened to a lot of pitches, we have a few favorite descriptions in sharing the sales call outcome with others. Mine is “show up and throw up”. I think the description is pretty obvious [...]
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