News & Views for Business Success

        

June 14, 2012
Jigsaw's purpose is to support entrepreneurs, small businesses,
and a sustainable economy in the Wood River Valley.   Visit us at www.jigsawx.org. 

Greetings! I've been busy gardening, singing in Caritas, getting ready for a day at the Democratic State Convention tomorrow in Boise, and working on TimeExchange development. Plus, I just spent significant time learning HTML code - and more about Constant Contact e-letter formatting - so I can improve the appearance of the e-letter each week.  Now, I must get outside.*   

 

I do want to remind you that Jigsaw has declared June to be Strategic Thinking Month.  We will have an open catered lunch next Monday, June 18th, at the YMCA in Ketchum (not at Perry's as our Mt. Express ad says). Guest speaker Mike Tomlin will speak on "Steps to Improve Your Strategic Thinking."   

 

The lunch runs from noon-1:00, with plenty of time for discussion and Q&A, and costs $15.  An RSVP is necessary by Sunday at noon so we know how much lunch to prepare.    

Mike is a strategic communications specialist whose specialty is crafting powerful messaging campaigns for businesses, non-profits, and politicians. He is about to move from Boise to Colorado where he will be the Chair of the School of Business at Adams State University in Colorado.  I managed to grab him before he moved away.   

 

Mike has graciously offered to be available for follow-up consultations with business people interested in honing their strategic messaging.  But you need to make an appointment to do so.  Contact me at 726-1848 please.  Look forward to seeing you Monday.   

 

Until next week...Jima Rice

 

*Highest praise to Constant Contact, as usual, for its customer service.     
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Think On It!  

 

"A comprehensive analytical approach to planning doesn't suit most start-ups.  By the time an opportunity is investigated fully, it may no longer exist."        

Amar Bhide 

Thomas Schmidheiny Professor at The Fletcher School of Business, 

Tufts University 


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Jigsaw Events and Notices

 

1. The Wood River TimeExchange's next community potluck will be Friday, July 6th.  We are looking for volunteers to host - at their home or on their lawn - either in Ketchum or Hailey.  Please call Manon Gaudreau (788-3876) or myself if you're interested.   

 

2. Jigsaw has chosen June as Strategic Thinking Month.  We will celebrate it with two catered "learning lunches" with guest speakers at the YMCA.   

    

> Dr. Michael Tomlin, Boise-based consultant in strategic      communications, will talk about "Steps to improve your  

    strategic thinking." Monday, June 18th, noon-1:00  

    pm. Mike will remain available to talk with people for as

   long as needed after lunch.

 

> Rick Ritter, CEO of Idaho TechConnect, will address "How

    to present your business strategically."  Wednesday,     June 27, noon-1:30.  Rick will be available in Ketchum,

   10 a.m.-5 p.m. (except lunch) to talk with entrepreneurs.

   Call Jima @ 726-1848 for an appointment.    

Simplicity Versus Feature Overload   

 

Disneyworld, Apple, and Bang and Olufsen are among the companies that value product simplicity over features that customers have no idea what to do with.  Why is this important?  Read more from the Harvard Business Review.

Do You Have a Business Blog?   

 

Just a reminder to create a business blog if you don't already have one.  It doesn't have to be long - just well-written, pithy, and useful.  About.com offers the top five reasons for a blog - and they're good.  

How About Local Yotels?     

 

Perhaps our valley needs some smaller, cheaper hotel rooms to attract visitors who spend all their time outdoors and don't need five star accommodations. The Economist reports that "yotels" are going up in New York City. Why not here?   

This "Non-Profit Corner" is sponsored by the Wood River Women's Charitable Foundation. 

  

Make Sure Your Donation Documentation is Complete 

  

Stevens Pierce and Associates reviews a case in which the IRS declined to accept a charitable contribution deduction based on inadequate documentation.