Hello Alaska,    

 "Non scholae sed vitae discimus - We learn for life not for the school".

The scholars among you recognize this often quoted Latin phrase from the philosopher and teacher Seneca. He should have also coined the phrase "do as I say, not as I do", because as a teacher he failed miserably. He was tasked with raising Nero, which turned out to be a complete disaster, because not only was Nero a ruthless dictator, but among other things, he forced his teacher to commit suicide.

As a college graduate and owner of several businesses over the last 25 years (with mixed results), I have picked up a few things. However, I learned more about successful entrepreneurship by interacting with business owners as an SBDC advisor, than from all of my education and experience combined. Talking someone through their problems and exploring possible solutions, as opposed to fighting your own daily battles, is the difference between discussing strategic combat moves among generals and being the grunt in a fox hole that is avoiding incoming mortar rounds.

I have to share my frustration with my brother Hans with you one more time, who owns a business and should be a general, but continues to be a foot soldier in the middle of the trench, knee-deep in the muck, with so many shells flying around his head that he has to keep it down continuously. My boy secured a loan about 16 months ago to give his company a little boost and himself some peace of mind. Basically he bought a few sandbags to secure the walls and provide a little relief from the mortars. As a landscaper in Portland, he's busy year-around. So much so, that he can't stick his head over the edge to evaluate the situation and come up with a plan to become offensive, rather than defensive. Not being able to make that assessment and creating a strategy based on your findings is often the difference between success and failure! He doesn't dictate what happens in his business, but rather is a victim of circumstance.

Hans is 54 years old and doesn't have a plan. Will his business become strong enough in the next few years to provide him with enough income to establish retained earnings for retirement and/or create equity that he can sell for profit when he is ready? He doesn't know and won't, unless a strategy is created to not only guarantee that his crews work tomorrow, but more importantly to ensure company income and growth in the next few years to be able to provide for his eventual retirement.

Developing realistic business expectations should include a sound market analysis, researching economic conditions and trends in your industry and developing accurate financial projections in tandem with a strategy on how to reach those goals. Not doing so is the primary reason 4 out of 5 small businesses fail. In Hans' case working through the process of creating a long-term plan may determine that the landscaping market in the Pacific NW is saturated and his income and growth potential limited. He may be better off returning to work for the city of Portland for the next 11 years to guarantee some savings for retirement. Business ownership can be for everyone, but sometimes after doing your homework, the best business decision you can make for your self is to get out, or not start at all!

I can't say it often enough, whether you are in the pre-venture state, are in business now and struggling, require funding to grow, or want an exit strategy, don't be a Hans. Have a plan!! If you need help developing, reviewing, or implementing one, please visit the Small Business Development Center nearest you and chat in a FREE, one-on-one counseling session with one of their advisors. They really do know their stuff!

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Ever wonder what the technical abbreviations in a tweet stand for?

• MT = Modified tweet. This means the tweet is a paraphrase of a tweet originally written by someone else.
• RT = Retweet. The tweet was forwarded to you by another user.
• DM = Direct message. A direct-message is a message only you and the person who sent it can read. IMPORTANT: To DM someone all you need to type is D username message.
• PRT = Partial retweet. The tweet is the truncated version of someone else's tweet.
• HT = Hat tip. This is a way of attributing a link to another Twitter user.
• CC = Carbon copy. Works the same way as email.

Funny River Festival - A weekend of adventure for all ages at the Funny River Community Center!

Friday-Saturday - July 29-31

Events include:

• Golf Tournament
• Cribbage, Nickels, and Pinochle tournaments
• Parade
• Horseshoe Tournament
• Live music, food and libation
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Salmonstock 2011-

August 5-7

Bring the whole family and enjoy this great weekend of Fish, Fun & Music!

Located at the Kenai Peninsula Fairgrounds, Ninilchik, Alaska

For more information visit: www.salmonstock.org

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ALASKA HUMANITIES FORUM GENERAL GRANTS PROGRAM 2012

Funding media, oral history, public meetings/exhibits, research, and planning projects for up to $10,000. Humanities projects may include topics of archaeology, comparative religions, cultural anthropology, ethics, folklore, geography, history, languages, literature, philosophy, political science, and others.

The Alaska Humanities Forum welcomes project proposals that meet our mission to "enrich the civic, intellectual and cultural life of all Alaskans." 

APPLICATIONS DUE OCTOBER 3, 2011

www.akhf.org for grant guidelines and how to apply

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Alaska Department of Labor Wage & Hour Seminar 

Aug 16 - 9:00 AM -- 12:00 PM

3301 Eagle Street, Room 104, Anchorage

Free seminar from State of Alaska:

• 9:00 AM Wage & Hour
• 10:15 AM Child Labor
• 11:00 AM Title 36.

For more information call (907) 269-4900.

See listing of this and other seminars on the AK SourceLink website calendar: http://www.aksourcelink.com/calendar

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Cook Inlet Kennel Club's All Breed, Obedience and Rally Event

July 29, 30 & 31

State Fair grounds in Palmer. 

Mark Your Calendars:

Valley Radio KMBQ 99.7 the station that is sponsoring the Uncle Kracker concert has decided to kick things up a notch and get an early start on the festivities. Rather than simply giving tickets away to the event, the station is hosting a "Go Kracker Krazy for Uncle Kracker" food drive from Noon on August 5 to 3pm on August 8th. The station will broadcast simultaneously on both AM (700 KBYR) and FM LIVE for 75 hours from the Carrs/Safeway parking lot in Wasilla, to collect as much food and money as possible for the local Food Pantry. To top it all off, each hour for the 75 Hours, Q99.7 will give away 1 pair of tickets to see Uncle Kracker.

They're willing to share, so get involved as a sponsor by contacting Sarah at sgoff@mediaak.com, or by phone 907-373-0222

Alaska Renewable Energy Fair on Aug. 13

Join the fun at the 7th annual Alaska Renewable Energy Fair on the Anchorage Park Strip. This FREE event features crafts, renewable energy demonstrations, workshops, kids activities, organic and local foods and great live music including Amy Lou, Spiff, Tim Easton, The Whipsaws and much, much more. More info: www.REalaska.org, or 907.929.7770. This event sponsored by Renewable Energy Alaska Project (REAP). Share this event through Facebook .

The Alaska Chapter of the AMA proudly presents -

Summer Lecture Series -

Facebook, Marketing Online

 August 11         Presented by Ross Johnston, Fine Point

This in-depth lecture series takes place in the Carr Gottstein building Auditorium on the Alaska Pacific University campus. Parking is free. Open to the public, Free to AMA, AK Chapter members, and $10 for non-members. Bring a friend, your own lunch and we will see you there. Registration recommended at www.amaalaska.org

The Alaska Writers Guild Presents:  

Author, Mike Dillingham - After the Publishing, now what?

Marketing your books and dealing with Author Appearances

Join the AWG in the Wilda Marston Theater at the Loussac Library for an evening of insight and exploration.

August 16, 2011, 7pm

Loussac Library

Free and Open to the Public

Mike will be autographing books before and after the meeting!!

ATIA'S 2011 CONVENTION & TRADE SHOW - JUNEAU

ATIA is proud to invite you to the capital city of Juneau for the 2011 ATIA Annual Convention & Trade Show.

October 4-6, 2011 at the Centennial Hall

$350 Delegate Registration if received by 8/15/11

$650 Exhibitor, including 1 Delegate Registration

For additional prices, please see the Registration Packet below

Click for Registration Packet

The Alaska Chapter of the American Planning Association is pleased to announce the 1st Annual Alaska State Planning Conference! You are welcome to join the APA at the Westmark in Fairbanks, November 7-8 for this historic event! The conference planning committee is currently seeking session proposals. Additional information about the conference will be posted on the Chapter website and Facebook page.

SBDC Workshops for Entrepreneurs:

• Anchorage:  SBA Programs and Services 
• Bethel:   Creating a Co-Op
• Juneau: - Profit Mastery - $200 Limited Time Offer 
• Fairbanks: -
• Ketchikan: - Starting A Small Business!
•  South West: Starting a Business - FREE Soldotna 
• Wasilla:   How to Write an Effective Business Plan  

Bid Opportunities

Sub-Contractor Opportunities

State of Alaska

http://notes3.state.ak.us/pn/pubnotic

State of Alaska-DOT

• Construction of vehicle access gates and installation of security equipment near the intersection of South Aircraft drive and the ANC secure perimeter
• Modification of the existing concrete slab to achieve desired slope at the Field Maintenance Facility at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport
• WILLOW AIRPORT FENCING
• VALDEZ AIRPORT ACCESS ROAD RESURFACING
• HYDER SALMON RIVER ROAD REHABILITATION

http://dot.alaska.gov/procurement/index.shtml

• South-Central -

General Services Administration, Public Buildings Service

Roof Replacement Historic Federal Building Anchorage

https://www.fbo.gov/spg/GSA

Department of the Air Force, Pacific Air Forces, 3 CONS - Elmendorf

THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT - Aerial Tow Banner Targets

https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USAF/

Department of the Air Force, Pacific Air Forces, 3 CONS - Elmendorf

Hematology Service

https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USAF

Anchorage School District

ORION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WATER SERVICE FREEZE PROTECTION

http://www.asdk12.org/

General Services Administration, Public Buildings Service

Office/warehouse space in Anchorage

Harry Lincoln Lewis, Lease Contracting Specialist, Phone 253-931-7261, Fax 253-931-7384, Email lincoln.lewis@gsa.gov

Department of the Air Force, Pacific Air Forces, 3 CONS - Elmendorf

Television Monitors and Controllers

https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USAF  

• Mat-Su Valley -

• Northern - Arctic -

• Southwest -  

Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

VESSEL CHARTER IN KODIAK

https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOC

Department of Homeland Security, United States Coast Guard

Radio Equipment for Dutch Harbor

https://www.fbo.gov/
 

• Kenai Peninsula -

Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Seldovia Harbor Improvements

https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USA/COE/

Kenai Peninsula Borough

Sterling Elementary School Water Treatment Shed Addition

http://purchasing.borough.kenai.ak.us

• Southeast -

General Services Administration, Public Buildings Service

This is for moving services to provide all labor, materials, and equipment to relocate agency personnel from several locations within the Ketchikan Federal Building

https://www.fbo.gov/spg/GSA

Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Auke Bay Laboratories has a requirement for for Service Agreement for Perkin-Elmer Janus platform 8 tip w/MPD head and an I/C dispense Head I50.

https://www.fbo.gov/

Department of the Interior, National Park Service

Pre-Solicitation - The National Park Service (NPS) has identified a requirement to have a contractor provide Road Striping. Place of Delivery: Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve, Gustavus

https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOI

Department of Agriculture, Forest Service

KAKE STEWARDSHIP ROAD MAINTENANCE

https://www.fbo.gov/

Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration

Ketchikan Weather Station Commercial Powerline Installation

https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOT

Department of Agriculture, Forest Service

Eagle Creek Road Storage

https://www.fbo.gov/spg/

Department of Agriculture, Forest Service

False Island Facility Removal

https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USDA

• Interior -

University of Alaska Fairbanks

• Power Conditioning-3 Phase UPS
• UAF Residence Sleep/Study Rooms Semi-Annual Cleaning
• Pumping & Transport of Wastewater/Sewage for Toolik Field Statio
• Residential Hall Dorm Furniture
• Information Security Audit
• Medium Voltage Plant Transformer
• Higher Education IT & Research Requirements Contracts
• RC Solar Panel Project

Department of the Air Force, Pacific Air Forces, 354 CONS - Eielson

Transformer Emergency Bypass

https://www.fbo.gov/

Department of the Interior, National Park Service

Supply one (1) Larson Davis Model 831 sound level meter to Denali National Park

https://www.fbo.gov/notices/

City of Fairbanks

• FURNISHING CUTTING EDGES TO THE CITY OF FAIRBANKS
• CRUSHED RECYCLED ASPHALT AT CITY OF FAIRBANKS PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY
  http://www.fairbanksalaska.us

Department of the Army, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense

Mobile Video Teleconference Equipment for 49th GMD, Fort Greely https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USA

Department of the Army, Army Contracting Command

Requirement for 1 each Chapel Musician at Ft. Greely

https://www.fbo.gov

Department of the Interior, National Business Center

This office intends to issue a solicitation for appraisal services in the Copper Valley area of Alaska

https://www.fbo.gov/

Other Defense Agencies, Defense Commissary Agency

Holiday Refrigerated Trailer Rental

www.fedbizopps.gov

"Keeping the Change" in Alaska's Economy

BUY ALASKA's goal is to encourage Alaska's to shift their spending by 10%, effectively keeping over $700 million in Alaska every year.

When you purchase good and services from businesses with Alaska locations, you are doing your part to create more jobs.  And more people employed in Alaska means more property taxes for schools and roads, more charitable donations, more support for your youth teams and more customers for your business!  

Like us on facebook: www.facebook.com/BuyAlaskaKeepTheChange for more phone call and business!