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Fight the Urge to Face Fear Silently
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I lost my first sheep to coyotes last fall. I've had sheep for 20 years and have lived blissfully predator-free until now. My neighbor logged extensively last summer and coyotes love open territory. This is my best guess for this recent, unwelcome intrusion. I just lost another three weeks ago while away on vacation. And even worse, I have a lamb that is badly injured. Fortunately, he is improving, and also fortunately I have a non-squeamish niece living next door with North Dakota farm roots who has helped tend the wounds, but I am no longer resting easy.
Friday night I woke up - a coyote was barking RIGHT outside my window. Awake instantly, I bumbled downstairs, turned on all the outside lights, grabbed my flashlight and ran out. The barking had receded only to my nearby garage. I followed the sound down an old road, hearing real or imaginary growling. Eventually my courage failed me and I returned to see how the sheep were doing.
They were flocked together and stone silent. I had always thought I would be alerted to trouble by a sheepy uproar, but unfortunately, I have now learned their instinct is to be quiet. I was only lucky this time that the "criminal" wanted to brag beforehand. As I stood under the stars wondering what to do next, it occurred to me how businesses in trouble behave similarly.
We are told that everyone flocks to a winner and we struggle against all odds at times to appear to be that winner. It is also a blow to the pride sometimes to admit we are in trouble and need help. It is easy in those circumstances to face our danger silently, stepping forward for help too late or not at all.
It is a real mixed bag out there for small businesses. If your business or someone you know is one of those struggling, I encourage you to reach out sooner -- rather than later. There are things that you can do that can keep your business safe during these difficult times.
What to do next with the sheep? They and their coyote friends are now enjoying 92.5 FM The River all night long - I'm hoping the sheep are rocking out under the stars and the coyotes hate indie music. I've also installed a solar motion detector light and I sleep fitfully. So you see, there are things you can do in the face of trouble, some of them fun and some not so fun -- and then you just hope for the best.
Keep up the good work,
MAK
mak@hannahgrimes.com
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Hannah Grimes Business Incubator Information Session
Tuesday, August 23, 8-9:30 a.m.
Hannah Grimes Center, Keene
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The Business Incubator Program at the Hannah Grimes Center is an ideal place to launch, develop and establish your business. Our proven, structured program offers:
- Business development and educational programs to help your business thrive
- Office space with support services, such as high speed internet and conference room space, sized just right for your business
- Business-friendly downtown location
- Collaboration with like-minded entrepreneurs
Register today at: http://www.hannahgrimes.com. |
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Entrepreneurial Needs & Offerings*
| Business for Sale: Tyler's Ice Cream in Jaffrey, NH. Our manager is going back to college... you could be the new owner! Contact Carolyn Croteau Gedenberg if you are interested at 603-620-6198.
Nominations Wanted: The application for "The Best Companies to Work For in NH" is available online and the deadline is September 7th.
Website Content Audits: For June-August, Sharon Bailly is offering 25% off a website content audit and gap analysis (now $45 per page with a minimum charge of $180). Get the information you need to upgrade your site without paying for a complete rewrite. Contact Sharon at write@twriteplus.com; 603-924-0935. *The Hannah Grimes Center is posting these classifieds as a service to readers and does not imply endorsement. Add your own classified ad: Send a 20-30 word description of your service or product that is directly supporting entrepreneurs to jen@hannahgrimes.com. Make sure to include the best way to contact you. |
Free Information Session
Keene State Continuing Education
Tuesday, August 9, 4-6 p.m.
Elliot Street Atrium, Keene
| Thinking about returning to school? Want to take a college course? Are you a business or education professional who wants to advance professionally? An employer looking for training for employees? College personnel will be on hand to answer your questions and talk to you about what KSC offers you. Refreshments provided. Cost: Free & open to the public. Contact: 603-358-2940; dalmann@keene.edu; http://www.keene.edu/conted.
You Can Start a Business Or Improve the One You Have Monadnock SCORE September 13, Time TBA TD Bank, Keene This presentation will cover business structure, sales, record keeping, financing and creating a business plan. Fee. For more information call 603-352-0320: http://www.monadnockscore.org/seminars.html.
Lean Enterprise Certificate Program River Valley Community College Call For Details Completion of both Fundamentals and Intermediate Lean Enterprise are covered in the Lean Enterprise Certificate Program. Students gain working knowledge of critical Lean Enterprise implementation tools that are critical to the performance of any business environment. For more information, contact Jim Britton in our Business Training Center at 603-542-7744 ext 5346; jbritton@ccsnh.edu.
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| LOCAL LIVING ECONOMY UPDATES |
Events that help business owners give back and strengthen our region's local living economy.
How to Build a Workplace Culture of Leadership & Engagement
NH Businesses for Social Responsibility
Wednesday, September 14, Noon-1 p.m.
Online Webinar
Decades of experience show us that workplace culture directly affects business performance and the achievement of a company's social mission. Engaged employees with leadership skills and a leadership mindset make the difference in whether a company is able to achieve its business and social goals.
In this webinar, Ginny Vanderslice, President, Praxis Consulting Group, Inc., will show you how to successfully and meaningfully engage employees and foster leadership at all levels of your organization, building a culture that achieves strong bottom-line results and advances goals related to social responsibility. Using specific examples from leading socially responsible businesses, Praxis will show how to begin or advance the process in your organization. Cost: Free for NHBSR members! $25 for non-members. Registration: http://www.nhbsr.org.
Lean and Green Awards
Business NH Magazine
Tuesday, September 20, 8-10 a.m.
Portsmouth Harbor Conference Center, Portsmouth
This unique breakfast event spotlights the best money-saving environmental practices of NH companies. The 2011 Lean and Green Award winners will be featured in the August issue of Business NH Magazine and recognized at this networking event. Fee: $30. Register:
https://millyardcommunications.com.
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Save the Date:
2011 CONNECT Event
With Michael Shuman
Hannah Grimes Center
Wednesday, October 12
Alyson's Orchard, Walpole
Michael Shuman directs the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies' (BALLE) research and economic development outreach program. An economist, attorney, author, and entrepreneur, Michael has authored, coauthored, or edited seven books, including The Small Mart Revolution: How Local Businesses Are Beating the Global Competition (Berrett-Koehler, 2006) which was awarded a bronze medal for best business book by the Independent Publishers' Association. More details to come!
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Am I Focusing on the
Wrong Part of My Business?
By Jay Goltz, Original Posted on NYTimes
| Whether it is continuing to hire the wrong people because of a bad hiring protocol, sticking with the same marketing plan even though it isn't working or thinking we are going to become more profitable by underpricing our competition, many business owners stick to what they have gotten comfortable doing and hope it will start producing better results. Why? No doubt it has something to do with the perseverance and optimism that got us into this in the first place. No doubt it has something to do with our willingness to work hard. But sometimes working smart is more important than working hard.
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2011 Hannah Grimes Center
Key Partners
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