Find the Gap – Part 1

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The Creator’s Code by Amy Wilkinson is based on interviews with 200 entrepreneurs who have started companies that individually generate more than $100 million in annual revenue or social enterprises that serve more than 100,000 people. What the author found was 6 common threads in how they achieved entrepreneurial success.

In each case, the entrepreneurs describe the reason for their work as more than money – their goals were to make a mark on the world. In the 5 years of work the six skills that make creators successful came to light. Creators are not born with an innate ability to conceive and build $100 million enterprises. They work at it. They all share certain fundamental approaches to the act of creation. The skills that make them successful can be learned, practiced, and passed on. Continue reading

Patent Protection??

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The need to protect the inventions and creative work of individuals has been recognized for centuries. The first modern patent was granted in 1421 to Filippo Bruneslleschi by the Republic of Florence for a barge with hoisting gear. Hundreds of years later, the United States Constitution affirmed the importance of protecting “writings and discoveries” in order to “promote the progress of science and the useful arts.” Continue reading

CBI Maker Space “just incredible”

cbi1 Jon Leasure had nowhere to go when he wanted to turn his ideas into something tangible.cbi5

“In my younger years, I fooled around in robotics,” said Leasure, who works for a family owned business in Crossville. “When you get to that point where there is something you need, and you can’t make it, then that’s problematic. With a 3-D printer, for example, I could have made a ton of things.” Continue reading

Can You Dominate a Niche with Your Business?

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The overall theme of the Peter Thiel book, Zero to One is a study of what successful innovation looks like, primarily in tech start-ups. One of the main concepts in the book is that most of the really successful businesses have started by dominating a very specific and limited niche market.

Examples: Continue reading

Tenant Highlight: A to Z Printing

A to Z Printing

DIane Morey

A to Z Printing has completed their move to the CBI! Diane Morey celebrated her 5th anniversary of owning A to Z Printing in January. She bought the printing business when it was located on Miller Avenue in Crossville. Three years ago Diane relocated the business to the Woodmere Shopping Center. Now they are resident within the CBI! Continue reading

20th Century Leadership & Motivation

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If you have employees, at the heart of your business is knowing what motivates people to do great work. It turns out that over the last 50 years a group of Social Scientists all over the world have taken a very systematic look at this question. Continue reading

Before You Spend One More Dollar on Marketing

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I attended a webinar yesterday where the presenter spoke my language! It was with John Jantsch of Duct Tape Marketing.   Here are three questions that we should all be asking before we spend money on marketing. Once you are clear on your responses to these questions, your marketing strategy will be much more effective.

1. Why do we do what we do? Continue reading

Ice Covered Cumberland County

disaster

This past week I was reminded of the concepts that Maslow described in his 1943 paper “A Theory of Human Motivation” – typically portrayed in the shape of a pyramid. Maslow studied what he called exemplary people such as Albert Einstein, Jane Addams, Eleanor Roosevelt and Frederick Douglass, and the healthiest 1% of the college student population. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs described that until basic needs are met, an individual will not be able to focus or be motivated toward their higher level needs. Continue reading

CBI Maker Space Is Moving Along

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The Cumberland Business Incubator Maker Space is almost ready! The laser cutter is vented to the outside, mirrors are aligned, and the cutting has begun! The vinyl cutter has been cutting symbols and signs and will be cutting out our newly developed Maker Space logo next! The 3D printer is working on parts almost every day. Hand tools are in place as are the embroidery sewing machine, miter saw, router, band saw, electronics station…….and more! Don’t miss the information contained below about our Maker Space Grand Opening and Cumberland Business Incubator Open House on April 8th. Continue reading

What is The Grommet?

Grommet

As we continue to work on developing the CBI Maker Space, I discovered The Grommet www.thegrommet.com . It will be a great resource for some of our makers. From the website:

“A Grommet is an innovative, unique product that is created by a Maker with a story to tell. Often a Grommet is new to market or has not yet been broadly discovered. When we choose Grommets, they are ready to find a wider audience and our product launch platform gives them the amplification and attention they deserve. Continue reading