Despite a recession and high unemployment in most of the country, new technology will be one of the most important ways for us to climb our way into profitability.
Dayton, Ohio has thrived in the past as a center for innovation and invention. Many things we take for granted in our lives were born out of the minds of Daytonians like the airplane, electric starter, artificial heart, bar code scanner, cash register (manual and electric), cellophane tape, chrome plating, double glass windows, ethyl gasoline, filter cigarette, heart-lung machine, gas mask, high-octane aviation gasoline, ice cream cone, ice cube tray, instant blood-glucose testing, laser weapons, microfiche, mood ring, ring-pull can opener, self-starter, space food, step ladder, storage battery, time pill, yo-yo and thousands more. For a more detailed list see: http://www.cityofdayton.org/departments/pa/Pages/inventionlist.aspx
Being at the forefront of new ideas was what helped Dayton to thrive in the past and it will be what is needed to help us thrive again.
I recently asked Brad Proctor, CEO of the new Dayton RFID Convergence Center, to speak to our Metro Dayton Chapter of BNI (Business Network International) and was fully excited about what he had to say.
We are all accustomed to bar codes and items being scanned at the grocery cash register. With this new technology you will be able to leave all the items in the shopping cart and they will all be scanned at once!
This technology has other many other applications, like the ability to track each manufactured item from production, thru shipping, thru receiving, thru selling and inventory control. The industries that can use this technology for increased efficiency and productivity are endless, from blood banking to egg farms.
Brad and VP Matt Kussman are looking to attract other businesses in the RDIF industry to assist each other in furthering this technology. The future is wide open as to how far this project can go.
Learn more about this technology by visiting the Dayton RFID Convergence Center’s Web site — www.daytonrcc.com.
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There comes a time when the average man and woman have had enough and take a stand for human dignity, for human rights, especially when they have been oppressed.
Josh is sixteen and like most boys his age he likes to hang out with his friends.
There was a flash and Josh was covered with flames. Everyone scrambled to put out the fire on his head, arms and body. 911 was called and in a short time he was care-flighted to the nearest hospital. Subsequently, he was transferred to the Burn Center in Cincinnati.
His grandfather had an idea. He and his son, Josh’s dad, bought this old log cabin farmhouse and were going to slowly rehab it anyway. Maybe Josh would be able to do some work on a limited basis on weekends as a motivational tool to get his spirit back.
Yes, we got our hands dirty and felt sore the day after but there is a certain satisfaction you get out of helping others and there is a time that work doesn’t seem like work.
Wisdom transcends continents and cultures. These little gems of knowledge were given at a Metro Dayton Chapter of BNI (
Talking does not fill the basket in the farm - West Africa
A bird is in the air, but it’s mind is on the ground
If you run after two hares, you will catch neither
Solopreneurs are solo entrepreneurs and Solopreneurs.org is a website devoted entirely to those individual small business entrepreneurs and is loaded with plenty of help, advice and tools so that your solo operation will have a better chance of success.
Many small business owners up until now wish they had a place that they could go to in order to get global expert advice and coaching when starting up a new business venture.
For a small monthly fee, rather then hiring a high-priced business consultant, you have access to support from the experts in the field and can collaborate and share best practices.
The idea was started by well known and certified business coach Donna Amos who has many years of experience in the use of proven, practical techniques to leverage her client’s strengths in order to succeed.
Over 250,000 homes and businesses lost power when the remnant of Hurricane Ike slammed into the SW Ohio area tearing down trees, light poles and damaging businesses and homes and causing fires that burned several down to the ground. 
When disasters and other business interruptions happen more then physical damage takes place. There is an affect on our psyche.
Ideally a person needs to have a clear head and clear focus to carry on their business responsibilities. So how does a person bounce back?
Get back into the swing of things. Set up an appointment or lunch with a colleague or client. Start a new project.
As predicted, the wind was steadily picking up from the remnant of Hurricane Ike. The forecast was for some rain and a windy Sunday. But no one in the Miami Valley of Ohio expected hurricane force winds that would tear down large trees and telephone poles and spew them across roads, on top of houses and cars and leave hundreds of thousands in the dark for a week!
We sat in the living room watching the strong winds bend the large trees and talked in the quiet. Wonder where are all the little birds that we usually see? Where did they go to hide?
As night approached we hunkered down with no lights, no air conditioner, no TV, no computer. We had an old battery powered radio and through the static we heard that there were a lot of people in our situation.
We were the few fortunate ones as Monday we found out that over 225,000 in the Dayton area and 600,000 in the Cincinnati area were without power. Trees and poles were down everywhere. The schools and many businesses were closed. The County and City stated a “State of Emergency†and urged everyone to stay off the streets.
One week later and still 60,000 customers without power!
I also witnessed people helping others with food for those without electricity, especially the elderly, and jointly cleaning up their neighborhoods. It is a joy to see people coming together as Americans –Ohioans– do so well.
Networking is about building relationships. However, it is not the quantity, but the quality of these relationships that actually help others and you to grow your business.
That’s why this book’s title got my attention. And, while I don’t promote trying to go crazy and schedule every meal with a possible client or referral contact, I do suggest that we all can ratchet it up a bit and make better use of sharing the time we eat with someone that can make an impact on increasing our business.
Not only do I see them at every networking event in the Greater Dayton Metro Area but they also make use of “Not Eating Alone.â€
Elizabeth
I am very pleased with my lawn care company, Yardmasters (937-275-3800). Besides giving me great service, dependability and a great price they won’t do things that their competitors do… when we don’t get enough rain and the grass isn’t growing and looks like straw… on their own, without me having to ask… they don’t cut the grass!
My neighbor is not as fortunate. Every Monday, rain or shine… yes, even in the rain, their lawn company is out there cutting the grass! And on weeks when the grass isn’t growing and is dry like straw, they are still out there… cutting the grass!
I see abuse in my field too of Website Design. When I initially meet with a client I spend a few hours with them so they have a better understanding of what it takes to have a website and how it should be properly marketed. I do not charge for this time because I feel it’s about building a long-term relationship. Some of my competitors call this “Discovery†and bill their client a substantial amount. More cutting the grass!
You can debate this question from both sides of the fence whether or not we are actually in a recession. Semantics or definitions aside… does a label really matter?
It also boils down to a mindset. When adversity arises some people complain and mope around and do nothing but continue to complain. Others look at all adversity as an opportunity, exploring ways to make things happen.
Downturns in the economy seem to go in cycles and when you talk to business people who have been around for a while you see that times get better and times get worse.
Katrina has taught us all the lesson of not being prepared and not reacting properly to adversity. As hurricane Gustav approaches this weekend I am pleased that detailed plans have been implemented to avoid another catastrophe.
In looking around me at the business people I know, most are very successful and despite our present economic situation, they are doing very well. I see them all actively marketing themselves and their businesses mostly through word of mouth networking and staying active in meeting people and getting things done. They give their customers great service. They have high integrity. They are not afraid to think outside the box.