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For sure there are many lessons from the 40-year history of Microsoft. Clearly they are a gigantic success and I will highlight just three lessons here in hopes they will provide insight for all of us in the startup world. I travel to and through Seattle quite often and took note recently of “Microsoft at […]

  Last week I highlighted five principles of leadership I wanted to pass on to my grand kids.  They apply to a profit-making business, not-for-profits, charities, a team and just about anything.  This is Part 2. 1. Figure out how God made you and spend your life developing that. When I was in my twenties

I’ve been blessed with some incredible opportunities in life.  While I regret not taking full advantage of all of them, I’m thankful for what God and others have taught me over the years about that which I have been called to do – run stuff!   I’m also called to teach and to inspire others

Have most of us forgotten Nepal already?  Was it a blip on the screen of our TV’s and on the prayer lists of our churches?  My TV news these days is full of news of forest fires in the West, shark attacks in the East and tornados in Mid-America.  These are certainly important – and

I just looked out my office window on this sunny day in mid-July.  Our little town of 2,000 residents is swarming with about 10,000 tourists who have come to the largest outdoor quilt show in North America.  It is amazing! Thousands of people; overweight dogs on leashes; women with gigantic handbags; a restored 1931 Model

I had been in Haiti before and had even seen extreme poverty before, but I was reminded that we can always learn something new and sometimes we even need to re-learn things over and over again. 1.  I learned that it is important to listen and observe before speaking.  Even though our four-man team determined

WATER!  I never thought much about it.  I was born and raised on Canada’s west coast with rainwater and lakes all around.  I lived for 21 years in the Amazon rain forest!  I suffered the rainy winters of Seattle for five years.  I can see the snow pack on the Cascade mountains from where I

On June 15, four IBEC consultants landed in Haiti’s capital and transferred to a small plane for the north coast of the country. From the landing in Port au Paix, we were transported into the north interior – a vast area of Haiti devastated by drought, famine, poverty and alienation.  Our team was led be

This week’s blog is written by a friend, Patrice Tsague founder and CEO of Nehemiah Project.  He takes a story from the Bible and finds practical truths for starting a business which will build wealth.  Whether the reader is starting something for the first time, or is a long time owner, this reminder from the

Last night I listened to an agronomist friend tell a story of an acquaintance of his who provides consultancy help to the filbert (hazelnut) industry in Turkey.  My friend Dave graduated from Oregon State University and is also an expert in modern techniques of hazelnut production. Turkey produces about 75% of the world’s filbert crop.