Wyospace.com

Be the first in Wyoming to be recognized as an AARP Best Employer for Workers over 50

By Joanne Bowlby, Wyoming AARP

Wyoming’s workforce is aging and many businesses have developed innovative ways to keep their skilled and experienced workers on the job. Some of you have hired retired workers back into the workforce. Others have allowed workers to work from home, job share or flex their schedules. Tout your success and receive recognition for your efforts. Apply today for the 2008 AARP Best Employers for Workers over 50!

Because policies that are good for mature workers are often beneficial for all workers, employers are not required to have programs dedicated exclusively to mature workers. However, employers who can demonstrate that their programs are particularly valued by mature workers may receive additional credit through the evaluation process.

Any business, nonprofit or governmental agency with at least 50 employees is eligible to apply. There is no fee to enter and every applicant receives valuable management information. Winners also receive national and local media recognition and are featured in publications received by AARP’s 39 million members. 

The deadline to apply is February 15, 2008.

For more information on the Best Employer Program, visit: http://www.aarp.org/money/careers/employerresourcecenter/bestemployers/

Or go directly to the online application: http://survey.mysurvey.com/AARPBest2008/index.htm

"A creative economy is the fuel of magnificence."

By Diane Wolverton, Director, Wyoming Small Business Development Center

A creative economy is the fuel of magnificence.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson.

The emerging creative economy, in all its magnificence requires us to gain new skills. Daniel Pink, http://www.danpink.com/ author of A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future, outlines six of these in his book. He names them design, story, symphony, empathy, play and meaning.

By “design,” Pink means that it is no longer sufficient to focus solely on function when offering a product or service. Instead, what you’re offering must be designed to be beautiful, whimsical or emotionally appealing.

“Story” refers to the need for businesses to provide narrative about products and services. Facts and figures are no longer enough because we are simply deluged with information. Make your company stand apart by communicating your message in a way that activates and excites the imagination.

“Symphony” refers to recognition of the whole and not focusing merely on one part. Develop the ability to look at the big picture, the whole system. Be willing to cross boundaries and break down barriers to see how the pieces can fit together in an exciting new whole.

The skill of “empathy” is understanding that while logical thought is important, it cannot stand alone without a concern for the human element of what makes each of us tick and how relationships work.

“Play!” teases out our inner creative sprites! Business has been wearing a pinstriped serious suit for far too long. Now is the time to experiment with new ways to get serious business done while laughing, dancing, playing and having a great time.

“Meaning” suggests that a career is not just about money anymore. People want meaningful work and they are willing to job hop to find it. It is a universal yearning to want to be part of something that makes a difference in the world. The more you can make meaning a part of your business plan and practice, the better.

Daniel Pink suggests that these attributes reside in the right side of the human brain. The good news is that all have one of those! All it takes is the decision to start activating it.

Green Business: NOT"oh come on!" How about, OH YEAH!

By Diane Wolverton
State Director
Wyoming Small Business Development Center

A movement is afoot. Some call it sustainability; others call it green business. Patricia Aburdene, author of Megatrends 2010 has dubbed it “Conscious Capitalism” and she says it will change the way we conduct business in the USA and around the world.

“Change the way we conduct business” Wow. That warrants attention. Smart entrepreneurs are taking note and looking for ways to be part of the change so it works for them and not against them. Here are a few things you can do to get started.

Learn the basics. Today’s working definition of sustainability is “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” In the context of business, this means operating profitably today without negatively impacting our environmental and societal infrastructures to compromise the future. Sustainable businesses work toward a “triple bottom line”: one that supports people, planet and profits.

One way to orient yourself to the movement is to learn its language. Check out the online sustainability dictionary by the Presidio School of Management. You’ll discover cool concepts like biomimicry, eco-labels, cradle-to-cradle, SRI (social responsible investing), global reporting initiative and more.

Connect with others: Lots of organizations are cropping up to support the sustainability movement. Co-op America has been around the longest. They offer a ton of information, plus an opportunity for sustainable businesses to sell products through Green Festivals and their catalogue of sustainable products, The Green Pages.

Another great resource is LOHAS, an organization dedicated to the $209 billion U.S. marketplace for goods and services focused on health, the environment, social justice, personal development and sustainable living. Just a few minutes on this website will show you that the sustainability movement offers a lot of opportunity for businesses who can tailor their products and services to meet the needs of this huge market. LOHAS also puts on a great annual conference loaded with information and networking opportunities.

Revisit your plan: Getting on the wave of sustainable business requires revisiting your whole business – your mission, your product, your processes, your people, your location. It may seem overwhelming. But there are lots of resources to help. The Wyoming Business Council offers an energy audit to determine what your carbon footprint looks like and how you can reduce its size. Contact Tom Fuller, tom.fuller@wybusiness.org. Manufacturing-Works offers an environmental assessment. Contact Carol Stark, cjstark@bresnan.net. The Small Business Development Center can help you look at your compete business plan through the lens of sustainable practices. Contact Diane Wolverton, ddw@uwyo.edu.

Green Business (OH COME ON!?!)

By Brandon

Doug Hall is the author of the Jump Start Your Business Brain book series.  He's also founder and CEO of the Eureka! Ranch.  Manufacturing-Works, a partner of the Wyoming Business Council, has recently employed a business innovations and sustainability initiative from the Eureka! Ranch called Eureka! Winning Ways.  You can find more information on Manufacturing-Works at www.manufacturing-works.com.  More Information on the Eureka! Ranch can be found at www.eurekaranch.com. 

Now, the reason I mention Doug Hall is that he has recently published an article talking about how businesses can make money while "going green."  I realize that this isn't the most popular subject in Wyoming most of the time, but hey, if you can make (or save) some money with this, why not try it?  Anyway, click the following .pdf link and read the article Doug has written.  He has some great points which might help your business stay ahead of the curve and be competitive for many years to come.  Green Opportunities

Entrepreneurs – I have a little secret!!

By Brandon Marshall

I guess if you publish something on the internet it ceases to be secret, but hey, we’re about helping entrepreneurs here at wyospace.com, so here’s a little morsel of information that you might not know………..

The Wyoming Rural Development Council (Part of the Wyoming Business Council) conducts what are called community assessments in communities of all sizes in Wyoming.  The last I knew nearly every community in the state had participated in at very least an initial assessment with some currently working on 5 year follow up assessments.  All this sounds somewhat irrelevant to entrepreneurship, but it’s not.  Just hear me out. 

Part of the assessments are asking three questions which basically revolve around what’s good about your community, what’s bad, and where would you like to see your community be in the future.  So, now, the portion of this that’s relevant to entrepreneurs.  Often times, in fact every time, the people of the community discuss the need for additional businesses in their communities.  Many times, people are quite specific in stating exactly what they need to have in their communities.  This is valuable information for aspiring entrepreneurs.  Essentially the beginnings of some pretty good market research can be found in the report that results from the assessment.  Even if there’s not a specific “We want a hardware store” type statement, the report serves as a marker of the sentiment of a community, and generally has the blessings of the local government leaders.   If you are looking to start a business the report will offer insight as to what each community is looking for and what they will support. 

You can find the reports from every community assessment done to date online at http://www.wyomingrural.org/community.asp.  Read through them.  You might just find a market for your entrepreneurial ideas.

Make Your Website Work for You Seminar

By Wyoming Small Business Development Center

So you've built a web site, now what? Don't sit in front of your computer helplessly "hoping for hits". At this seminar, you will learn internet marketing and optimization strategies that will bring visitors to your site and convert them into paying customers. Sponsored by the Wyoming Small Business Development Center and the Casper Area Chamber of Commerce, the seminar will take place on Dec. 6 from 9-11:00 am, in the SBDC Conference Room, 300 S. Wolcott, Ste. 300. Stuart Hill, owner of Smart WSI Web Solutions, will demonstrate how the combination of an online and an offline marketing plan can work for you. He will also cover search engine optimization techniques, email marketing campaigns, video (email and online), informational pages, online paid marketing, online reporting, and conversion techniques. Stuart Hill has been involved with computers and business since 1979. In 2005, he started Smart WSI Web Solutions. The Casper business is a WSI franchisee, the world's largest internet solutions provider. Smart WSI Web Solutions focuses on building, maintaining, and marketing internet solutions for small to medium- sized businesses in the Rocky Mountain area. Registration fee is $20 and deadline to register is Nov. 17. Contact the SBDC at 234-6683 to register. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made, if requested at least 2 weeks in advance. The WSBDC is a partnership program funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, and in part by the Wyoming Business Council, and the University of Wyoming.