If you want to build a better future, you must believe in secrets.
The great secret of our time is that there are still uncharted frontiers to explore and new inventions to create. In "Zero to One," legendary entrepreneur and investor Peter Thiel shows how we can find singular ways to create those new things.
Thiel begins with the contrarian premise that we live in an age of technological stagnation, even if we're too distracted by shiny mobile devices to notice. Information technology has improved rapidly, but there is no reason why progress should be limited to computers or Silicon Valley. Progress can be achieved in any industry or area of business. It comes from the most important skill that every leader must master: learning to think for yourself.
Doing what someone else already knows how to do takes the world from 1 to n, adding more of something familiar. But when you do something new, you go from 0 to 1. The next Bill Gates will not build an operating system. The next Larry Page or Sergey Brin won't make a search engine. Tomorrow's champions will not win by competing ruthlessly in today's marketplace. They will escape competition altogether, because their businesses will be unique.
"Zero to One" presents at once an optimistic view of the future of progress in America and a new way of thinking about innovation: it starts by learning to ask the questions that lead you to find value in unexpected places.Get more information here: Zero-to-One book
Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce earns highest level of distinction
At its November board meeting, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce awarded 30 local chambers of commerce throughout the nation with Accreditation for their sound policies, effective organizational leadership, and positive impact on their communities. The only program of its kind in the country, U.S. Chamber Accreditation recognizes excellence in chamber planning and performance.To become accredited, a chamber must demonstrate quality programs, clear organizational procedures, and effective communications by meeting minimum standards in its operations and programs, including areas of governance, government affairs, and technology. Accreditation by the U.S. Chamber validates a chamber as having solid programs and as being a catalyst for positive action in the community. It is a prestigious honor that distinguishes the high quality, expertise, and strong leadership of an organization.
With this announcement, the Oshkosh Chamber was recognized with the highest level of distinction – the 5-Star Accreditation. This prestigious honor puts us among the top 1 percent of chambers nationwide. To put this in perspective, there are nearly 7,000 chambers of commerce in the US, among which only 213 currently remain accredited. Of this accredited group, only 89 chambers across the country have achieved this highest rating and only two in Wisconsin, the Oshkosh Chamber being one of the two. thenorthwestern.com
Iowa Great Lakes Chamber honors Tom Kuhlman at annual meeting
Tom Kuhlman served as Executive Director of the Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce for 34 years.The Queen II excursion boat circled West Lake Okoboji under his leadership. A historic amusement park was spared and a maritime museum was constructed during his tenure. He literally lights the fuse to start every Fourth of July fireworks display and the annual Walleye Weekend helps special needs children around the state.
But if you ask Kuhlman if there's anything he'd do differently after more than three decades, his answer is: "Maybe start sooner." The answer doesn't surprise Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce Board Chairman Norm Johnson. He feels Kuhlman's leadership helped put Okoboji on the map as a premiere destination area.Read more: Dickinson County News
Subaru executive to lead Indiana chamber of commerce
Tom Easterday, Executive Vice President, Secretary and Chief Legal Officer of Subaru of Indiana Automotive, was elected to serve as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce for 2015, during the Indiana Chamber’s Fall Board of Directors meeting held in Indianapolis on November 6th.Easterday has been actively involved with the Indiana Chamber of Commerce for several years, having served as Vice Chairman, as a member of the Executive Committee, as Vice Chairman of the Energy Policy Committee and as a member of the Labor & Employment Policy Committee. He has been a member of the Board of Directors since 1999. In addition, he is a member of the Board of Directors of Indiana Business for Responsive Government, the Indiana Chamber’s political action committee.
Terry Dunn has ambitious plans as new KC Chamber chairman
Terry Dunn, new chairman of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, plans for you to hear the word “entrepreneurship” even more in the coming year.He’s going to be talking about it a lot, and he expects you’ll hear it a lot more from other business and government leaders who’ll spend time and money to buff the metro area’s reputation as a good place — even a great place — to start and grow a business.
Among the true believers, Dunn looks to Cerner co-founder Cliff Illig, who is spearheading creation of a nonprofit organization dubbed EnterpriseKC. It’s an effort that intends to research the status and needs of the area’s existing entrepreneurs to help shape an inviting environment for others. Read more: Kansas City Star
Dearborn Chamber President Jackie Lovejoy appointed to Henry Ford College Foundation board of directors
The Henry Ford College Foundation board of directors appointed two new members for three-year terms beginning Dec. 11. The appointees are Jacqueline Lovejoy of Beverly Hills and Abe Munfakh of Plymouth.
“We are very honored to have these two gifted individuals join the foundation board of directors,” said A. Reginald Best, vice president of development. “They bring a very unique perspective and years of experience that will – no doubt – benefit the foundation and the college as a whole in the long run.”
Lovejoy is the president of the Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce. Prior to her appointment at the chamber, she worked at Davenport University in Dearborn for 15 years. Read more: Press & Guide
Minnesota Chamber Sponsor: ‘North Star Summit: A Vision for Minnesota’ set for Dec. 8
Stakeholders representing the private and public sectors will convene Dec. 8 to identify common goals for Minnesota’s higher education system to meet the state’s looming workforce needs.
The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce is among the sponsors of “The North Star Summit: Mapping Economic Prosperity for Minnesota.”
The event is scheduled for 8:30 a.m.-noon Dec. 8 at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul. It is open to the public. For details and to register, go to http://mnbiz.cc/1xY5zSl .
“Our membership has been telling us for years that it is a challenge to find qualified workers in many industries. Add to that the fact that our labor force in Minnesota will not grow much these next 15 years,” said Sarah Radosevich, policy research analyst at the Minnesota Chamber. “The result is that Minnesota really needs every potential worker – young and old – to know what the job opportunities are and to be able to access the education or training necessary to fill those roles. Employers have to play a key role in this, but all the stakeholders are at the table.” Read more: HometownSource.com
Chamber issue: Olathe (Kansas) residents offer ideas to improve transportation
After nearly a decade, Olathe is updating its transportation master plan.
The city’s massive growth over recent years has prompted the city to take a harder look at its transportation network, which includes routes for cars, buses, bikes, walkers and freight. The city’s population was 113,000 in 2004 and is about 130,000 today.
To kick-start the process, city staff held a public meeting recently at the Olathe Community Center. Read more: Kansas City Star
As Region Struggles to Fill Manufacturing Jobs, Northern Kentucky Leaders Form Coalition to Fix Problem
There are jobs available in the region -- jobs that pay very well -- but employers are having a hard time finding the workers they need to fill the positions.If Northern Kentucky hopes to produce the skilled workforce necessary to retain the advanced manufacturers who operate here, something has to be done and on Tuesday, Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce President Trey Grayson announced a new effort, saying the partners of a new coalition bring diverse experiences, expertise, and relationships to the unified effort.
“My hope is that by getting all of these partners on board through a ‘collective impact’ approach, we are very publicly pledging to address and solve this problem,” Grayson said. Read more: River City News
A new study released by the Nuclear Energy Institute (nei.org) shows us just what is at stake.
The study shows that nuclear power in Illinois brings billions of dollars in positive economic impact and generates 48 percent of our electricity reliably and without producing carbon pollution. To keep businesses running and to meet new federal requirements for lowering emissions, we need a strong nuclear energy sector in Illinois. Read more: Rockford Register Star
Friday: 157 Rules for Executive Success in Organization Management (and your Chamber of Commerce) by Patrick McGaughey
Byron Chamber Letter: What's at stake for energy in Illinois
Over the past year we have heard rumblings about the future of the Byron Nuclear Generating Station. It is feared that a range of policies and regulations are creating a scenario where the plant cannot operate profitably and could be permanently closed.A new study released by the Nuclear Energy Institute (nei.org) shows us just what is at stake.
The study shows that nuclear power in Illinois brings billions of dollars in positive economic impact and generates 48 percent of our electricity reliably and without producing carbon pollution. To keep businesses running and to meet new federal requirements for lowering emissions, we need a strong nuclear energy sector in Illinois. Read more: Rockford Register Star
Friday: 157 Rules for Executive Success in Organization Management (and your Chamber of Commerce) by Patrick McGaughey
RULE
#33 - Research
every board member and active volunteer on line.
Detroit Chamber
