Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

StartupNation community members in the Detroit area got together this evening for an informal networking meeting. We met at a local family Italian restaurant and ordered a bunch of pizzas.

After about an hour of introducing ourselves to one another and as I watched the entrepreneurial networking gene kick into high gear, I got the attention of the group and gave everyone one assignment.

"There is no agenda tonight. We`ll do this again and we`ll put together a more formal strategy for the next gathering.

I have one request of everyone. Head on out to the forum tomorrow and tell the rest of the global StartupNation community one thing that you learned tonight. What wisdom or insight or contact or specific knowledge did you gain from this gathering that you want to share with the rest of the StartupNation community?

 Tell the StartupNation members in (Chicago, Denver, Tampa) that they ought to get together too."

So here is my one thing: 

the more Tom told me about what he didn`t like about the StartupNation community forums, the more I began to appreciate how passionate he is about them. Thanks Tom.

even though Lynne hasn`t started her business yet, she is just as full of great business ideas as Steve, who is a few months into his new business, and Joe, who is one of the most energetic entrepreneurs I have ever met and been at his business for decades. Thanks gal/guys.

Mike is every bit as inspiring as the last time I saw him (several years ago) and Alicia seems to truly enjoy encouraging those entrepreneurs who are just about ready to take the leap.

I guess that`s more than one thing. Sorry, I couldn`t help myself.

OK Michiganders, what do you have to share with rest of the StartupNation community?


oh, and one more thing ... Darren is the person I was most intrigued with. But you wouldn`t know it from a first glance impression. Hang with those guys, they very often turn out to be the most valuable relationships you will ever cultivate.

Now I`m jealous of all the fun! 

Nikole,
We can perhaps put something like this together for all the California SUN members and invite headquaters to join us.
I am pretty sure we have at least about 40 to 50 Cali-members.
Want to give it a try? let me know. Joel, would you support us on this?
I think it`s time we start meeting other SUN members.
I`ve met 2 members from SUN so far.




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Edgar Monroy
Web Developer / Owner / Consultant
When starting your own business the need to "know-how" is greater than money!
http://www.nuevolution.net

California is a big place.
And I`m not coming down there to the crappy part!

It was a blast! I wish you all could have been there. Hopefully soon we`ll do a national conference, but until then I encourage you all to find other people in your area to meet with and "Start it up!"

One thing I came away with was something I knew already but had reinforced last night. It was a room full of people, each at a different stage in their own business, and yet there was a strong feeling of comradery. Business is all about people. I can`t do it all myself. I doubt very many can. There`s something you can learn from anyone.


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We totally will support meetings like this all over the globe. Since this one was in our HQ backyard, it was a good place to start. We have the beginnings of a plan to make these happen in your neighborhood (where-ever your neighborhood is).

My partner, Ken, and I attended this mixer, and we both feel it was a great opportunity for everyone to meet and mingle. We are very pleased with the contacts we made.

As newbies to this site, we have a little catching up to do. We will be looking for forum posts made by some of the people who made the largest impressions on us. We want to hear what they have to say.

I can`t speak for Ken, but I enjoyed speaking with Corey, Joe, Nicole & Kimberly. I know Lynn was a fascinating person too, so I am glad that Ken was able to talk with her at length. Lori and I found we are both in the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce Business Women`s Network together. That was great.

Next time, I would like to see more floor space for mingling as well as a chance for each person to introduce themselves and their company to the group. Just this little bit of change might benefit our next gathering. Cudos to Steve for thinking up this mixer!

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Diana Schatzman, Owner, Designed By You Jewelry Design Parties, www.dbyjewelry.com, Phone: 248-544-6392 Fax: 248-544-6398

big kudos to steve, whose inspiration last night`s gathering was - i`m posting a link to a blog from this morning about steve and his initiative to make it happen.

http://www.startupnation.com/blog/entry.asp?ENTRY_ID=480

rich


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Rich Sloan , Co-Founder, Chief Startupologist, StartupNation

As a small biz coach (and a small biz owner myself) I find it`s essential to hang with entrepreneurs because I learn so much from each and every one of you.  The positive energy was amazing and inspiring.  And how affirming to see the great wealth of talent and creativity in Southeast Michigan!  Loved Steve`s cookies, great conversations with him, John, Yvette, Kevin, Michael, Lori, Diana, and even a copy of "The Tipping Point" (thanks, Nicole!).  My takeaway is that we HAVE to do more of these for the contacts, the ideas, the inspiration, the comaraderie, the support, for peace and prosperity on earth! 

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Kim Greenspan, The Alternative Board - Metro Detroit. Helping business owners achieve success with peer advice and coaching. www.tabmetrodetroit.com

The Kick off Michigan SUN gathering yesterday evening was great,

The can do spirit is "alive and well "in Michigan. Keeping these informal , with majority of time spent networking for the next few sessions is a great way for everyone to share there business goals , solutions, and challenges. We have all been to enough meetings where interaction is limited. , there is not enough time to talk with other members.

Once there are a few more meetings the agenda can be tweaked to the requests of the attendees. A suggestion is to book in a resturant that has a seperate room  , many will offer this at no cost for groups of 20 or more. Pasqualie`s on Woodward has these meeting rooms in their  lower level.

It may be helpful if there is a  brief 15 second around the tables introduction  for each member before  food is served.

To grow SUN-Joel I gave you the Detroit Free Press Business Web address where they will publish SUN meeting details the day before the meeting at no cost in the Business Section

Looking  forward to the next SUN gathering !!!

Frank Frystak

Frystak Associates

Business Expansionists

tel: 248-788-2170

fffrystk@ameritech.net

 

 

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Frank F. Frystak President Frystak Associates 35361 Stratton Hill CT. Farmington Hills, MI 48331 fffrystk@ameritech.net Tel: 248-788-2170 Fax: 248-661-6641