So What? Who Cares? Why You?

Entrepreneurship in Sub-saharan Africa

  I am always inspired  when I discover organizations like the MicroLoan Foundation.  This foundation support women entrepreneurs in Malawi, Africa with business education and funding to start their own ventures.  A key aim of the MicroLoan Foundation is to enable families to become self-sufficient by financing and helping them launch small business projects.

A key aim of the MicroLoan Foundation is to enable families to become self-sufficient by financing and helping them launch small business projects.  Through these project, women are able to improve the family's food security and support the children's education.  We often talk about the struggles and challenges of starting a venture, but I think we can all agree that being an entrepreneur, specifically a woman entrepreneur in these harshest of conditions, takes courage and commitment on an whole new level.

I urge you to take a look at the work the MicroLoan Foundation -- not only is it a great example of social entrepreneurship, but it will give you a dose of reality about your own entrepreneurial "struggles".

Hats off!

Enjoy your journey!

Wendy
Wendy Kennedy
author/advisor/lady with the flipcharts!
www.wendykennedy.com

Filet-O-Fish! or Carving Out the Market

I came across this article by Clayton Christensen entitled, "Finding the Right Job for Your Product" . It presents a perspective of carving out the market by thinking about the job your idea performs for customers.  I'm a fan of the market carving a la "market fishbone" exercise, but I must admit I don't see the uniqueness in this approach.  Is this not simply segmentation by context/application, or simply stated, "how will the customer use the product?" 

Even so, the strength of the article is not lost.  It reminds us how important it is to dive into the details by asking and examining the customer environment .  In doing so, you expand the market potential beyond your product category. 

Have a read through the article - if you prefer, you can access the full length version through innovationtools.com  (link at the end of the article).

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Wendy
author/advisor/lady with the flipcharts
www.wendykennedy.com

Let the Games Begin for 2008!

Welcome to a fresh, new year everyone!  It's got all of the hallmarks of being a fantastic one and I wish the best of health, happiness, laughter and business success to each of you. 

There's something about the dawn of a new year that puts a spring in my step.  It must be when you put your brain in park over the Christmas holidays and enjoy some family play time, the most wonderful creative ideas start to grow your business start bubbling up to the surface.  I just love that -- POOF! out of left field comes a completely awesome approach to take your business forward.  This Christmas I'm grateful for 3 big, bold ones.  The best Christmas present you could get.  So I'm energized and focused on 2008 and looking forward to all things new, big and bold. 

What's the lesson here for entrepreneurs and company builders?  Well, perhaps it's that there's a delicate balance required in holding the reins of your venture -- hold them too loose and fancy free and you wander aimlessly without purpose chasing every opportunity; hold the reins too tight and you squeeze the creativity and energy out of it.  And every once in a while it's best to just put the horse in the pasture to rest and relax.  You'll be surprised -- sometimes the best ideas come when we quiet our minds and let our hard work over the past year be rewarded with revelations.

So, I'm off to the races with my 3 big ideas and feeling great about the prospects!  I hope your journey in 2008 is fun-filled, full of big wins, and most of all introduces you to new life-long friends at every turn.

Let the games begin!

Wendy
author/advisor/lady with the flipcharts!
www.wendykennedy.com