Getting Out of a Conversation

Getting Out of a Conversation
Think Growth! newsletter
Bridget diCello

...While it's good fun to visit with friends and family, in the business setting, the professional who attends a good deal of events probably does so with a business agenda in mind. While still enjoyable, the event also turns into an opportunity to build current relationships, initiate new connections and discuss business opportunities. When you wish to accomplish those objectives, getting "stuck" in a non-strategic conversation can be a problem. ...It's important to make sure you see all those people important to your success this time of year.

Why do we get "stuck"?

•  There are a lot of people who are not good at getting into conversations, so they don't want to leave the security of the one they are in. If this is you...get out there, make eye contact, shake a hand, go get food or drink - but get comfortable getting into conversations.
• Maybe the person with whom you are speaking does not think you have learned enough about them and their company yet! If this is you, this is a major networking mistake. Ask more questions about the other person to build a relationship. Talk less and you will be considered much more interesting.
• The person who you are speaking with is not there to make multiple connections, just to socialize. If this is you, more power to you - enjoy yourself, but also open the door for the other person to leave if they are looking for more concrete results from their attendance at events.
• You don't want to hurt their feelings by cutting off what they are saying. If this is you, realize that many people will speak to fill the silence, and may be relieved if you end the conversation.

How can you politely get out of a conversation?
 Start with a thank you such as: It was good talking to you... I've enjoyed our conversation... I was surprised to learn (something you learned about them...)I hope your (vacation, business venture, event they mentioned) goes well...

And finish the sentence with something that says you are thinking about them. I will let you go mingle and meet some more of the attendees. I'd like you to meet... (Identify someone you want to introduce them to and take them there.)

Or finish the sentence with something you need to do.I'm going to go try that delicious looking food.I'm going to go get myself something to drink.If you'll excuse me, I see someone I need to catch up with.

There is no requirement that you stay in a conversation for as long as it can possibly last. Especially in a business setting, most people have objectives in their head for what they'd like to accomplish.

Have you ever felt "stuck" in a conversation?

Bridget DiCello is an expert in getting things done by effectively navigating difficult conversations. She inspires audiences to take action in the relationships most important to their business and their success. Bridget is the author of Opportunity Space: Purposeful Interactions, Energizing People, Producing Powerful Business Results.

For nearly a decade, Bridget has been working with executive teams and professionals using her powerful concept of Opportunity Space to transform their teams and their businesses.

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• Have You Found a Way to Make Small Talk Work for You Yet? (successful-blog.com)
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• Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High (smallbiztrends.com)

WTE: Next-Generation Sustainable Energy

Image by Colt Group via Flickrhttp://accessintelligence.imirus.com/Mpowered/imirus.jsp?volume=pow10&issue=6&page=78
WTE: Next-Generation Sustainable Energy
by Marco J Castaldi
Power Magazine July 2010

excerpts:
The typical question I hear after lectures and presentations on WTE technologies is, "Why aren't we doing more of this?" The simple answer I give is that preconceived notions, based on incinerator emissions before the MACT regulations, have held back development. But that is changing.

Image via WikipediaCurrently, WTE constitutes about 25% of the renewable energy produced in the U.S. That percentage has the potential to grow because only 7% of waste is converted to energy via WTE, 64% if landfilled, and the remaining 29% is recycled.

Encouragingly, WTE was identified among eight emerging green technologies in a report from the Davos World Economic Forum in 2009 entitled "Green Investing: Towards a Clean Energy Infrastructure."

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• Waste-to-Energy - Global Outlook (wteconsult.wordpress.com)
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Richard Branson on How to Avoid Common Startup Mistakes

Image via CrunchBase

Entrepreneur.com
BY Richard Branson

Editor's Note: Entrepreneur Richard Branson regularly shares his business experience and advice with readers. What follows is the latest edited round of insightful responses. …

Q: What are some of the most common mistakes entrepreneurs make when starting out? -- John Gachiri

A: Making mistakes is part of the process of building a company; quickly recovering from them is what's most important. …

But your way forward is not entirely uncharted: When you notice an opportunity that has never occurred to anyone else, there are certain steps to turning your vision into reality. You must formulate an innovative business plan, find funding, hire the right people to carry out the plan, and then step back from your role in the business at exactly the right moment.

Step 1: Stay on Target
A mistake often associated with the first step is signaled by an entrepreneur's inability to clearly and concisely convey his idea. You have to be able to generate buy-in from investors, partners and potential employees, so nail down your "elevator speech" -- what you would say if you ran into an important potential investor in an elevator. Try using a Twitter-like template to refine the essence of your concept into just 140 characters. Once you've done that, expand your message to a maximum of 500 characters. Remember, the shorter your pitch is, the clearer it will be.

An associated error is lack of focus. ... Clearly define your goals and strategies, then establish a timeline. Don't let the other possibilities or hazy dreams distract you from achieving your goal.
Getting too far ahead of yourself is also dangerous. If your product or service is still on the drawing board, don't get sidetracked by plans for future versions. As a general guideline, looking two or three years ahead is best, but the nature of your business and feedback from your investors will help you determine just how far ahead you should plan.

Be flexible, because just as lack of planning can be a problem, adhering blindly to your plan is a surefire way to steer your company off a cliff. A successful entrepreneur will constantly adjust course without losing sight of the final destination.

Step 2: Be Realistic About Costs
Don't shortchange your start-up when estimating the funds you will require -- you'll just diminish your chances of success. Keeping your expenses under control is vital, but don't confuse capitalization with costs. …

Step 3: Hire the People You Need, Not the People You Like
As tempting as it may be to staff your new business with friends and relatives, this is likely to be a serious mistake. If they don't work out, asking them to leave will be very tough.

When Virgin starts any new business, we always hire a core team of smart people who already know the industry and its inherent risks. … One of your goals should be to find a manager who truly shares your vision, and to whom you can someday confidently hand the reins so that you can carry out the next step.

Step 4: Know When to Say Goodbye
A great entrepreneur knows when the time has come to leave the CEO role. It's seldom easy, but it has to be done: few entrepreneurs make great managers. …

Stepping back doesn't mean turning your back on your business. …

Image via CrunchBaseImage via CrunchBaseFounders shouldn't hesitate to re-insert themselves into their businesses when necessary -- look at Larry Page, who temporarily returned to the CEO role at Google in April. That said, I had to laugh when I heard this news, wondering how many managers at Virgin businesses had thought, "Wow, I hope this doesn't give Richard any ideas."

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FAQ: What the new U.S. crowdfunding bill means for entrepreneurs

Image via CrunchBase

LinkedIn

Scott Edward Walker is the founder and CEO of Walker Corporate Law Group, PLLC, a law firm specializing in the representation of entrepreneurs.

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a crowdfunding bill that will allow startups to offer and sell securities via crowdfunding sites and social networks. If passed by the Senate and signed off by the President, the bill will become a law, giving entrepreneurs new options for raising money for their companies. …

What is crowdfunding?

As the term suggests, crowdfunding is funding from a crowd of people; that is, many people provide small amounts of money to finance something. Crowdfunding has its roots in charitable causes, including the advent of microfinancing …

Can startups use crowdfunding now?

Under current laws, startups may not sell stock or other securities through crowdfunding sites or social networks… They may, however, accept donations.
This is because of applicable federal securities laws ... The laws include the following:

• A prohibition against “general solicitation” — which means that a company may not offer or sell securities unless there is a substantive, pre-existing relationship between the company (or a person acting on its behalf) and the prospective investor. (See “Can I Raise Money For My Startup Via Twitter?”)

• Disclosure and state law compliance requirements if the investors are not “accredited investors” — which usually makes the offering too costly and onerous. (See “Ask the attorney — securities laws.”)

• A requirement that any intermediaries (including websites) must be registered with the SEC as a “broker-dealer” in order to legally accept any transaction-based compensation in connection with the sale of securities. (See “Finder keepers could be losers, weepers”).

What will the new crowdfunding bill do?

Basically, if this new crowdfunding bill becomes a law, all of the foregoing prohibitions and requirements will be lifted, and a startup will be able to sell securities through crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter, or social networks like Twitter or Facebook, so long as the company (and its intermediary, if applicable) comply with the bill. According to the bill, the company will have to meet these key provisions:

• The company may only raise a maximum of $1 million, or $2 million if the company provides potential investors with audited financial statements.

• Each investor is limited to investing an amount equal to the lesser of (i) $10,000 or (ii) 10% of his or her annual income.

• The issuer or the intermediary, if applicable, must take a number of steps to limit the risk to investors, including (i) warning them of the speculative nature of the investment and the limitations on resale, (ii) requiring them to answer questions demonstrating their understanding of the risks, and (iii) providing notice to the SEC of the offering, including certain prescribed information.

Are there any downsides to crowdfunding for startups?

Yes, there are several key downsides that you need to be aware of before jumping into crowdfunding.
First, startups must understand that minority stockholders have certain significant rights under state law, including voting rights, the right to inspect the company’s books and records, the right to bring a derivative claim on behalf of the company, and certain protections against oppression by the controlling stockholders. …
Second, having hundreds of stockholders is an administrative nightmare and will be time-consuming and costly. …
Third, startups will likely have difficulty raising funds from VCs and other sophisticated investors if they have hundreds of unsophisticated stockholders. …

What’s next?

Now we wait for the U.S. Senate, … The White House supports the House bill, so upon reconciliation, it will be signed into law. Then entrepreneurs will have a new option to consider when raising money for their startup.

About the Author, Scott Edward Walker

Scott Edward Walker is the founder and CEO of Walker Corporate Law Group, PLLC, a boutique corporate law firm specializing in the representation of entrepreneurs. Scott has 15+ years of broad corporate law experience, including nearly eight years at two prominent New York City law firms. He has built a strong team of lawyers, with offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. You can follow him on Twitter as @ScottEdWalker or check out his blog.

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Fat Replaces Oil For F-16s As Biofuels Head To War

Fat Replaces Oil For F-16s As Biofuels Head To War
Financial Advisor magazine

(Bloomberg News) Biofuels face their biggest test yet -- whether they can power fighter jets and tanks in battle at prices the world’s best-funded military can afford.

The U.S. Air Force is set to certify all of its 40-plus aircraft models to burn fuels derived from waste oils and plants by 2013, three years ahead of target, Air Force Deputy Assistant Secretary Kevin Geiss said. The Army wants 25 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2025. The Navy and Marines aim to shift half their energy use from oil, gas and coal by 2020.

The military’s drive to cut dependence on oil, coal and gas goes beyond biofuels. It’s developing wind and solar farms to power U.S. bases and expanding the use of renewables into combat zones such as Afghanistan, where a study last year showed one Marine is killed or wounded for every 50 fuel and water convoys.

Under a 2005 law, federal government facilities must source at least 5 percent of their electricity from renewable sources in 2010-2012, and at least 7.5 percent afterward.

Image via WikipediaPresident Barack Obama on Aug. 16 announced the Navy and Departments of Agriculture and Energy would each plow $170 million over three years into the commercial development of biofuels, with the aim of generating at least as much in private investment. The Navy aims to ramp up its biofuels use to 3 million gallons in 2016 from 900,000 gallons next year.

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