Entrepreneur of the Year for 2004

I don’t always see eye to eye with the editors over at Inc magazine, but I could agree more with their choice for Entrepreneur of the Year for 2004.
“Above 100,000 feet, the air is so thin that wings become useless and aerodynamics stop mattering. Climbing higher takes sheer propulsion – propulsion that air-breathing jet engines can’t deliver in the deepening vacuum. Here is where the sky ends, the horizon curving away to reveal the star-freckled shadow of space. Call it nature’s Maginot Line, separating the world of planes from the world of rockets….(H)istory may pinpoint the breach (of that line) to that moment on October 4 when an orca-shaped, stubby-winged aircraft planted its almost comically spindly legs on a runway in California’s Mojave Desert. In so doing, the privately funded SpaceShipOne had carried humans to space and back again twice within a week, earning its owners the Ansari X-Prize, meant to spur the opening of the age of commercial space travel.
“The man leading the team that took home that prize is, of course, Elbert Leander ‘Burt’ Rutan.”
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The best part is he took a craft into space not once, but twice, with a company that falls well within the boundaries of “small business.” He has 125 employees! For achieving this remarkable accomplishment, his company won the $10 million X-prize. But more importantly he will always be remembered at the father of a new industry: commercial space travel.
If you haven’t seen the documentary about this story, it is worth buying.

Battle for the Purse Domain

I have known a few men over the years who carry purses. It always jars me a bit to see this (knowing these folks I am sure that was their intended effect). One male former colleague who carried a purse always reminded me that I was “just not European enough to understand.” I always took as a complement.
However, this morning I read in the Tennessean that purses for men, also known as carryalls, are catching on. Could I be that far behind the times, again? I know I’m a Luddite when it comes to technology, but is it possible that I am a fashion curmudgeon? To reassure myself, I do a couple of quick Google searches. The results were 3,930 hits for “mens carryalls”, and 344,000 for mens purses. One hit from Inc.com suggests that they are “perfect for visiting a client, sending e-mails from Starbucks, or hanging out at the gym.” I guess it has been a while since I’ve been to the gym, after all!
But, women are not giving up their purses without a fight. Red Herring tells us that women’s purses are morphing with computer bags to create a new generation of women’s accessories.
“Targus, which boasts a 21-year history of making computer accessories, is convinced women are tired of the black notebook cases dominating store shelves. The company did surveys and focus groups to find out what women want, ‘all the way down to the zipper pull and the lining of the cases,’ said Ms. Wirth. The company plans to sell them online and in stores like Office Depot.”
Change. As an entrepreneur I love it. It creates new opportunities around every corner. But, as a middle-aged guy it sure can be hard to keep up with it all….

Good Bye, Reggie

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Reggie White was a leader.
Reggie was a leader with integrity. He spoke his mind and always acted in ways that were true to his values.
Reggie was a leader with courage. He understood what was right and good and never wavered from his convictions.
Reggie was a leader with vision. He saw the Packers as a franchise that could be great once again, and helped to bring others with him to Green Bay to make his vision a reality.
Reggie was a humble leader. He understood that his gifts were from God and that it was his obligation to make the most of them.
Reggie was a leader who understood what was really important. His faith was always first, followed closely by his family. His community was next. Football followed all of these.

New ADA Rules May Impact Small Business

The NFIB reports that the Department of Justice is planning new rules related to the Americans with Disabilities Act that could have a significant impact on small businesses.
“Existing federal rules that establish what businesses must do to make their buildings and stores accessible under the ADA may change dramatically as the DOJ considers changes to the 1991 rules. While the ADA improved access for many people with disabilities, the law continues to present many challenges for small businesses. And the new requirements proposed by the DOJ could make it even more difficult and expensive for businesses to comply with the ADA.
“One of the biggest changes being considered would require businesses to provide wheelchair access through the employee work areas. This rule would apply to businesses regardless of whether they have an employee that uses a wheelchair. In addition, the new rules would require that fire alarms in work areas have both visible (a flashing light) as well as audible alarms. Other changes in the new rule would require handrails on both sides of ramps and/or stairwells, lower the height to 48 inches from the current 54 inches for reachable items such as light switches, paper towel dispensers, pay telephones, etc., increase the number of accessible van parking spaces required in a parking lot, change requirements for handicapped accessible drinking fountains, and alter the measurements for handicapped accessible restrooms.”
Which small business could be affected by these changes?
“Some of the new requirements will apply to existing businesses and could require retrofitting. The types of businesses potentially affected by the new rules include retail establishments, restaurants, hotels, movies theaters, and any business with employees – disabled or not.”

Entrepreneurs as Employees

There have been several articles recently about the growing focus on “entrepreneurial skills” in hiring managers for larger businesses. Clearly this will require some rather drastic changes in culture for many corporations.
In the Nashville City Paper, M.B. Owens writes a column that reinforces this trend in recruitment.
“The result for new jobs will be towards more highly skilled, highly trained and well-educated employees. But another characteristic will mean even more than in the past for the world’s greatest economy – creativity….Workers and employees that contribute to this approach will be in high demand now and in the future. In their jobs these people work more with ideas and better ways of doing things.”
(Thanks to Jennie Bowman for passing this along.)