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News Recap: Optimize Your Social Network, What is Authentic Leadership?, 8 Successful Entrepreneurs Give Their Younger Selves Advice

zauggke — Fri, 17 May 2013 21:48:23 +0000

The Office of Economic Development’s Daily Digest is a daily resource for business people. Here are three of our most clicked through stories for the week of May 13-16:

OPTIMIZE YOUR SOCIAL NETWORK

Click through to see the full infographic.

WHAT IS AUTHENTIC LEADERSHIP?

FORBES

Authenticity has been explored throughout history, from ancient Greek philosophers to the works of Shakespeare. The idea of authentic leadership has only come to the forefront of management theory in the past decades and many businesses are still not able to comprehend the meaning and application of true organizational leadership. While approaches to the topic can vary, many theorists agree with certain fundamental truths when it comes to being a leader, such as focusing on the long term, self-awareness, and being mission-driven.

8 SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURS GIVE THEIR YOUNGER SELVES ADVICE

FAST COMPANY

Looking at the success trajectories of today’s disruptors it’s easy to think that they had everything figured out from a young age, but many of today’s success stories learned lessons later in life that they wished they has known as they were beginning their careers. Eight investors and entrepreneurs share advice they wish they had gotten in their early twenties including: avoid the risk of not trying and the regret of wishing you had, spend wisely early in life so you can achieve the financial independence to follow your dreams; and surround yourself with great people and be fearless in pursuit of game-changing ideas.

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Are you and your friends signed up for OED’s Daily Digest? Compiled from over 100 news sources, the OED Daily Digest is the best way to keep up with the latest in business, technology, workforce, industry, real estate, maritime, energy and economic development news in Seattle.

“What Seattle Really Thinks About Local” Event on June 5

zauggke — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:38:19 +0000

Understanding what your customers and neighbors really think about shopping and buying local can have a profound impact on the way a company does business – and help the company fine-tune its strategies to compete against non-local chains and corporations. As part of a new event series, Seattle Good Business Network is hosting ‘What Seattle Really Thinks About Local,’ on June 5 to present the results of a major, exclusive survey examining the perceptions and attitudes of Seattle and King County residents when it comes to spending money with local, independent businesses. The Office of Economic Development provided support for research that will give you a first hand look at:

•   How Seattle/King County residents define the term “local”
•   The importance of buying from locally owned businesses compared to other decision factors
•   How much more, if any, residents are willing to spend on local options
•   How attitudes differ by key demographic and psychographic factors
•   The key implications for your business

Visit the event site for more information.

The 2013 Mayor’s Award for Achievement in Film goes to: Paul Matthaeus, Founder, Chairman, Chief Creative Officer Emeritus Digital Kitchen®

zauggke — Thu, 16 May 2013 21:03:50 +0000

Yesterday Mayor Mike McGinn announced the 2013 recipient of the 8th Annual Mayor’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Film: Paul Matthaeus, Founder, Chairman, and Chief Creative Officer Emeritus of Digital Kitchen®.

“Paul’s impressive filmmaking and commercial film career, his championship of Seattle as a thriving commercial film production city, and his commitment to the local filmmaking industry make him an obvious honoree this year,” said Mayor McGinn. “I congratulate him on his work and thank him for being a leader in our local film industry.”

The Mayor’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Film recognizes an individual or entity for exceptional work that has significantly contributed to the growth, advancement and reputation of Seattle as a filmmaking city. The award presented is artwork created by artist Dale Chihuly.

After spending 15 years in the ad agency business, Paul Matthaeus founded Digital Kitchen (DK) in 1995 with the mission to apply entertainment principles to brands- and in turn- branding principles to entertainment.

Not only has DK grown into a creative force that traverses entertainment and advertising- winning many accolades along the way- Matthaeus has developed the careers of countless digital artists and filmmakers, through DK’s home office in Seattle and satellites across the nation.

“Unlike most filmmakers, I’ve spent my entire life and career in Seattle,” said Matthaeus. “This city has played a seminal role in who I am, and has defined my outlook on business and creativity. I think to a great degree, this honor validates Seattle as a world-class creative center.”

City Promotes Resources To Participate, Volunteer, and Navigate Summer Events

zauggke — Wed, 15 May 2013 19:22:43 +0000

It seems no city celebrates the return of sunshine and long days like Seattle. This year’s summer calendar of events proves the point with seemingly every day full of activities for people from all walks of life. So, whether you’re interested in music, sports, visiting the waterfront for a Ferris wheel ride or a boat tour, arts or nakedness, there is probably an event taking place just around the corner that will make you think summer will last forever.

These gatherings encourage and support the interaction of neighbors, friends, families and strangers, increase the vibrancy of our neighborhoods, and provide positive economic impact.

“Seattle in the summertime is a special place, and Seattleites love to get out and enjoy our beautiful surroundings and kick back, whether running a marathon, seeing a sporting event or taking in some local music,” says Chris Swenson, Chair of the Seattle Special Events Committee. “All of these special events are what help make Seattle the place it is, and highlight our unique neighborhoods and our community.”

Here are three important resources to get you plugged in to all the activity and to know what’s going on this summer and where:

Participate: City Special Event Calendarhttp://www.seattle.gov/specialevents/events.htm

Volunteer: https://www.seattle.gov/html/citizen/communityvolunteer.htm

Navigate: Traveler’s Information Map and the latest traffic alerts athttp://web6.seattle.gov/travelers/

With long summer days and a short season of beautiful weather, most outdoor events in Seattle are squeezed into the summer months. Sometimes we have multiple large scale events happening on the same day. The City’s online Special Event Calendar has links to event details and route maps that can help you navigate getting to these events, and getting around town.

Plan ahead for some upcoming big weekends and Fourth of July – read the full press release and access City resources on the Special Events website.

Free ‘Launch Your Business’ Seminars With Score and SBA

zauggke — Wed, 15 May 2013 00:04:36 +0000

On May 20, Small Business Administration offers two free ‘Launch Your Business’ workshops. The early morning seminar covers planning and preparation steps to starting a business, followed by a more in-depth look at the funds needed to open a business, contingency and reserves, working capital, major start-up expenses, expense estimates, and break-even analysis. The seminars will run consecutively from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Each requires a separate registration. Click here for more information.

City Seeks Lending Partner Through Request For Qualifications

zauggke — Tue, 14 May 2013 23:55:48 +0000

The City’s Office of Economic Development (OED) will select a community-based lending partner through this Request for Qualifications to provide small business loans ranging from $100,000 to $1,000,000 on behalf of the City. Increasing access to capital for small businesses has been a critical component of the City’s ongoing efforts to foster job creation and economic growth. OED has designated $310,000 to be allocated for expanding its small business lending activities through this partnership. Submissions by qualified organizations engaged in small business lending will be accepted through May 31. Click here for more information.

STEM Graduate Shortage? Computer Science is Where the Future Jobs Are

zauggke — Mon, 13 May 2013 22:26:33 +0000

With all the emphasis on the importance of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees, how do we make sense out of a recent report from the Economic Policy Institute?

As covered last week by The Seattle Times, The Washington Post, and others, the report argued that there is no shortage of graduates in STEM fields overall, and that this applies to all of the various subfields of STEM, including computer science.

Ed Lazowska, Bill & Melinda Gates Chair in Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Washington, pointed out in his opinion editorial in yesterday’s Seattle Times that the original report, and the subsequent national media coverage, confused the issue when it comes to computer sciences.

While there may be no overall shortage of STEM graduates, Professor Lazowska observed that it is incorrect to assume that all of these graduates are interchangeable. He concludes that the Washington State economy continues to exhibit a large and unfulfilled demand for computer science graduates. In Lazowska’s words: “Computer science: it’s where the jobs are. It’s where the future is.”

Read Professor Ed Lazowska’s full Seattle Times piece here.

News Recap: Top Cities for Women Entrepreneurs, Quotes to Live By, Using Twitter for Business

zauggke — Fri, 10 May 2013 21:46:17 +0000

The Office of Economic Development’s Daily Digest is a daily resource for business people. Here are three of our most clicked through stories for the week of May 6-9:

TOP U.S. CITIES FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS

Click through to see the full infographic.

32 QUOTES THAT EVERY ENTREPRENEUR SHOULD LIVE BY

FORBES

It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently. - Warren Buffett

The nature of being an entrepreneur means that you fully embrace ambiguity and are comfortable with being challenged regularly. Starting a company may bring a roller coaster of emotions with tremendous highs and at times, difficult lows, but you can always look to others for inspiration and advice. Forbes put together 32 bits of wisdom from great thinkers and innovators that can help you become a better entrepreneur.

HOW TO USE TWITTER FOR BUSINESS

PSBJ

Using Twitter for business requires a delicate balance between community integration and self promotion. Whether you’re an experienced tweeter or just beginning, this list of hints will help you use the social networking platform better and more effectively. Tips include: Maintaining a 3-to-1 ratio of shared content to self-promotion, being accurate in tweets, and aligning tweets with business goals without sounding like an advertisement or spam.

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Mayor launches Startup Seattle Initiative to support local technology startup community growth

zauggke — Thu, 09 May 2013 20:25:13 +0000

Leaders of Seattle’s startup community and the city of Seattle have teamed up to launch Startup Seattle, an initiative to support the growth of the Seattle technology startup community and establish Seattle as an internationally recognized home for emerging technology companies. Today, Mayor Mike McGinn hosted a press conference to announce the group’s action plan at the downtown Seattle headquarters of Zillow, one of Seattle’s most successful startups in recent years.

“Startup companies are an important part of Seattle’s innovative local economy,” said McGinn. “That’s why we are working hard to support startup businesses that could turn in to the next Microsoft or Amazon. I thank all of our partners in this work to help support our local economy, which is growing faster than the rest of the region, state and country.”

“Economic recovery doesn’t happen all on its own and this initiative is consistent with Council’s economic recovery resolution calling for actions that make it easier to do business in Seattle,” said Councilmember Richard Conlin.

During the next year, the City plans to hire a startup business sector liaison, re-launch the resource website startupseattle.com, form partnerships with local organizations such as Code.org, Startup Weekend and Student RnD to increase access and connect high school students with local technology opportunities, and develop a marketing campaign to help attract talent to Seattle from across the country. In addition, the City will continue to support “innovation hubs” that make neighborhoods more attractive to early-stage technology companies and initiate a market assessment of real-estate needs for startups that will be used to guide new transit-oriented development in the University District.

To learn more about StartupSeattle, visit: startupseattle.com,

To read the full press release, visit: http://www.seattle.gov/mayor/press/newsdetail.asp?ID=13643

Council Approves Renewal of Metropolitan Improvement District

zauggke — Tue, 07 May 2013 19:42:12 +0000

The Seattle City Council voted yesterday to renew the Metropolitan Improvement District (MID) in Downtown Seattle for another 10 years, expanding the MID’s service area from 225 to 285 square blocks with the addition of the Belltown neighborhood and several added blocks in Pioneer Square.

The MID provides a broad range of services to Downtown that go beyond those provided by City of Seattle, including – streetscape cleaning, public safety, human services outreach, hospitality, and other services. The MID’s work is designed to keep Downtown’s participating neighborhoods inviting, clean and safe. The new service areas will begin on July 1, 2013.

Jim Miller, president of the Belltown Business Association, said his neighborhood is excited to be part of the MID. “We require added services in order to address our crime, human service and cleaning needs beyond what the City could offer. Now, as part of the MID, we’ll get the help we need.”

Each day, the MID’s team of 62 uniformed Ambassadors can be seen providing services in the Denny Triangle, Pioneer Square, Retail Core, Waterfront and West Edge neighborhoods, and now Belltown. MID Ambassadors clean streets and alleys, remove graffiti, help visitors find their way, coordinate services for people in need and much more. The MID also employs off-duty police officers who help reduce crime in special emphasis areas.

Among the enhancements a renewed MID will bring are:

Additional MID Ambassadors for sidewalk and curb cleaning.
Additional off-duty SPD teams to focus on drug activity and other illegal behavior.
New retail recruitment program to help fill street-level storefront vacancies.
More outreach services to homeless people and others in need.

Learn more about the Metropolitan Improvement District (MID)