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We opened the meeting with some real-time analytics, asking new faces to introduce themselves and tell us how they found us.  90%  said word of mouth.  It was either a friend, a direct experience, direct invite or event  listing – in that order. In other words, it was personal. Just like the writing of this [...]

Image via Wikipedia For those of us who love to write, the joy is in discovering the inspiration of the day! You never know what’s in your head (of value) until you download it onto paper. Free flowing writing channels pure original insights. These can lead to business breakthroughs or crystallize ideas that were gasses [...]

Between social media, digital media, blogging, twitter, Linked In and networking, a small business could go crazy in the acid rain of information and options.  Just doing a task takes you to a browser that lures you into reading a story you could care less about.  Sure you’re more informed, which might come in handy,  [...]

When we opened our doors, the goals of Big Ooga have always been to help Chicago area entrepreneurs become smarter, more successful and better connected. What we evolved into at “Hello” was a magnificent community of intelligent entrepreneurs and small business owners who genuinely cared about achieving success while helping others do the same. We [...]

We are challenging the social construction of entrepreneurialism - a system that is minting chaos.  Going it alone as small business owners has given rise to enormous personal tolls. Doesn’t it make sense if we want better results, to build a better system?  Isn’t that what entrepreneurship is all about? Seeing a problem and fixing or improving it? ( I hear the coaches whispering, NO! Don’t call it [...]

Yes, it’s going to take a village to raise happy, healthy companies, but being out there on your own isn’t the only way.  Ask yourself,  “If I don’t have to do everything myself, why would I want to?”  By putting a community behind you, you’ll have more resources, less stress, and more time to focus on [...]

Call it a Village Industry, the galvanizing of an entrepreneurial community and the leveraging of our strengths, individually and in concert. My deepest gratitude goes out to Dr. Ray Benedetto, Kevin Gross, Gaye van den Hombergh, Rebecca Berneck and Craig Hickman for their strategy, vision, development and brilliance. To Ina’s Restaurant – and Ina, the Breakfast Queen. – to [...]

I asked Dave Mischler, President of Inner Circle, an expert in peer to peer business advisory groups, to share with us his top three reasons why we need each other in business. Enjoy his wisdom.   Top Three Reasons Why People in Business Need Each Other 1. Nobody can know it all – It is a complex world we live [...]