Continuous Sustainable Innovation

This blur of a picture happens to be our guest speaker from Entrepreneurship and Innovation this week, Mr. Frank Paul, Co-Founder of Golfsmith.  (My phone's camera make a loud noise right as the picture took, which embarrassed me and thus- the blur).  He was tremendously warm and engaging... really seemed down to earth, which I had a whole new level of respect for after hearing his story about how he and his brother grew this business out of a home basement to what Golfsmith was in 2002 when they sold it.

He took the time to prepare notes and shared with us what it was like to grow a business, as well as some of the humorous stories that accompanied the journey.  It was nice to see a man of his stature take seriously imparting his wisdom to us as students.  Often times, not that it is wrong, speakers come in for a "fireside chat", and while I appreciate the candor that accompanies this style, there's also just something to a person who could do that, but taking anyways the time to show they value and prepared for the group.

One thing that really stood out to me about Mr. Paul was this constant grasp for innovation.  Going from selling your own club, to extending to new product materials like Graphite, to opening large stores when none existed before.  And that seemed to be so much of the case for Golfsmith, looking and seeing the opportunity that didn't seem to exist before.  Someone in the class relayed this idea to Steve Jobs, and how Apple also seemed to sense and create a demand in their own market.  Makes sense, but how do you do it?

Peter Drucker seems to fit right about here.  His ideas for innovation and entrepreneurship stretched beyond being your own business owner.  He was challenging the industries to go where they hadn't gone before.  To look for the unexpected.  To seek true innovation.

In my pre-grad school days, my psychology background would suggest that there is not an original thought, only new combinations of what has been relayed.  How does this fit in with innovation?  How do you maintain a working knowledge of your competitors, keep up, if not stay in front of them, and continually seek the "original thought"... the point of differentiation?

My minds flows to a thousand other questions- what does differentiation look like in nonprofit?  What is true innovation in nonprofit?  How do you stay innovative, when funders can initiatives direct the course of programming?  Are there ways to work with funders to do research on the needs of the community and challenge beyond collaboration- to innovation?

I may not have all the answers, but I feel like questions fit me better than answers anyway...

And with that statement, perhaps I answered my own question about Golfsmith's sustainable innovation... they weren't afraid of not having the answers, and took on the challenge of asking that next question.

Considering Consulting?

As mentioned in previous posts, I now find myself in the last semester of the MBA Program.  This week was week 3 of the final 15.

I got to class early .  A couple of groups were meeting in adjacent classrooms finalizing their presentations and I sat with my friend Michael and was joined by our friend Cathy briefly in our class room.  Kevin was practicing with his group, but for a moment it was just us- the original group from the first two semesters.  I reminisced a little- thinking about those early days of group meetings.  How I was much more timid those days about what this whole going back to school thing is all about.  Later in the night I laughed when one of my current group members jokingly and lovingly referred to me as "boss".  (There's a first for everything)! 

This semester, each team had to declare a project manager.  Since our capstone project is related to nonprofit work, the team unanimously nominated me, and I'm thrilled at the opportunity to put into practice what I've learned.  Course this team doesn't make it hard.  I've got a team that just seems to ooze excellence, and I really consider it an honor to be partnered this final semester with them.

I feel this week our Capstone project is going to finally gain some traction and momentum.  Today I will provide our clients with an agenda and prospectus to review at our luncheon on Thursday.  Our outcome of the projected will be a tailored strategic plan for one of Easter Seal's of Houston's newest programs- Bridging Apps. (http://www.bridgingapps.org/).  The website serves as a portal for educational apps that can be used for children and people with special needs.  The program is a merger from two sets of founders and our hope is that our work will provide them with a strong and shared foundation for the road ahead.

I'm enjoying the opportunity to serve in a "consultant's role", and after having read A Consultant's Calling, I wonder more about the pace and lifestyle to pull something like this off for multiple clients.  I have the benefit of working for a family of nonprofits, and wonder if these skills I've developed could be utilized in a professional way here in my own backyard.  I came into my MBA program wanting to help nonprofits utilize these business skills to serve more with less.  Knowing what I know now, and heading into my second opportunity to work for a client building a strategic plan, I see that I will have the ability and know how to do this in practice.  I'm really happy about what this means for my future, even though God's still not quite shown me what that looks like.  I guess all one can do is stay tuned...

Community Engagement

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about Leadership's Calling, and today I got my first look at the article I was interviewed for electronically.  Its a great article about City Council elections in Round Rock and specifically about the uncontested races. 

http://impactnews.com/articles/council-races-uncontested-for-third-election-in-a-row

For the City to put on an election it turns an expense of between $20,000-$40,000... can't remember specifically what, but a substantial amount of money.  The reasons for the uncontested races range from a good ole boy's network, or just a general engagement in the current community, to happiness with the current job done, or another could argue voter apathy.  I haven't made up my mind as to why not more are running for elected positions, but I am passionate about an engaged community.  For me its beyond who is turning out to run, but its about those who even feel in tune to vote.  Former Mayor Nyle Maxwell mentioned that its when people are unsatisfied that you have the major issues and everyone turns out.  I think its just out of the love of a community that everyone would turn out, so this community truly would be reflective of them.

For me, this is about an identity.  How do we get over 100,000 people to get to know the influencers, to know the issues and know our history so we know together where we are going.  I'm not saying that if everyone just knew where we had been we'd all be of one accord, but even descent is more attuned and engaged than the apathetic community member.  I'm not saying this is necessarily the nonvoter's issue.  I own this and say how do we reach out? How do we connect?  How does this community retain roots, but grow to become all its capable of?

I'm really interested in this from the grassroots perspective, because when everything is a volunteer commitment, you see true leadership and engagement.  There's no contract dictating one's allegiance or loyalty.  If the community really can come together rallied by non appointed officials, I think you get to see really what a full community is made of, and not just the talents and scope of a select few.

Please don't get me wrong.  I see value in our elected officials.  I am proud that many who currently serve, and hopefully serve in the next 10 years or so, are my friends.  It takes the Nancy Rabb's who have never run for office along with the Alan McGraw's, Round Rock's Mayor, to make this community as great as it is.  And even though it is great, we must never settle or say "this is good enough".  Our community deserves better.  It deserves to be engaged. 

Once I get my MBA, I've got to figure out how I fit in all this to truly engage my community.

The Beginning of the End

I've been thinking for a week or so on my next post... what to write about... With Leadership's requirement of a weekly leadership reflection, I ended up feeling a little "all reflected out".  Since my last posting, we did wrap up the end of semester 5, and tonight we start the beginning of the end. 

Tonight's the first class of Semester 6... the last and final semester of the Concordia MBA.  I sometimes have a hard time believing that I'm really in that place that 5 semesters ago felt so far away. 21 months have passed, we are about to embark on the subjects of Entrepreneurship and our capstone projects.  Also, not to be forgotten, the final leadership class titled Making a Difference.

As we head into our first class, I was a little frustrated.  Again, before even having a class, we have over 100 pages of reading to do, and perhaps even a presentation to start in outlining a prospectus on our capstone project.  And then I remember, this is the last time I have to do this, and for me that took the edge off.

Actually, some of that reading was pretty interesting.  The Consultant's Calling got my brain spinning.  I love the author's perspective.  He works 70 days a year, focuses on living within his means, and focuses on the freedom he has with his time in life.  It was the first time in a business text where I felt this life value come through.  He admits that jealousy sometimes gets the best of him, and he envies those who make 3 times as much because they work 3 times as much, but when it comes back to his central beliefs, he can live on less so he has the time to live more on his own terms.

It sounds appealing, and I'm really looking forward to what I learn in class this semester to apply to my work currently.  I love innovation.  I love looking at the why's of the things we do.  I'm hoping this semester will really help me to take things to that next level.  We've got 15 weeks to see if that pans out, but as of going into my first class of the last semester I feel the beginning of the end is really where it's all just beginning.

Leadership's Calling

I received a call yesterday from my favorite community paper.  It was about 3/4ths of the way through the questions that I really realized I was being interviewed and that what I said might actually end up in print.  The questions focused on community leadership- had I ever considered running for city council?  What's stopped me from pursuing this type of leadership?  I'm pretty sure he asked me like 10 other questions, but my brain had kinda fried at that point... What an honor to be on the call list for an article like this... I was just so blown away that I didn't know what I even ended up saying.  I was a little nervous, so I followed the call by sending in my resume, head shot and elaborated on the only two questions I could remember.

What timing!  Right now I'm in the Leadership-Community class, and I've really been wrestling with my desire to build a better community, but how to do that.  I'll be honest, before I moved to Round Rock, there was just something about "elected positions" that just didn't appeal to me.  For one- what responsibility!  A city council of a few people are tasked with the common good of nearly 100,000 people.  Who willingly takes that on?!  I also have had fears that people who pursue those things are in it most of the time with ulterior motives.  Would they do the job if it was guaranteed that no one would know their name?  I've even balanced the value of authenticity and staying true to myself- given the pressure of the recognition these positions receive, can I ensure I'm living the authentic life?  And talk about spot light... I already feel the pressure of living a life Jesus would be reflected in... now you'd have people really looking to you for the example you should be.  And lastly, I know community need by working in nonprofit.  How could I justify raising money to get me into a position, when I know that money could be well used by another purpose?

Last fall I began meeting with my mentor, Scott Alarcon.  If I'm honest, there aren't many people that I "look up to", but the more I get to know him, the more I find him to be a wonderful mentor, authentic Christan, loving husband and family man, who seeks to do what he can to make an impact in his community.  I could go on and on about his character, and how it inspires me to want to be better. 

Widely known fact- Scott serves on the Georgetown Independent School District's school board.  And not just on it.. as the Head of the School Board.

Once every month, Scott and I get together for coffee or lunch.  As I've gotten to know him, I have come to understand how Scott embodies his role as family man, Christian, CEO and public servant... and none of that seems to go against one another.  I understand he works hard on the work/life balance, but through his leadership, I'm beginning to see through the cloud that's hung around my idea of "elected public servant".

Don't get me wrong, and don't expect this to begin some type of campaign for me.  I've always said I'm following the Lord where He leads.  Right now, that's being the best MBA student, the best Children At Heart Ministries' employee, the best wife, and best friend that I'm called to be.  As opportunities present themselves, I like to see how my skill set and talents can serve as a catalyst to better my community.  That's how Ascend got started.  But only the best laid plans are successful if I'm in the Lord's timing.  So its Him I wait on to find how He wants me to lead.  But its also a widely known fact that following the greatest servant who ever lives is probabyly going to take you down the path of serving.

Getting and MBA is kinda like driving the Texas Hill Country

There are two more weeks of semester 5.  I don't know where the time went, but this has to have been the fastest semester of the program by far.  I've enjoyed the material and the professors, and now is the time to finish strong.

This week, Team Awesome, as we refer to ourselves, provides a sustainability study on one of the group member's employers.  Being that we all experience CTX, and one of our members works there, we decided to focus on this organization for this semester long project.

It wasn't long before this study began to reflect the complex nature of the university system.  You have so many departments, and focus areas from bringing the students in, all the things they do while they're there, to what happens afterwards.  All this plus strategic planning, development of an endowment and then there's the whole industry analysis.  Even thinking about a leader's role in this type of organization makes my head spin.  I'll admit to feeling inadequate if I was given such a task.

Its been 21 months since this journey began.  Sometimes this journey's felt like a drive in the hill country.  There's been the ups of feeling called to leadership, and the downs of feeling there's so much further to go before I am who I really want to be.  There's been the winding and turning as I reach to incorporate new ideas and paradigms.  And here I stand- one semester shy of my MBA.  While there's further to go, I can see how far I've come.

We're wrapping up, not only figuratively in the program, but quite literally on the project before us.  There's been highs of determining our scope, lows of scheduling and the turns of a sick group member right before the presentation.  We'll meet again today to do a final walk through of the presentation, and for a moment, I'll just take this in, just like we do the scenes of wild flowers and bald eagle's nests in the hill country.  Knowing what I know now, and preparing myself for the future to someday be able to offer this as part of my skill set to help my community and my organization.

What's ahead

Perhaps it's personality... perhaps it's because I'm a first born... I find myself often times enjoying the role of creator, trail blazer, going where no (wo)man's gone before (don't knock me for my Star Trek reference).  Being in the first cohort to go through Concordia's MBA Program has been a great fit for me.  I really like the fact that you have no idea what next semester is going to be like.  There's no one who can really give you any pointers, heads up, or leading ideas as to whether you think you will or won't like a class.  More than the ability to make my own judgements, we really are interacting with a program to provide it's future shape. 

I have friends in Cohort 2 and 3.  It's fun to tell them my experience in a class, and then hear how the MBA is continuing to mold and change for each future class.  I even hear talks from administration about how the first year is going to have different classes for some incoming cohorts, to improve the path of what they may get out of the program.  Would I change my path? No. 

I think I was made for such a time as this- my contributions into the program mattered as much, if not more to me than what I would get out of the program.  Don't get me wrong- the education I have received has been huge for me.  I now have a sense of confidence I lacked before.  What the Concordia MBA means to me is the ability to see this time of growth for my education and beyond.  Its been a journey- an experience.  Either of these analogies reflect a two-way street.  For me, this was so much more than about letters, whether that be in a grade or in the credentials that will forever follow my name.  It was engagement.  I feel like, especially in these last two semesters I'm trying to get out of this program all that I can.  When it comes to projects- I'm engaging in ways that can make a difference to my future.  Its about the people I see, the work that lies before me, and the preparation for a future still unknown.

In the past couple of weeks I've had coffee with friends.  The question that seems to be coming up in each of these interactions always circles back around- Why the MBA? What's next?  While I ask myself the same questions, I have to remember what ever is ahead is labeled under "future".  What I do now is to prepare for what God holds there in the future.  What I must be responsible with is what's within my control, so currently- what's ahead is in God's hands... but I'll do my best to be prepared for whatever He has in store.