LinkedIn Post Library

Why do you need a warm intro to approach #Angels or #VCs ? #seedfunding https://lnkd.in/g_TSeN8

I wake up again -- sad. No one bid on me. I am getting a complex for sure. If you bid on me and win, I go home with you and you get Lady Lucy's Laugh #Giraffe Journey with my photo --- and you help support kids and save giraffe.  I will ask my people to feature me on the auction.  I need attention for sure.   https://lnkd.in/e-yktvP . Phleasssse....... …see more

Buying all kinds of giraffes at this auction can help save real giraffe. And, this is because real giraffe face extinction. Get giraffe joke book too. Please bid -- do good and feel good. Book can help kids get their reading muscles ready for school through jokes.  Join in.  We need you. https://lnkd.in/e-yktvP …see more

Please read and re-read this article (bravo to the men who participated) and respond to the notion I was told by one publication that the "Kavanaugh" issues are no longer a news peg. I beg to differ. These are issues affecting many, including in our schools, our colleges, our workplaces -- as students, teachers, faculty, staff, workers, administrators. These issues are in a pot that is still cooking on a stove. For sure and for real. The question, raised in the 5 part series I wrote on this, is how we can help schools, colleges and workplaces help their students. See: InsideHigherEd (suggesting pop-up courses); New England Journal of Higher Ed (suggesting integration of issues/substance/knowledge into existing classes and hypervigilance); Forest of the Rain Productions and LinkedIn (pop-up courses for K-12), University Business (strategies for workplaces and culture shifts -- forthcoming), and a to be placed piece on how elite private schools can change their culture apropos of the "Kavanaugh" debacle. …see more

Which are leading #seed #VC and #Angel investment firms? #seedfunding https://lnkd.in/g_TSeN8

What can the French teach you about happiness, how can you make the impossible become possible, and what do you need to ask yourself before you pick up your phone? Find out in this week’s edition of the 5-Minute Recharge!

Are you ready to be introduced to Angels, #VCs , #Investors ? Pitch your #startups here to find out:

Thought #Leader in #ArtificialIntelligence : Christopher Connolly #VP #SolutionsStrategy Genesys

Well, this is a post of a different nature. Many moons ago, an old friend Steve Leveen asked if I would do a podcast where he interviewed me for his site and project: America the Bilingual. I did but promptly forgot about the initiative until he just completed a podcast called Buds of Bilingualism and there I am speaking Icelandic. It brought back memories, reminding me of my own tradition where I give the introduction to my remarks in the language of the nation where I am speaking. I had recently been in the Yakama Nation and started my remarks at Heritage University in Yakama. So, you are interested in how to use foreign language to develop cultural competency, this podcast's for you. Link's below. But, for me, the podcast also raises a deeply troubling question in American education. We seem to look down at our non- or beginning English speaking students. Because they do not speak our language, we assume them to be "lesser." Yet, they speak more languages than most Americans -- they speak their native language plus at least some English. So why do we denigrate others who speak a non-English language well and are learning English rapidly? Can you explain that? Here's the podcast link: …see more

Read this and ask if this would work at small struggling colleges. Too much money goes to administrators. And if closing or fragile, why not have administrative team lower salary or forgo salary? After all, the buck starts and stops with them. One administrator alleged he could not do that because he would lose his check signing authority. Really??? I don’t think so. Money speaks. So does forgoing it for others in need. …see more

How does a #startup know if it is better to #bootstrap or raise #funding ? #seedcapital https://lnkd.in/g_TSeN8

What are the priorities in driving #strategy towards making a #startup #fundable ? https://lnkd.in/dRiZMWC

Best of #Bootstrapping : How iHeartRaves.com #CEO #Bootstrapped a #Niche #eCommerce #Company to $20 Million

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately about how the government spends money -- how it allocates its dollars (our dollars). I have been struck by the no-bid Cerner contract with the VA to move to electronic health records which is estimated to cost $16 billion. No typo. See: https://lnkd.in/e-bR3RW . So, here's my question: What can you get for $16 billion if we had other spending priorities? What disease could we cure for that amount? Could we have universal early childhood education for that amount? We have legislation with mandates that are unfunded; suppose we looked at some of those to fund? A recent NY Times piece noted the proliferation of child pornography on the web and the absence of sufficient resources allocated to stomping out this problem. The legislation exists; the dollars don't. Bottom line: How can a private company get a $16 billion no bid contract when we have so many other needs? Ask yourself: What can $16 billion buy? …see more

So, in addition to Cerner and its $16 billion no-bid contract with the VA, I have been reflecting on cultural change in education. I am concerned that we move so slowly in education that many children who could benefit from improvements are left behind. Today, I was listening to folks chatting about 5G and its implementation hurdles. One speaker observed that we needed to be heartened by some changes — the move away from pay phones and phone booths to cell phones. Those phone booths are anachronistic. One generation and they are gone. No coin calls basically. I wonder whether the speed of technology and its acceptance can be transportable into education. Why not get the next generation accustomed to trauma responsive institutions with problem solving and interdisciplinary efforts? We think of Hampshire’s reforms as innovative. Really? Many have pondered problem focused and thematic learning for decades but fear and tradition stand in our way when implementation is at issue. Why not deploy different models for education at all levels? Take away the educational equivalent of pay phones and booths. What do we have to lose? We have lots to gain. …see more

Help me understand folks. I get the attraction to power and influence. But, according to NYTimes (ok, question the source), Bill Gates had a friendship with Jeffrey Epstein that seemingly involved no sexual favors, just possible monetary and charitable deals. Gates stayed late at Epstein’s home, once overnight. He commented on odd lifestyle (attributed to odd furnishings). Now, let me get this straight: Gates never ever either saw or engaged in any sexual escapades involving young girls and only saw Swedish beauty and her 15 year old daughter (one-off event)? Answer this: Was Epstein so good at compartmentalizing that there NEVER were young girls present when Gates was there? And Gates wanted to be around power and influence of Epstein and his friends? Couldn’t Bill Gates meet whomever he wanted on our planet earth? I’m sorry but something is off with this story. I get that power attracts power but there’s something way out of order here. Think Tyler Skaggs (Dodger pitcher) who was portrayed as a fun guy and good teammate who died on his own vomit; and he got drugs from a Dodgers high level employee regularly. And no one knew? Addiction hidden for years from family and teammates and most (apparently not all) Dodger employees? Please I wasn’t born yesterday. …see more

So you can now pre-order Lady Lucy’s Ghost Quest at www.northshire.com !!!!! Join us on Oct 30th at the store for the launch!!! A story worth reading and re-reading to inspire...and illustrations are amazing!!!! …see more

On flight to San Diego to speak w/ my Finn Partner colleague at PRSA meeting. Topic: How PR folks can get Leaders to Trust them. Critically important in every field. One key tip: since PR folks speak for the leader/ institution, they need to know that leader and his/her voice, values and modes of expression. Hint: try reading what leader has written or said in print. Learn key phrases and key themes. See you there! Then off to Vancouver BC to do day long session w/ area school counselors on how to deal effectively w/ trauma in the schools. We’re doing 15 strategies including hands engagement that can be used at schools Immediately w/ handouts. Focusing on 3 A’s: activities, actions, approaches. Ok, a touch of theory too. See you there. I return to DC to change suitcases, pet my pets and see my partner and head to VT for release of Lady Lucy’s Ghost Quest. Fitting for Halloween and reading to kids at Molly Stark on Halloween morning (wee handout too). See you there. Then back to DC and event in my building Hallow-Wine night w/ a book raffle. Dinner in costume w/ friends! Will be a ghost obviously for all book events. See you there. If I can manage this in the right order w/ the right books/ activities, that will signal that I haven’t lost my mind yet. And Go Nats! …see more

The END Fund has a great new website! More fuel in the #PushForProgress to #BeatNTDs! #globalhealth #globaldev #HealthForAll …see more

Need more traction on this effort!!! Can any of you help? If we can just get 11 books sold, five books go to kids in need in DC free. My gift. Small effort but every book counts.