LaunchPad - INW

Spokane Regional Networking, Social Media, Professional and Business Development

December 2009 Blog Posts (40)

Restaurant Marketing

The title above says "marketing" because advertising is just one part of that category. The definition I was given many years ago (by Chris Lytle, perhaps?) is: "Marketing is everything you do to promote your business." By extension, that would embrace everything from the quality of the food and service to the choice of tableware and music in the background.

I have the pleasure of doing some advertising and marketing consulting for a family-owned-and-operated high-end restaurant… Continue

Added by Rod Schwartz on December 31, 2009 at 1:56pm — No Comments

What did you learn from the last decade?

The last decade was filled with events and cultural shifts that will likely change our country forever and may have a profound affect on our society.

As individuals I believe we should reflect back on the past decade in order to understand what we have learned so we can apply it in our own lives.

For me I can sum up what I have learned from… Continue

Added by Bill Kalivas on December 31, 2009 at 12:23pm — 6 Comments

"A Brief, Incomplete History of Radio" by Dan O'Day

Dan O'Day is a radio guru based in LA. I pass along a link to his blog post today for your amusement and enjoyment...

http://danoday.com/blog/2009/12/history-of-radio/

Added by Rod Schwartz on December 31, 2009 at 12:09pm — No Comments

"Make Up Your Mind to Be Happy"

For too many people, especially in our prosperous society, the euphoria of a Christmas celebration centered not on Christ but on consumerism often gives way to gnawing discontent, disappointment, and depression.

These, in turn, lead some to resolve to change their thinking and/or behavior in the new year.

Jesus taught that "where your treasure is, there will your heart be also," and cautioned His disciples that they could not serve two masters, God and money. Inevitably… Continue

Added by Rod Schwartz on December 31, 2009 at 11:25am — No Comments

"Run, don't walk!" Fed MBS Securities program ends soon

Jody Shenn of Bloomberg put out a very good article this morning regarding the Fed's MBS program and the possible effect it will have once it ends in March.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aukqYVzx6x3w&pos=3

The generic thought is that the Fed exiting from the MBS market will have a noticeable, yet not "dramatic", short term impact on mortgage… Continue

Added by Dave Tafs on December 31, 2009 at 9:46am — No Comments

Players Only Meeting

Calling a ‘Players-Only’ meeting may be just what your organization needs.

Let’s face it, 2009 hasn’t been a good year for anybody - anybody. When your team isn’t doing as well as they’re capable of and you’ve still got another game to play (for example: you’re still in business and 2010 is coming up) then a spark of encouragement may just be the prescription. Look what it did for America’s team;

IRVING — The Dallas Cowboys desperately needed a lift after… Continue

Added by Tom Dorr on December 30, 2009 at 12:47pm — No Comments

10 Green New Year's Resolutions

From the GreenCupboards Community built on Wordpress:

Tree Seedling

10. Plant trees.

With all the consumption of paper products, there are less trees standing to give us clean air. This year commit to planting a set number of trees, whatever your budget will allow, and help give back to the community and the environment. If you are unable to plant a tree in your… Continue

Added by Sarah M.W. Neblett on December 30, 2009 at 11:41am — 3 Comments

LP Leadership Minute: The Power of Connection

An amazing thing happened in the last week, when a group of people connected originally mostly by virtual means, came together with a common purpose and infectious energy to help people less fortunate than they to have a better Christmas. Proving that the power of human connection is indelibly strong, especially when aided by technology and deepened by warm personal interaction. And that a simple approach, guided by a caring spirit and a willingness to share can be more effective than the… Continue

Added by Diane Q on December 25, 2009 at 5:00pm — 8 Comments

My Social Media Resolution

Copied from my blog at www.drinknectar.com Let's connect on twitter @nectarwine and www.facebook.com/drinknectar

FULL ARTICLE HERE http://wp.me/pHKDc-5u

"Bring in more customers by December," the winemaker said. 'We created a Facebook page, Twitter account and started profiles on wine information Web sites, but we're not sure where to go from… Continue

Added by Josh Wade on December 24, 2009 at 3:30pm — No Comments

Puts it all into Perspective

This is a Christmas card (of sorts) from a very dear Veteran friend of mine, Marshall.

This is the same gentleman that coordinated a Huey Helicopter flyover when we hosted the Vietnam Memorial Wall several years ago. He has been my good friend ever sense.

I was moved by his words and wanted to share it with all of you.

Jennifer

From: Marshall

Sent: Wednesday, December 23, 2009 7:04 AM

Subject: Christmas, Families, Friends and Others.

Generally the… Continue

Added by Jennifer Simmons on December 23, 2009 at 3:23pm — No Comments

Library Q & A -- Roll Your Own Market Research

A few weeks back, a customer came into the library hoping to get his hands on the market research that PF Chang's conducts on an area before opening a new restaurant. In the most painless manner possible, I told him that research along those lines tends to be commissioned independently and that PF Chang's would guard such information very jealously -- it just isn't publicly available.

Except that it is.

Using a combination of two different subscription databases available… Continue

Added by Mark Pond on December 23, 2009 at 9:25am — No Comments

Challenging Times Call for Seeing Differently

After recently completing a course on the Gonzaga campus on creativity and leadership, one resounding tidbit sticks with me. Creativity comes from "seeing and seeing again."

In these tough economic times when budgets are being cut, work forces reduced and resources are stretched thin, it would be easy to focus on how hard it is to make due. But these challenging times have the potential to shape us, to drive us to be the best we've ever been...and that takes a change in how we… Continue

Added by Sally Mildren on December 22, 2009 at 9:22am — 2 Comments

Spokane's Taste Cafe and Gourmet to Go

This post is copied from my blog at www.drinknectar.com Let's connect on Twitter @nectarwine and www.facebook.com/drinkectar

The thermometer read a brisk 20 degrees and my shoes were wet from the snow piled up on the streets. The place was filling up. Jane mentioned to a customer that she didn't think they would be busy this morning with the frightful weather. The customer replied, "well, the… Continue

Added by Josh Wade on December 18, 2009 at 8:07pm — No Comments

Merry Christmas All from Gallery of THUM

Wow, as we roar into Christmas I find I am busy, busy... there is not a moment to visit, say hello, or offer a friends and family messages of cheer, without jumping on to the next thing. Owning a retail store where I am responsible for dozens of artists hand made products and artworks can be daunting when I want them all to be successful. Each one hopes for that little extra that helps them get through their holiday. At a time of year where everyone… Continue

Added by Cecile Charles on December 18, 2009 at 12:28pm — No Comments

Twitter Hijacked?

Are you kidding me, anything is possible with technology.

Twitter Hack: Part Of Broader Iranian Strategy

http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/12/18/twitter-dns-attack-iran/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29

Added by Bill Kalivas on December 18, 2009 at 10:43am — 3 Comments

Personal Character, Adversity, Character Building, and Mistakes Turned Opportunities - By Lance Winslow

By Lance Winslow

Researching psychologists have noted that most people actually do not learn from their mistakes, and it seems to be a trick of the brain. In these studies, it was noted that while people often do learn from their mistakes, most of the time people don't or at least not right away - they just keep making those same mistakes over and over again. Interestingly enough, we notice this quite often in other folks, but seldom in our… Continue

Added by Lance Winslow on December 17, 2009 at 8:55pm — No Comments

Announcing Community Events/Seeking an Event Coordinator

LaunchPad INW Members,

As many of you know the next phase for LaunchPadINW includes hosting forums and events in selected communities on the site. Our goal is to provide opportunities for our members to build effective networks in targeted industries or areas of interest and events seem to be the best way to achieve this.

Our plan will be to combine the "on-line" interaction with energetic and informative "face to face" networking events and forums beginning in January… Continue

Added by Bill Kalivas on December 17, 2009 at 3:12pm — 8 Comments

I'm Not A Fan of McDonald's, But This One Will Change Me...

...to be a customer of their new FREE offering: Wi-Fi*.

McDonald's just announced that they wants their restaurants to
be a "destination", and will compete head-on with Starbucks.

This further changes the Twitter ballgame.

See my latest blog post --> Spokane Business

Added by Dennis Isip on December 17, 2009 at 12:00pm — No Comments

Kids Christmas In Hillyard Needs Your Help!

I got the following e-mail from a friend who is the daughter of Clyde Decker, the Hillyard Santa. This year Clyde is seeing more need than ever. The community (Hillyard and Greater Spokane) has really stepped up to help, but the demand this year is unprecedented and Clyde is doing everything he can to make sure every kid has a toy this Christmas.

"Below is the letter that I sent to KXLY today. I am also sending this to the Chamber of Commerce and the business community. Clyde… Continue

Added by Luke Tolley on December 16, 2009 at 4:54pm — 2 Comments

The COP15 Copenhagen Climate Change Conference Video link

Greater Spokane Inc & CLEEN NW
Have helped to sponsor Hal Calbom’s EVERGREENFILM.ORG
project featuring a series of video updates from
The COP15 Copenhagen Climate Change Conference
http://evergreenfilm.org/home.html
EVERGREENFILM.ORG

Added by Gary Mallon on December 16, 2009 at 3:54pm — No Comments