Youth Entrepreneurship

A Startup Semester at a small, liberal arts college in Iowa.  In my world, that is awesome news.  Read the article from the Silicon Prairie News here.   If this kind of news excites you, tweet me some enthusiasm. 

I'm a guy that thinks we should be teaching kids to code.  The only thing that approaches my passion for kid coders is college entrepreneurs.  You shouldn't have to attend a major university to get exposed to entrepreneurial skills.  We still live in a world where kids get out of college expecting a long line of employers handing out money for a 3.5 GPA or higher.  But if cash money doesn't fall at your feet you should be ready to create your own job and make your own paycheck.  I'd be happier if my kids grow up to know they have a lot of options.  Far from the least of these is self-employment. 

At the core of The Center of Awesome will be programs to teach kids to code and learn entrepreneurial skills that will help them no matter what they decide to do when they grow up.  If The Center of Awesome can forge partnerships with small colleges across the country to accomplish that goal I think we'll all be better for it.  

Coding 101

Every kid in America should be exposed to coding no later than age 10.  

Imagine what the world will be like in 5-10 years if we start taking our kids' futures seriously and teach coding and engineering in elementary schools.  Stop and think about how ridiculous it is that we are not already doing this.  

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to participate in a business pitch from a few high school students that designed their own app that would have a very positive impact on their community and provide a real service.  I was inspired by what young minds can create when presented with a challenge and the opportunity to solve real world problems.

The barriers to entry into coding are lower than ever.  CoderDojo and KidsRuby make getting started beyond easy.  If we don't see Kids Code Camps popping up in every state by the end of the year, I think we are doing ourselves a huge disservice.  

If you haven't seen the video from some of our time's greatest innovators and creators, I'd suggest the 9-minute video on Code.org. 

My Best Clients

Any day that starts with a bit of fitness is likely to be a good day.  Today is no exception. 4 1/2 mile treadmill jog at 0600 had me pointed in the right direction.  By 0900 I was on a call with a new client in Atlanta looking to hire agile craftsmen in Iowa. 

Here is what I love about recruiting:

1.  Getting a new client through a referral.

2.  Developing a relationship that is built on mutual benefits. The cliche here is the difference between a vendor and a partner.  When a vendor doesn't produce results, a smart client picks up the phone and makes a call. That call tends to be to someone they consider a potential partner.

3.  I thrive on working on ridiculously hard requirements for clients that have reasonable expectations.  I know there are agile craftsmen in Iowa and I know that there are some that aren't but would come.  The hunt is hard- not impossible.  

4.  Having a small number of great clients.  The type that know how important a killer culture is when you are looking to attract top talent.  A culture where people are pushed to accomplish amazing things and rewarded for being awesome.  A culture that appreciates the human need to continuously learn and become great. 

This isn't a sales call but if you are reading this and know your vendor list is filled with recruiters that aren't producing results, my phone number is 319-431-4740. 

This is what's up.....

This blog will capture every crazy idea I take the time to write down.  

Here's a sampling of some of the crazy stuff I might remember to blog about:

Tech Staffing- my job for 14 years.  It's a ridiculous business ready for some serious disruption.  

Entrepreneurship- startup cultures and their ecosystems; tech and education startups; and all the hackers, makers, movers, and shakers that make a community thrive.

Education- I'm working on the business model and business plan for The Center of Awesome, an organization focused on finding fun and engaging ways to teach kids critical skills through innovative programs.

Health and Fitness- a runner obsessed with documentaries about food.  Seriously, this could be mildly entertaining.

There, first post done.  The rest is yet to come.