Overdrive October 2008 - View All Articles 

The following announcements about upcoming regional and multi-chapter events are open to all EO members. Go beyond local and tap into the resources available to you outside your home chapter!

Current: 

Event Title: 2008 EO Singapore University
Date(s): 5-9 November 2008
Location: Republic of Singapore
Description: Come to our wonderful region, and be a part of the story as it continues to unfold. Bask in the hospitality and warmth, and discover the dynamism and spirit of achievement that is Singapore. For more information, visit the University's Web site. Register today!
Fee: US$3,150/US$2,350
Contact Information: EO Events, +1.703.519.6700, events@eonetwork.org

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Event Title: 2009 EO Arizona University
Date(s): 25-29 March 2009
Location: Arizona, USA
Description: Announcing 2009's main event ... it's the EO Arizona University, where you'll experience plenty of blue skies and wild frontiers! This University will make you forget about the cold with warm weather and enough action to kick your adrenal glands into overdrive. For more information, visit the University's Web site. Register today!
Fee: US$3,150/US$2,550
Contact Information: EO Events , +1.703.519.6700, events@eonetwork.org

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Event Title: Northeast Regional Learning Conference
Host Chapters: EO Albany, EO Boston, EO DC, EO Fairfield/Westchester, EO Hartford, EO New Jersey, EO New York City, EO Philadelphia, EO Western NY
Date(s): April 23^rd thru April 25^th, 2009
Location: Atlantic City, NJ     
Description: This inaugural event brings together the nine chapters of the Northeast and Mid Atlantic areas for two days packed with learning, fun and bonding with peers in one of the East Coast’s best playgrounds, Atlantic City, NJ. Rumors are flying around about this event, can they all be true? You’ll have to be there to find out… Mark your calendar now! We welcome any fellow EO members to join us for this event – stay tuned for more information.
Contact Information: Steve Showalter, Northeast/Mid Atlantic Learning Director: sshowalter@statlinx.com

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Event Title: The 3rd Annual EO Nebraska Berkshire Hathaway Event
Date(s): 30 April - 3 May, 2009
Location: Omaha, NE
Description: EO Nebraska is hosting our 3rd Annual Berkshire event which includes 3 days and nights of "Once in a Lifetime" experiences! 
Fee: US$695 per person plus hotel and airfare.  (Rate includes all transportation, meals, entrance to EO hosted events, and 1 Shareholders ticket to attend the meeting on Saturday May 2nd, along with Borsheims and Nebraska Furniture Mart events.)
Contact Information: Erin Kampschneider, eoberkshire@yahoo.com  (Please sign up early, as the event is expected to be sold out) Event space is Limited!  You do NOT need to own stock to attend this event.

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If you have or know of an event you'd like to see included in this section, please e-mail Nicholas Thomas, Publications Manager.

In my years as an entrepreneur, I’ve found that international markets, while often times attractive, can offer significant challenges. They can be large and fragmented, leading to mounting cultural differences and hiccups while conducting business. I know from experience.

A few years ago, my software business was looking for a partner with the market coverage, desire and resources necessary to immediately capitalize on international opportunities. After four years of searching, we stumbled across a major industry provider and managed to reach new levels of success. The journey, while successful, proved arduous and trying. We learned a lot more than we anticipated when we decided to breach international markets.

Here’s what we learned throughout our search:

• International markets are an opportunity for our business to grow to new levels of credibility, operational efficiency, team morale and financial success.
• Success in international markets is achievable for even the smallest of businesses.
• A distributor with a strategic imperative is a motivated partner.
• We need to create end-user demand. If we don’t have the capability to do this, then our partner must have the resources and the desire.
• We must provide everything our distribution partner needs to be successful. Our partner is buying into the promise that we will ensure their success.
• Support our partner until they tell us to leave them alone. Regular face-to-face meetings, phone calls, reporting, marketing collateral and anything else we could think of helps.

There’s learning, and then there’s EO learning.

If you’re like most members, you’ve tried your hand at recreational learning. You’ve likely read up on industry trends from assorted books, picked up tricks of the trade online and attended seminars about employee retention and growth. While all of these methods may have proved helpful, there’s nothing quite like learning from one of the business world’s greatest minds in person.

Jim Collins, bestselling author of Good to Great, will be a keynote speaker at the 2009 EO Arizona University, to be held 25-29 March. An expert on how companies grow, attain superior performance and transcend from good to great, Jim will challenge entrepreneurs to think about the key drivers of success and encourage them to think outside of the proverbial box.

Jim has authored or co-authored four books, including the classic Built to Last, a fixture on the BusinessWeek bestseller list for more than six years. His work has been featured in Fortune, The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review and Fast Company. He is recognized globally as an expert in his field and one of the best minds in business.

EO members attending the 2009 EO Arizona University will spend an afternoon learning Jim’s renowned approach to personal and professional success. Following Jim's keynote address, there will be small, group-learning sessions facilitated by top entrepreneurs and CEOs, all of whom have implemented Jim’s material in their businesses.

To learn more about this invaluable opportunity, contact us. Visit the 2009 EO Arizona University Web site for more information.

I don’t necessarily consider myself to be a business expert, but I’ve learned a lot about how to be a successful entrepreneur. By combing the advice I've received over the years and the many lessons I learned from books, I’ve pulled together my top ten list of the business tips I try to apply in my own company.

1. Enjoy the journey.
A business is a journey, and usually a long journey at that. I try to enjoy the ride because I commit a lot of time and energy into building my business.

2. Always give back.
Sure, we’re in the business to make money. Still, there's no reason why we can't give back to others. We made it a priority from day one to be a socially responsible business. It's doable, and it doesn't require a lot of money. It’s all about commitment.

3. Move fast.
Speed is one of the advantages a startup can have over larger, more established competitors. I learned to move quicker than our competitors in response to a market trend or customer need.

4. Listen to customers.
It's an overstatement to say, "Customers are always right." They're not, just like we're not always right. However, I do always listen to them. I try to understand as best I can what they want, and then I do my best to give them exactly that.

5. Trust your gut.
I learned awhile ago that you need to trust your gut. There are times when I'll have different feedback from customers, advisors, partners and everyone under the sun. During those times, I go with what I believe is right. And if I’m wrong, I simply adjust to the results and try something else.

6. Follow your passion.
In business, you have to love what you're doing in order to be successful. Too many people have pursued business ideas because they thought they were lucrative, only to be miserable managing businesses they don't enjoy. I try not to make that mistake.

7. Don't overanalyze.
This is called analysis paralysis. Too much data and too much analysis will freeze entrepreneurs. I take the information that's most relevant to me and my business and I discard the rest. Adapt and execute— that’s the key to continued success.

8. Do your homework.
A great idea alone doesn’t make a business. I learned a long time ago how important it is to do homework. This means knowing my market, competitors and customers. I keep my finger on the pulse of my industry because things change constantly, and I don’t want to be out of touch.

9. Be an open book.
Some companies like to guard every secret, even from their employees. Many companies, like my own, are finding success adopting the opposite philosophy— being as open as possible with strategy, news, financials, product roadmaps and future plans. It's a little thing called trust, and that might be the best competitive differentiator you could build.

10. Speak honestly.
It's amazing how many companies don't follow this simple rule. It's easy to communicate good news, but you need to apply the same approach to bad news, too. Entrepreneurs are either building or destroying trust every day, and there's no neutral ground.

The EO theme this fiscal year, “Success to Significance,” emphasizes the importance of recognizing one’s impact and the possibilities of reaching new heights. EO St. Louis member Don Breckenridge Jr. embodies that theme every day. Not only is he the President and Co-Founder of Sendouts, LLC., but he also spends a lot of time giving back to his community.

In fact, Don was recently elected National Vice President for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). In this position, he assists in an annual event called the Breckenridge/MDA Muscle Team Bash. It’s a unique party where attendees get to mingle with sports celebrities in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. The MDA raises funds through corporate sponsorships, tickets to the event and an auction. Last year, the event raised more than US$150,000!

EO met up with Don and asked him about his passion for philanthropy.

EO: How did you become interested in working with this special cause?
DB: “My Dad had been involved with MDA for more than 30 years. He started the annual Muscle Team Bash in St. Louis about six years ago. Unfortunately, he died just before the third annual event.  I had been involved with the party for the first few years, but then took a leadership role after he passed away.

Even though I have been involved since the beginning, my real interest did not honestly come until I visited the MDA summer camp a few years ago.

At camp, I had a chance to bond with several kids and really get to know them. I began to truly understand the difficulties these kids face day in and day out, and how the funds we raise directly impact their lives. For the first few years, I was working for a cause, but then I began working for kids I actually knew. That’s when it really turned personal, and I saw why my Dad was so dedicated for all of those years.”

What have you learned—personally and professionally—from your experiences working with muscular dystrophy?
"Working with MDA has given me a great perspective on so many things. I live a comfortable life with a wonderful family, and all too often, I take it for granted. It’s tough to see children confined to wheelchairs or fathers my age diagnosed with terrible diseases. In working with the MDA, I have certainly matured as a father, husband and member of society in terms of appreciating life and having the opportunity to give back. I have tremendous respect for those who have dedicated their careers toward the effort of fighting the many diseases that fall under the MDA umbrella.”

Has working with this special cause impacted you as an entrepreneur? If so, how?
“My views on entrepreneurism have certainly changed as I’ve become older and more involved with various charities like MDA. Out of school, I was excited about the thought of building a business and becoming successful. Now, I see building a successful business really as a gateway or stepping stone to giving back.”

Do you think all entrepreneurs should give back to their communities?
“Yes. I believe successful entrepreneurs have a responsibility to give back to the community. In many instances, support from the community has been an essential part of the entrepreneur’s success. It’s important not just to take, but to give back. In my view, success is ultimately being able to leave this earth in better shape than when you arrived.”

In June 2007, I attended a meeting with my Forum. Afterward, over dinner, we decided as a group to compete in the annual 125km Canadian Death Race held in Grande Cache, Alberta. It had been an overarching theme in our group that we weren’t committed enough to our personal health. After a year and a half of listening to the same “let’s get healthy soon” spiel, I proposed the race idea. We agreed to participate in the August 2008 race, even though none of us had ever run more than a 10km race in our lives.

Approximately a week after our get-together, the uneasy e-mails started flying. Several Forum mates wondered if we should start with a 10k race or a half marathon instead of an adventurous “death race.”  Admittedly, reviewing the event’s Web site didn’t help matters, especially after discovering that the waiver all racers are required to sign is called a “death warrant.” The race itself is marketed as “one of the worlds toughest adventure races.” The doubt was creeping into our Forum in a big way, but it only took one stinging e-mail from a member to snap us back in line. The heck with rational thoughts … we had an irrational goal!

To prepare for the race, we started questioning people who had participated in the past. In the process, we gained valuable insight into what was required for training The race is a relay event, and if one racer does not complete their portion in a certain time, the entire team is disqualified. The entire thing was contingent on teamwork and trust— two traits of our Forum.

As you can imagine, everyone in our Forum was extremely busy with work, family and personal commitments. With that in mind, we decided to train on our own time. Myself and another Forum member attended a training camp two months prior to the race in order to get experience on the course that we could pass on to the rest of our team. As a Forum, we were used to working as a team for a greater cause. Each and every one of us was determined not to let the others down. We had made a commitment to one another, and none of us wanted to be the weak link. Our goal was to complete the race in the allotted 24 hours, andwe would do it as a team.

When game day arrived, we were excited and equally as nervous. Thankfully, we had prepared and were ready to conquer the goal. Throughout the race, we cheered one another on and encouraged those running to prevail through the various stages of the 125km course. It was an arduous journey, but completely rewarding. We completed the race in 17 hours and 24 minutes, which put us in 77^th place out of 182 teams. We did it!

The race itself was an amazing experience, and it felt good to do something so physically challenging. And yet, the biggest reward was the knowledge that our commitment to one another had been impenetrable. We were there for one another, and we knew then that we always would be. That’s the true mark of a Forum; that ability to support one another through personal and professional trials. It was this level of commitment that helped us reach our goal of completing this race.

Two weeks ago, I received a phone call. It wasn’t just any phone call, but the type of call all entrepreneurs dread; the kind that could result in a big financial hit. The head buyer working for my biggest client was leaving. My natural instinct was to panic. I thought about having to work with a new buyer, adjusting to new processes, the creation of a new proposal and the possibility of additional competition.

As it turned out, however, the head buyer was instead promoted to head of marketing purchasing. This was fantastic news! This meant that we would have a better chance at reaching out to new markets and expanding our business. There was just one hiccup: We needed to have a US office in order to use the buyer’s services in North America.

Like every entrepreneur who loves a challenge, I stepped up to the plate. All of my company’s future international expansion projects went from “some point in the future” to right now! The only problem was I didn’t know where to start, who to talk to for advice or how to go about breaking into the American market.

I was a brand new EO member then, and I just so happened to be attending one of EO Toronto’s events the following day. Fortunately, our Chapter Chair was in attendance. I floated my question by her and she referred me to Beth, her counterpart in New York, USA. The next day, I e-mailed Beth asking for help during this tumultuous time. Within minutes, she forwarded my e-mail to her entire chapter. The subject line of her e-mail read: “EO Toronto Member Needs Your Expertise.”

In a matter of moments, I was overwhelmed with responses from EO members eager to help me out.  I received encouraging suggestions, including: “Here’s my accountant, he’s great,” or “Get in touch with my lawyer, she’ll take care of you,” and “I’ve got the best banker!”

At the time, I didn’t have a clue about US taxes, foreign ownership issues, what to do about filings for the IRS— I knew absolutely nothing. Thankfully, the EO network had all of the answers I needed. With the assistance and encouragement of EO New York members, I founded An Opportunity Knocks USA, Inc., based in the Empire State Building. Because I put myself in my peers’ capable hands, my company’s US doors are wide open and the business has been pouring in.

Thank you to everyone who helped me out. I learned a lot from this process, but most importantly, I learned the true value of EO. An organization is only as good as its people, and the people in this organization are willing to help others in need, especially if they’re new to the EO scene.

As an EO member, I have used Member-to-Member Exchange (M2Mx) numerous times, and I have always been pleased with the responses. During one of my most recent experiences, however, I found the tool to be exceptionally beneficial.

I am in the recruiting industry, and I have clients from all over. Often times, it can be frustrating working with a client who ignores my calls for payment. It’s even more disheartening knowing that, if I wanted to file a lawsuit, it must take place in the client’s region, no matter where that is located; that is, if I wanted any real chance of collecting the amount owed. Not knowing the client’s region leaves me ignorant to the area's laws or how to go about finding a local, reputable attorney.

During my most recent experience, I had a client from Texas, USA, who was out-right refusing my calls. When I was searching for nearby law firms to pursue the client legally, I immediately thought of EO and the tremendous tools they offer. I gravitated toward M2Mx and submitted my request for information to area chapters. Within four hours, I had several recommendations from various members, all of whom could speak intelligently as to the quality of local attorneys.

With this information fresh in hand, I e-mailed my client a final time requesting payment. I also gave them the name of the law firm I would turn the case over to if they did not immediately submit a payment. Within 24 hours, I received a call from the client and he quickly paid. To this day, I am convinced that my ability to name a quality law firm in the Dallas area—one that he no doubt recognized—forced him to take action.  Without the knowledge I received from EO Dallas members, I would have likely had to file suit and incur high-cost legal fees, or at least experienced a much more protracted timeline for payment. Trust me when I say that M2Mx is one of the great benefits of EO membership!

To learn more about M2Mx today.

Running a business is tough. Not only do you have to worry about your clients, partners and your staff, but you also have to stave off competitors and stay ahead of the curve. You commit your energy to ensuring your work family is happy and motivated, but what about your own family? Where will you find time to bond with them, undertake adventures and create memories that last a lifetime?

EO has your answer: The 2009 EO Family Conference, to be 30 June-3 July held in San Diego, California, USA. This annual event offers intimate networking opportunities with fellow members, exciting educational courses and the gift of invaluable time with your loved ones. It’s the vacation of a lifetime!

If you've attended a Family Conference in the past, you understand the value of the program, as well as the benefits of introducing your family to the EO network. According to EO Western New York member Kimberly Latko, “My daughters both said 'this is the coolest vacation they ever had!' They wanted to know if we could make this an annual family tradition, and they are already planning for next year. It was an amazing experience for all of us!"

EO has received a ton of positive feedback regarding past Family Conferences. We’ve embraced your ideas and heard your praise, and we’re prepared to make this event one for the ages! Please spread the word about the amazing opportunity to reconnect with your family and engage in memorable activities. Make the 2009 EO Family Conference a success by registering early.

For more information, contact the EO Events team.

Forum is one of the most valuable perks of EO membership. Having a tight-knit community of like-minded members to bounce ideas and concerns off of is invaluable, especially in terms of one’s personal and professional growth. As a member of the EO Asia-Pacific region, we have taken Forums to another level by creating the Asia Bridge, an innovative approach to the Forum experience.

What is the Asia Bridge?
The Asia Bridge is a professional and personal development initiative that dates back to November 2006. The objective of this initiative is to create a structure in which regional EO members can meet on a regular basis and take their Forum experiences beyond local. 

In the beginning, we started with 16 members from five chapters. A year and a half later, we reached our goal of recruiting three Forums with 33 members from 7 different chapters, all of whom meet three times a year.  EO members from each of the participating countries take turns hosting Asia Bridge. The goal is to offer members unique, in-country experiences with the intimacy of Forum.

Inside the Asia Bridge Experience
In the most recent Asia Bridge regional meeting, held 25-27 June 2008, seven chapters met in Bali and stayed at Batu Karang Lembongan Resort. On the first day, three new members from Hong Kong, Japan and Malaysia were formally introduced. This was followed by a relaxing dinner on a patio overlooking the crystal-clear sea.

The next day was devoted to Forum. Each Forum was comprised of members from various EO chapters. Having come from very different cultures and backgrounds, each member offered unique and compelling views. The experience sharing was truly special and enriching! As it turns out, many attending members have regional business aspirations, and Asia Bridge became a conduit for business opportunities and networking in the respective countries.

The final night was a tremendous experience. Dinner was set in the villa courtyard of a beautiful Balinese garden, complete with gigantic palms, fountains, infinity pools and a panoramic view of the famous Jambaran Bay. We had the opportunity to network with the local Indonesian chapter members, whose hospitality was outstanding. The night ended perfectly with members lying by the pool, chatting and enjoying a beautiful Balinese night. We had come together to network and grow as business owners, and we left as close friends.

Upcoming Asia Bridge
The dates and venue for the Asia Bridge "Wild" Campus 2009 has been set. The event will be held at one of the most unique locations in the world ... by the mighty Kinabatangan River in the heartland of Borneo! This will truly be a once-in-a-life time experience for those seeking knowledge, adventure and fun, EO style! The event will be held from 26 February to 1 March at the Sepilok Nature Resort. 

Questions?
If you’d like to learn more about Asia Bridge events and how you can set up something similar in your Forum, please contact EO Malaysia member George Gan.