Your Mark On The World

Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/22rrzVD. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher. Lance Allred played professional basketball for a decade all around the world, including a stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2008. Born legally deaf into a fundamentalist polygamous family, his life experience has been anything but typical. Now, with his playing days behind him, Allred is turning to social entrepreneurship. Allred is creating a tech company called Manestream that he says will provide radically faster access to internet resources, allowing users to work directly from the web at speeds approaching the time to access a hard drive. The system will be commercially available any day now. The bandwidth, the website says, comes via a license to what was the MCI fiber optic network. That will be combined with “patented process of enterprise-grade global cloud servers and

Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1R1kz75. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher. Ben Block, founder and CEO of GozAround, has pivoted his social enterprise startup toward serving businesses large and small that want to track and report their corporate social responsibility or CSR impact. The goal is to help companies increase, following the old management 101 adage that you get what you measure. Ben notes that most businesses have some form of CSR to track. “From the small business on the corner to multinationals, a majority of businesses maintain some community or social contribution but struggle to efficiently maximize, measure and share their impact. That is what the GozAround for Business platform hopes to remedy.” “GozAround has developed a cost-effective platform to allow businesses to find, manage, measure and share employee volunteer initiat

Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1XwH8V6. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher. When I first heard the story of the Tempest Two, the two Brits who crossed the Atlantic in a row boat, I imagined that they were competitive athletes who had spent years training for the adventure. Instead, they describe themselves as “two ordinary blokes” who founded a company for great adventure and to raise money for causes they care about. [Jump to page 2 to watch the live interview.] The founders of The Tempest Two say their motivation for the trip was manifold, but it certainly included social objectives like raising money for the Make-a-Wish foundation and to fund brain tumor research. Tom Caulfield, one of the two–I’m not sure whether to say “rowers” or “blokes” here–explains his passion for Make-A-Wish, “I am trying to give young, terminally ill children the chance to touc

Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1QMs2qJ. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher. AdaPia d’Errico, Chief Marketing Officer for the rapidly growing Patch of Land real estate crowdfunding site that sponsors the Your Mark on the World Center, shared some wisdom about effective marketing. Mindful marketing, she says, is key to creating an authentic connection with customers. AdaPia offers three specific tips to help you be more effective in your marketing: Live and act with intent: Living and acting with intent is a powerful practice to be successful, and the same is true for marketing especially with social media. Rather than thinking of crossing off a to-do list, and automating everything for the purpose of being efficient, spend actual time even if that’s a few minutes, adding thought and intent to your posts. This will result in more engaging, authenti

Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1pkAjuN. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit. ly/ymotwstitcher. Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1pkAjuN. Please consider whether a friend or colleague might benefit from this piece and, if so, share it.

Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1nHPGMF. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher. Twin threats to economic growth and prosperity can both be addressed by increasing employee ownership, according to Camille Kerr, Co-Director, of Workers to Owners at Democracy at Work Institute. [Jump to page 2 to watch the live interview.] The first problem, she explains, is the aging baby boomer generation of entrepreneurs and business owners. “Right now, the United States is in an ownership crisis. As business owners in the baby boomer generation retire, an estimated $10 trillion in assets will be for sale. Because of the flood of businesses on the market, many will not find buyers. The jobs, wealth potential, and services they provided to their community will be lost, and their value will be liquidated. Even those that are sold are often downsized or relocated.” The second pro

Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1WdGawI. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher. By some measures, the world is awash in cash, much of it available to be invested in emerging markets with a social purpose. For instance, the world’s largest bank, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, has assets of $3.3 trillion. The constraint on impact investing may be expertise rather than capital. [Jump to page 2 to watch the live interview.] According to Dave Richards, cofounder and Managing Director of Capria Ventures an affiliate of Unitus, explains the constraint. There are, he says, “lots of great entrepreneurs in high-growth emerging markets in Africa, Latin America and Asia and very little early-stage risk capital available, so their businesses aren’t realizing their potential in areas such as agriculture, healthcare, education and technology.” The cause, he ass

Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1R6Aqa1. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher. Qualtrics, a 2002 startup that since raised a total of $220 million in venture capital in 2012 and 2014 and considered by many to be a unicorn, recently made a $1 million donation to the Huntsman HUN -8.47% Cancer Institute. While Qualtrics isn’t a social venture, it is interesting to see such an entrepreneurial company embrace corporate social responsibility so enthusiastically. CEO and cofounder, Ryan Smith, says, “Everyone has been impacted by cancer in one way or another – whether they have fought it or they have a friend or loved one who is fighting. Our goal is to eradicate cancer from the face of the earth. We are honored to partner with Huntsman Cancer Institute to raise funds for cancer research — research that is changing the way cancer is treated, diagnosed, and fought.”

Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/21ilncO Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher. Dr. Dean Ornish, a social entrepreneur at heart, has spent his entire career working improve health through lifestyle changes. Now, he’s partnered with Healthways to implement a program to reverse heart disease without surgery or medication. This radical approach to cardiac treatment is proving the value of collaboration for social entrepreneurs. Dr. Ornish, who is a familiar name and face in the media, highlights some of the problems with the American health care system. He notes: Most of the $3.0 trillion spent annually on health care in the U.S. is spent on sick care A shocking 25 percent of the adult population, 60 million people, are taking cholesterol-lowering drugs “My colleagues and I have partnered with Healthways to help create a new paradigm of real health care by addressi

Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1KKOCTB. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher. As baby boomers age, they will need increasing amounts of health care. They are likely to want much of that care to be in home. Most in home care is not covered by Medicare, however. This leaves families looking to contract directly with caregivers. LeanOnWe is a new online platform that places individual caregivers in homes on a anything from an hourly basis to live-in arrangements. Founder Ron Gold explains the problem, “Our home care system in the US is broken. Everyone knows the demographics of people living longer and choosing to age at home. Unfortunately the agency system is expensive and restrictive when someone is paying out of pocket. Most people would prefer to hire a caregiver privately but there is no good way to screen these caregivers. It is usually a wo

Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1KKzh5o. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher. Venture capitalist Steve Grizzell, founder of InnoVentures Capital, recently returned from a trip to Cairo where he advised the government on the formation of a stronger ecosystem for entrepreneurs. We profiled Steve and his thoughts before the trip and have asked him back to report on the trip. Steve made three key observations: Start with the entrepreneurs! During my recent trip to Egypt I looked at the components of an entrepreneurial ecosystem: venture capital, government regulators, experienced service providers and entrepreneurs who know how to start a great business. I asked myself where to start when all of the components of the ecosystem were weak. After I interviewed several entrepreneurs at Startup Grind Cairo the answer became very clear. Enthusiastic entrep

Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1Kqjicm. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher. Photography can communicate feeling, emotion and even information that an infinite number of words cannot. Photographer Sarah Takako Skinner and her partner Marc Raco have created the Hope Is Project to give people who are struggling an opportunity to photograph hope. The work that people create when they use photography to communicate hope in the face of despair can be both inspiring and informative. Sarah tries to put words to the struggles people face today. “This is the time and place. Individuals require hope to live. The world needs hope to move forward. In this day of racism, violence, economic woes, intolerance, hunger, environmental chaos, and more, hope is an elusive notion for many. The very old, the outcasts, the terminally ill, the wounded war veterans. But

Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1KoH2xw. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher. Todd Crosland is the CEO and Founder of Seed Equity Ventures, a registered broker dealer operating an equity crowdfunding site that sponsors this site. Todd offers some tips for entrepreneurial success. Todd is a proven entrepreneur. Having founded Interbank FX, a global foreign exchange trading platform he sold in 2011, he’s earned his stripes. He offers two key tips for entrepreneurs: Trust your instincts. For entrepreneurs trying to achieve success, its imperative to trust your instincts. Becoming a successful entrepreneur means taking a leap of faith and trusting that if you work hard and remain passionate about what you’re doing, you will find success. Put the right people in the right positions. It is also important that before you focus on where the company is going, yo

Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1Kq6keQ. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher. Patch of Land, one of our sponsors, is playing a key role in rebuilding the country following the the economic earthquake that hit the country in 2008 with its epicenter in the real estate market. AdaPia d’Errico, the firm’s chief marketing officer, explains, “Private lending is known as ‘hard money’ lending; it carries a negative stigma, and for good reason. Predatory pricing, no oversight, and basically no protection for borrowers and even for investors meant that these loans and this type of lending have been extremely risky.” She adds, “And it was the only kind of lending available to real estate professionals following the financial crisis, because banks could not and would not lend on what they deemed to be risky real estate transactions – property prices were the lowest E

Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/24whbKK. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher. As member of the Motivational Speakers Hall of Fame and a a Certified Speaking Professional, Pegine Echevarria is at the top of her game and the top of her industry. Her multi-million business, Team Pegine, contracts with both the world’s largest companies and governments. Pegine has provided me with some tips to help Latinas and other women succeed as entrepreneurs. Last summer, I had the opportunity to have dinner with Pegine and later heard her speak. She isn’t ordinary. She isn’t average. She isn’t boring. She is, in her own words, “Feisty, Fearless, Focused, Fun.” As the head of a multi-million dollar business and with such an track record as a speaker, I asked her for some insights for women who, like her, are running their own businesses or hoping to. Here are the three tip

Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1KPdoBK. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher. Nancy Pfund, founder and managing partner of DBL Partners, has invested in some of the biggest and most successful social entrepreneurs of our time, having stakes in both Tesla and SolarCity, among others. Pfund shared some insights with me and will share more live. First, Pfund predicts a transformation of global energy over the next decade. Over the next 10 years, investing in energy will shift from being dominated by investing in fossil-based large oil and gas companies ,regulated utility monopolies, and gas-powered car companies to including a plethora of clean technology , digital platforms and consumer-driven solutions providers. This transition will be messy, but will result in a 21st century energy industry that addresses 21st century needs of consumer choice, value, sustain

Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1KoiC7s. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher. Inspiring Capital is all about changing business as usual. By consulting and developing leaders who aspire to integrate profits and purpose, they hope to drive impact. Nell Derick Debevoise, Founder and CEO, says, “Less than 30% of the American workforce is engaged in their work. This lack of purpose results in frustration, mental health challenges, and is even linked to physical symptoms, including Alzheimer’s and heart disease. Furthermore, people aren’t most efficient when they’re not engaged, so people aren’t reaching their full potential.” She notes, too, that “companies are losing money to the cost of disengagement (turnover, inefficiency) and sacrificing the potential productivity and innovation of inspired employees. The ultimate cost of this is to society at la

Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/20M65BW. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher. Laurie Lane-Zucker is building an ecosystem for social entrepreneurs in the Berkshires region of Massachusetts. Laurie hopes the model can be replicated across the country and ultimately around the world. He explains the need for creating a healthy environment for impact-driven entrepreneurs. “The conventional business paradigm lacks global sustainability context and mission-driven entrepreneurs seeking to innovate solutions in general do not have a supportive ecosystem within which to grow their social and environmental impact businesses.” The ecosystem begins with a new way of looking at things. “I am working with others to build an ecosystem, indeed an entirely new paradigm, for business founded upon ‘the rigorous application of blended value’ — my definition, and th

Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1KFRe4V. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher. UPTOGOOD.org is part crowdfunding, part petition platform and partly a platform for committing people to change their behavior, all driven by video stories. Founded by sisters Mika and Emi Onishi, the site is focused on causes. Mika explains the motivation for creating the site, “Our original inspiration came out of the genuine overwhelm of wanting to do GOOD but not always knowing the best way to direct our desire to help after watching social change documentaries online that tugged at our hearts.” She notes that many of these stories are important, but are “far from what was breaking the internet.” Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1KFRe4V. Please consider whether a friend or colleague might benefit from this piece and, if so, share it.

Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1KCAr2G. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher. Every day, an average of 22 veterans take their own lives. This tragic reality motivated Josh and Lisa Lannon and Tom Spooner to do something. They founded Warriors Heart, an addiction treatment center that provides peer-to-peer solutions to help veterans, law enforcement and first responders who struggle with addiction and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Josh Lannon took the time to explain the challenges that veterans face, what Warriors Heart is doing and what he hopes will come of their efforts. Lannon says the VA isn’t the answer. “While the VA (Veterans Administration) has good people, they can’t keep up with the needs of veterans after 14 years of war.” The program, Lannon says, is holistic in its approach. “We are looking at the “whole body” versus sending a warrior