Nuclear Fallout On The Move

(Let me preface this blog entry with clarification on my thoughts on nuclear power. As a clean energy proponent, I think nuclear power has a place in our more sustainable future. This is based on years of weighing the upside/downside of known alternatives and the fact that there is no one single power solution without a downside.)

Now I feel better. On with the show. The media frenzy around Japan’s still unfolding tsunami/earthquake tragedy has the public riveted on “breaking news” and the human horror and attendant heroes surrounding the sad scene. As soon as the nuclear power plant failures began to cross the wire, I told my friends this is going to be used by extreme opponents to kill nuclear initiatives for a decade to come. That tsunami of negative news is just beginning to grow.

In this rush to headlines, Japan’s government must consider it’s words carefully. Transparency is the watch word for effectively handling the crisis communications without use of inflammatory comments. If they try to hide information or fail to tell the complete story, the whiplash will be severe on Japan’s credibility, as well as the nuclear industry.

Other governments (and companies) including my own state, Utah, as well as Japan could take a lesson from past failures in transparency like Watergate. Utah lawmakers are now taking flack for fast-tracking House Bill 477 which protects legislators from public scrutiny of text and e-mails.

Our thoughts and prayers and charitable contributions go out to the people of Japan. And, my hope goes out to that country’s government to be transparent on the unfolding nuclear crisis. Though painful, it is expected in today’s hugely connected age.

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Yesterday, I attended the Big Business & Technology Expo at UVU. I went specifically to hear Zappos Product Manager Robert Richman talk about  company success landing them as #6 Best Places to Work by Fortune Magazine.  Mildly interested to be there at first, what I discovered was amazing. As a student of Corporate Responsibility (CSR), I would have to give Zappos high marks for the People component of the triple bottom line of CSR: People, Planet, Profits.

Zappos oozes with “happiness” in the workplace, everyone’s “main driver” according to Richman. The company’s secret, communicate with culture. The DNA of culture according to Zappos is “core values.” Contrary to other companies that define values as honesty, integrity, team, responsibility, and quality, this disruptive, happy place outlines 8 core values and communicates them with every move:

1. Deliver WOW! through service
2. Embrace/drive change
3. Create fun & a little weirdness
4. Be adventurous, create open environment
5. Pursue open & honest relationships
6. Do more with less
7. Be passionate & determined
8. Be humble

Richman quoted the legend Peter Drucker when he stated, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.”

If you missed the presentation, no worries. Zappos has a free book on corporate culture that I just ordered at www.culturebook.org . Cool!

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In my swan song event as 2010 Chairman, the Utah Valley Entrepreneurial Forum (UVEF) today announced winners for itss 2010 Annual UVEF Awards. The annual event recognizes Utah companies and leaders for innovation, business growth and contributions to the entrepreneurial community. Award recipients were honored today at ceremonies held at the Provo Novell Campus.

Keith McCord addresses 110 attendees at UVEF Awards Program

“Successful entrepreneurs seek out mentors, looking for guidance to chart the road ahead,” said UVEF chairman John Pilmer. “UVEF Award winners are worthy of emulation as each represents the best of what each aspiring new startup wants to become.”

Award recipients will be named in the following categories:

Most Innovative Product: Nate Alder, Klymit

Ron King Social Entrepreneur of the Year: Fraser Nelson, Community Foundation of Utah

Greatest Contribution to Entrepreneurs, John Richards

Utah Valley’s Best Kept Entrepreneurial Secret: Brad Caldwell, Security Metrics, Inc

Entrepreneur of the Year: Susan W. Preator, Imagine Learning, Inc.

The air was electric at the Grand America ballroom filled wall-to-wall with around 300 well-dressed attendees at the 2nd annual Utah Student 25 Awards Gala in Salt Lake City this week. Utah Student 25 founding educator, entrepreneur, and angel investor thanks the growing list of sponsors jumping on the accelerating train that is Utah Student 25.

As a matter of fact, if it were a train, this awards train would likely be compared to a bullet train. Last year winners FuneralRecording.com, Launch Sales & Marketing, Worldwide Book Drive, and 2009 #1 Meter Solutions spoke of their fabulous successes since winning this award last year. These companies founders, some still in college, reported major investor partnerships, $millions in revenur, international expansion, national press exposure, much of which they created to the Utah Student 25 recognition from last year.

Virtually every major Utah college/university had a student owned business in the hunt this year, demonstrating growing enthsusiasm for this program that brings to the surface, one of Utah’s major reasons for its ongoing #1 status among other states.

#1 student owned busines in this year’s Utah Student 25 is Stubtopia.com. This new, rapidly growing serice promises to help customers “Grab tickets your friends will be jealous of!” and to provide “the best experience-for-your-money.” Founder Darren Allred shared with the crowd the value of mentors and methodical growth as keys to the company’s success.

It was recently my pleasure to meet Hal Wing for the first time in my role as Chairman for the Utah Valley Entrepreneurial Forum (www.UVEF.net). In my work in PR,  I have worked closely with CEO’s from numerous industries and Hal personified the dynamic personality I’ve come to expect from executives at the top of their game. I saw a tremendous lifetime contributor to the economy, an energized entrepreneur, with his first wife of many decades at his side. Employing 200 factory workers in Utah and some 400 or so globally in more than 20 countries, Little Giant Ladder continues to make a difference.  Watch this video and see if you agree.

David Bradford and I first met on the Novell corporate jet returning to Utah from the company’s San Jose office. We both worked for Eric Schmidt, now of Google fame. David was Chief  Counsel, I was over investment, partner & channel Public Relations for the company. I was entranced by David’s depth of history regarding the rise of the microcomputer (PC) & the associated software battles of the 80’s & 90’s surrounding that industry.

As Chairman of Fusion-io David stays very busy. Somehow, he’s managed to find time for another new venture in his string of serial entrepreneur startups. Take a listen to his thoughts on LDS.biz “social networking with values.”

My assumption is that corporate executives understand that delivering unified key messages to target markets is vital for success. Do you think most business people get that? I hope so.  That said, take a look at some facts:

Sixty-five percent* of corporate information in mainstream media (U.S.) conveys key messages once “in print.” Executives understand this risk, and use every ethical means to make sure their spokespersons and information maximizes the percent of publications that get it right.

Contrast this with the social media of blogging. Fully 76%* of outbound company blog entries fail to include key messaging. Three quarters of blogged content misses the messaging mark! SSSSSsssss! Sounds like an company energy leak to me.

With October as National Strategic Planning Month, perhaps corporate leaders are  wise to consider having a more senior level person or firm direct their social media efforts so they stop or prevent corporate energy leaks.

Let me know if you need a patch kit for that social media energy leak.

Read my full article on the Utah Business Blog.
Source: eMarketer.com

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As Chairman for the Utah Valley Entrepreneurial Forum (UVEF) I today attended a great event to honor world-class leaders. Proving that the “glass ceiling” has been shattered, today’s Women Tech Awards played to a packed room of hundreds at the Grand America in Salt Lake City. Founded and led by the Women Tech Council (WTC), today’s event honored great accomplishment in five areas covering the gamet of women rising to greatness.

Keynote Speaker, Anne Dwane – CEO at Zinch, spoke about the accelerating rate of change facing business leaders of today. She honored recipients for their exceptional ability to embrace and leverage change and to forge ahead to greatness.

I was humbled at the amazing intensity of the lives of these worthy recipients and perhaps lifted my vision of the future a bit.

Of the 14 Finalists, 5 were singled out for special recognition:

Education Excellence      Laura Hunter, Utah Education Network

Rising Star                             Chiao-ih Hui, L-3 Communications

Entrepreneurial Excellence   Padma Allen, TechnoDyne

Technology Innovator     Carol J Campbell, ATK Aerospace Systems

Leadership Excellence      Carol Fineagan, EnergySolutions

From PilmerPR & UVEF, Congratulations ALL!

Ellen McCarthy, talented writer for the Washington Post, recently published an article that got my attention big time. It discussed the power of Pop in today’s new media world. This article offers application for  strategic public relations. In this video, John discusses the power of PR Pop, especially in the world of Social Media.

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80% of the world’s largest companies now have a Corporate Responsibility Report per a recent article in the Moscow Times. In previous entries we have discussed that Green PR is a subset of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Now CSR is being shortened to a term I like quite a bit more, Corporate Responsibility (CR). I think CR is a better umbrella term which encompasses the triple bottom line of CSR: Planet, People, Profits.

In tough economic times some companies find themselves trying to justify budget for going Green or socially responsible programs. As often as customers will listen,  I share the PilmerPR philisophy that CSR should be woven into the very fabric of who we are as a company.  This article I read today in the Financial Times does a great job of exploring the issues around commitment to CSR in today’s economic environment.

PilmerPR CR mantra: “First be good, then talk about being good.” In that order.

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