By John King, Business Development Manager at Umbrella Managed Systems
Global Entrepreneur Week
I recently attended an exciting program associated with entrepreneurs and innovators from all over the world. The good news was I didn’t have to leave Kansas City. What is Global Entrepreneur Week you ask? Here is what the organizers had to say:
“Global Entrepreneurship Week is the world’s largest celebration of the innovators and job creators who launch startups that bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and expand human welfare. During one week each November, GEW inspires people everywhere through local, national and global activities designed to help them take the next step in their entrepreneurial journey. These activities, from large-scale competitions and events to intimate networking gatherings, connect participants to potential collaborators, mentors and even investors — introducing them to new possibilities and exciting opportunities.”
Umbrella has always been an entrepreneurial company. When Heath and Trent started the company, they were looking to create a better way to do technical support for area businesses. I’ve never started a company of my own, but I’m helping Umbrella grow. And a great place to meet and learn about growth and entrepreneurship is with GEW.
GEW was hosted by many different groups all over the Kansas City metro.
The new Plexpod Westport is where I spent most of my week. (If you ever get a chance to check out the massive co-working space called Plexpod, you’ll be impressed.) I attended great events and met great individuals from all different types of companies. I sat in a few enlightening keynote events, but my favorite was presented by David Meerman Scott. David had an infectious way about him and he was a wonderful storyteller. (He’s also a fan of The Grateful Dead and even wrote a book about how The Dead are one of the best rock bands of all time… but even better marketers. It’s on my reading list!)
His entire process to marketing was focused on aligning a company’s marketing efforts with how clients purchase services and goods. David spoke about how sales is not selling, but rather educating a market. The goal is to teach them what they don’t know or a novel way to think about a common thing. And to provide customers with a better way of doing/acting/integrating a product into their companies. This is how we work at Umbrella.
We focus on getting the right solution to the right company. Information Technology is not just about “boxes and wires”, but more importantly about how the “boxes and wires” impact every aspect of a company. From facilitating interaction with customers to helping grow the bottom line; IT impacts everything.
Drop me a line if you want to figure out your “boxes and wires” impact. Or if you want to chat about Jerry Garcia.
