First, I saw the opportunity for collaboration.

The day Google announced its Fiber for Communities project, the Blue Sky team was busy working on the BTOP grant that USFP was applying for. Our proposal was to connect four underserved counties in our area (Polk, Highlands, Hardee and Desoto) with a 250 mile sonnet 10Gb/sec ring that will bring these underserved communities Lambda Rail and additional dark fiber. Yesterday we made the final submission and should know if we go to due diligence by the fall. Also, I knew that the City of Lakeland has fiber to every street light in the city and that it is around 300 miles in length.  So I shot of an email to those involved in hopes of getting the ball rolling.

Second, I saw the opportunity to, as the popular phrase goes, bridge the digital divide. I know some out there might not see the internet as a basic right, I may agree, but I do believe it has become a basic utility. A requirement to be a part of modern society. Just like electricity and water. I see the opportunity to enable  schools to deliver relevant education to the home, and to us technology that they normally are unable to because of the lack of access that many students simply don’t have. Its this lack of access that i believe will continue the and compound the cycle of poverty, simply because broadband access elevates the entire society with it, and strands the rest without it. Now I know my conservative friends are starting to get riled up, and thinking “Pull yourselves up by your bootstraps”; but I contend that  you simple can not improve your own situation without broadband access in today’s global economy. The U.S. access to broadband has now slipped from 3rd to 5th in the world, and as reported:

“The nations that have actually progressed the most since the WEF began this survey back in 2002 are actually two surprising ones: China, and India. China, despite the numerous international concerns about the freedom of its Net systems, has leaped from 64th position to 37th, and India has moved from 54th to 43rd rank: This demonstrates incredible commitment by these (relatively) poorer nations to push their Net technology forwards, and highlights how little internal progress the U.S. has made.”

Simple put broadband access is the first step to enable our poorest children to change their status in life, to get them off government programs, and to prepare them to achieve in the global economy.

So why Catalyst for Innovation? Well it has become a mantra for me, in my faith, family, work and play. Its through this mantra that I want to pursue my life (not just career) track of being a builder of communities. Not just Cities or Towns, but people groups. Lots and lots of people groups.

Thanks for taking the time to read, and check out http://ConnectLakeland.com, because Google was just the start our community has a vision and I am going to make sure we reach it.

Let me know your thoughts, I really would love to hear them.

If you haven’t heard of Seth, go check him out. He has a new book out, that I can’t wait to read.

In this post on his blog, he discusses people in just two groups: Hunters and Farmers.

Seth mentions the very skill sets as we see them today:

A kid who has innate hunting skills is easily distracted, because noticing small movements in the brush is exactly what you’d need to do if you were hunting. Scan and scan and pounce. That same kid is able to drop everything and focus like a laser–for a while–if it’s urgent. The farming kid, on the other hand, is particularly good at tilling the fields of endless homework problems, each a bit like the other. Just don’t ask him to change gears instantly.

Honestly, I can see both skill sets in myself. But overall I tend to be a hunter. I really believe that is what I am good at. Which obviously lends itself to the idea that Seth quotes of author, Thom Hartmann:

That medicating kids who might be better at hunting so that they can sit quietly in a school designed to teach farming doesn’t make a lot of sense.

Though we as hunters also have to understand that our system was built by the farmers, as well as the fact that they are people to respect too.

As a marketer this isn’t a lens through which I would have previously looked, but Seth has again pointed me in the right direction.

I will end my post the same way he did:

“All I know is that it often explains a lot about behavior (including mine).

Some ways to think about this:

• George Clooney (in  Up in the Air) and James Bond are both fictional hunters. Give them a desk job and they freak out.
• Farmers don’t dislike technology. They dislike failure. Technology that works is a boon.
• Hunters are in sync with Google, a hunting site, farmers like Facebook.
• When you promote a first-rate hunting salesperson to internal sales management, be prepared for failure.
• Farmers prefer productive meetings, hunters want to simply try stuff and see what happens.
• Warren Buffet is a farmer. So is Bill Gates. Mark Cuban is a hunter.
• Hunters want a high-stakes mission, farmers want to avoid epic failure.
• Trade shows are designed to entrance hunters, yet all too often, the booths are staffed with farmers.
• The last hundred years of our economy favored smart farmers. It seems as though the next hundred are going to belong to the persistent hunters able to stick with it for the long haul.
• A hunter will often buy something merely because it is difficult to acquire.
• One of the paradoxes of venture capital is that it takes a hunter to get the investment and a farmer to patiently make the business work.
• A farmer often relies on other farmers in her peer group to be sure a purchase is riskless.

Who are you hiring? Competing against? Teaching?”

This is how I plan to live in 2010, and I know it will be a daily struggle.

I will strive to enter into more and deeper relationships with those around me.

I will strive to hold my faith in God as my compass.

I will strive to engage my family as my anchor.

I will strive to lead those who look to me for leadership.

I will strive to ensure that 2010 will be less about me and more about those around me.

I will strive to give my all in everything that I do, and if I can not, fix what needs to be fixed.

With that said I get to start the new year in an exciting way.  I am pleased to announce that I will be joining USF Polytechnic Blue Sky Incubator team beginning in January. This is an exciting opportunity for me to continue on the path that has been set before me. I will keep you updated as I make this transition.

Until today.

I was truly ecstatic when I heard that Paula Dockery was officially running for Governor of Florida.

I have had the pleasure to meet Paula Dockery on two occasions, and each time I did I realize how much I wished other elected officials would be like her.

She has a never say die attitude that she uses to take on the most daunting task, bucking party leadership and winning, with conservative principles that truly speak to who I am. She is such a humble stateswoman that she had to be drafted to run, to represent those that felt they had no representation. She has taken it a step further by announcing that she will qualify for the election by petition. She truly is a Voice For The People.

So here is the ask:

Please take a moment to fill out and mail this petition in to help Paula Qualify. She is looking to gather 113,000 signatures and ANY registered voter can fill out a petition. Download it here:

Dockery Sponsored_Legislation-Major_Issues.pdf

Mail to:

Paula Dockery for Governor
P.O. Box 1527
Lakeland, Florida 33802-1527

As I want to be true to my philosophy of you doing your research, read about Paula below:

TBO.com: Competition good for Republicans

Dockery a Convincing Leader

I will post more links later. Please fill out the petition. We need more people like Senator Dockery in office.

USF Poly eNews Sept. 28, 2009

USF’s Daniels ready to make first start News Chief Sept. 25, 2009 USF quarterback B.J. Daniels insists it won’t be a big deal when he returns to his hometown of Tallahassee to face No. 18 Florida State in his first college start. http://www.newschief.com/article/20090925/NEWS/909255050#

USF quarterback B.J. Daniels hyped to face FSU in his hometown of Tallahassee Orlando Sentinel Sept. 25, 2009 Redshirt freshman B.J. Daniels didn’t truly accept that he was USF’s new starting quarterback until Matt Grothe showed up at practice Monday on crutches. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/college/orl-sportsusf-daniels-25092509sep25,0,3242473.story

Florida’s Big 4? USF’s Dream Requires a Win The Ledger Sept. 26, 2009 USF’s main goal is to capture the school’s first Big East championship. But a victory today against No. 18 FSU would do a lot for the program. http://www.theledger.com/article/20090926/NEWS/909265014#

QB Daniels, Strong Defense Lead USF past FSU The Ledger Sept. 27, 2009 Perhaps no win put USF on the college football map like the 2007 victory at No. 2 Auburn. But on Saturday, the Bulls officially arrived. http://www.theledger.com/article/20090926/NEWS/909265052

USF Bulls break into Florida elite with victory over Florida State Seminoles Tampa Tribune Sept. 27, 2009 What was the most incredible part of the Bulls’ 17-7 upset of No. 18 Florida State? http://www.tampabay.com/sports/college/usf-bulls-break-into-florida-elite-with-victory-over-florida-state/1039485

Florida State ‘whupped’ in first meeting with South Florida News Chief Sept. 27, 2009 Most of the more than 12,000 sun-drenched, green-clad boosters remained in their end zone seats chanting “USF, USF,” for some 20 minutes after the Bulls defeated No. 18 Florida State 17-7 Saturday. http://www.newschief.com/article/20090927/NEWS/909275043#

USF knocks Florida State from Big 3 status in the Sunshine State Orlando Sentinel Sept. 27, 2009 Now, after USF’s monumental manhandling of Florida State at the Doak Campbell Memorial Mortuary, it’s time for everybody to admit it: Leavitt was right. We were wrong. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orl-sportsbianchi-new-column-fsu-usf-2092709sep27,0,4929065.column

USF’s historic win should boost recruiting Tampa Tribune Sept. 28, 2009 USF’s 17-7 victory against Florida State “will have lasting shockwaves through the state of Florida.” http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/sep/28/280919/sp-historic-win-should-boost-recruiting/

Big Three? Big deal. Bulls bounce FSU Tampa Tribune Sept. 26, 2009 After USF defeated No. 18 Florida State 17-7 Saturday, there should be no debate anymore: USF is unequivocally a member of the state’s elite programs. http://www.tboblogs.com/index.php/sports/story/big-three-big-deal.-bulls-bounce-fsu/

With this victory, USF Bulls prove they’ve caught up to the FSU Seminoles St. Petersburg Times Sept. 27, 2009 There have been bigger upsets for USF. And there have been more highly ranked opponents. But for a school that has grown up in the shadow of someone else’s glory, there has never been a moment quite like this. http://www.tampabay.com/sports/college/with-this-victory-usf-bulls-prove-theyve-caught-up-to-the-fsu-seminoles/1039543

USF’s Daniels Shows He’s Ready The Ledger Sept. 27, 2009 The future is now at quarterback for USF and it certainly looks bright with big-play B.J. Daniels leading the way. http://www.theledger.com/article/20090926/COLUMNISTS/909265054

It’s a day Daniels – and USF fans – won’t forget Tampa Tribune Sept. 27, 2009 B.J. Daniels did it. On a day when no one gave him or his team a real chance, with everyone watching, with everyone doubting, he ran and passed USF to history, real history. http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/sep/27/cb-its-a-day-daniels—and-usf-fans—wont-forget/

The Odd & Tragic Road Tampa Tribune Sept. 26, 2009 How USF quarterback B.J. Daniels got to this point is complicated, a journey intertwined with tragedy, pain, heartbreak and trust. http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/sep/26/260016/sp-the-odd-tragic-road/

Bulls’ Defense Gives QB an Assist The Ledger Sept. 28, 2009 USF quarterback B.J. Daniels verbally applauded his defense after it helped him win his first-career start at Florida State on Saturday. http://www.theledger.com/article/20090928/NEWS/909285028

DeLand’s Mark Joyce, a USF commitment, was at FSU to witness the Bulls’ big victory Orlando Sentinel Sept.  27, 2009 Mark Joyce was in the stands to watch USF beat FSU, and he said the landmark victory made him even more certain he made the right choice in committing to sign with USF. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/recruiting/orl-recruiting-mark-joyce-deland-usf-09,0,6724057.story

South Florida Bulls head into October, a tough month of late St. Petersburg Times Sept.  28, 2009 For the third year in a row, the Bulls enter October undefeated, but after Saturday’s 17-7 win at Florida State, USF’s challenge is to improve on a 3-5 October record over the past two seasons. http://www.tampabay.com/sports/college/article1039672.ece

I hope to post about a variety of issues, concerns, and a variety of other awesomeness. All the way from Lakeland, FL. I hope to engage the local community about the way I see my community and how I plan to ‘Keep Moving Forward’.

I hope that I will begin to organize the many crazy thoughts that run through my brain and I ask we try to take this journey together. Much love to my wife, who will probably be the only one to read this.  Love to you all.