Omaha Breakfast of Champions aka First Monday of the Month Breakfast Club
Instigators (or brothers?) Eric Downs & Mike Battershell
Late Friday I got a note from my friend Nicole Patrice urging me to rollout the First Monday of the Month Breakfast Club like what was taking place in San Francisco, New York and LA.
So we put together a quick invite, as the first Monday of June was two days away, settled on a location and diner that’s actually open on Monday mornings - thanks 11-Worth Cafe - and shipped it out the door!
I was encouraged, although not at all surprised to see close to 40 folks who showed up at this past Monday morning’s breakfast.
It’s a sign of the desire of our generation to not only eat breakfast, but meet and brainstorm on ideas of how we can help each other, and continue building our city.
Lots of energy and discussion around what’s next for Omaha and what’s needed, and until the next idea that we need to rally the community behind, let’s keep building, dreaming, meeting, planning, eating, and being instigators.
See you all on Monday July 1st. We’ll run the meal from 7:30 until 9:30 - most likely at 11-Worth Cafe again - folks are free to arrive and depart as their schedule permits during the morning.
The rules are pretty straightforward, come bringing great ideas and ready for conversation. Second, and most importantly, be sure to introduce yourself and visit with those that you don’t already know at least 75% or more.
Let’s see if we can launch the events in Des Moines, Kansas City, Cedar Rapids, Lincoln and everywhere in between.
Till then…
We Got This Far, Now What?
I’ve been thinking a lot about what’s next for our community now that the fifth year of Big Omaha is behind us.
It seems to me the fifth year is a sign of the potential for what’s ahead. It’s also a good reason to pause, take a look at where we’re at, and make course corrections or adjustments to make sure we not only continue moving forward, but moving forward faster, and with greater impact and results.
The point has been made before by Brad Feld, to which I strongly agree, that it takes a critical mass - which isn’t that many - maybe a half dozen people who are committed to building a community. And committed for the long haul, not just the next few months or even a year.
So as we’ve arrived the an important stage in our community, what do you think is needed?
What organizations or people are flying under the radar and need to be called upon to get engaged?
What’s next for us as a city and region?
How can we leverage Omaha’s unique assets to build something of lasting value and impact?
Who are the other leaders that are interested in making a dent in the community?
What’s lacking and / or needs to be improved?
Let’s look at this time as the end of the first quarter, and take a step back to look at what’s happened over the last few years, and double down on making the next five years and beyond even better.
Who’s in?
Opportunities Abound
“Interesting opportunities start to show up when the world knows your passions and talents.” - via Scott Dinsmore
The most direct route to happiness is through creating joy for someone else.
Sad Ben. with Ben – View on Path.
Building Out the Roster
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how to develop and build out the roster of leaders within the startup community. It’s vital to any organization, cause or group to always be looking to the next group of folks who will take the community into the next generation, and it’s no different within a startup community.
What tips, tricks or concepts have you seen implemented that help to build out the roster?
“The next time you’re driving across Goddamn Whatever, Iowa, stop and think: This field that I’m standing in front of…you know, someone toiled over that for generations. And while I sit on my big ass clicking a mouse all day, it really puts things into perspective of how lucky and how thankful I should really be every hour.”
— Aaron Draplin, AKA Draplin Design Co.
And on that note, his Field Notes Memo Archive page is fucking awesome. I could listen to that dude talk about corn and design (but mostly corn, of course) all day.
