It's summertime, and the living is easy. Kind of. As the global economy continues to evolve -- and people develop new ways to thrive and survive in a downturn -- Company of Friends members and cells around the world continue to redefine how business networking groups, professional associations, and problem-solving teams can self-organize and operate. As people head out on their summer vacations and the start of school nears (at least in the United States), CoF activity might slow a little, but we still have a lot of news from Fast Company headquarters in Boston.
This edition marks the third go in FC's new bimonthly schedule for email updates about the Company of Friends and other FC activities. If you have comments, feedback, and ideas on these CoF updates, let us know. You can email Heath Row (that's me), the global coordinator of the CoF.
Here's what's inside this edition:
Ready? Set? Go!
CONTINUING TO SET THE COF AGENDA
Many of you responded to our query in late May: 'What do you wish the Company of Friends and Fast Company would do to better help you succeed at what you're committed to and concerned about?' (Thank you for your responses.) Many of your suggestions, responses, and ideas touched on the following wants, needs, and general subjects:
Some of these tools already exist in a fledgling form, but we can certainly improve them and make them more visible, usable, and accessible. Others are quite new ideas -- and quite exciting!
As I think through your input, the above subjects fall pretty neatly into two major categories: (a) the CoF's online community tools and (b) increased front line support for cell coordinators and planning teams. Let's tackle this next wave of agenda setting by taking on the first part, well, first.
Here's the next question:
If the Company of Friends were the most personally and professionally valuable online community in the world, what would you be able to on the CoF Web? What online tools and services do you want? Need? What online communities, services, and technologies do you suggest we consider as we plan the next iteration of the CoF Web and FC.com? What kinds of online products and services would you be willing to pay for?
Think individually, think in terms of your cell, think in terms of the entire network. At the same time, think career, think company, and think community. Pull no punches: Think big. You can email me -- as always.
THE COF ROADSHOW SHIFTS INTO HIGH GEAR
With the support of Audi of America Inc. and the Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, Fast Company is organizing another CoF Roadshow!
This fall, the Roadshow will explore what's next in the West -- from British Columbia, Canada; through Washington, Oregon, and California in the United States; and into Monterrey and Mexico City, Mexico.
Between Sept. 17 and Nov. 8, 2001, FC will visit about 15 cities in three countries to meet with CoF members, business thought leaders, and forward-thinking teams and companies to explore what's next in the West -- including what is arguably the birthplace of the Net (and new) economy -- Silicon Valley.
Here's the current schedule of events:
9/19 Vancouver, BC
9/20 Nanaimo, BC
9/20 Victoria, BC
9/24 Seattle, WA
9/27 Portland, OR
10/3 Sacramento, CA
10/4 Oakland, CA
10/11 San Francisco, CA
10/15 San Rafael, CA
10/18 San Jose, CA
10/22 Santa Cruz, CA
10/24 Los Angeles, CA
10/31 San Diego, CA
11/5 Monterrey, Mexico
11/7 Mexico City, Mexico
If you (a) can suggest people, teams, and companies FC should meet, (b) are interested in hosting Heath in your home as he travels, or (c) want to participate in local Roadshow events, email Heath. The Roadshow schedule is filling quickly! For more information on past Roadshows, check out the new Roadshow 2001 Web, which will launch in early August.
Supporters
NEW CELLS AND COORDINATORS
Even though the CoF continues to grow at about 1,000 new members every month, we're especially excited when an existing member takes the next step and decides to volunteer to coordinate CoF activities in their local community. This is just a quick shout out to some of the new CoF cells that have sprouted up around the world -- as well as existing cells that have recently experienced coordinator and planning team successions -- since our last CoF-wide email. Here's to a successful 2001!
New cells:
If you're interested in starting a cell in your area, check out the CoF Handbook and the Rough Guide to Cell Coordination.
New coordinators:
If you're already a member of a cell and would like to get more involved, please contact your local coordinator. (And if I missed anyone, I apologize.)
EXPLORE FREE AGENT NATION WITH DAN PINK
Over the last few years, these emails have offered information, tools, advice, and questions for CoF members. Now I have something new to offer you: a dare.
The dare involves contributing editor Dan Pink and his new book, 'Free Agent Nation.' Already a best-seller, Dan's book has earned stellar reviews from the New York Times, the Financial Times, CNN, and other reviewers. At the last RealTime, Tom Peters couldn't stop raving about it. However, Dan has told me that his ultimate goal is not to impress these folks, but to ignite conversations among the new economy's most powerful grass-roots opinion leaders -- you.
Thus the dare. Dan has told me that if any CoF member or cell is interested in getting him involved in a free agency-related CoF activity, discussion, event, or workshop, he's there. Invite him. He'll come. It's that easy.
Dan has already attended cell CoF cell events in Raleigh, North Carolina; Columbus, Ohio; New York City; Ottawa, Ontario; and Montclair, New Jersey. He's participated in telephone meetings with the central New Jersey cell and the Cappella University cell. He hosted a book talk and party at his home for the Washington, D.C. cell. In a few weeks, he'll be visiting the Albuquerque cell. And a few weeks later, he'll be attending the kick-off meeting of a new cell in Charlottesville, Virginia.
If you'd like Dan to meet with your cell, send him an email. Or if you'd just like to help spread the free agent ideavirus, ask him how you can win a free, limited edition Free Agent Nation T-shirt for doing just that.
Additional resources:
That's all for now! Keep me in your loop.
Heath
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Copyright © 2012 Mansueto Ventures LLC. All rights reserved. Fast Company, 7 World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007-2195
