Geek/Tech/Entrepreneur Stuff to do in PHX

[Joshua Zeidner]

another great one:

"OK, my question stands. Where are the incubators, the "bootstrap"
seminars, the serious entrepreneurial meetups in Phoenix??? (crickets
chirping). Phoenix just ain't happening as a serious place where
serious people are doing serious things. No one wants it badly enough
here. This paper should be having at least one article a week on a new
startup and the VC firm who funded it. Helloooo????? is anybody out
there...."

a better way to phrase this: we need to stop pretending these
whimsical efforts churned out by local self-employed marketing experts
are sufficient.  They are not.  We should be asking the hard
questions, not playing games.

-jmz


On Fri, Jul 31, 2009 at 4:04 PM, Joshua Zeidner<jjzeidner at gmail.com> wrote:
>  another point, honestly reading through some of the criticisms on
> azcentral and being of the cafe dwelling creed myself, I'd have to say
> that many of those points are accurate.  I've heard lots of
> 'entrepreneurs' with big ideas around here who never get anywhere with
> them.  Sorry, but a word press template doesn't make you an
> entrepreneur.
>
>  "These are the same people you see at Starbucks, Boarders or any
> other wi-fi hot spot, they are not entrepreneurs they are attention
> (inappropriate term)."
>
>  "Many of the Co-Worker location founders tout other people to
> collaborate with and who can "compensate for your deficiencies". Do
> you really believe someone that you are not paying as an employee is
> going to somehow compensate for your deficiencies and make your
> business better? That kind of help doesn't come without a price."
>
>  oh so true...
>
>  "You are more likely to get a bunch of people chatting to you over
> your "work" so you wont be concentrating as you should to focus on
> your business. Most of these people started businesses after being
> laid off. They are searching for a new job and they aren't really
> serious about their "businesses" so how do you expect them to give you
> valuable, serious advice. Are these the kind of people you need to
> compensate for your deficiencies? A bunch of people half-as running
> their "business" while searching for a real job and bothering you with
> their expertise that got them laid off in the first place."
>
>  oh so so true...
>
>  I would be willing to bet the commenter above is an tried and true
> successful entrepreneur.  Perhaps the reason I am so skeptical is
> because I know these kind of people so well.
>
>  sorry I really wish I could be more supportive... but :  truth is
> the foundation of progress.
>
>  -jmz
>
>
> On Fri, Jul 31, 2009 at 3:28 PM, Joshua Zeidner<jjzeidner at gmail.com> wrote:
>>  Alan,
>>
>>    Wish I had time to respond to all these points right now, not sure
>> you read me the way I would prefer however.  Its not so grave a
>> warning, just getting the word out on my first hand experiences.  Im
>> just one of many- but hopefully an impartial observer and someone
>> genuinely concerned for AZ.
>>
>>  all the best, jmz
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Jul 31, 2009 at 3:12 PM, Alan Dayley<alandd at consultpros.com> wrote:
>>> Josh,
>>>
>>> I feel warned.  And I don't understand the reason for such a strong warning.
>>>
>>> There are people in every industry, government or community who wish
>>> to fleece their "community" for their own profit instead of mutual
>>> benefit.  The trick is to find the positive people and ignore the
>>> rest.  Apply the same filter with every event, group or blogger in the
>>> lists and links I provided.  I don't expect bloggers or techies to be
>>> any different, as if being techie makes one a saint.
>>>
>>> Some of those bloggers are purely commercial or completely neglected,
>>> I'm sure.  Some of the groups or events or sites listed are lousy,
>>> boring or poor marketing excuses to sell something.  Some are not out
>>> to create community but to build a "kingdom" for their own benefit.
>>> They are the duds.
>>>
>>> Let's look at a few positives:
>>>
>>> - Read the Gangplank Manifesto on their home page at
>>> http://gangplankhq.com.  That looks like a great articulation of their
>>> goals and purpose.  Ones I strongly support!
>>> -- Read how the manifesto came to be on Derek's blog at
>>> http://derekneighbors.com/2009/07/collaborative-writing-or-how-the-gangplank-manifesto-was-written/
>>>
>>> - Gangplank has hosted or is hosting:
>>> -- MobiFest - a day long conference on developing for phones like
>>> iPhone or Android
>>> -- Gangplank Jr. - a 2-3 hour Saturday event for kids 5-15 to learn
>>> programming concepts
>>> -- Wordpress training classes for minimal cost or no-cost for non-profit orgs
>>> -- Laid Off Camp - a day long conference on job searching and entreprenuership
>>> -- Barcamp Pheonix - a day long conference on software development
>>> -- TEDx night - Watch ted.com videos and discuss them
>>> -- OpenPhoenix - a night of open mic music and entertainment
>>>
>>> - The last http://desertcodecamp.com/ was held on June 13th and nearly
>>> filled DeVry's Phoenix campus with developers talking about code or
>>> making code.  Free lunch of pizza and sub sandwiches was provided too.
>>>  Put together by volunteers.
>>>
>>> - If you're into Microsoft based development tech, the people who
>>> maintain the http://azgroups.com site do an annual all-day event at
>>> venues like the Orphium Theater and at no cost to attendees.  Fine,
>>> it's marketing for MS but it's put on by volunteers here in the valley
>>> and a great way for people to learn about things that improve their
>>> career skills.
>>> (http://www.componentart.com/BLOGS/milos/archive/2009/06/02/scott-guthrie-event-2009-phoenix-az.aspx)
>>>
>>> - The local Ruby On Rails group has monthly meetings with around 30
>>> regularly in attendance.
>>>
>>> - The Java group is also well attended every month.
>>>
>>> - The third http://podcampaz.com/ is coming up in November, put on by
>>> voluteers at no cost (donation requested) to attendees.  Had about 350
>>> people attend last year (if I recall) for two days of conference.
>>>
>>> - The http://azentrepreneurship.com/ conference will be in November
>>> for the forth year.  This one costs $100+ but should be as well
>>> attended as last year with 200+ people.  Funded and organized in part
>>> by a local venture capital group.
>>>
>>> - The first http://ignitephoenix.com event was held a year ago with a
>>> little over 100 in attendance and has grown to fill the 600 seat
>>> Theather at Tempe Center for the Arts back in June.  The connections
>>> made there live well past the event.
>>> -- Oh, a city council member and the mayor of Tempe spoke this last
>>> time, though he was a bit silly trying to be Tempe exclusive.  That
>>> seems to be at least verbal political support.
>>>
>>> - The second ABLEConf on FS/OSS is being planned for October and
>>> should be better than last year. (Go Hans and team!)
>>>
>>> I'm not going to go on, though I could point out several purely social
>>> events like http://phoenixfridaynights.com/, it's east and west valley
>>> analogs, East Valley Thursday Morning breakfasts, Tempe Geeks Lunch,
>>> South Valley Geek Meet and Eat and Gangplank's Brown Gag lunch
>>> presentations every Wednesday.
>>>
>>> Now, having said all of that "giddy blind optimism," I'd like to
>>> understand how the above does not address the efforts of the past or
>>> provide improvement over past efforts.  What are the real needs of the
>>> community, if not some of the above?  What would you suggest?  How can
>>> PLUG be a part of it?
>>>
>>> Alan
>>>
>>> On Fri, Jul 31, 2009 at 1:34 PM, Joshua Zeidner<jjzeidner at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>  Alan,
>>>>
>>>>    while I appreciate your post, and anyone who is making a sincere
>>>> effort to build community in Phoenix... be warned.  There are some
>>>> small groups who periodically spawn off new 'communities' every month
>>>> or so.  Look closely and you see the same few people with reused
>>>> marketing recipes.  Lots of blog and not too much community I'm
>>>> afraid.  Their efforts amount to some simple branding and putting up a
>>>> blog.  While these things are not really particularily offensive to
>>>> me, they do somewhat detract from interest in the real needs of the
>>>> community here.  Some of these people are just outright idiotic and
>>>> cannot deal with existing structure and refuse to accept the history
>>>> of efforts in the past.  They lack any articulation of their goals and
>>>> purpose.  Often times they have trouble organizing even small groups
>>>> of 2 or 3.  Dont forget we've had a tech incubator here.  Lets not
>>>> smack down sincere criticism in favor of giddy blind optimism,
>>>> remember you can't improve without criticism.  I would take these
>>>> people much more seriously if they addressed the efforts of the past
>>>> and perhaps suggested how they are going to improve on them, or
>>>> perhaps indicate what has changed that will make them a success.
>>>> Maybe seeking real political support would gain some legitimacy.
>>>>
>>>>    on the positive side, I think Phoenix will attract a lot of
>>>> technology business due to its relative low cost and no doubt you will
>>>> start to see community infrastructure grow.  We are seeing some real
>>>> urban development happening in Phx metro which has me very excited.  I
>>>> think when the macroeconomic problems are sorted out we will see
>>>> downtown Phx bloom.  Im hoping that the average Arizonan gets involved
>>>> in the political process and make sure that the corruption stays out
>>>> of city and state politics.  Coming from NY, Im recognizing a lot of
>>>> positive development trends in Phx metro.
>>>>
>>>>  -jmz
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>>
>