Geek/Tech/Entrepreneur Stuff to do in PHX

[keith smith]

I see value in these places.  It gives one a place to plug in and find like minded people.  

I was excited when I read the story.

------------------------
Keith Smith


--- On Fri, 7/31/09, Joshua Zeidner <jjzeidner at gmail.com> wrote:

> From: Joshua Zeidner <jjzeidner at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: Geek/Tech/Entrepreneur Stuff to do in PHX
> To: "Main PLUG discussion list" <plug-discuss at lists.plug.phoenix.az.us>
> Date: Friday, July 31, 2009, 4:20 PM
> 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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