Leadership

Innovation in Iowa

Debi Durham is the Director and Anna Lensing is the Innovation Team Project Manager for the Iowa Economic Development Authority and Iowa Finance Authority. This government organization provides remarkable programs brewed to support business and innovation throughout Iowa. Tune in to hear us talk about the state of innovation in Iowa, ecosystem mapping, EntreFEST, non-dilutive financial capital for business owners, creative business succession planning, the legacy of John Pappajohn, tech-focused policy work, and what’s next for students, entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, and community builders statewide!

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By Ben McDougal, ago

Seasonality

Seasonal changes are revitalizing. The awakening of spring, the relaxation of summer, the release of fall, the refreshment of winter, and endless surprises keep us all bewildered. What if seasons apply to our work as well?

Agility awaits those who think of a job, specific roles, projects, experiments, side hustles, content creation, or entire business ventures more like creative seasons.

Quality takes time and consistency requires sacrifice, but seasons change. This reality makes decisions easier to make and action more accessible. Stress is typical when we care enough to ship something we’re proud of, and yet, every story ends. Embracing the seasonality of impermanence trims the fat of forever.

Extra Shot

Seasons change but never lack significance.

As we dance with new pieces of our own puzzle, milestones track progress and a beginner’s mindset keeps valiant optimism flowing. When a creative season begins to connect with the right audience at the right time, a nourishing sense of success emerges, which can extend that creative season. No matter how long a creative season lasts, prudent awareness along the way helps leaders remain harmonized with how time is invested, while the subtle lightness adds liberating vibes to keep an uncharted future interesting.

In the event energy begins to stall, as it often does, ensure you’ve done what’s needed to push through dips, gather feedback from diverse perspectives, avoid isolation, and be honest with if/how you want to continue navigating this quest. When these inevitable impasses arise, find your own version of unanimity, knowing that even if a creative season is held in abeyance, seasonality makes something you spent time with more natural to return to in the future.

If it’s time to leave one season behind, avoid potential regret by appreciating the progress made. Take time to reflect on learnings, put the old seasonal decorations away, and maintain relationships as you regenerate energy and lean into whatever season is next.

Brewed From Within
#62 📖 Leadership

By Ben McDougal, ago

Recursion

Recursion is a computer science term for the process of defining a problem in terms of itself, then dividing the problem into smaller parts of the same type.

After blogging every week for two years, it became clear how writing helps us think, translate, and index thoughts. This creative act was a commitment to contemplation and required discipline to be consistent.

Even with all the nourishing benefits, toward the end of the second year, was it time to take a break from this ambitious frequency? Indexing less would add ease, and the audience may not even notice.

Personal bandwidth and self-doubt aside, a proficiency in writing had developed, and a solid distribution system was in place. Publishing these ideas felt significant, each week’s topic guided conversations, and the timeless theme was growing a library for readers who may find lasting value long after a life well lived. It was still hard to know if this was time for a hiatus or time to double down.

By talking with mentors and considering different variables, a decision was made to double down. By continuing to write each week, a form of recursion set in and new ideas were unearthed. Each writing kept provoking more writings. The original problem was being divided into smaller parts, which made it easier to keep building without skepticism.

As more new writings shipped every week, an expanding web of thoughts fed an intrinsic motivation for perpetual learning. Along with personal growth, each piece was gratifying to share and thickened a library for leaders. After another full year of writing every week, new creative opportunities made the decision to push pause feel natural.

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It’s not a rainy day. It’s free water.

Sacrifices were made to stay consistent, but the beauty of this recursive exercise was that it strengthened my own understanding while also stretching the scaffolding that would continue to support even more vigorous art.

Action inspires action. What could you divide into smaller parts, then solve by doing more of the same?

Brewed From Within
#94 📖 Life & Happiness

By Ben McDougal, ago

Winterizing

As temperatures drop, those who live in seasonal climates prepare for winter. There are chores around the house and year-end tasks to wrap-up in business.

Transitional times can be uplifting, but the coming chill can also freeze progress. A temptation to coast makes it easy to push action into the future, but in doing so, a message that once united momentum can start to feel dispirited.

The team has earned a relaxing break, but what goals were not accomplished? Instead of putting progress on ice, reverse engineer past goals to determine whether a few final acts might move the needle. These sneaky achievements add closure and a positive boost for initiatives after the break.

Doing what’s easy delays hardship, but this resistance causes suffering. Winterize your world by attacking hardship. This demonstrates commitment, and the cold will feel more like an elegant refreshment that conditions invincible warmth.

Brewed From Within
#102 📖 Life & Happiness

By Ben McDougal, ago

Extra Credit

As a high school student interested in business, extra effort was required to first find and then get involved with the local startup community.

There are business and entrepreneurship classes at any school. Extracurricular programs and student-organized clubs also hint at what an entrepreneurship is about, but too often these insulated activities don’t paint the full picture. For students interested in understanding the realities of an entrepreneurial lifestyle, the assignment is to meet more entrepreneurs.

EXTRA SHOT

This contribution was written by Ani Soni. Ani is a student leader at the University of North Carolina.

Finding entrepreneurial events was easy; showing up for the first time was not. As a student, an environment full of adults can be intimidating. My own ability to contribute felt unlikely, which fed more hesitations. Succumbing to unspoken fears would have been easier, but it was time to leave the training wheels behind.

A willingness to show up paid off quick, as fellow attendees were welcoming and incredibly interesting. The early initiative I showed seemed to make more people eager to help. This made showing up again easy. After a few months, it was clear. Entrepreneurs sure like helping one another.

Listening unlocked new learnings, but I was also able to contribute more than expected. There were opportunities to provide feedback, discuss trends, share a young person’s perspective, and even lend a helping hand. The more I gave, the more I received.

This demonstrated how unconventional action shines bright when chill is status quo. Real-world extra credit was earned by expanding my network before it was needed. Awareness around non-student activities also fed increased curiosity, which can be combined with this type of initiative, more real skills, and vocational knowledge that can caffeinate whatever we care about. Embracing Playforce Principles built confidence to continue my education along with a readiness to make my mark within the realities of our time.

Brewed From Within
#60 📖 Leadership

By Ben McDougal, ago