Exciting Times for Innov8ors

These are exciting times for Innov8ors!

A topic of ongoing conversation lately has been related to the number of amazing things that are happening right now and how it would be wonderful for someone to document them. Like most things, there just isn't enough time to do everything and many of us are so busy "doing" that we don't have time to stop to "document".  

To that end, I am not going to "promise" to keep-up with every amazing thing, an effort will be made to document the "big" things when a few minutes can be spared or the inspiration hits.  Wish me luck...  

So, here we go!

I started to write only about health innovation because this is my passion.  Then I quickly realized that the ecosystem that is emerging in Cincinnati is bigger than health and health care and that I would be  remiss by excluding the bigger picture.

On the health innovation front, Innov8 for Health is a multi-stakeholder initiative to create a health innovation eco system that will improve health, attract and retain top talent, and create jobs.   Innov8 for Health is here to identify, incentive and support health innovators and innovators that are willing to explore the area of health innovation.

This initiative is currently run by volunteers from Viable Synergy, Taft (law firm in Cincinnati), Kincaid Ventures,  GE Aviation, and The Greater Cincinnati Health Foundation.  Learn more at www.Innov8forHealth.com.

We just completed the 2nd of two community wide initiatives called the Business Concept Expo.

• Business Concept Expo on April 20, 2012 (submissions were due by April 8)
• Submit your business concept to create better health, better care, at lower costs and get exposure to executives from companies like Ethicon Endosurgery, Sanofi, GE Aviation and potential investors from Queen City Angels, Cincy Tech, Allos Ventures, and River Cities Capital
• 8 Innov8ors won one of 8 prizes totally $24,000

The next "big" thing in health is the Innov8 for Health Startup Accelerator:

• Innov8 for Health Startup Accelerator - June 11 - August 31, 2012, Cincinnati, OH 45206
• 8 teams will be selected from across the US to receive $20,000 and 12 weeks of intensive mentoring to accelerate their startup
• Plus a team of experts working to obtain follow-on funding to build your business 

I love to talk about the Bad Girls at Bad Girl ventures.  This organization is filling a clear unmet need in this community which is to help women owned business - more lifestyle businesses - startup.  

Funny, as I was writing this sitting here at the Echo in Hyde Park eating my egg white omelette and wheat toast w/ no butter when I really wanted pancakes :) - I started talking with the people next to me. Susan with  Cakery Bakery Boutique is another potential Bad Girl...  

Bad Girls and Boys helping Bad Girls through Bad Girl Ventures

If you don't know the story behind Bad Girl Ventures and the founder Candace Klein then please check-it out at:  http://www.badgirlventures.com/

Bad Girl Ventures (BGV) has a way of attracting amazing people working to support women owned businesses and demolishing barriers between all different kinds of people to support women who are working to fuel our economy through building their businesses.  We'll share more about BGV in the days to come.

The next big resource of innovators in this community is the Bradery.  These guys are GREAT.  In one year Dave Knox, J.B. Kropp, Rob McDonald, and Bryan Radtke create a world class Accelerator focused on consumer branding.  In only their second year, the Brandery catapulted to one of the top 10 Accelerators in the US.  Hat's off to you!

The team, all former P&Gers went on to do many things including assuming leadership positions with organizations like RockFish Interactive and Twitter while still maintaining their leadership for Brandery.  They hired, Mike Bott, a former Match.com product leader to assume the General Manager position.   

There is much more innovation "stuff" to talk about in Cincinnati.  Next time we'll cover a little about the amazing work that is being done by the Cincinnati Business Committee (CBC) and the incredible Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Medical Center.  

On a quick personal note, want to thank all the aforementioned organizations for the support that you have shown me and Innov8 for Health thus far.  Looking forward to future collaborations.

Enjoy the rest of your Memorial Day!

Entrepreneurs: The 'Business' Gene - Forbes.com

Entrepreneurs: The 'Business' Gene - Forbes.com

Entrepreneurs: The 'Business' Gene

Susan Adams, 05.04.11, 06:00 PM EDT
Forbes Magazine dated May 23, 2011

Is success passed along from one generation to the next?

What accounts for entrepreneurial talent in parents and some of their children--chromosomes or care and feeding? Both? That question may never be resolved with certainty. But in kicking off father-child conversations in eight families, we learned a great deal about characteristics shared among generations. Business is more than a common interest between dads and their kids. It forms an intimate bond that engages ambition, achievement, competition, criticism, fear, failure, reconciliation, growth, renewal. In other words, it reenacts the high drama of family life.

---------- Click the link above to read the full article----

Now my thoughts....

When beginning to go through our mountain of mail today, I pulled out an envelope with my name and address very neatly handwritten. I recognized the handwriting immediately and then confirmed by one of my Dad’s company addresses in the return mail space.

I anxiously ripped it open to see what he had to say. Inside was a handwritten note about the article included at the top of the page and a flyer from the VA about the “MyHealtheVet” initiative at the VA (Veterans Administration) that he recently received.

My Dad and I have always had this wonderful understanding of each other. This plus my mother’s unconditional love I believe are two significant factors that have allowed me to be able to look at the world differently and to have the courage to try to change the things that I believe could be better – like healthcare.

The Forbes’ article asks the question if there is such thing as an “e –gene”; funny, because “e” to me is both for “entrepreneur” and for the “e-lectronic age”. Most of you probably know that I consider myself an “e-health activist”, just to put the “e” into context.

I do believe that there is an “e-gene” and that the “e-gene” needs the right environment to be turned-on. I am thankful for both of my parents every day for their “genes” and their love, support, and their commitment and drive to push me to be the best that I can be.

Would love to hear what you think about the “e-gene”…. Tell us what you think!

One Family's Account of the Healing Power of Friends & Facebook!

My dad, his cancer and social media - Canada - CBC News

One Family's Account of the Healing Power of Friends & Facebook!

From Karachi to Taipei

For both of us, Facebook, Twitter and our blogs have proved invaluable during this difficult time.

Author and activist Tarek Fatah in hospital in Toronto. (Natasha Fatah/CBC)

They've allowed us to tell everyone we know how he is doing everyday with simple status updates, without having to call family in Karachi, Mexico City, London, Amsterdam and so many other corners of the planet.

My cousin in Taipei and my best friend in Colombo are up-to-date with the situation in a way that they never could be without social media.

And without much effort or expense, they are able to reach out and give daily pep talks and affection.

There are literally not enough hours in the day to talk to everyone who wants to know how dad is doing, especially since he has followers, friends and foes all over the globe.

So, in the spirit of Tunis and Cairo's Tahrir Square, my father is carrying his medical battle into the online world. He takes a picture of everyone who visits with his iPhone and then posts these on his Facebook albums dedicated to cancer recovery. (Click link above for full story)

Healthcare Blog Posting Insights... Focus on Bringing Value to Your Readers, Not Just Pushing Services/ Products

As a strong proponent of using social media/ networking for health including encouraging health care providers to join the conversation, I am finding that one of the big challenges is learning “how” to communicate using social media requires some investment of time and doesn’t necessarily come natural.  Additionally, it requires a level of courage as people recognize that the world can now see what I am saying and I can’t really take it back.

I am developing an online health community that connects people to health resources (healthy people, products, places, and professionals) in their home town. 

It has afforded me the great opportunity to work with some incredibly bright and courageous people who are committed to helping Cincinnati get healthy.  It also is allowing me to see this world of social media and engaging directly with people from a very different perspective.

The question came up today of, so “what” do I do and “how” do I do it?   I developed the 5 points below to answer that question.

I’d love to have your thoughts on “what” and “how” you do it!

(A little background)

Difference between a status update and a blog post

Status update:  is a place for you to tell the world what you want them to know.  People expect this space to be personal and even self-serving.

Blog post: is for your readers.   Should be information that your readers will find valuable

An important “rule” is to think about yourself as a reader and determine if you read this, would it be meaningful and valuable to you.  Be careful to not create posts that seem like commercials as this will turn off readers.  

Building readership, a community, a following requires building trust.  If people feel like someone is trying to sell them or pitch products and services, they will not be comfortable and will engage.

5 Suggested Points to Cover in a Healthcare Blog Post

1.     Choose a topic that relates to your product or service and would be of value to the community.

Examples:

• 3 Great Tips to Reduce Stress
• Preparing Your Mind and Body for Spring
• What is an Integrative Health Coach and How Can One Help Me?

2.     Body (address the topic with some content) example: list the 3 great tips for reducing stress, why they are great, and how to do them.

3.     Engage the reader:

Ask a question and request some feedback... "How do you reduce stress?"  "When do you feel most stressed and how do you cope.”   We'd love to hear what works for you or what you have seen work for others....

4.     Conclude:

Be very strategic about what you want people to do (your call to action). Sometimes it can be “contact me/ visit my site and schedule an appointment”, but not all the time.  People will appreciate that you care about them and don’t always need something in return.  Example:  start applying these stress relieving tips today for a longer healthier life!  Make sure that you include some way of reaching you in your closing so that people who are interested in finding you can.

5.     Little disclaimer at the very end. (wouldn’t be healthcare without it right – and I am not an attorney and this is not legal adviceJ) This article is not intended to diagnose or treat any condition or disorder.  Please contact me directly (website) to schedule an appointment for your medical service or your personal health care provider for medical attention. (You get the idea).

YouTube - Changing Health Behaviors: From Facebook to Smartphones

YouTube - Changing Health Behaviors: From Facebook to Smartphones

Margaret Morris with Intel Digital Health Group covers 3 theories and research into how to apply them to helping people make healthy choices:

• Emotional Awarenes
  Facilitating awareness of behaviors through mobile therapy - can your phone be your psychologist?
• Social Psychology
  People are very affected by what they think other people are doing - how can we tailor messages that will motivate people to make the right choices?
• Loss Aversion
  Loss affects us twice as much in a negative way as gain affects us in a positive way - how can we use this "stick" to help people change?

Click the link above to see the video.

A few additional thoughts. Changing behavior is a very difficult "thing" to do. What do you do to help you "change"?

Can Health Care 2.0 Be as Easy as Craigslist? Craig Thinks So | Fast Company

Can Health Care 2.0 Be as Easy as Craigslist? Craig Thinks So | Fast Company

For two years, the American public has been a spectator to the congressional fights over the changing health care industry. Now, regardless of what happens on Capitol Hill, a large slice of country will be actively involved, as consumers and producers, in health care’s evolution. Click the link above to read more.

The work that the Government is doing to create a path for data to be made available to enhance innovation is really progressive. I'll be sharing information as I find interesting tid bits.

Holly Blog Templates! If you can't read it, don't use it!

I was updating the template for one of my blogs.  Wow!  That took much longer than it should have.  It is so easy to get lost in the choices and it takes time to figure out how to change the exact text or back ground that I am looking for.

While doing this I remembered a rule that I always used when creating marketing materials when I was running brands, but had some how forgotten.  "If you can't read it, don't use it."

There are so many pretty font styles and colors.  You don't want your pages to be too cluttered, so you just make the font a little smaller.  There is almost always more that one wants to say than their is space.

At the end of the day, marketing materials -print or digital- are intended to communicate.  If the communication is hampered by the style, color, size, or space, the stop and figure out something else.

I really wanted to use what I thought was a cool chique black and grey template.  WHAT A MESS.  It was really hard to read.  When I would "share" a story to curate, the text came in black  Which was very difficult to read on a dark gray background.

Finally, I just gave up and made it very simple, white background with black text.  Sometimes the tried and true is the very best solution.

Anyway, what really made this whole ordeal funny is that I had a comment pending (from Oct. - sorry @epatientdave).  He really made me feel that all my work was worth it with a comment he made about  how awful the template was.  He thought something bad had happened to his computer when he viewed my Digital Health Revolution blog.  Sooo glad I had already updated the template before I read his comment.

Glad to share a funny and somewhat embarrassing story about myself.   Would love to hear about comical blogging stories from you too!