Tag Archives: entrepreneurship

A La Carte Education

Posted on by
1
Let me first say this: College was one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I firmly believe that the 4 year journey we take through undergraduate colleges in America is one of the greatest rite of passage journeys that the world has ever known. 

Now, let me say this: There have been many times, since I left college, where I wanted to gain a new skill to start a business or to expand my realm of possibility. Times where I wanted something a little cheaper than a graduate degree, a little more structured than teaching my self, and a lot more flexible than a semester. There are certainly times where going back to college for a another full blown rite of passage just is not a fit.

So what is? Is there a more a-la-carte journey out there? A way to get bursts of learning without a full degree?

A couple sources have inspired my thinking on the topic recently:
1) Khan Academy: Revolutionary. Access to high quality lectures on wide range of topics for anyone with an internet connection. Khan believes in flipping classroom. This means lectures by video at home and homework collaboratively in the classroom. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkMS6Glswig

2) Book: Reality is Broken by Jane Mcgonigal (http://www.amazon.com/Reality-Broken-Games-Better-Change/dp/1594202850). McGonigal Explains the idea of Leveling Up in education. Rather than semesters and grades subjects are given Levels and open time frames.

With Grades. Anything but an “A” means you fell short. A letter grade of “C” means the student only got about half as far as the teacher thought they should in a time frame (semester) that was set by the school.

Leveling up is different. Students progress at their own pace choosing their levels of expertise they want to obtain. Level 1 in chemistry might be “How not to blow yourself up in the kitchen”. Level 3 might be “Ace the AP Chem test”. Level 5 might be “wowzers… you just invented a new kind of compostable plastic”. You wear levels like you wear karate belts. There is no shame in any level. Some students have just journied farther than others.

My answer: A-la-Carte Education. Lab course series taught outside of colleges. Students pay per level and can come and go as they wish and continue from where they left off. Classes are all flipped: reading and lectures at home. Collaboartive problem solving (homework) in a weekly meeting with the teacher and other students.

Natural Food Community of Boulder and the Ugly Truck

Posted on by
Reply

As some of you might know, I am starting a trail mix company. Yes, a trail mix company. There is a need for great tasting, healthy snacks without all the salt and oil. So, yes… a trail mix company.

In an effort to get over my food industry learning curve, I went Naturally Boulder Spring Fling. Well worth it.

Some of the titans of the organic food industry were there: Rudy’s Organic Bakery, White Wave foods, and Micheal Funk of UNFI. All where very willing to chat. I just mentioned that I have this trail mix thing going in my kitchen and that I was looking to get advice on where to take it next. Everyone seemed to have advice and everyone offered to put me in touch with a friend who could help me get started.

Sweet. Boulder is the best place to start a business. This community loves entrepreneurs.

The take aways:

  1. Next buzz word is GMO. Most companies are asking their suppliers to avoid using them. Consumers are starting to become aware of GMO and look for products without it.
  2. BPA. BPA leaches into food from plastic containers and is closely linked to high rates of cancer. We need to look for BPA-free packaging
  3. Its best to price organic suppliers into your business model from the beginning.
  4. Ship by train or rail for lowest carbon emissions. Truck is 12 times more emissions. Air is 85 times more emissions.
  5. Drive an ugly truck. Advice: as a boss, always drive the ugliest car in the parking lot so employees do not ask for raises ;) hilarious. I got this one covered. Marissa often refers to my truck as the “eyesore”.