Washburn hosts Casnocha

Denise and I had the pleasure of attending Mr. Casnocha’s talk at Washburn University on Tuesday evening. If you have never heard of Ben Casnocha, I encourage you to check his blog out, http://ben.casnocha.com/ and his book My Start-up Life. His attitude and ideals parallel those of Transform Topeka (and the individuals that make up Transform Topeka). I’d like to highlight some of his talking points. (Author note - Warning, I’m not a journalist. I am paraphrasing and my comments are opinion. Spelling and grammar, at times, may be of my own invention. :) )

  • Be yourself. - A very refreshing take on living your life. His comments correlate the idea that many people live a life that is being handed to them by their schools, parents, family traditions, and society. Throw away the establishments text book! Don’t let others define you or your future. Entrepreneurs have a knack for bucking the system and doing it their way.
  • Optimism. - Entrepreneurs are by nature optimistic individuals. They see opportunity where others see irritation and annoyance. They think of solutions rather than problems.
  • Action. - Do something. Do anything. Don’t sit around waiting for others to solve the problems. Sit up, take notice, and shape your own reality.
  • Knowledge - Continue to increase your knowledge. Challenge yourself to learn something new every year, a hobby, or language, or instrument. Always be pushing your mind in new directions.

This is a very simple codex for living. Seek knowledge, be optimistic, be yourself, and do something. Want to change your paradigm, focus on these four things (and throw in a dash of self-awareness for good measure).

He also made some other very interesting comments concerning the education system and money. He commented that the education system was in a terrible disarray and needed a serious overhaul. On the money front, he made a great comment about how money can’t be your motivating factor forever, that need will wane over time, there has to be something of more substance to sustain you for the long term.

My Take - Casnocha gets it. His success proves it. Being long lived is not a requirement for wisdom and understanding. Keep going Ben!

  • Travis Gooden
  • July 17th, 2008
  • 5 Comments    
  • Topeka News

Being an intentional Topekan

One of the frequent things heard (and I’ve been one to say it) is that there is nothing to do in Topeka. Being a part of this group has made me ponder how I think about Topeka. So, last month I made a choice to rediscover Topeka. Here is what I’ve enjoyed:

  • Marion Lane Candles on Kansas Ave - I’d always wanted to go, but never really made the effort to go there. It is a beautiful shop and has really lovely staff people. My home is now full of candles that were locally made.
  • Millennium Cafe in the Topeka & Shawnee County Library - I’ve starting going there about once a month to have lunch with friends. It’s not far from my house and offers a healthy alternative to what I usually consume :)
  • Helen Hocker Theater - Another place I’ve meant to go. My husband, brother-in-law and his wife and I enjoyed an afternoon of a fun musical filled with ’80s music and references… Bueller, Bueller…. it was fun!
  • Annie’s Place - this is a usual favorite, but a Topeka-specific restaurant.
  • Brickyard Barn Inn - I attended a Chamber Fast Forward Event that was held there this month. It is a beautiful, serene place. The food’s good too. (Yep! I enjoy food!)
  • Classic Bean - I met a dear friend there about a week ago. I’m not a big coffee drinker (but I enjoy the smell!).
  • The Blind Tiger - a marketing information meeting was hosted by the Blind Tiger. Yummy sandwich and fun atmosphere.
  • Collins Park - Independence Day parade… it’s become a bit of a tradition in the family.
  • Topeka West High - I attended one of the Heartland Visioning Community meetings there. Have you taken the time to get involved?

Places on my list to go to this month:

  • Lily’s - it’s a new specialty shop for women in the Gage Shopping Center. I plan on checking it out.
  • Brick Oven - It’s seems so long since I’ve gone there. (Don’t be fooled, this is not a chain.) I need to find an excuse to go… any takers?
  • Boss Hawg’s - I’m so glad that Fast Forward will be held there this month.

My challenge to you is to find what Topeka holds for you. True, some things may be a bit off the beaten path. But I dare you to stop the next time you’re thinking of heading out of town for something, to take pause and check to see if what you are looking for might just be right around the corner.

  • denise
  • July 14th, 2008
  • 17 Comments    
  • Getting Involved, Vision
  • , ,

Visioning group finds it difficult to focus

Visioning group finds it difficult to focus

 

Task force goes over priorities set forth in last month’s meetings

By Trista Freed

The Capital-Journal

Published Friday, July 11, 2008

In a series of stop and start votes marked by chaos and confusion, the Heartland Visioning Task Force on Thursday rehashed a “to-do” list approved at community meetings last month.

Members of a newly selected, 196-person task force made plans to vote next week on potential changes to the top 10 list of priorities created in June at three community meetings. Read the rest of this entry »

Survey of Topekans Gives City Council New Direction

Survey of Topekans Gives City Council New Direction

WIBW.com (http://www.wibw.com/localnews/headlines/24267419.html)

The City of Topeka held a news conference Wednesday morning to announce the results of a survey.

“We need to be able to tell our tax payers what we’re doing and how we’re doing it and why,” said City Manager, Norton Bonaparte.

“What this city council and this city administration is saying is that we’re ready to take a look at how residents feel,” said Karen Falk.

The city paid $15,000.00 for the survey. Read the rest of this entry »

Heartland Visioning Task Force to Meet for First Time

Heartland Visioning Task Force to Meet for First Time

WIBW.Com (http://www.wibw.com/localnews/headlines/24275114.html)

TOPEKA, Kan. - The Heartland Visioining Task Force will hold its first meeting Thursday, July 10th at the Ramada Hotel, 420 SE 6th St., Topekea, at 8:00 a.m.

Nearly 200 Shawnee County citizens make up the Vision Task Force. Task Force members were selected from more than 890 Applications for Involvement received by the Heartland Visioning office. Read the rest of this entry »

Heartland Visioning Names Task Force

Heartland Visioning names task force

The Capital-Journal
Published Wednesday, July 9, 2008 at 5:13 p.m. CDT

The Heartland Visioning office has released its list of 196 volunteer participants on the Vision Task Force. Twenty-four were elected at the community meetings in June; 40 are members of the Vision Steering Committee; and 132 came from the applications for involvement submitted to the Heartland Visioning office. Read the rest of this entry »

Why I choose Topeka Kansas

Why do you live in Topeka Kansas? is it the schools, the great jobs, or the excellent community? The reason I moved here was to follow a girl, who I married shortly after! She was going to Washburn University so I knew it would be at least 2 or 3 years before we were moving, until she finished school…

I moved to Emporia Kansas when I was in the 6th grade. I finished high school and continued to live in Emporia a few years after graduation but the job market just wasn’t cutting it for me.. I had pretty much worked at every job in the town that I had any interest in, it was time to move on.

That’s where Topeka comes into my life… I was able to find a decent cooking job ($7/hr) within weeks of coming to Topeka. I did the cooking thing for a year and had made it up to 10 dollars an hour, which I thought was outstanding. I started looking around for better jobs, I was able to search the classified section online at cjonline and for free! At the time, the Emporia paper was a paid deal for the full online content.

So i won’t go further into my job resume, but I did find a better job and was at it for 4 years before I gave it up for bigger and better things. The point is this… One thing that has definitely kept me in Topeka is the job market.

Read the rest of this entry »

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