This editorial appeared in today's edition of North East Independent.
Twenty-one year old Englishman Samuel Slater left England in September 1789. Dressed as a farm laborer, he didn’t arouse any notice from the British troops and customs agents guarding the seaports against the illegal export or larceny of valuable manufacturing plans. The most important were plans based on British advancements in the field of water-driven textile machines. The American textile industry was offering bonuses of $100 ($2,510 in 2009) for technical knowledge of manufacturing machinery. Slater arrived in New York City in December 1789.
Though young, Slater had been apprenticed to work in a cotton mill at the age of ten, learning about machines, technology, operations, and factory management. At the conclusion of his apprenticeship, Slater left England to pursue greater fortunes in the land of opportunity. Less than a year later, Slater’s skills, experiences, and entrepreneurial drive led him to Obidiah (Moses) Brown in Pawtucket where he improved and expanded Brown’s fledgling cotton mill. An experienced young man, a skilled merchant and industrialist, and some natural water resources were joined together to establish Rhode Island as the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. Rhode Island offered the right place, the right people, and the right time. Rhode Island mattered and was a national leader.
Rhode Island still matters and it could be a national economic leader again with many of the same successful Rhode Island keys that drove and supported vital innovation 220 years ago. Here are three things we can do now to make our state number one.
+ First, encourage all students to gain real skills and get practical work-style experience before they finish public school.
+ Second, match successful business owners and managers with the new generation of inventors, scientists, and innovative thinkers.
+ Third, turn every public library in every Rhode Island community into idea and new business incubators.
When we support our state’s most important 21st century resource---people---we can achieve great success and show the world once again that Rhode Island Matters!
----------------------------------------------------------
*Adapted from Why Rhode Island Matters! First in Independence, Industry, Art & Innovation (Shoreline Press, 2010), by Ann Marie Marshall, Economic Gardener for Exeter & North Kingstown. She writes the weekly business blog, http://rieconomicgardener.blogspot.com. She is a Republican candidate for House District 31.
Showing posts with label Rhode Island. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rhode Island. Show all posts
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
NEW INFORMATION STATION: WRIM
Greetings-
There's a new station on the positive information dial----WRIM.
WRIM stands for a new approach to thinking about who we have been as Rhode Islanders and what we could be again.
WRIM is Why Rhode Island Matters!
You'll be hearing about this and the title of my book---WHY RHODE ISLAND MATTERS!---in the next few days and over the next few months.
It was written to remind ALL Rhode Islanders why our state has been a leader in so many areas throoughout history, and why it can be again.
As a native Rhode Islander, I have always been excited and impressed by my state---its natural beauty, its history, its vision in the fields of industry, art and innovation, and most of all, by its people and the families they are part of. I wanted to tell and re-tell some positive Rhode Island stories and share them with everyone.
WHY RHODE ISLAND MATTERS! will be released on August 25th.
The first limited signed and numbered edition of 500 copies of the book is being sold on a first come, first served basis at $10 per book (includes postage and handling to your home) and can be ordered direct by clicking on the BUY NOW button above my photo to the right of this blog or by sending your address and a check or money order for $10.00 to:
Shoreline Press
P.O. Box 555
Jamestown, RI 02835
All of the proceeds from the first edition will help provide free educational workshops on the subject of this book to students in middle and high schools around Rhode Island.
You'll want your own copy of this first edition book for yourself, your family, and your grandchildren.
Order a few copies for your friends in Florida and Arizona too.
If you'd like a copy, please order it today---!! It will be shipped to your home or office upon its release on August 25th.
Stay tuned for a list of presentations, talks and readings I'll be making about the book at venues statewide over the next 6-8 weeks.
Want to reserve a book or need more info?
Call me anytime at 401-667-0971. (Leave a message if I'm out.)
Here's wishing you a successful week-
Ann Marie
There's a new station on the positive information dial----WRIM.
WRIM stands for a new approach to thinking about who we have been as Rhode Islanders and what we could be again.
WRIM is Why Rhode Island Matters!
You'll be hearing about this and the title of my book---WHY RHODE ISLAND MATTERS!---in the next few days and over the next few months.
It was written to remind ALL Rhode Islanders why our state has been a leader in so many areas throoughout history, and why it can be again.
As a native Rhode Islander, I have always been excited and impressed by my state---its natural beauty, its history, its vision in the fields of industry, art and innovation, and most of all, by its people and the families they are part of. I wanted to tell and re-tell some positive Rhode Island stories and share them with everyone.
WHY RHODE ISLAND MATTERS! will be released on August 25th.
The first limited signed and numbered edition of 500 copies of the book is being sold on a first come, first served basis at $10 per book (includes postage and handling to your home) and can be ordered direct by clicking on the BUY NOW button above my photo to the right of this blog or by sending your address and a check or money order for $10.00 to:
Shoreline Press
P.O. Box 555
Jamestown, RI 02835
All of the proceeds from the first edition will help provide free educational workshops on the subject of this book to students in middle and high schools around Rhode Island.
You'll want your own copy of this first edition book for yourself, your family, and your grandchildren.
Order a few copies for your friends in Florida and Arizona too.
If you'd like a copy, please order it today---!! It will be shipped to your home or office upon its release on August 25th.
Stay tuned for a list of presentations, talks and readings I'll be making about the book at venues statewide over the next 6-8 weeks.
Want to reserve a book or need more info?
Call me anytime at 401-667-0971. (Leave a message if I'm out.)
Here's wishing you a successful week-
Ann Marie
Monday, June 21, 2010
BUILD YOUR BUSINESS THIS WEEK!!
Today is the day with the most daylight hours all year!
The weather is getting much better, much warmer, and delightful---maybe except for the humidity---and that means that business too will begin to heat up as we move into the second half of the year.
This week we'll talk about adding customers to your client roster.
The main criteria for success in this effort is to identify those potential clients and businesses that have a problem you know how resolve. By focusing on clients with problems, you will be 85% of the way to increasing your customer base.
This Thursday we'll learn how to grow your business by adding clients and cross-selling products and services to improve your overall sales renenues.
If you have questions in the meantime or simply want to get a jump on the competition, please call me anytime at 401-667-0971.
Please mark your calendar to attend my next Coffee Conversation at Updike's in North Kingstown on Thursday morning, June 24th at 8:00am.
See you again soon-
Ann Marie
The weather is getting much better, much warmer, and delightful---maybe except for the humidity---and that means that business too will begin to heat up as we move into the second half of the year.
This week we'll talk about adding customers to your client roster.
The main criteria for success in this effort is to identify those potential clients and businesses that have a problem you know how resolve. By focusing on clients with problems, you will be 85% of the way to increasing your customer base.
This Thursday we'll learn how to grow your business by adding clients and cross-selling products and services to improve your overall sales renenues.
If you have questions in the meantime or simply want to get a jump on the competition, please call me anytime at 401-667-0971.
Please mark your calendar to attend my next Coffee Conversation at Updike's in North Kingstown on Thursday morning, June 24th at 8:00am.
See you again soon-
Ann Marie
Sunday, April 11, 2010
MAKE HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES!
The sun is shining this week!
Time to get out there and do
some harvesting!
As they always said at the farm,
it's time to
make hay while the sun shines!
Everyone knows that the best time to
harvest hay is when the sun is shining.
Wet hay is hard to cut and bale and
ends up rotting.
Same goes for sales.
When the sun is shining,
people are happier,
more productive,
and more
open-minded.
I'll bet you're already
happier and
more optimistic.
Let's meet this week at
Updike's Coffee Shop on
Boston Neck Road in
North Kingstown.
We'll talk about how to make
good things happen
in your business
and in your life!
The sun is shining!
SEE YOU THIS THURSDAY MORNING
APRIL 15TH AT 8AM!!
Got questions?
Call me at home
401-667-0971
Ann Marie
Time to get out there and do
some harvesting!
As they always said at the farm,
it's time to
make hay while the sun shines!
Everyone knows that the best time to
harvest hay is when the sun is shining.
Wet hay is hard to cut and bale and
ends up rotting.
Same goes for sales.
When the sun is shining,
people are happier,
more productive,
and more
open-minded.
I'll bet you're already
happier and
more optimistic.
Let's meet this week at
Updike's Coffee Shop on
Boston Neck Road in
North Kingstown.
We'll talk about how to make
good things happen
in your business
and in your life!
The sun is shining!
SEE YOU THIS THURSDAY MORNING
APRIL 15TH AT 8AM!!
Got questions?
Call me at home
401-667-0971
Ann Marie
Sunday, March 21, 2010
NATIONAL SMILE WEEK
Spring arrived yesterday (Saturday), and since then it has been just glorious! Warm weather means warm clients and marks the end of the doldrums of winter.
I am calling this "National Smile Week," only because I think this is the time to smile and be more friendly and use this action to keep your business moving forward.
Your smile is a great tool for disarming the sourpuss, entrancing the mildly awake, and standing out in every opportunity to set yourself apart from the numerous sad sacks that seem to dominate in every situation. Attiude matters. Your winning smile can make all the difference between great success and abject disappointment.
Just smile.
This Thursday we'll talk about how your internal attitude is made obvious to clients by how they perceive your outside appearance. Key among all these outside characteristics is your smile.
Bring your best smile and your positive attitude to our Coffee Conversation this coming Thursday morning. We'll talk about how to turn your smile into more business.
Btw, smiling is the greatest low-cost, no-cost tool your business has!
If you have questions in the meantime or simply want to get a jump on the competition, please call me anytime at 401-667-0971.
Please mark your calendar to attend my next Coffee Conversation at Updike's in North Kingstown on Thursday morning, March 25th at 8:00am.
See you again soon-
Ann Marie
I am calling this "National Smile Week," only because I think this is the time to smile and be more friendly and use this action to keep your business moving forward.
Your smile is a great tool for disarming the sourpuss, entrancing the mildly awake, and standing out in every opportunity to set yourself apart from the numerous sad sacks that seem to dominate in every situation. Attiude matters. Your winning smile can make all the difference between great success and abject disappointment.
Just smile.
This Thursday we'll talk about how your internal attitude is made obvious to clients by how they perceive your outside appearance. Key among all these outside characteristics is your smile.
Bring your best smile and your positive attitude to our Coffee Conversation this coming Thursday morning. We'll talk about how to turn your smile into more business.
Btw, smiling is the greatest low-cost, no-cost tool your business has!
If you have questions in the meantime or simply want to get a jump on the competition, please call me anytime at 401-667-0971.
Please mark your calendar to attend my next Coffee Conversation at Updike's in North Kingstown on Thursday morning, March 25th at 8:00am.
See you again soon-
Ann Marie
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Reduce Your Costs of Operation
OUR FOCUS
One sure way to increase your profits is to reduce the cost of operating your business. It is one of the two not-so-secret keys to the success of Wal-Mart.
In these times, the quicker you evaluate and review every single cost of doing business, the faster you can free up cash in your business and boost your profits.
Ask yourself three questions about everything you are currently paying out each week or month to operate your business:
1- Is this expense absolutely necessary for the survival of my business?
2- If it IS necessary, is there a cheaper alternative I can use, either another supplier or another service company?
3- Can I reduce the use of a needed product or service by even ten percent and thereby save money, lower my operational expenses, and boost profits?
Every business can find savings in their operations or their purchasing that can help the bottom line. You will, too!
I'm on vacation this week and next.
I'll have a special report for you from Florida next Sunday.
Please mark your calendar to attend my next Coffee Conversation at Updike's in North Kingstown on Thursday morning, March 11th at 8:00am.
See you again soon-
Ann Marie
One sure way to increase your profits is to reduce the cost of operating your business. It is one of the two not-so-secret keys to the success of Wal-Mart.
In these times, the quicker you evaluate and review every single cost of doing business, the faster you can free up cash in your business and boost your profits.
Ask yourself three questions about everything you are currently paying out each week or month to operate your business:
1- Is this expense absolutely necessary for the survival of my business?
2- If it IS necessary, is there a cheaper alternative I can use, either another supplier or another service company?
3- Can I reduce the use of a needed product or service by even ten percent and thereby save money, lower my operational expenses, and boost profits?
Every business can find savings in their operations or their purchasing that can help the bottom line. You will, too!
I'm on vacation this week and next.
I'll have a special report for you from Florida next Sunday.
Please mark your calendar to attend my next Coffee Conversation at Updike's in North Kingstown on Thursday morning, March 11th at 8:00am.
See you again soon-
Ann Marie
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Identifying New Paying Customers
Our first Coffee Conversation at Updike's NewTowne this past Thursday was a success!
We'll meet there again this Thursday morning, January 21st at 8am to again help small business owners who want to grow their sales and profits and also help those who want to start-up their own enterprise to get started right.
THIS WEEK'S FOCUS
One key for escaping the doldrums of recession is to expand your customer base. This means moving beyond the geographical and self-imposed limits you may have previously set for your business. There are worlds beyond South County, beyond Providence, and beyond our state and national borders.
Yes, for some businesses, retail for example, your location is vital---it is where your customers arrive and interact. But every business can and must re-examine their product and service lines and ask three important questions:
1- Do I have a product/service that people in other places might
find helpful for solving their problem or meeting a need?
2- Who are these people (and/or businesses) and where are they located?
3- How can I deliver my product/service to them?
We'll take up these questions at our weekly Coffee Conversation on Thursday and begin the process of developing a plan to take you and your business to the next level.
Only you---not government---can make your business grow. So, come with your passion and get ready to make things happen!! Join me in improving our community!
Updike's NewTowne Coffee Roasting Company and Cafe is located at 7726 Post Road in North Kingstown (across from the town's main Post Office). This is the second in a weekly series of coffee conversations to boost businesses in our community.
Have questions? Call me anytime at 401-667-0971.
See you soon-
Ann Marie
We'll meet there again this Thursday morning, January 21st at 8am to again help small business owners who want to grow their sales and profits and also help those who want to start-up their own enterprise to get started right.
THIS WEEK'S FOCUS
One key for escaping the doldrums of recession is to expand your customer base. This means moving beyond the geographical and self-imposed limits you may have previously set for your business. There are worlds beyond South County, beyond Providence, and beyond our state and national borders.
Yes, for some businesses, retail for example, your location is vital---it is where your customers arrive and interact. But every business can and must re-examine their product and service lines and ask three important questions:
1- Do I have a product/service that people in other places might
find helpful for solving their problem or meeting a need?
2- Who are these people (and/or businesses) and where are they located?
3- How can I deliver my product/service to them?
We'll take up these questions at our weekly Coffee Conversation on Thursday and begin the process of developing a plan to take you and your business to the next level.
Only you---not government---can make your business grow. So, come with your passion and get ready to make things happen!! Join me in improving our community!
Updike's NewTowne Coffee Roasting Company and Cafe is located at 7726 Post Road in North Kingstown (across from the town's main Post Office). This is the second in a weekly series of coffee conversations to boost businesses in our community.
Have questions? Call me anytime at 401-667-0971.
See you soon-
Ann Marie
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