Why Public Servant Defines Role As Soldier of the Community - Matt Curtis

In Chapter 2 of 17, public affairs and communications strategist Matt Curtis enters politics and soon finds himself more attracted to the public service element specific to a local community. As Chief of Staff for Austin's mayor, Curtis looks beyond the daily political local, state, and national stories to use his waking hours serving individuals around town.

How Politically Active Family Inspires Public Service Career - Matt Curtis

In Chapter 1 of 17, public affairs and communications strategist Matt Curtis, shares the family experiences informing his decision to become a public servant. Curtis grows up learning from two politically active grandparents, focused intently on helping individuals in northeastern Pennsylvania. One grandparent was president of the local coal miners union and the other led a club running democratic politics in northeastern Pennsylvania. They teach Curtis the value of service and inspire his move to become a soldier of the community.

How Electric Utilities Design Energy Efficiency Programs - Audrey Parker

In Chapter 3 of 15, energy efficiency consultant Audrey Parker shares her job responsibilities working for electric utilities to design and implement energy savings programs. Parker approaches clients, for example a university, and reviews cost benefit analysis in upgrading or replacing air conditioning and lighting systems. Electric utilities measure client energy savings and report these numbers to state legislature, who is tasked with measuring efficiency improvements against industry mandates.

How Energy Lobbyist Navigates Texas Legislature - Audrey Parker

In Chapter 4 of 15, energy efficiency consultant Audrey Parker shares what she learned about passing energy bills while working as a Texas state lobbyist. Parker highlights consensus building in the fast-paced environment made more complex by many competing interests and influences.

How Effective Listening Improves Negotiation Results - Audrey Parker

In Chapter 5 of 15, energy efficiency consultant Audrey Parker shares why listening can be an effective negotiation tool. In a multi-party negotiation, questioning approaches can uncover each participant's interests and perspectives. Once perspectives are known, the negotiation may move toward a better understood consensus that may still be framed differently to each party seeking a different angle on a common agreement.

How Energy Efficiency Policy Helps Schools in Crisis - Audrey Parker

In Chapter 7 of 15, energy efficiency consultant Audrey Parker learns to be resourceful after her New Orleans energy efficiency project is halted by Hurricane Katrina. Parker and her colleague reset and apply energy efficiency solutions to help Texas schools, burdened by unexpected hurricane refugees, cut energy costs and shift funding to support students.

How Great Organizational Structures Develop - Bijoy Goswami

In Chapter 15 of 15, leadership philosopher and bootstrap business expert Bijoy Goswami shares the common themes shaping great design and structure. Goswami highlights his MRE Model - Maven, Relator, Evangelist - and its application on product design iteration, in particular the Articles of Confederation and the United States Constitution.

Why to Participate in a Bootstrap Startup Community - Bijoy Goswami

In Chapter 9 of 15, leadership philosopher and bootstrap business expert Bijoy Goswami learns to apply purpose, protocols, and social capital building an Austin-based entrepreneur community. As a grassroots organizer, Goswami prioritizes identity and applies social capital exchange to make participation worthwhile.

Meeting Rwandan Genocide and Zim Land Reform Survivors - Hattie Elliot

In Chapter 5 of 16, entrepreneur and connector Hattie Elliot learns about genocide and land redistribution from student peers while studying at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. She meets classmates who survived Rwandan genocide and land redistribution survivors in Zimbabwe.

Why Marketers Should Study Behavioral Economics - Ken Rona

In Chapter 5 of 12, Ken Rona discusses his early career transition touring with large bands to getting a PhD from a Top 10 business school, Duke University. Rona studies voting behavior in political science courses at Stony Brook University and Rona starts to enjoy the business-driven behavioral economics. Rona translates the voting to how consumers process product attributes in purchasing decisions, including paradox of choice, and why people choose what they do.

Why Statistics T.A. Chose Political Science Masters Program - Ken Rona

In Chapter 3 of 12, interviewee Ken Rona reflects on the most prescient guidance he has received to date. Upon graduating Stony Brook University, Rona's political science teacher Milt Lodge convinces him to stay for graduate political science coursework. Rona, Lodge's statistics class teacher's assistant, finds the guidance invaluable, as he hones his interests in underlying quantitative methods and statistics classes comprising the master's curriculum.

Why Sound Engineer Left Roadie Job to Study Political Science - Ken Rona

In Chapter 2 of 12, business analytics expert Ken Rona reads "In Search of Excellence" while touring with bands as a sound engineer. Following the book's guidance, Rona creates a BHAG - big hairy audacious goal - to be President of the United States and charts his first step, return to school to study political science.

What Led Investigator to Teach Math at Charter School - Diana Wilmot

In Chapter 6 of 9, educator Diana Wilmot shares why she left her job as a City of New York City Civilian Complaint Board Board confidential investigator to teach math at a Brooklyn charter school. As an investigator, Wilmot saw consistent police misconduct filing themes, namely early teen African American boys filing complaints after late night police encounters in parks. Wilmot chooses teaching as means to give city children a reason to stay in school and get excited about education.

How to Create an Economic Development Zone - Mike Germano

In Chapter 6 of 13, Carrot Creative (www.carrotcreative.com) social media agency co-founder and social media expert Mike Germano applies lessons learned working in Hamden, Connecticut politics to defining and positioning for a DUMBO, Brooklyn economic development zone. Germano shares his approach, from identifying the area, bringing attributes together in a template, and using grassroots to organize and excite community, in advocating for the New York City Digital District (www.nydd.us).

What Motivates Politican to Campaign - Mike Germano

In Chapter 5 of 13, Carrot Creative (www.carrotcreative.com) social media agency co-founder and social media expert Mike Germano shares what he misses about working in politics.  Specifically, Germano highlights the enjoyment he found rallying, motivating, and convincing constituents to vote for causes and legislation amidst the battle in politics.  The simplicity and emotional power of winning voter consensus to pass legislation significantly contributes to his experience as a 23-year old elected official.

Why Public and Private Sector Risk Profiles Differ - Mike Germano

In Chapter 4 of 13, Carrot Creative (www.carrotcreative.com) social media agency co-founder and social media expert Mike Germano shares difference in risk tolerance and profiles between government and business.  Using his experience as a public sector elected official and a private sector entrepreneur Germano frames the conversation in context of risk and failure. Whereas business innovation and risk-taking can push businesses to fail, learn, and reinvent, governments and municipalities cannot fail. As a young, idealistic, passionate person applying innovation to create change, Germano finds public sector risk profile a better fit than private sector at this stage in his career.

How to Use Youth as Asset in Business and Politics - Mike Germano

In Chapter 3 of 13, Carrot Creative (www.carrotcreative.com) social media agency co-founder and social media expert Mike Germano reflects on entering Connecticut politics.  He embraces his younger perspective and learns valuable lessons about preparation managing relationships and presenting arguments to older peers and constituents. Germano, co-founder of social media agency Carrot Creative, now applies these lessons learned when engaging brand manager clients. He positions youth as an asset in social media while keeping mindful of his responsibility to develop credibility in dealing with large, multi-million dollar marketing budgets.

How to Apply Political Skills in a Business Job - Mike Germano

In Chapter 2 of 13, Carrot Creative (www.carrotcreative.com) social media agency co-founder and social media expert Mike Germano is elected to public office at 23 in 2005 and uses the experience and confidence to apply different perspectives to solve traditional problems. Campaign experience in 2003 and 2005, coupled with political office lessons learned, shape how Mike Germano builds trust and communicates he now values as an entrepreneur and business owner at Carrot Creative.In Chapter 2 of 13, Carrot Creative (www.carrotcreative.com) social media agency co-founder and social media expert Mike Germano is elected to public office at 23 in 2005 and uses the experience and confidence to apply different perspectives to solve traditional problems. Campaign experience in 2003 and 2005, coupled with political office lessons learned, shape how Mike Germano builds trust and communicates he now values as an entrepreneur and business owner at Carrot Creative.