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Five years ago, a group of us, including C.O.R.E and the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship, converged around a vision for an event that would enable businesses of all types to showcase opportunities that they were finding from the drivers of sustainability.  From that first discussion sprang the annual Sustainable Opportunities Summit (SOS). 

At that time (ca. 2005) many of the companies in attendance could legitimately be considered as first movers.  It was a remarkable event - violating almost all of the rules of focus and specialization.  Participating companies came from every sector of the business world.  As one attendee commented, "I admit to being a serial conference attendee, but I was very skeptical about SOS.  What I now realize is that I attend conferences on the same topics with the same speakers and the same attendees.  But this (SOS) was one of the most thought provoking and refreshing experiences that I've had.  It is clear that sustainability is a whole new way to think about how to create and run businesses, and is unquestionably the way of business in the future.  This conference is an incredible forum at which to learn more and to better understand where the trends will lead us."

In 2009 the City of Denver became a partner - recognizing that the success of the summit had created a powerful platform for the city, the university, and the business community at which to showcase the extraordinary advances being made by companies, cities and schools pertaining to sustainability.  Colorado has emerged as one of the most successful regions of sustainable business leadership, cleantech and renewable energy, organic foods and products, and progressive public/private collaborations around business, government, the environment, water and energy. 

Please join us for the 5^th annual Sustainable Opportunities Summit and Cleantech Venture Challenge. This year's Summit will take place next week, from March 2^nd to the 4^th at the Denver Convention Center.  Once again you will hear from and be able to network with remarkable thought leaders . Join us or learn more here.

Great news for all entrepreneurs to kick off 2010:  We now have it on good authority that caffeinated coffee is the ultimate new health food--no joke.  If coffee has been the fuel of choice for the 24/7 entrepreneurial lifestyle, according to WebMD, it's now OK!
What's more, my own anecdotal evidence suggests that knowing about the health benefits of coffee may be one of the most effective sales tools available.  I'm continuously meeting with people to tell them about the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship, about the extraordinary talent pool of our students, and to convince folks of the excitement and value of our work here and at the Leeds School of Business.

Typically I've relied on eloquence and compelling reasoning (feedback invited), and most of my meetings take place over coffee; all too often the person with whom I am meeting orders de-caf, or tragically passes on coffee altogether.  When I ask why, I find that mostly misimpressions of the effects of coffee on health are to blame. When I then share the good news, enabling them to shed those negative feelings of guilt and concern, the years of self-sacrifice, I'm almost always successful in closing the deal--and almost always over a pot of freshly brewed. Conversion!

Try it out--and best wishes for your entrepreneurial adventures in 2010.

DISCLAIMER:  The WebMD article speaks for itself.  The writer disavows any claims or representations of offering healthcare advice.  All you have to do is take a look at him, a long-term 4 to 6 cup a day caffeinated coffee drinker, and draw your own conclusions.  Just don't hurt his feelings.