innovation-michigan-working
It was super hot and sunnyday at Meijer Gardens at the Innovation Michigan awards http://tinyurl.com/27jqk2w . One of the very best reasons participate in an expo, tradeshow is to meet other interesting people and to connect. One table by me was an interesting gentleman and his company was Ruwach Design http://spraylite.com/ruwachdesign/ . This company has a patent pending space heater that uses ion technology to reduce at a substantial savings. On this blistering hot day he stood by his black table to show his space heater oh holy irony! He was tall and had a tie on and brought his large model airplane. I wanted him to fly that airplane…On the other side of my table was Stryker Corp, http://www.stryker.com/en-us/index.htm with their Flyte Personal Protection System. This suit protects surgical staff and patient from infection during surgery. They had their patent out and framed and a great blue surgical dummy donning the whole Flyte suit. I couldn’t help but ask if they had been approached by Hollywood to use their suit in movies or shows and they said an earlier version was on Grey’s Anatomy. I said, “Oh man you need to get that clip and show it! Even if they got a still from the clip they should put it up. Stryker is a global company that has many innovative medical devices…they didn’t need my Grey’s Anatomy suggestion. Had a fun conversation about social media with Michael Yoder a social media strategist from Deksia, www.deksia.com and organizer of the Pink Slip Party http://www.pinkslipwm.com/home and Craig Clark from Clark communications, http://www.clarkcommunication.com suggested I should have candy bar “doody” (nod to the movie Cadddy Shack http://insidemovies.moviefone.com/2009/07/06/caddyshack-movie-quotes/ ) out on the sidewalk to attract attention—Good One—“It’s in da hole!”

Innovation MichiganBusiness Review West Michigan’s Innovation Michigan was a really great day of mixing with other entrepreneurs. It was fun to be able to practice pitching and seeing other interesting pitches and products. It was super hot and sunny. I am so thankful that I was nominated for this event.

Buzzed at PetSmart

I took my overgrown miniature poodle in for a buzz at PetSmart. Though they aren’t my usual groomers, I appreciate their skill and convenience. I just wanted to have a buzz cut, no lion, panda, teddy, snooty snotty, just cut. I would go back here again. Have you been happy with the PetSmart groomers?

There it was this ugly wart-like tumor growing out of our dog, Duncan. I was very scared and my mind raced directly to how was I going to tell the kids. I had the growth sent out by my vet to the Michigan State Veternarian School to have it analyzed to see if it was cancerous. It turned out to be a benign growth that is somewhat common to retrievers. In a recent front page article in the Grand Rapids Press entitled “Is the cure for cancer found in canines?” http://tinyurl.com/y83838x, dogs and dogs with cancerous tumors and cancer-causing genes were helping with cancer research by providing research material for the scientist at Van Andel institute. Some of the scientist were studying hemangiosarcoma, a cancer to the blood vessels in Clumber Spaniels. This research helps both man and animals. If your dog has cancer and you would like to donate the DNA please contact Dr. Roe Froman. Our dear canines once again, give back to us so much, hopefully through research we can give back to them as well.

What the hell is this clipcleany and why can’t I find it on this stupid site?
I invented the clipcleany, a small dog leash accessory that would fit on a dog’s leash that holds dog refuse bags, money, treats wipes and features a safety light. Won 2nd place in Whirlpool’s Mother of Invention contest in the Green category. Was whisked away to their headquarters to learn more about Whirlpool, I felt like one of those kids with Wiley Wonka’s golden ticket touring Whirlpool’s headquarters and sitting in on marketing, sustainability, licensing and other business seminars. How did I get there? I was a stay-at-home mom with four kids and an annoying little idea. Instead of burying the idea, or eating the idea, I took the leap and started developing the idea. Slowy. I went to an engineering firm first and they thought it was great, which lead me to my patent attorney, to prototype makers, to a business plan class, which the instructor wrote about this little contest, “Whirlpool’s Mother of Invention” contest. I thought I will enter the contest; it will help me complete my business plan because it will give a cause, and a definite deadline. I beat out over 2000 applicants if I would have known that I might have convinced myself not to try—stupid idea anyway. But I just Nike(d) it “Just did It” For me, and for the sake of adventure. I have had some press and TV interviews all trying to find the right deal to get the ClipCleany made. I’ve tried conventional ways to try to get the ClipCleany to market and unconventional—trying out for reality TV shows like Shark Tank and Mom Inc. I have come awful close….with the emphasis on awful, because that’s what it feels like when a deal doesn’t go through or you are, but aren’t, chosen for a show. Can you control the rollercoaster of product development to product for sale? No. But you do choose if you want to ride. Hopefully soon you will see clipcleany all over this site and be able to buy one. Thank you to Chris Brogan who inspired me, through his awesomeness, to write my short story inspired by Donald Miller’s book, “A million Miles in a Thousand Years.”
check out Chris’ post www.chrisbrogan.com/importance-of-story/