Hurricane Katrina, Death, and a Different Type of Entrepreneurship

I've seen terrible images today on the television and internet-bodies of the elderly and infants floating in attics, buildings collapsing, seals washing up in the middle of highways. All I can say is that our thoughts go out to those in New Orleans, Gulfport and surrounding areas in this sad time. We will keep the people who have been hurt or passed away and those who were close to them in our prayers today and in the weeks to come.

From the reports I've read, tens of thousands were unable to evacuate. 20,000 fled to the Superdome before unsanitary conditions, sweltering heat, high tensions, four deaths, and a broken roof forced officials to begin transferring these refugees to the Houston Astrodome yesterday. Looting has become rampant, the New Orleans mayor has said thousands may have lost their lives, and the levees have now broken and are overflowing. Bush has called the disaster one of the worst in national history. From what I've seen and read it seems truly terrible. As one nurse noted in an MSNBC story it's like living in a third world country. I can only be hopeful that the positive potential of the human spirit will shine through as the destroyed areas are rebuilt in the coming months and years.

A Different Type of Entrepreneurship

One thing I have seen over the past two days on TV and in blog entries and posts from people on the ground is the tremendous efforts of many in pulling together to help those in need. Entrepreneurship, to me, is defined as any effort which creates something of value to others. In this sense, I've seen a tremendous amount of social entrepreneurialism displayed over the past forty-eight hours. Wikipedia, one of the most significant human advances so far this century, already has a very detailed and interesting topic-by-topic 6800 word account of the Hurricane at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Katrina. Other valuable sites that have been quickly set up include:

- http://katrinahelp.info
- http://www.hurricanerefugee.com/
- http://www.findkatrina.com
- http://www.deadlykatrina.com
- http://www.hurricanekatrinasurvivors.com/

I find it truly is amazing what can be done when innovative people quickly leverage the possibilities of the Internet and technology is such a short time to help others. Major props go out to these innovative social entrepreneurs that have been able to get these socially valuable resources up so quickly as well as the on-the-ground volunteers, electric company engineers, National Guard forces, and emergency service providers working above and beyond the call of duty.

How We Can Help

The American Red Cross has launched its largest mobilization effort in its history for a natural disaster. You can help the victims of Hurricane Katrina year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Hurricane 2005 Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need. Call 1-800-HELP NOW or visit https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation-fo rm.asp.

Ryan Allis is the founder of the http://www.zeromillion.com and the CEO of Broadwick Corp., providers of the email marketing software IntelliContact Pro.

In The News:

pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Work vs Play: Which is the Better Way to Make Big Money?

If you want to make big money, you have to... Read More

Raising Capital for Your Business ? How Long Does it Take?

Most companies vastly underestimate the time commitment necessary to successfully... Read More

Six Degrees of Separation

Through just five or six intermediaries, you could be linked... Read More

Entrepreneurial Excerpt from a Speech to Small Business

Having built a business from a bucket of water and... Read More

Pre-Money vs. Post-Money Valuation

When a company decides that it must raise capital, a... Read More

Documenting Partnerships in Your Business Plan

Forging partnerships to improve market penetration has become commonplace, particularly... Read More

About Ending Competition

1. Why should I not compete with others?The very concept... Read More

Seven Key Qualities of Successful Entrepreneurs

A recent poll conducted by Forbes magazine shows that majority... Read More

Why Most CEOs & Entrepreneurs Fail?

Times are tough. The economy is in a constant state... Read More

What Makes a Person an Entrepreneur?

Entrepreneurship is generally characterized by some type of innovation, a... Read More

Definition of Entrepreneur

EntrepreneurAn entrepreneur is a man who organizes and manages the... Read More

Entrepreneurship Story; Over Regulation in Franchising Part I

Jim and Sally run a successful auto business, which they... Read More

The Myth of Undercapitalization - Six Ways Entrepreneurs Achieve Success in Spite of Start-Up Money

This year more than 17 million people will become entrepreneurs,... Read More

Lets Not Forget About The Little Guy

Every business has to start somewhere. What truly makes this... Read More

Be Where the Pucks Going To Be

The "Great One" said it bestHockey legend Wayne Gretzky, when... Read More

How Much Risk is Necessary to Grow Your Business?

A business owner is thoroughly responsible for their own financial... Read More

The New Paradigm for Entrepreneurial Success

Entrepreneurship is a great magnet to deliver new ideas, unique... Read More

Achievements Outweigh Education and Experience

Q: When it comes to succeeding in business, which do... Read More

The Desire For Money, Do You Have Business Sense?

For those of us who grew up with parents who... Read More

Boundary Setting 101 for Solo Entrepreneurs

Select the best response to the statement below:As a solo... Read More

How to Be an Entrepreneur and Keep Your Sanity

Define for yourself what an Entrepreneur is:What makes you think... Read More

Entrepreneurship: What does it REALLY mean?

Introduction:In a world where ideas drive economies, it is no... Read More

The Fear Factor

I recently conducted a lil' survey asking my colleagues what... Read More

Entrepreneurial Hate, its out there

Today, I got an email from a lady who hates... Read More

Good Questions, good Answers; Bad Questions, Bad Replies

I'm convinced that asking the right questions is one of... Read More

Great Tips Of Choosing An Office

You have decided to strike it out on your own... Read More

Franchises-Exit Strategy

At an International Franchising Symposium in London, Peter Holt made... Read More

Key to Starting Your Own Clothing Company

Starting your own private label clothing company is not as... Read More

Secrets of My Favorite Government Auction

I love bargains. And there's no better place to find... Read More

Hearing That Entrepreneurial Voice?

Women business owners are our only clients, so naturally we... Read More

The Entrepreneurs Prayer

As I awaken with the gift of yet another day... Read More

Identify the Growth Factors

In "The Incredible Hulk", mild-mannered scientist Bruce Banner discovered that... Read More

16 Vital Traits Shared by All Successful Entrepreneurs

The first step in deciding whether to start a business... Read More