All are welcome to the FocusCatalyst Brainstorming Salon held every first Thursday in San Francisco. To receive an invitation, sign up here.

For more details about the Salon than you will ever need to know check

out a recent Salon invitation below:

You're invited to the FocusCatalyst Brainstorming Salon, next Thursday. (The Salons have been the first Thursday of every month since February, 2004)

 

Drop by any time between 5-8pm at 695 5th St. #2, San Francisco.

 

For all the essential details (directions, what to bring, etc.) scroll just past the News & Announcements that immediately follow.

 

For the long version of this invite, with more details than you'll ever need (plus who comes to the Salons and lots of testimonials) just keep on scrolling.  But you never have to read all the details.  They're just there for folks who like 'em (you know who you are...)

The fine print: The Salon is not a "networking" group or a to place promote products or services or to look for a job. Also, all the people/places/things in the News & Announcement section below are from/about my own personal friends and connections.  I only email this list with one invite and one reminder a month. And, if you don't live in the SF area you can still participate.  See below for details. 

NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

1.  Mike Del Ponte is the founder of Sparkseed.  Mike's been to the Salon and he recently asked me to do a webinar about FocusCatalyst techniques for Sparkseed's next incubator group of entrepreneurs that starts April 1st. I just got this exciting news from Mike this morning:

"Last night Sparkseed won a Social Innovation Award from the Financial Times and Justmeans. Despite tough competition (e.g., Verizon, BlackRock, Nokia, etc.), Sparkseed took home the prize for having the Best Social Investment Strategy...We want to leverage this opportunity to build more momentum and get media buzz. Please help us by taking 1-2 minutes to: Post on Twitter or Facebook: "Congratulations @Sparkseed for winning the Financial Times Social Innovation Award! http://bit.ly/cUMY8P" If you have a blog, please post too.. Thanks! -Mike"

About Sparkseed: "Sparkseed uses a unique approach to help young risk-takers apply business principles to address the world's toughest problems.  Founder Mike Del Ponte guides Sparkseed in identifying, incubating, and investing in the next generation of social entrepreneurs. 

"Sparkseed has supported 31 ventures since 2007 and will select ten more on 1 April. By leveraging an impressive network of partners, Sparkseed provides mentoring, skills training, executive coaching, and consulting to each of its student-led ventures. And by investing capital directly in the student ventures, Sparkseed provides validation and financial resources to best student ideas in hopes of yielding social returns and financial sustainability."

2.  This in from fellow NextNower* and CTO for the Dalai Lama Foundation, Jim (Sky) Schuyler about his service, Cyberspark.net:  (Jim is also CEO of his company Red7. Jim's blog is associated with the Dalai Lama Foundation.) 

"For a couple of years I've been operating an "under the radar" service that monitors and protects the web sites of a number of groups involved in free speech, human rights, ethics and peace. What we do is alert webmasters when something "bad" happens to their site--thus keeping them from infecting site visitors with viruses and/or other malware.  My interest and experience with this has grown over the last seven years, during which time I've been CTO of The Dalai Lama Foundation.

"Our services are free of charge to qualified NGO's.  Right now we're helping defend just a few well-known sites such as Reporters WithoutBorders, and we'll expand the number of protected sites greatly right away.  I would appreciate if you would nominate/suggest your own favorite and most deserving sites for monitoring.

"You can tweet us at @cyberspark, Facebook us, and spread the word any way you'd like.  I'll really appreciate whatever you care to do to help this effort.  And check us out at cyberspark.net."

3.  This in from my good friend, Salon regular and fellow NextNower,* Valerie Landau.  Her father, Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and Institute for Policy Studies Fellow Saul Landau. will also be speaking at this event:

4/11: The Institute for Policy Studies event:  Barbara Ehrenreich, best-selling author of "Nickle and Dimed," speaking on 'The Impact of the Economy on the Working Class'  She will discuss inequality, the recession, and how we can work toward a fair recovery.  5-7PM, San Francisco.  RSPV here.

4. This in from Salon regular and social media guru, Dale Larson, who is part of the San Francisco App Studio, "a new company founded by software, internet, and mobile industry veterans dedicated to producing useful and fun apps for mobile platforms":

"We are excited to host the next App Showcase, Tuesday, March 30th at 111 Minna in San Francisco. Doors open at 5:30 PM. Show starts at 7:00 PM.  See newsworthy new apps, get insight from app developers, find unrecognized app gems.  Enjoy free appetizers and one free drink.We're excited to have Robert Scoble* as our guest host for this event! Robert is a blogger (scobleizer.com), tech evangelist and author.  Apps to be demoed Include: Moe's Notes, Line 2, TV Chatter, Steel Trap, ImageQuest, Pana.ma and 3 other apps to be announced. There will also be a special session on how to market an app on Facebook.

Follow updates on the App Showcase on Twitter with #SFAppShow or on our site sfappshow.com.  Register here.

*Robert Scoble is a fellow NextNower* too.

5. THE LUNCHEON SOCIETY:  The next TLS lunch in San Francisco is March 31st. The speaker is:  Mary Buffett, best-selling author (with David Clark) of Warren Buffett's Management Secrets, Buffettology,The Tao of Warren Buffett and Warren Buffett and the interpretation of Financial Statements.

BACKGROUND:  I am on the Advisory Board for The Luncheon Society, started over 10 years ago by Salon regular, Bob McBarton.  These are amazing lunches held in SF, LA and NYC featuring speakers you'd normally only get to hear speaking to an audience of hundreds--or more.  But TLS lunches are only 25-30 people.  Intimate and wonderful. 

Just this year, Luncheon Society speakers have included:  MSNBC Political Commentator Lawrence O'Donnell     Global Adventurer Roz Savage as she prepares to row across the Pacific Ocean     Dick Cavett on culture, politics, and the resurrection of Tick Hall    Former New York Governor Mario Cuomo on bipartisanship   Michael Dukakis, 1988 Democratic Presidential nominee

If you are interested in receiving TLS invitations, email Bob McBarton at bob.mcbarton@comcast.net

6. ALAN'S WINE CELLAR WINES AT THE SALON.  

As always, you can taste the 3 special wines that Alan brings to the Salon.  Here are Alan's tasting notes for the wines he'll be bringing to the Salon next week:

 

Pfeiffer Dry Riesling.  Vintage: 2004.  Origin:  Victoria, Australia. The winery is situated in the idyllic setting of Sunday Creek near Rutherglen in North East Victoria.  Varietal: 100% RieslingWinemaker's Notes:"Our Riesling is made in a dry style with an aromatic bouquet and a clean crisp finish." Winemaking:  Produced dry...not sweet.Cellaring:  Riesling has wonderful capacity for medium- to long-term cellaring.  This wine is delicious now, but will reward long-term maturation until 2014.About Riesling:  Riesling, along with Chardonnay, is known as a "noble" white great variety.  This Riesling is fresh, crisp and dry.  If Chardonnay is too heavy for you - try this Riesling.  It is one of the most versatile wines with food, especially fish and salads.

Gavi della Cascina San Bernardo. Vintage: 2008. Varietal: 100% Cortese

Origin:  Gavi wines, produced in Italy's Piedmont region, have earned the prestigious D.O.C.G. rating.  Gavi dry white wine is one of Italy's best. Production:  only 2,500 cases. Winemaker's notes: "The Gavi wine of Gavi D.O.C.G. produced by the San Bernardo farm, is pale gold color with slight perlage and brassy highlights.  It has a clean, well balanced bouquet with intriguing mixture of heather, herbs, citrus and hints of eucalyptus.  On the palate, it is medium-bodied with nice fruit and zest from the sparkle and fades into a citrus-laced finish with salty breeze and eucalyptus overtones." Food Pairing / Serving: Gavi is a refreshing wine that will pair quite nicely with fish, including grilled fattier fish, vegetarian dishes, cream sauces, and moist white meats.  Serving temperature 45-50 F°.  Ideal consumption time is 18 months from vintage date.  If properly stored, the wine will improve over time. About San Bernardo Farm: In the heart of the Gavi region in a natural amphitheatre of 25 acres, are located an ancient beautiful farmhouse and the new winery of the San Bernardo estate.

 

 

Pretty Sally Cabernet/Shiraz.  Origin:  Pretty Sally Estate Vineyard, Central Victoria, Australia.  Vintage: 2005.  Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon 63% and Shiraz 37%.  Review:  Tanzer: 90 points."Ruby-red color. Toasty red and dark berry aromas are complicated by vanilla, cola and dried flowers. Deeply flavored but not heavy, with potent red- and blackcurrant and blackberry flavors supported by a solid tannic spine. Finishes with good sweetness and cling, leaving a suave trail of baking spices behind."  Cases Produced:4,800 cases.  Winemaker's Notes:  "Our Estate Cabernet Shiraz blend offers the finest expression of our single vineyard Cabernet and Shiraz fruit.  Aromas of dark fruit and spice give way to a pallet that is richly textured, offering layers of plum, black currant, and baking spices with shades of pepper and cumin.  The tannins are well integrated and the acid moderate, providing lift to this full-bodied blend.  To complete the package, the wine finishes with dark fruit and exotic spice."  About Pretty Sally: Pretty Sally Vineyard, established in 1996, is family owned and operated.  Pretty Sally is located 40 miles north of Melbourne in Central Victoria, Australia's original winemaking region. Bordering the famous Pretty Sally Hills, the estate consists of 450-acres.

BACKGROUND: As most of you know, Alan is the husband of FocusCatalyst Advisory Board member and Dwell Media president and publisher, Michela Abrams.  Alan is a real expert on wine and folks who come to the Salon love finding out more about it by chatting with him. Alan's Wine Cellar does wine tastings (including charity fundraising ones), wine cellar design, wine courses, cellar stocking and wine search.  (More details about Alan and Alan's Wine Cellar are below in this invitation.)

7.  Salon regular Randy Farmer was here at February and March Salons with information about his latest book, Building Web Reputation Systems.  He's promised to bring the hot-off-the-presses book itself to the Salon next week.

 

About Randy:  "F. Randall "Randy" Farmer has been creating online community systems for over 30 years, and has co-invented many of the basic structures for both virtual worlds and social software. His accomplishments include numerous industry firsts (such as the first virtual world, the first avatars, and the first online marketplace).*  Randy worked as the community strategic analyst for Yahoo!, advising Yahoo properties on construction of their online communities. Randy was the principal designer of Yahoo's global reputation platform and the reputation models that were deployed on it." You can find Randy's blog here.

* From Wikipedia:  "He is probably most famous for his role creating one of the first graphical online MMOG, Lucasfilm's Habitat, with Chip Morningstar."

8.  VeraMax House for Older Homeless Women Fundraiser April 19, 2010.

Salon regular Gloria Young of Young and Lamay, has been involved with VeraMax for several years.  She's on their Board, as is another Salon regular, Pat Dunbar . And then, in a moment of zero degrees of separation, I got an email from another Salon attendee, Alan Webber, talking about VeraMax and its fundraiser this April 12th.  Whoa, many connections!   Details:

VeraMax House for Older Homeless Women is proud to present an evening with business guru Marshall Goldsmith.   "One of the 15 most influential business thinkers in the world"  according to London Times and Forbes.. His latest book is Mojo. What Got You Here Won't Get You There.  This event is April 19, 2010.  6-8PM. Jewish Community Center.  3200 California St., San Francisco. Go to www.veramaxhouse.org for details and to register.

About VeraMax House: "VeraMax House is a 501c3 not-for-profit, established to serve homeless women age 55 and over."

 

9. Architect, friend and Salon attendee, Eric Staten, proposed a very exciting project to me.  And it involves you guys who come to the Salon.  He describes it below. I'll be asking for you input for it at the Salons and in future Salon invites.  Thanks in advance for your help!

Project Description:  "Design an architectural installation for Betsy's Salon space by mapping the social network of the Salon, and using the data as inputs to drive generative modeling algorithms to create an enveloping "meaningful skin" that embodies the social network of the Salon in the geometry of the physical space that contains it."  There are conceptual drawings for this on "The Wall" at the Salon. 

What follows is a list of the kind of information we're considering for the map of the social network of the Salon.  If you have any other ideas, let me know at bb@focuscatalyst.com.  Thanks!

 "How long have you been going to the Salons? Common interests and passions? Common occupations? Membership in other groups? Degree of connection to Betsy (personal introduction, friend of friend, etc)? Male/Female? Age? Have you published a book?  Connections to other Salon folks? Who did you hear about the Salon from?"

Thanks, too, to Amber Case, who came to February's Salon and met Eric there.  She's now helping Eric out with the data modeling part of this project. Amber is a cyborg anthropologist, based in Portland, Oregon, @caseorganic.

*A NOTE ABOUT NEXTNOW:   

A lot of people who come to the Salon are in a group I've been involved with pretty much since its inception in 2003, NextNow,

It's a small, relatively loose affiliation of interesting folks started by Bill Daul, who Doug Engelbart (fellow NextNower and who in the 1960's was the inventor of the mouse and a whole lot of personal computing in general--see Wikipedia) calls "human glue" and James Burke (from the UK, known for the TV series "Connections", see Wikipedia) calls "the world's greatest social networker." 

The FocusCatalyst Brainstorming Salon is where NextNowers get together most regularly. But the Salon is not a NextNow function per se and you sure don't have to be in NextNow to come to the Salon!

AND NOW, FOR THE SALON INFO:

WHAT:  Interesting people. Interesting conversation. Bring food and drink to share.

Optional: Write what you want brainstormed on the sheets we provide. Put them on the wall. Others add their ideas with Post It notes. Then you take your sheet home with new ideas and contacts.  (But also, you don't have to have anything you want brainstormed or put any sheets on the wall to participate and have a great time)

This isn't a meeting or a place to sell your services or products.  It's an informal, fun, and relaxed get together.

The end game isn't even brainstorming as much as it is "interesting people/interesting conversation."  To tell you the truth, most people get too involved in conversation to write on people's brainstorming sheets--but that's the point. The brainstorming technique works as a catalyst to help move the conversations beyond just the usual "Hi, how are you?  What do you do?"

WHEN:  First Thursday every month.

Drop by any time between 5 and 8PM for as long, or as short, a time as you'd like.

WHERE:  San Francisco: 695 5th St. #2 (5th & Townsend).

And yes, it has that SF rarity:  free unlimited street parking (after 5PM). 

There's also a parking garage a block away, underneath the Safeway at 4th & Townsend.  You enter the garage on Townsend, between 4th & 3rd Streets.

Note to Peninsula Folks:  My loft is one block from the CalTrain Station.  So, very easy access by train.  Bill Daul comes to virtually every Salon via the train from Palo Alto. If you'd like to join him, just let me know at bb@focuscatalyst.com.

Note to East Bay Folks:  It's easy to take the MUNI light rail at the Embarcadero station (located a level up from the BART Embarcadero station)  to the Caltrain station.  (Take the MUNI light rail trains to "Mission Bay".) My loft is a block from the Caltrain station.

HOW MUCH?  Just drop on by. No need to RSVP. And feel free to forward this email to anyone you think might enjoy the Salon.

For more info about the Salon, how it works, who comes to it (I name names and give
links), and who is on the FocusCatalyst Advisory board, keep scrolling beyond my Shamelessly Self Promotional section immediately below.

OFFICIAL SHAMELESSLY SELF PROMOTIONAL SECTION 

On my site you can get a free pdf of my book, FOCUS. The Catalyst for Innovation. Guided Brainstorming for Innovators.*  Here are the blurbs from the book's cover:

"Betsy's book is fun, adventurous, rebellious, practical, and chock-full of terrific hands-on tools that we all can put to work right away. Betsy, you're the best!"--Alan M. Webber, founding editor, Fast Company magazine.

"Wow, what a system!  This deceptively slim book is a true blockbuster, light-handed but surprisingly powerful and packed with ingenious, enjoyable, human (and humane) ways to break free of those dreaded dead spots that hold us all back when we ache to get into action. I'll be handing it out to my clients. (And I'll be quoting her in my next book!)  Thank you, Betsy Burroughs."      Barbara Sher, best-selling author of 7 books including Wishcraft and I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was and featured in popular public television specials around the country, barbarasher.com.

"This book is truly precious to me, because it shows a practical way to bring an important side of spirituality into everyday life - the principal of a playful mind.: Gundula Schatz, founder and president of the Waldzell Institute, initiator and manager of the "Architects of the Future" program, member of the Global Council on Conscious Economies, Corporate Responsibility and Economic Justice, Ambassador of the World Wisdom Council.

"Reinvents creative thinking in a way that brings about tangible results."  Michela Abrams, Publisher & President, Dwell Media.

"This book has great tools for moving from the fear of problem solving to the fun of it.  Try them, but be forewarned , you and your organization will change!"  Sara Barnes, Trustee, The Marin Community Foundation

"There are two books in my life that have really helped me get out of my own way during the creative process. One is The Universal Traveler, which I read in college. The other is this book."  Bill Johnston, Editor, Online Community Report

"These positive, practical, and proven activities can help resolve any professional or personal creative impasse."  Ann Mincey, Vice President Global Communications, REDKEN 5th AvenueNYC

"I loved this book!  I now see why when I take walks or get away for a few moments, I do feel more creative and can get more work done. Great information!"  Dorothy Ellis, The Lupus LA Committee  

"A positively brilliant, yet practical, approach to those everyday challenges that beg to be done, but which we love to avoid. I really became caught up in the concepts and techniques.  A truly refreshing adventure into the job of getting the devil out of the details."      David O'Connor, Past President, Merle Norman Cosmetics, Inc.

 

Who comes to FocusCatalyst Brainstorming Salons Anyway?

People who've never been to a FocusCatalyst Brainstorming Salon want to know what kind of people will be there. So I've put together the list below to give you a little bit of an idea. many are old friends of mine.  

A typical salon has about 50/50 regulars and new people. And the "regulars" are different each month, too. So if you're new, you won't be the only one! 

Also, the group is pretty gender balanced with a bit of a skew toward more men than women. 

It's also all ages--from 20 somethings on up to, um, somewhat older folks. :)

Anywhere from 20 to 50 (sometimes more) people come to any one Salon.  A few people come every month.  Some several times a year.  Some once a year.  Whatevre. So there's no need to come every month.  I have it every month so folks can show up whenever works for them.

A FocusCatalyst Brainstorming Salon isn't a "networking" group. Or a place to promote products and services or to find a job. People connect at the Salons, of course, but that's not the point.  The point is always "interesting people, interesting conversation."

Nancy Friedman did a wonderful post about the Salons and the Walking Workshops* on her blog, fritinancy.com.  An excerpt from it below will give you more info about the salons:

"I got to know Betsy Burroughs of a couple of years ago when we worked on complementary projects for a start up client. An ad agency veteran and marketing pro, Betsy is one of the most creative thinkers I've ever encountered.

I was wowed by her approach to brainstorming and started attending her monthly salon  where I met as stimulating a group of thinkers and doers as you'll find in the Bay Area or anywhere.

(One of last month's attendees was a zookeeper who'd assisted at the birth of a giraffe; other solonists have included the Mexican trade consul, a product designer, a winegrower, and the founder of Blurb, the newish self publishing company.) 

Last weekend I finally got to participate in one of Betsy's other offerings, the Walking Workshop."*

*These Walking Workshops are now called FocusCatalyst FocusTours.

Here's a list that will give you an idea of who comes to the Salon.  (Keep scrolling for who is on the FocusCatalyst Advisory Board, too.)

Alan Webber, co-founder, Fast Company Magazine, former editorial director of Harvard Business Review and author of the wonderful book, Rules of Thumb. 52 Truths for Winning at Business Without Losing Your Self. Buy it on Amazon  here.  And the book's site and Alan's blog aren't to be missed, either.  Here are just a couple of blurbs about his book:

"Alan Webber has a genius for sparking the right conversation at the right time.  It doesn't matter whether you're in business or politics, employed or entrepreneur, social leader or wealth creator, Alan Webber's wise words give guidance and hope in a world gone upside down.  Incisive and practical, timely and timeless-he is a mentor of the highest order." - Jim Collins, author of Good to Great 

"If you liked Stephen Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,  you'll love Rules of Thumb.  Each chapter is like the perfect double espresso -- a delicious jolt that will fire your brain, stir your soul, and get you moving." - Daniel H. Pink, author of A Whole New Mind

Brian Gruber, Founder and Executive Chairman, FORA.TV, which gathers "the web's largest collection of unmediated video drawn from live events, lectures, and debates going on all the time at the world's top universities, think tanks and conferences." From his bio: "Brian combined his dual passions - new media and public ideas - to found FORA.tv in late 2005. As the first head of marketing for C-SPAN, Gruber built the network's affiliate sales and marketing organization, which launched C-SPAN II with the largest subscriber base ever for a cable network at the time." He's also been at "Scripps Howard Cable, Heritage Cablevision, Jones Intercable, and Charter Communications, as well as Ogilvy & Mather Direct."

Bob Horn, Stanford University Visiting Scholar, stanford.edu/rhorn, is one of the country's leading thinkers on visual communication.  He literally wrote the book on it ten years ago, "Visual Language.  Global Communication for the 21st Century." About the book:  "it is the first to use visual language itself to describe and analyze that language. By his use of visual language on every page, Horn demonstrates that it is an immensely flexible and effective communication tool and one that invites and delights us."  More details at xplane.com or on Amazon.

Jim (Sky) Schyuler, CEO of Red7. Jim is also the Chief Technology Officer for the Dalai Lama Foundation. His blog there is at sky.dlfound.org. "Red7's full immersion games  make it possible to integrate a learning process, a real world game, or hands on support for a complex technology, into your customer's real life.  They integrate cell phones, SMS (cell phone text) messaging, PDAs, interactive email, online video and other technologies to deliver an entertaining real world experience.'

Eileen Gittins, CEO, Blurb, blurb.com.  As Eileen says, "Blurb helps ordinary people express their passions and record their experiences in books to share with their families, communities and the world. Making a book is a transformational."  Blurb has been written about in Fast Company, Business Week, New York Times, Wired, USA Today, O Magazine and more. 

Bob McBarton, founder of The Luncheon Society .  I met Bob a couple of years ago and started to go to The Luncheon Society lunches he co-founded over 10 years ago.  I'm now on the Advisory Board. I really love these lunches because you get to spend time with speakers you'd normally only get to see when they speak to hundreds, or more.  But these instead are small, intimate lunches of just 25-30 people.  The lunches are held in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York City.  I've even flown down to LA  just to go to one down there.  Here's a partial list of people who have spoken at The Luncheon Society:  Frank Gehry, Salon.com's Joan Walsh, Joseph Wilson and Valerie Plame, Linda Ronstadt, Jimmy Breslin, Apollo astronaut Rusty Schweickart, Ted Sorensen, Mike Dukakis, Gary Hart, Dean Ornish, Former Secretary of State George Shultz, George McGovern, Germaine Greer, Mario Cuomo, Terrence Roberts and Melba Beals, Janis Karpinski, Former Secretary of State Warren Christopher, Former Defense Secretary Bill Perry, Al Franken, Craig Newmark, Christopher Hitchens. If you are interested in being on the list to receive invitations to The Luncheon Society, send an email to Bob McBarton.

Gloria Young, President, Young & Lamay Associates, youngandlamay.com, a company focused on dispersed team collaboration and organizational knowledge capture. Until recently,  Gloria ran the Legislative Branch of the City and County of San Francisco.  Among the wide range of consulting services Y&L offers it helps for-profit companies navigate governmental agencies and works with them and municipalities to provide practical solutions to meet their organizational needs in the global economy.  She consults both in the U.S. and in South Africa.  Her book, Knowledge Management Tales, compares and contrasts Johanesburg and San Francisco with enlightening insights for both countries.

Whitney Vosburgh, a fantastic artist, photographer, branding expert, and world traveler.  Check out his three sites at witneyvosburgh.com (Life/Art), consultwhitney.com (Living/Business) and vosmervoyages.com (Leisure/Pleasure)

Michael Layne of Michael Layne Designs,, designer of some of the most spectacular homes you'll ever see.  And I do mean spectacular.    I saw one recently listed internationally as a "Michael Layne designed" home for sale for £17 million.  

Clark Quinn, Director, Quinnovation, quinnovation.com, is an expert in cognitive design of technology, mediated learning experiences and author of the new book, "Engaging Learning: Designing, Learning Simulation Games.

Pat Dunbar, who cofounded the DiMA Group in 2002, now the DiMAS (Digital Media and Advertising Strategy) Group., which works with national advertisers to collaboratively develop new advertising models for advanced television. Before DIMAS, her 20 year career included stints as Senior Vice President at Ford Financial, and Vice President for Electronic Commerce for GMAC.

Jeff Saperstein, author, consultant and university instructor whose book "Creating Regional Wealth in the Innovation Economy"is a study on what works in the New Economy based on nine regions of the world.

Jennifer Halleck of Halleck Vineyard, halleckvineyard.com, which started as one acre of pinot at their home in Sebastopol. Their winemaker is Greg LaFollette, and their wines are featured at restaurants like the French Laundry (Yountville, CA) Per Se (New York City) and Boulevard, Aqua, Farallon, One Market and more in San Francisco.

Ted Weinstein of Ted Weinstein Literary Management, a leading U.S. literary agency serving authors of intelligent, adult nonfiction.

Bill Daul, founder, NextNow, human-landscaping.com/nextnow, a group of some of the smartest people I've ever met. (Check out the site.) Bill's also a web designer extraordinaire and improv aficionado. http://human-landscaping.com/nextnow/

Amy Phoenix, author, Amy's Mama Drama,  Amy is one of my closest friends and is a brilliant market strategist and tactician.  She is also a hilariously funny writer.  You have to check out her blog.  She's been recognized by other bloggers for making them "laugh every day." 

Charlie Grantham and Jim Ware of Work Design Collaborative and The Future of Work. Their work is often featured in  BusinessWeek and Fast Company.  Their new book is Corporate Agility. A Revolutionary New Model for Competing in a Flat World.

FocusCatalyst's Advisory Board members are:

Michela Abrams, president & publisher of Dwell Magazine, and past publisher of Business 2.0 Magazine.

Linda Hayes, COO, Fusion One, www.fusionone.com

Richard Adler, principal of DigiPlaces,, and former director, Institute for the Future. www.digiplaces.com

David O'Connor, business consultant, past president, Merle Norman Cosmetics.

 

More Information About FocusCatalyst Brainstorming Salons

I'm not a big fan of linking to web sites or attachments. I'd rather scroll than link. So, scroll below for more information about the FocusCatalyst Brainstorming Salons for any of you who'd like a lot of details.

For those of you who haven't seen this invitation before, you may be asking yourself, "What in the world is a brainstorming salon?"

A brainstorming salon is an informal, drop in get together of interesting folks at my loft in San Francisco, South of Market. Come by for as long or as short a time as you'd like.

It's a salon because it's meant to foster some interesting conversation.

And it's for brainstorming, too. But the brainstorming is totally optional and in many ways quite unobtrusive.

I love brainstorming with folks. It opens up whole new ideas. I love the infusion of creativity and solutions that a good brainstorming session can give. But I don't want to require everyone to show up at a specific time, sit in a circle and brainstorm and then all go home at the same time.

So here's how it works:

Everyone who wants to (and you can certainly come to the Salon and not participate in the brainstorming part at all) when they arrive at the salon, takes a sheet of paper and writes on it something you'd like others to brainstorm about for you. It can be on any topic and you can ask for any kind of feedback you'd like.  You can do it anonymously or you can sign their name to it. Then you put your sheet on a wall in my loft.

Everyone else at the salon can then look at your sheet and if they have a brainstorm idea for you, they can write it on a Post It note and put it on your sheet. Those Post It ideas can be anonymous, too. Or not. It's up to you.

When you're ready to leave, after 15 minutes or after 3 hours or any time in between, just take your sheet home with the Post It ideas people have put on it.

You'll have fresh new ideas to think about and play with for any issue or situation you'd like.

You'll probably also have fun brainstorming ideas for others. And you may meet other folks dealing with similar situations to yours.

Another feature of the Salon is the big round table in the middle of it piled high with books, many written by friends of mine, including many by Salon regulars, and others that are just books I love.  It's an eclectic assortment on a wide variety of topics. Often people connect over the books, too.

And, for those of you who can't come at all but would like your Brainstorming Sheet on the wall, just send me an email with what you'd like folks to brainstorm about for you, ideas, suggestions, leads, anything, and I'll put it up on the wall and mail it to you afterwards. I can keep it anonymous or not. Your choice.

Please bring something to eat and drink to share. And the Salons also feature Alan's Wine Cellar wines for tasting, for drinking, for enjoying!  

Alan and his wife Michela are old friends of mine. (They even got me going to the Napa Valley Wine Auction for years.) Michela is on FocusCatalyst's Advisory Board and she's the president and publisher of Dwell Magazine. (Great magazine.)

Alan has been involved with the wine industry since 1984 when he began advertising and marketing major wine brands. Since then he has become an avid wine collector. He does fabulous wine tasting parties for corporations, for charity fundraising, and in people's homes, as a great way to learn about really interesting and inexpensive wines from around the world. And it's also a very fun party. He also teaches an in depth wine tasting course and provides cellar stocking advice. On top of all that, he designs gorgeous wine cellars. 

Hope you can make it.  If you think you might be able to, you can shoot me an email and let me know. Though really, just come on by.  No need to RSVP.  Even if you won't know until the last minute if you can come, it's fine for you to come on by anyway.

Betsy

Scroll down for comments from previous Brainstorming Salon attendees.

One comment that's been made by a lot of the Brainstorming Salon first timers is how easy it is to participate even if you don't know anyone there. You can start by reading the brainstorming requests on the wall and from there it's easy to strike up a conversation with the person next to you reading the same request.

Other comments:

"Your salons offer another benefit besides brainstorming and snacking: they're a place to practice the (almost) lost art of conversation. Madame de Stael, who ran a famous salon in 18th century Paris (and who said, "Wit lies in recognizing the resemblance among things which differ and the difference between things which are alike") would approve."

"At the salon I talked to so many diverse anD fascinating people from different professions with different perspectives but I think what really "makes" the Brainstorming Salon is the warmth and openness among everyone because after all we're all FOB (friends of Betsy).  I developed some alliances and client relationships in a natural way just through conversation. There is a great flow of energy at these salons! "

"I really enjoyed your brainstorming event last week. What a wonderful group of fascinating people!"

"What a wonderful evening! The brainstorming salon was interesting, dynamic, and loads of fun. Not only did I enjoy meeting a number of bright, fascinating men and women, but it inspired me in new directions. Bravo! You are one creative individual. I look forward to the next Thursday salon at your loft. Thank you, thank you."

I had a great time at your brainstorm salon. In a trip down memory lane, I recall conversations about:
·         Categorical and topographical mapping
·         London, Tokyo, Bay Area underground systems
·         Harry Beck http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Beck
·         Edinburghians vs. Glaswegians
·         Blind Man's Bluff http://tiny.cc/Wlz9G
·         Scuba driving
·         Bali
·         Web site design for the challenged
·         http://www.ladieswholaunch.com/sanfrancisco
·         Go Daddy
·         Hogmanay
·         Wine tasting and hosting events
·         Local politicians aren't the solution
·         Bill & Melinda Gates and Hewlett Foundations
·         Hippocampus.org
·         Learning Chinese and ball room dancing deep in China
·         Air pollution in Shanghai and Hong Kong
·         Colorforms http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorforms
·         Business networking
·         Burroughs' family updates
·         http://yeahbutter.com

"I had so much fun and met such interesting people. Thank you!"

"Great Salon party. I enjoyed myself immensely."

"I LOVE these events. Even in the short time I was there, I connected with so many great people. There are starting to be "regulars" which is great since there is never enough time to get to know all the people at one event."

"I had a terrific time at yesterday's Brainstorming Salon. Thanks so much for hosting it. What an interesting group of people. So many good conversations. And then the serendipity of seeing Beatrice Wood's 'I Shock Myself' and Christine Walker's 'A Painter's Garden' on your coffee table. Downright spooky."

"Hey, last night's Salon was just great! Both Mike and I enjoyed ourselves thoroughly and got some good ideas. We were so jazzed that we went out for a "bar dinner" at Absinthe. We talked and talked about everyone we had met at the Salon and how energized we were. Thanks so much for inviting us."

"Great gathering last night. I really enjoyed it. And I love your swingin' bachelorette pad, it's the perfect party palace."

"That was a blast.  Wonderful people."

"It was terrific and I had a splendid time."

"Thursday's Brainstorming Salon was a hit! I really appreciate you opening your home and ideas to so many of us. I look forward to the next one!"

"Thank you so much for inviting me to the salon. It truly was like the old salons of Europe with smart, interesting people and a lively exchange of ideas."

"Having the chance to get objective input from people of this caliber is wonderful."

"Looking at the brainstorming requests is good way of 'meeting' people in a way that is beyond the first introductions social interaction."

"I felt energized by the level of intelligence and curiosity of the people there."

"I really enjoyed the people and ambiance."

"I couldn't tear myself away from the conversations."

"I always feel energized and empowered after spending time with you. Thanks so much. I look forward to the next one!"

"I thought it was wonderful to meet interesting, witty people and to talk on a range of subjects. The most complimentary way to show my appreciation is to say, 'I look forward to the next meeting.'"

"I loved it."

"I had a great time. Just being around persons from different walks of professional life rubs off on us, and we take what we want from that. It is invaluable! Thanks for including me."