Steve Mangano

I have consulted my horoscope at this point.  I am ready for action but forces beyond my control are forcing me to wait.  I was hoping there was some cosmic lesson here or at least some indication in the stars.  Turns out us Capricorns are supposed to have a fantastic 2019 and just to double check us Dogs are too.  So maybe just waiting a bit longer and plan for what is to come is in the way to go. It has given me time to further think about waiting vs action.  As was emailed to me on one of the items I am waiting on, bureaucracy is supposed to take time.  But my initial thought is, Is it? Yes bureaucracy has to take time to check that all basis are covered.  That any department has an opportunity to review, comment and have input.  These can serve both the organization and either their customers or the general public.  Ensuring every aspect is covered serves to avoid the headline grabbing mistakes.  Yet, we also always see headlines...

In some many ways I have felt I have been waiting for a few months now.  Both in business, in the city progress, in non-profit work.  I am not sure of others but this is the least desirable position for me to be in.  I am a person of action or closure.  Dragging on waiting for others to confirm, assist, support, and take action are not my strong suits.  I am trying to use this time to think, to plan, to be able to hit the ground running, but there is only so much you can do. When dealing with big organizations, government entities, or the wealthy, there is always little sense of urgency.  As a consultant we were taught to develop the burning platform to help employees and organizations recognize the need for change.  I am struggling with that in all my current efforts.  I just happen to find myself in a world where burning platforms are not recognized, cared about or even created.  Most people are willing to let things get pretty hot before...

I was barely paying attention to an issue around sidewalks, actually one particular sidewalk, close to my neighborhood.  It was actually a lack thereof.  It has now been all over my email and was remarkably on the cover of the Indy.  Mostly at issue is a view that a small group of citizens trumped the greater neighborhood in killing a proposed sidewalk in an area that people like to walk in.  The sidewalk was proposed as there was a clear and well worn path that people took and it was believed the sidewalk would add to safety and be in line with city vision of creating more walk ability. I have no plans on taking side on this issue and I have no stones to through at my representative on city council, Stef Mendell, or her fellow members.  I think there were probably mistakes and miscommunication on all sides of this. It has impressed me that Stef's approach has been proactive and engaging.  She did not shy away from her reasoning for voting a particular wa...

I was excited to register for the screening of Resilence and have heard a lot about this documentary.  The long term impacts of childhood trauma have a constant and sustained impact on people.  These trauma's range from small events to divorce to much larger traumas.   I often think about systemic poverty and how children that grow-up in these situations often can not escape.  I have always been passionate about public schools and feel we have a fundamental obligation to send our children to public schools.  I know my children have benefited greatly by interacting with a wide section of the population.  Perspective and understanding are only possible in these settings.   I look forward to learning more and hope you will register and join me as well. ----- RESILIENCE  DOCUMENTARY:  Wednesday, February 13th, 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM @  Enloe  High School.    This film is about "t he biology of stress ...

My goal of regular writing is this blog faded as the year ended and the new year began.  Well nothing says a fresh start then a new year.  So hopefully I will be my better self and stick to this. I am always finding inspiration in other Entrepreneurs which is why I, like many entrepreneurs, love the "How I Built This" podcast.   It explores the start-up stories of so many successful companies.  When you are in the trenches it feels so good to be reminded how tough it is, how likely you will fail and how okay you will be if you do.  Often it is that second before failure that brings you to the creative energy that helps you succeed. There are countless lessons in each of these founders stories, but as I see it the most important are: 1) Entrepreneurs have a healthy mix of optimism and naivety that enables them to take the leap 2) It is rarely about making money but about the execution of an idea 3) Failure is an option and embrace that potential but co...

I have been intrigued by scooters for awhile now and have been in my share of debates about them.  See my previous post on the scooter debate in Raleigh.  In passing some by this morning, I thought more about the business model and in particular the Pokemon go charging method they use.  I thought, hmmm, maybe I can sign up and have the kids do it with me so they can earn some money and see how it is to work a side hustle.  Before I got too carried away with this idea, as I am known to do.  I decided to do some research.  It is quite a fascinating process and I thought this article from Bloomberg did a nice job capturing it.  It also convinced me there may be better ways to find a job for my kids.  I prefer to not compete with the millennials on this one. Congrats to Bird (and Lime) for figuring this system out and creating what amounts to a game that they can monetize as a service. People will pay for fun and that is basically what you are ...