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Things to celebrate…
Yesterday, March 8, was International Women’s Day and people might not know it, but here in Oakes over 75% of our Main Street businesses are owned by women! Our hospital and school administrators are both female as is a good portion of our teaching staff. While we personally don’t think one day is enough to honor the amazing contributions of all women everywhere, we do want to take a minute to acknowledge what women bring to this community. Every woman offers her own unique skill and bright light to our world. We wouldn’t be who we are without you!
News to know…
North Dakota has selected O’Leary Ventures, owned by Kevin O’Leary, the ruthless shark from the hit TV show Shark Tank, to manage a $45 million direct investment program for early-stage small businesses. The Wonder Fund uses money allocated from the U.S. Department of Treasury and will be headed directly by Mr. Wonderful. “I’m an investor, I can choose any state, it’s a competition. I would never invest in New York or Massachusetts or California or New Jersey ever again. Not when I can invest in policy like North Dakota. Why would I?” said O’Leary. “We’ll invest in startups, we’ll invest in businesses that exist that want to expand. There are rules and regulations on this program, but it’s got some flexibility. The point is, it’s not just the seed money. We need to attract capital as the business grows from everywhere,” said O’Leary. Governor Doug Burgum said the program is another way the state can strengthen communities, diversify the economy, and remain competitive for capital against the other states.
Ideas to spread…
Be curious, not furious. When you find yourself feeling “triggered” or flooded with emotion about something another person has said, it can be tempting to assume we know exactly what their intentions are. It’s human nature to judge what we see, especially when it’s upsetting. When we have a strong response to something, it’s much safer and more likely to yield a better result for us, if we can instead ask a question. It’s perfectly OK to tell someone you don’t understand what they mean and ask for clarification. It reduces your frustration and also gives other people a chance to explain themselves. “Help me understand…” can be a great opening line to start that dialogue.