QDIS Blog

Unfortunately I didn’t take notes on Sunday during the talks so I’m having to write this from memory so it might not be as detailed as the previous two days. Most of the slides from the presentations will eventually be available to AIIP members on the AIIP website.

Information Entrepreneur: Lesson Learned from Building a National Library
Sam Richter, Business Information Resources, Research Tools, Online Library, JJ Hill

Sam Richter took us through the development that took the James J. Hill Library from an obscure business reference library to having a major internet presence. The presentation contained the many programs and products geared towards small business that the James J. Hill Library has developed.

The Most Common Mistakes Self-Employed People Make
Christine Hamilton-Pennel, Economic Intelligence Specialist

Christine gave us a list of the common mistakes self-employed people make.

1. Not knowing your basic Strategy
2. Not Understanding Your financial Needs
3. Assuming you can handle all the functions
4. Marketing

Managing a Research Project From A to Z
Marcy Phelps, Phelps Research

Lessons Learned

• Your network is your most valuable resource
• Subcontracting parts of the research provides clients with high quality results
• Extra effort up front saves time and money

Cynthia Shamel, Shamel Information Services

Lessons Learned

1. Networking plants seeds that you never know when they will sprout
2. There is nothing like a mandate form the top to give a project traction
3. Executive committees have a short attention span
4. When the scopes creeps, offer an amended proposal
5. See lesson 1
6. Educate yourself by researching, reading and talking to experts
7. Corporate employees come and go
8. It’s OK to price on value
9. Do what you do best and hire the rest
10. You can’t put a price on internal cooperation
11. Allow plenty of time to do quality work
12. Celebrate the successes, then get back to work

Change as Opportunity
Rita E. Miller, Motivational Speaker

Rita gave an excellent talk on change and dealing with stress. It was great to learn 10 tips for dealing with change

1. Determined optimism- ask “what could go right?”
2. Say YES to learning
3. Take a realistic vs. a perfectionist approach
4. Allow for venting if needed
5. Find your control point
6. Ask questions
7. Remind yourself that new learning involves practice over time
8. Develop a change support network
9. Reward yourself
10. Consider the value of humor

You betcha!

Look for photos from the event soon. I hope to get them uploaded to Flicker by the weekend.

Looking forward to seeing everyone in Pittsburgh, PA April 30 to May 4th, 2008. Come and bring someone new!
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