Digital Homesteading: Building Rural Business And Community

Hiring women is not the right thing to do. Hiring women is the only thing to do for businesses and auto dealerships that want to succeed. Gender-diverse companies are more profitable, creative, and attractive places to work. Millennials are attracted to diverse businesses and flexible workplaces. Diversity is a key factor that attracts the "creative class" (as Richard Florida calls people who work in fields that require problem-solving). Diverse communities are creative communities, and they're better equipped to keep up in the digital age. The cumulative results of a gender-diverse society are breathtaking. As Alec Ross notes, "States and societies that most systematically and intentionally advantage the position of women in business and in the economy . . . are those that compete and succeed."

We live in echo chambers, and it's killing our republic. As websites increasingly track and customize what we see based on our interests, we are rarely exposed to new and challenging ideas . . . unless we mindfully curate our educational cuisine. There are three ways to build a mindful echo chamber -- and myriad ways why it's important to do so. Join Scott Meyer as we walk along the Mississippi River and share a bid idea on building your business and community in this week's Digital Homesteading.

Let me introduce you to this world-changer: Gary Greff. He was a teacher, with a background in education and physical education. He came home to Regeant, ND, population 125, and he saw something that frightened him. I’ll let him pick up the story about the Enchanted Highway and how to save a community with a bold idea.

Greg Tehven has made it his life's mission to make Fargo the greatest city on earth. Rather than build a list of residents to email them about upcoming events, he focuses on building relationships. As he notes, this is a generational project and much like the Lutheran Church where he grew up, he's in it for the long haul. By filling a room with people he cares about, he has been able to create great change. In this episode learn about the importance of offline connections and their ability to create change for businesses and communities.

Unique experience provides an opportunity for one-of-a-kind creation. As businesses and communities we need to focus on local problems. In looking at local problems we have an "imagination differentiation" that enables us to see solutions others miss. This breds imaginative creation that can exported to similar communities around the globe.

A few weeks ago we wrote about the importance of having an equal playing field for rural communities. The thrust of the argument is that for the first time we have the opportunity to build businesses right where we are. If we don't have equal access to tools to build those businesses (like fast internet), it's more difficult to build successful businesses. The story has developed since then and the FCC has opened their new rules for debate. For four months citizens can weigh in on what the rules should be for internet access. Should Internet Service Providers (ISP's) be able to charge for faster access to content or does everyone need to have the same speed to their sites? We take a deep dive on the issue in this week's Digital Homesteading podcast as we look at lessons from the past and a vision of what the future could look like.

What makes a community great? Travel across the ocean and learn from Guernsey, where a plan of societal reinvention is underway. Then talk with a community developer to learn what tools we can use in our community to make it great. In this episode of Digital Homesteading, learn what you can do to build the community you want to live in. Find previous episodes and learn more at 9clouds.com/blog.

Travel creates knowledge according to our guest today, Manuel Marabese. Manuel changed his career path from philosophy to motorcycle guiding for tourists in his pursuit of knowledge. In today's episode Manuel talks to use how you can take a leap and follow your passion, whether starting a business or traveling remote jungles of Cambodia on motorcycle. Through his adventures, learn the power of travel, the pursuit of knoweldge and why Italians are still mama's boys even when they are traveling across the globe.

Finding a job, interviewing and mastering the follow up requires special skills in the digital age. In this brofounder edition of Digital Homesteading, brothers John Meyer (of the responsive infographic design company Lemonly) and Scott Meyer (of the digital marketing firm 9 Clouds) discuss how to find a job during a recent talk with university students. Listen in a learn the skills you need to master the digital job market.

The mic is flipped around as I was interviewed by Voice of America's Angela Sharpe. Angela walked through why we created the Digital Homesteading podcast, how to get started on digital media and the most important things businesses in rural areas need to know about. Join us as the tables are turned in this episode of Digital Homesteading.

Becky McCray oozes small town. She runs a small cattle ranch, the local liquor store, writes about Small Biz Survival and even helps with rural tourism. Obviously when it was time to learn what makes some small towns thrive and others fade away, she was the person to call. In this interview Becky discusses how a small number of people can make a huge difference and dramatically alter the arc of a town. With outside perspective and by highlighting your strengths (and getting help with your weaknesses), your town can grow and thrive wherever it is.

Develop your community with the resources you have. Pamela Slim, author of Escape from Cubicle Nation and the forthcoming Body of Work, talks about community developing, working remote and aligning passion with work.

Erik Hersman, also know as White African after his tech blog and twitter handle of the same name, creates local solutions based on exisiting technology. His organization Ushahidi finds new use cases for technology based on omnipresent tools. By making solutions everyone can use, Erik is changing the flow of information, power and development. Meet Erik and learn how you can create new solutions with existing tools in today's episode.

How can a rural business work with large clients around the world? In a word: focus. My brother and brofounder John Meyer joins us today to talk about focusing on your "superpower", the one thing you are most skilled and passionate about. We'll learn how he has grown the infographic design firm Lemonly in to a multinational creative firm that operates from South Dakota.

How do you revive a community?  In today's episode, we look at how one community of 8000 that lost its main manufacturing employer decided not to quietly fade away. Instead of a brain drain, they have experienced a brain gain by encouraging entrepreneurship and collaboration between the Chamber, Small Business Development Center and local businesses.  Deb Brown of Webster City, IA is today's guest and shares with us the blueprint for reviving a community.

We often think of fear as an indication to be wary. To take care. What if we thought of it a whole new way and actually said yes to whatever scares us? That's what Marcella Chamorro has done. She took the leap to prioritize the things most important to her: family and freedom. She moved back home to Nicaragua, started her own business and encourages others to live the Perpetual Vacation by doing what scares them. In May 2013 I had a chance to meet Marcella Chamorro at the Misfits Conf in Fargo, North Dakota. Her passion and excitement was contagious. Plus, her ability to run a business with employees in rural Nicaragua, collaborators throughout the US and clients throughout the world is incredible. In today's episode of Digital Homsteading, her the lessons she's learned while building a business in her own community and the challenges and rewards that await entrepreneurs.

Chris Guillebeau has inspired travelers and entrepreneurs by pursuing and fulfilling his mission of visiting every country in the world. During his journeys he built a business and helped show others how to find and pursue their passions. His first book, The Art of Non-Conformity, and the blog of the same name outlined exactly how to do just that. After completing his travel mission he didn't rest on his laurels. Instead he directed his focus at what he calls "The Micro-Business Revolution."  He explores how solopreneurs can start up a business and easily find customers and work for themselves. He even argues that being an entrepreneur is a safer decision than working for someone else. In this podcast episode originally recorded right before his book launch last year, he explores the idea of "The Micro-Business Revolution" and walks through how to choose a project and create the business and life you want. A perfect fit for the Digital Homesteading podcast! You can listen and subscribe on iTunes, list or

Carla White originally thought she would write a quick ebook over the weekend. Months later she published her first ebook: Ideas to Apps. Years later the publishing houses took notice and asked her to create her ebook in to a full-fledged book. The result: Idea to iPhone. Here new book helps "ideapreneuers," defined as people with ideas but who aren't sure how to execute their ideas. Ideapreneuers with an app idea can read her book and bring their app to life...even if they aren't a developer. Get started with apps in this episode of Digital Homesteading.

Greg Tehven returned to his home in Fargo, North Dakota and decided he wanted to connect the creative class. By finding the "micro-awesomeness" in his community, he created champions to build around. Today Fargo is an increasingly connected, creative and vibrant community. In this episode of Digital Homesteading, we learn Greg's secret to building communities you want to be a part of. To learn more about building communities and rural business, visit DigitalHomesteading.com.