Today is the official launch of Iowabiz.com–a content rich, very focused site with amazing Iowa business bloggers all focused on helping your business grow.  The site is sponsored by Professional Solutions Insurance Services.

I am excited to be a part of Iowabiz.com as a contributing author.  The other authors include:

So be sure to add Iowabiz.com to your blogrolls and feed readers. 

One of the biggest challenges for my clients is hiring and retaining talented employees.  David Maister has an excellent post on hiring talented people.  In his post David expands on the War for Talent is Back by Bob Sutton of Harvard Business Online.

Thanks to Kevin O’Keefe for pointing out the posts.  Kevin runs an ever-expanding law blog development and Internet marketing business called LexBlog.  His blog is definitely one I check out every day.

One of the more interesting takes from these posts is the feeling that superstars are overrated.  I am not sure I necessarily agree.  What is overrated is a superstar that has a hard time working within your company’s system.  But what if your superstar gets along with others, isn’t too greedy and fits just right in your company’s system?  Also, from a start-up perspective having a great business system is necessary but having the "right" people first is the recipe for success.  If you don’t have the "right" people can you ever develop the great system?  As Jim Collins says, "First Who, Then What".

Be sure to catch Des Moines, Iowa patent attorney Brett Trout’s blog this week as he takes center stage among law blogs by hosting Blawg Review.

As pointed out by the editor at Blawg Review, Brett’s blog is worth reading often and adding to your blogrolls and feed readers if you have not already done so.  It is flat out one of the best law blogs in the blogosphere. 

Trout’s Blawg Review #106 is now available here.

For those Iowa-Microsoft class action case junkies you can view the settlement agreement here.

I have received several emails on how to file a claim in the case.  For details on how to file a claim be sure to go to www.IowaMicrosoftCase.com.

There is a Frequently Asked Questions section to help you with your filing. 

The Virginia Tech tradegy continues to raise awareness of the growing necessity to prevent workplace violence.  Shanti Atkins of the Harassment Training Blog outlines a Seven-Step Workplace Prevention Plan for employers.  Those steps include:

  1. Develop a Management Team to develop, review and implement policies regarding workplace violence;
  2. Implement an Education and Training Program;
  3. Increase Security Measures;
  4. Develop a Response Procedure;
  5. Use Judicial Resources;
  6. Prescreening and Consistent Enforcement of Workplace Policies;
  7. Establish Clear Communication Channels.

Perhaps the best advice from the blog post is to take threats of violence seriously.  Shanti says that you should not assume that an employee is just venting or blowing off steam.  Employers should take steps to investigate complaints promptly and take disciplinary action if warranted.  Reporting employees should also be assured they will not be retaliated against for making such complaints.   

It is all too easy to believe that it will not happen to you.  Some employers may not even have a policy concerning workplace violence.  Employers would do well to develop such a policy and re-examine those procedures on a yearly basis.

blog radio

Rush on Business Podcast No. 5 is an interview with Mike Colwell.  Mike is the Executive Director of the Business Innovation Zone of Central Iowa (BIZ).  BIZ is a new regional business accelerator through the Greater Des Moines Partnership.  If you are an entrepreneur in Central Iowa you won’t want to miss this podcast.

I encourage you to listen to the podcast to learn how BIZ is uniquely situated to help entrepreneurs in Central Iowa. BIZ will offer low cost mentoring and counseling to businesses of all varieties including advance manufacturing, bio and life sciences and high technology.  Mike’s focus is on businesses that may have the potential to grow on a regional or national level.  To achieve this goal Mike will take entrepreneurs through a five-step process:

  1. Determining the Strategic Fit and Connecting with the Market.
  2. Business Planning.
  3. What talent is necessary to start-up and grow?
  4. What are the leadership needs?
  5. Finding Capital.

Mike also has some very interesting things to say about the Iowa business environment and the qualities that define an entrepreneur. 

If you want to reach Mike Colwell to find out more about BIZ please email him at mcolwell@desmoinesmetro.com or give him a call at 515-286-4915.

Listen to the podcast for free!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/mediaplayer.swf

Tomorrow I have a podcast interview with Mike Colwell on my BlogTalkRadio channel page.  Mike is the Executive Director of the Des Moines Partnership’s new business accelerator, BIZ.  The live interview is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. and will be also be available in podcast format on this blog.

Hope you will listen.  If you want to call in to ask a question the number is (646) 652-4878.  Mike has some exciting things to share about how BIZ can help build businesses in Des Moines and Central Iowa.

Judge Rosenberg gave preliminary approval today of a $179.95 million dollar settlement in the Iowa consumer class action against Microsoft.  Unlike other settlements across the country, Microsoft has agreed to pay cash to consumers as opposed to vouchers for future purchases of software.  As I predicted, the settlement is substantial and actually in line with a previous Minnesota settlement from a dollar standpoint.

According to reports, class members are entitled to receive $16 for each copy of Windows or MS-DOS they purchased; $25 for each copy of Microsoft Excel; $29 for each copy of Microsoft Office; and $10 for each copy of Microsoft Word, Works and Home Essential software. Consumers do not need proof of purchase to be reimbursed for up to $200.

Microsoft will provide one-half of the difference between $179.95 million and the unclaimed cash and vouchers to Iowa public schools in the form of vouchers that may be used by the schools to purchase a broad range of hardware products, Microsoft and non-Microsoft software, and professional development services.

There will likely be an uproar over the amount requested by the Plaintiffs’ lawyers. Over $75 million in attorney fees and expenses!  Microsoft indicated in court today that it objects to the amount of attorney fees requested.  The judge will ultimately decide how much is awarded.

For details on how to receive your payment please go to www.iowamicrosoftcase.com.  The hearing on final approval of the settlement is currently scheduled for August 31, 2007.

Brett Trout had an interesting post today on the Top Ten Technologies for the Non-Tech Lawyer.  In my humble opinion the number one opportunity for the non-tech lawyer is reading feeds.  The amount of information available today with nearly one click of the mouse is incredible.

Why should lawyers care?  This post illustrates why.

Give feed reading a try!