Author: ericmathews

Eric Mathews is a leading business strategist, author, and coach. For over 20 years, Eric’s work has launched over 1000 startup businesses, supported over 10,000 businesses, helped open innovation systems at major corporations, bolstered entrepreneurship programs at universities, and advanced select civic and impact organizations in North America and beyond.

A New Era of AI in Memphis: From Deep History to Community Engagement

This was written entirely by ChatGPT-4 under my direction to both inform others on Memphis connection to and work in artificial intelligence as well as to demonstrate the current state of the art of large language models. The image was made by DALL-E 2.

Author’s Note: This was written entirely by ChatGPT-4 under my direction to both inform others on Memphis connection to and work in artificial intelligence as well as to demonstrate the current state of the art of large language models. The image was made by DALL-E 2.

For over a quarter of a century, I’ve been both a participant in and witness to the transformative journey of artificial intelligence (AI) in Memphis. This journey is not just a recent trend but a long-standing tradition of innovation. With its deep historical roots and lively cultural scene, Memphis is now emerging as a dynamic center for AI in business, education, and beyond.

My personal journey with AI began as a researcher at Rhodes College and continued at the University of Memphis, where I served as Associate Director of the Institute for Intelligent Systems. The community may not be fully aware, but our engagement with artificial intelligence truly gained prominence when Art Graesser and Stan Franklin founded the Institute for Intelligent Systems in the 1990s, putting Memphis on the map in AI research and development. These experiences not only shaped my understanding of AI but also highlighted the depth of Memphis’s involvement in this field.

In recent years, AI has integrated into various sectors in Memphis, from logistics and healthcare to financial services and robotics, revolutionizing how businesses operate and enhancing the city’s economic landscape. Last year, as an advisor to the Memphis Museum of Science and History for their AI exhibit, I had the privilege of showcasing the strides we’ve made in AI; this exhibit served as a powerful testament to Memphis’s evolving role in shaping the future of AI, highlighting our substantial contributions and illuminating the potential paths forward. The exhibit featured applications such as machine learning for vehicle maintenance and machine vision for social and practical robots that assist in our daily activities.

Building on this foundation, my wife, Jillian Friot, and I currently host monthly AI Meet Ups at our home. These gatherings, designed to foster a space for enthusiasts, experts, and novices alike, encourage collaboration and community building. The FedEx Institute of Technology has recently kicked off the 901 AI series, a new meetup focused on artificial intelligence and its real-world applications, which is now actively engaging our community and bringing together minds from all walks of life to learn, share, and innovate. Additionally, Scott Finney‘s AI meetups around Memphis have played a crucial role in demystifying AI for the broader community, making it more accessible and understandable.

At CodeCrew, where I serve on the board, Meka Egwuekwe and Audrey Willis, co-founders and driving forces behind our initiatives, are committed to ensuring that both youth and adults are prepared for the future by adapting our curriculum and other resources to focus on how students and adults alike can use AI in computer science and coding, equipping them with the skills necessary to thrive in an AI-driven world. Their combined efforts aim to make AI knowledge accessible to all Memphians, bridging the gap between AI technology and its practical applications.

As Memphians, our unique blend of innovation and community spirit, along with our ongoing commitment to inclusivity, positions us as ideal pioneers in the AI era. The steps we’re taking in business, education, and community engagement are not only enhancing our lives but are also laying the groundwork for a future where AI fosters a more inclusive society. Let’s embrace this opportunity to lead the way, ensuring that Memphis remains at the forefront of technological advancement and community empowerment.

If you’re intrigued by the potential of AI or want to contribute to this burgeoning field, I encourage you to reach out and get plugged into our vibrant community. Together, we can continue to drive Memphis forward as a leader in AI innovation and application.

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The True Value of Entrepreneurial Competitions

Winning is often celebrated as the ultimate success, but it’s essential to understand that it doesn’t predict long-term success in business.

As the Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Rhodes College we run competitions to bring together our community to launch new ventures, but often we can lose sight of the true value of the work in the context of competition so I wrote this article to be shared with the campus community there, but it offers important lessons on business and competition generally so I wanted to post it here as well.

Entrepreneurial competitions, like an elevator pitch or venture challenge, are not just contests but milestones in a much larger journey.

Winning is often celebrated as the ultimate success, but it’s essential to understand that it doesn’t predict long-term success in business. Conversely, not winning isn’t a forecast of failure. Many businesses that launch come from individuals who will not clinch a prize.

Competition prizes are limited, but your potential is not.

You are limitless!

The purpose of these events extends beyond the immediate excitement. They are not merely contests, but collective endeavors to advance a multitude of ideas. We leverage these opportunities to help as many people as possible to refine their business ideas, articulate their visions, and network with like-minded individuals and mentors. It’s about creating a rally point where resources, feedback, and energy converge to propel everyone forward together – winning is independent of this and the least important outcome of the competition.

Competitions are objective platforms for growth and learning.

They serve as a practical exercise in the real-world dynamics of business pitching and development, offering a safe environment to experiment, learn, and evolve. Winning or not winning, every participant gains valuable insights into their entrepreneurial capabilities and the potential of their ideas.

We see these events as catalysts, not just for individual projects, but for fostering a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem. They are about moving together, leveraging our collective strengths, and helping as many ideas as possible to advance and mature.

Remember, the journey of entrepreneurship is not linear.

It’s a path of constant learning, adapting, and persisting. Whether you’re in the spotlight of victory or not, what truly matters is the resilience to continue, the insights gained, the friends and advisors found, and the relentless pursuit of improvement.

Embrace these competitions as opportunities to rally together, support one another, and drive forward the spirit of innovation.

Why losing a business competition competition is good for your startup. https://techcrunch.com/2009/11/28/winners-curse-why-losing-a-b-school-biz-plan-competition-may-be-good-for-your-startup/

Guide to Unlock Your Potential

Embark on the journey of personal and professional development with this guide to unlock your potential. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a business leader, or a professional aiming to elevate your career, understanding how to fully tap into your capabilities is essential — it is time to unlock your vast and full potential within. This guide provides actionable strategies and insights for achieving transformative growth and success in both your personal life and business endeavors.

Exploring Personal and Business Potential

Maximizing potential means harnessing your innate talents and applying them towards your aspirations. It’s a process of breaking barriers, overcoming challenges, and realizing your true capacity for growth. In the business world, this translates to career advancement, fostering a culture of innovation, and driving continuous improvement.

Strategy Guide to Unlock Your Potential

  • Self-Assessment and Goal Setting: Start with a deep dive into your strengths and weaknesses. Establish clear, attainable goals that reflect your vision for success.
  • Lifelong Learning: Embrace continuous education. Stay updated with industry trends and expand your skill set through courses, workshops, or self-directed learning.
  • Mentorship and Coaching: Leverage the insights and support from mentors or coaches. These relationships can provide personalized advice, foster strategic thinking, and help overcome obstacles.
  • Networking: Cultivate a robust professional network. Engage in partnerships and collaborations that offer fresh perspectives and opportunities for growth.
  • Wellness and Balance: Prioritize your health and well-being to sustain success over time. Achieving a healthy work-life balance boosts productivity and satisfaction.
  • Adaptability and Resilience: Develop the ability to adapt to change and recover from setbacks. These skills are crucial for capitalizing on opportunities and maintaining progress.
  • Strategic Planning: Craft a detailed plan for your personal and business goals. Focus on efficient resource management, task prioritization, and flexible strategies to stay aligned with your objectives.

The benefits of using the guide to unlock your potential are below.

A guide to unlocking your potential.

Benefits from the Guide to Unlock Your Potential

Committing to your personal and business potential can yield remarkable benefits:

  • Elevated Performance: Enhance your productivity by playing to your strengths and addressing weaknesses.
  • Staying Competitive: Keep ahead in a fast-paced market through innovation and continuous learning.
  • Personal Satisfaction: Find fulfillment in achieving your goals and realizing your potential.
  • Business Advancement: Drive growth and success with strategic planning and resilience.

Conclusion

This guide to unlock your potential is just the start. The journey is ongoing and dynamic, demanding dedication and strategic action. By adopting the strategies highlighted in this guide, you embark on a transformative journey towards unparalleled success and fulfillment in all aspects of your life.

Harvard Business Review – The Value of Mentoring

https://hbr.org/2019/02/the-value-of-mentoring

Guide to Conducting a Personal SWAT Analysis

https://bschool.pepperdine.edu/blog/posts/personal-swot-analysis-guide.htm

Booking Your First Coaching Session: Big Step in Transformation

Booking your coaching session starts a BIG journey of personal and professional transformation and signals that you not only possess the determination, but also are willing to invest in right the mentorship for change. Scheduling your initial coaching session is far from a mere formality; this meeting is the key to unlocking your potential. Let’s explore why this session is pivotal and how it can leverage it to catalyze growth in every facet of your life.

The Crucial First Coaching Session

The initial coaching session is more than an introduction—it’s the foundation of your transformation journey. Here’s why booking your coaching session is so vital:

  • Assess Compatibility: It’s your chance to see if the coach’s style and expertise match your needs.
  • Clarify Objectives: Together, you’ll pinpoint your goals, ensuring you and your coach are aligned from the start.
  • Strategic Planning: You’ll start to outline a plan tailored to your unique challenges, setting the path toward your objectives.
  • Trust Building: Establishing trust and rapport early on is essential for a fruitful coaching relationship.

Preparing for Your First Coaching Session

Now that you have booked your first coaching session it is time to make the most of this opportunity with preparation. Here are some strategies:

  • Goal Reflection: Clearly define your short-term and long-term goals. Specificity is your ally.
  • Challenge Identification: List your current challenges or areas where you feel stuck to give your coach a clear starting point.
  • Open Mindset: Come ready to explore and engage. The more open you are, the more you’ll gain.
  • Question Preparation: Arm yourself with questions about their coaching approach, experiences, and success stories.
Booking your first coaching session is the key to success

The Benefits of Booking a Coaching Session

Taking the step to schedule your first session can unlock numerous advantages:

  • Tailored Advice: Receive guidance specifically designed for your situation and goals.
  • Self-Awareness Boost: Uncover your strengths and areas for improvement, paving the way for targeted growth.
  • Actionable Plan: Leave with a clear strategy to propel you towards your objectives.
  • Motivation Surge: Begin your journey motivated and accountable, thanks to your coaching partnership.

Conclusion

Booking your initial coaching session is a significant leap toward achieving your personal and professional aspirations. It’s an investment in your future, promising personalized insights, strategic direction, and the support necessary for reaching your goals. By actively preparing for and participating in this session, you’re laying the groundwork for a transformative experience that can lead to remarkable success and growth.

Forbes – How To Build Trust With Your Coach

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2017/05/08/how-to-build-trust-with-your-coach/

MindTools – Setting Personal Goals

https://www.mindtools.com/page6.html

Trust in Coaching Relationships

Trust in coaching relationships is the most important element of transformation. It’s the conduit through which insights flow between the coach to the client, growth is nurtured, and a big transformation is realized. Trust facilitates effective coaching engagements and enables transformative outcomes.

Understanding Trust in Coaching

Trust in coaching goes way beyond mere confidence in a coach’s capabilities and knowledge; it encompasses a belief in the coaches intentions, confidentiality, and the process the coach uses. The client needs to not only feel safe, but also be safe to share vulnerabilities, challenges, and aspirations without fear of judgment. This foundation allows the coaching relationship to flourish, enabling open, honest dialogue and the exploration of deep-seated beliefs and behaviors that could be holding the client back.

Building Trust: The Coach’s Role

A coach’s ability to build and maintain trust is paramount. This involves:

  • Empathy and Active Listening: Demonstrating understanding and genuine care for the coaching client’s experiences and goals.
  • Consistency and Reliability: Being consistently present and dependable, meeting commitments, and following through on promises.
  • Confidentiality: Ensuring that all shared information remains private, reinforcing the safety of the coaching space.
  • Non-judgmental Support: Offering support without judgment, creating an environment where the coachee feels accepted and valued.
River of Trust in Coaching Relationships

The Impact of Trust in Coaching Relationship Outcomes

When trust is firmly established, the coaching relationship can lead to profound personal and professional transformations:

  • Openness and Honesty: Trust encourages coaching clients to share more openly, providing a fuller picture of their challenges and aspirations, which is crucial for effective coaching.
  • Deeper Insights: A trusted environment fosters self-reflection and the exploration of underlying beliefs, leading to more significant insights and breakthroughs.
  • Enhanced Commitment: Trust in the process and the coach increases the coachee’s commitment to taking bold steps and implementing changes.
  • Sustainable Growth: Trust facilitates a deeper, more impactful coaching experience, leading to sustainable personal and professional growth.

Nurturing Trust in Coaching Relationships

For those seeking coaching, finding a coach with whom you can build a trusting relationship is essential. Consider initial interactions as indicators of potential trustworthiness and pay attention to your instincts about the coach’s empathy, integrity, and professionalism.

Conclusion

Trust is not just a component of the coaching relationship; it is its very foundation of the coaching relationship that enables the open exchange of ideas, the vulnerability necessary for growth, and the courage to face challenges and be transformed. For coaches and coachees alike, investing in building and maintaining trust is the key to unlocking the full potential of the coaching journey, leading to lasting personal and professional transformation.

Harvard Business Review (HBR) – The Neuroscience of Trust

https://hbr.org/2017/01/the-neuroscience-of-trust

Famous Leaders Who Had Coaches

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2022/10/04/what-we-can-learn-from-five-famous-leaders-who-had-a-coach/

Maximizing Growth: Dual Impact of Seasoned Business Coaching

In the fast-paced realm of entrepreneurship, achieving peak personal and business growth transcends mere hard work. It demands the strategic insight and support of a seasoned business coach—a partnership that unlocks both personal and professional evolution.

The Essence of Business Coaching

At its core, business coaching is a bespoke journey, fostering personal and professional milestones through strategic guidance and accountability. This partnership is designed to navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and drive significant growth, blending innovative solutions with industry best practices for a holistic path to success.

Transformative Benefits of a Seasoned Business Coach

  • Strategic Decision-Making: Empowerment through critical evaluation tools, bolstering confidence and strategic acumen.
  • Boosted Productivity: Identification and elimination of bottlenecks, streamlining processes for operational excellence.
  • Personal Mastery: A deep dive into self-awareness, unlocking one’s full potential through personal growth.
  • Business Expansion: Goal-oriented strategies for scalable, competitive growth.
  • Leadership Excellence: Cultivation of leadership qualities, enhancing team dynamics and corporate culture.
Seasoned Business Coaching, an Abstract Visualization

Who Stands to Gain?

Business coaching is universally beneficial—tailored for entrepreneurs, startup visionaries, and corporate leaders alike, across all industries. It’s the catalyst for those aiming to scale heights, refine leadership prowess, or steer through transitions with precision.

Selecting Your Seasoned Business Coach

The impact of a business coach is profound, making the choice of coach pivotal. Consider:

  • Proven Success: A coach with a track record of success and relevant expertise.
  • Goal Alignment: A philosophy and approach that resonate with your objectives.
  • Relational Dynamics: Opt for a coach with whom you share a natural rapport and trust.

Conclusion

The path to personal and business growth is complex, demanding not just vision but strategic execution and a commitment to learning. Business coaching is a structured, empowering partnership that catalyzes your journey towards achieving ambitious goals. It’s a strategic move for those dedicated to transforming their personal capabilities and business ventures into remarkable successes. Get a seasoned business coach today to enhance your personal and professional life.

Forbes Coaches Council – Strategies for Scaling Your Business https://www.forbes.com/coaches-council/

Harvard Business Review (HBR) – The Value of Coaching

https://hbr.org/2009/01/what-can-coaches-do-for-you

International Coach Federation (ICF) – About Coaching

https://coachingfederation.org/about

Add These Growth Oriented Books

Are you ready to add some growth oriented books to your reading list? About this time of year I post up a list of the books I have read in the prior year. Other leaders and personalities post of lists of books and articles that they have taken advantage of such as Ryan Holiday, Tim Ferris, and Oprah. My list is now in it’s third year, and it is just as unique and interesting as the prior years.

What’s new this year over prior lists?

The list this year includes some more fiction to help me increase creativity. Imagination is like a muscle that expands when you use it. Furthermore, I’m starting to go for more seminal works that are more in depth and less books that I would categorize as “popular non-fiction.”

Peaks and Valleys

One thing I have learned more about myself this year by looking back on the prior 3 years is that there are periods of time where I get more reading done. Then, there are the times I get less done. For some reason December, January, and February are very productive months for me annually. All of this makes me wonder if others notice a specific time of year where reading increases or decreases. Let me know.

Stack of Books at Home for Growth Orientation

The Listings

Without further ado, please take a look at my latest book list for growth oriented leaders below. Additionally, if you want to see the prior lists head to my posts entitled Increase Your Quality Inputs and Readers are Leaders.

Growth Oriented Books for Your Reading List:

  • Setting the Table by Danny Meyer
  • Smart Brevity by Jim Vande Hei, Mark Allen, and Roy Schwartz
  • Setting the Table by Danny Meyer 
  • You are a Bad Ass by Jen Sincero
  • Flourish by Martin Seligman
  • Go for No by Richard Fenton and Andrea Waltz
  • As a Man Thinketh by James Allen
  • The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace Wattles
  • A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine
  • The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz Don Jose Ruiz
  • The Games People Play by Eric Berne
  • The Creature from Jekyll by G. Edward Griffin
  • The Art of Possibility by Rosamund and Benjamin Zander
  • Influence, New and Expanded by Robert Cialdini 
  • Excellent Advice for Living: Wisdom I Wish I’d Known Earlier by Kevin Kelly
  • From Conflict to Courage by Marlene Chism
  • How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
  • Great CEOs Are Lazy by Jim Schleckser
  • Civil War Stories by Ambrose Bierce 
  • Book Yourself Solid by Michael Port
  • Unwind! 7 Principles for a Stress-Free Life by Michael Olpin & Sam Bracken
  • 21 Success Secrets of Self Made Millionaires by Brian Tracy
  • Titan by Ron Chernow
  • Stillness is the Key by Ryan Holiday
  • Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond 
  • Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself by Joe Dispenza
  • In My Own Way – Alan Watts
  • Mastery by Robert Greene
  • Business Secrets of Trappist Monks by August Turak
  • Your Next Five Moves: Master The Art of Business Strategy by Patrick Bet-David
  • Questions are the Answer – Hal Gregerson
  • The Confident Mind by Nate Zinsser

Hopefully this list of growth oriented books serves you well.

My Growth Oriented Books

While you are thinking about reading head over to my books page for growth oreinted books that I wrote in 2023. They are short reads but packed with knowledge and actionable insights. Head to the My Books page now to learn more.

Measuring the Wrong Things Right

You’ve heard the cliche in business meetings “If you can’t measure it, you cannot improve it.” It’s nice to sound smart in a business meeting, but be careful. It maybe time to be an anti-conformist with the cliche use. You can measure the wrong things right.

Be care to not measure the wrong things right.

3 Considerations in Measuring Things Right

Here are 3 considerations on measuring the wrong things right in your business and in life:

1) You can improve things without measurement. You can evaluate periodically and decide are things getting better. For instance you can evaluate whether or not you are becoming a better manager or coach. There aren’t a lot of object measures for improvement on these personal areas of development but by occasionally reflecting and evaluating you know you are getting better. No measurement needed. No wasted energy and resources. Evaluating is enough in some cases.

2) When you do end up measuring a thing, you might actually only be improving the measurement, and not actually be improving the underlying thing. So now you are wasting energy and resources focusing on the wrong thing and not making any real progress. We don’t want to get better a measuring.

3) You can end up measuring the wrong things right. In this case you start steering the business in the entirely wrong direction and make things far, far worse. This is a HUGE issue that is a silent killer of businesses.

Conformity creeps into everything and is the enemy of authentic and real leadership.    We need the courage to think differently in our business meetings and not jump to cliche conclusions. Take a courageous path and not the well trodden pathway that has been portrayed as the road less traveled.  Take the time to reflect and evaluate before you jump into measuring the wrong things right.

Grab some other new #personal and #professional #insights from me here: https://us17.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=d3a271ec25edc892d966d0973&id=3ffc1f5ae4

Increase Your Quality Inputs

As I previously wrote, Readers are Leaders, I have really tried to dramatically increase quality and quantity of my book consumption. It has worked. I’ve gone from 10-20 books in 2019 to 30-40 a year (past 12 months). My ideal target is 52 plus — 1 book a week. This year I did a few more than last, but also wrote a book (more on that later), so I’m pretty happy with the effort.

Without more delay, here is a list of most of the books I have read in the past year.  Most of them were recommended to me and now I recommend them to you. If you ever want specific book recommendations please reach out.

  • Sons of Wichita by Daniel Schulman
  • What Makes Sammy Run? By Budd Schulberg
  • Never Finished by David Goggins
  • Onassis by Frank Brady
  • You2 by Price Prichett
  • Finding Mezcal by Ron Cooper
  • Atomic Habits by James Clear
  • $100M Offers by Alex Hormozi
  • Abundance by Steve Kotler and Peter Diamondis 
  • We Should All Be Millionaires by Rachel Rogers
  • Dopamine Nation by Anna Lembke
  • William Tecumseh Sherman by James Lee McDonough
  • Unshakable by Tony Robbins
  • Courage is Calling by Ryan Holiday
  • The Almanack of Naval Ravikant by Eric Jorgenson
  • Contagious by Jonah Berger
  • The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces that will Shape Our Future by Kevin Kelly 
  • Essentialism by Greg McKeown
  • 10x Rule by Grant Cardone
  • Raise Your Healthy Deserve Level by Gary Kadi
  • Coaching for Performance by Sir John Whitmore
  • Peak (New Science of Expertise) by Anders Ericsson and Robert Pool
  • So Good They Can’t Ignore You by Cal Newport
  • Build by Tony Fadell
  • Dare to Lead by Beene Brown
  • The Antidote: Happiness for People who can’t stand positive thinking by Oliver Burkeman 
  • Guerrilla Marketing for Coaches by Jay Conrad Levinson and Andrew Neitlich
  • Art of Gathering by Priya Parker
  • Greenlights by Mathew McConaughey
  • High Performance Habits by Brendon Burchard
  • Business of Belonging by David Spinks 
  • Originals by Adam Grant

An Invitation

Deep down we all know that we can be more, much more.

There is a future picture of ourselves in each of us that is much bigger and more exciting than where we are now. But are we ready to take the courageous path to become that new version of ourselves?

“Wanting what you want” is not only about being free and living life based on great choices and new commitments, it is also about painting a much, much bigger picture for yourself and those you lead, while also getting on the right path that looks scary and full of unknowns.

Most of us are avoiding the courageous pathway to get us to that bigger future. What we are each missing is an invitation to become courageous — to become a new version of ourselves. Sadly, most will never get that invitation. But now I am extending that invitation to you. I’d like to invite you to take the remainder of this year to be much more so that you can swing through to a transformational 2023. I want you to be intellectually excited and emotionally committed to that new big future.

If you are reading this post, please know that I believe in you, perhaps more than you believe in yourself. As a result, I want you to dream of a bigger future for yourself and remember that in life you don’t get what you deserve. You get what you think you deserve. You need to have courage to want what you want and at the same time eliminate lesser goals that are distracting you. I invite you to dream and take the right kind of risks that play to your distinctive strengths and discovery a bigger present.

Keep dreaming because when your future gets bigger, your present gets better.