Ten Years Made in Germany
August 15th, 2023 Today marks a day of immense pride and gratitude as I commemorate the tenth anniversary of "Made in Germany." As the founder of this extraordinary venture, I am thrilled to take a moment to reflect on the remarkable journey that brought us here and to express my most profound appreciation to everyone who has contributed to our success. (more…)
E Pluribus Unum – Five Years Later
“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me; I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” -Emma Lazarus, The New Colossus (more…)
Holiday Message 2022
“Panta Rhei” We hope this note finds you healthy and well and that you have had a good year in 2022 despite the challenges created by the pandemic, inflation, supply chain issues, and political and social turbulence. As the Greek philosopher Heraclitus and my father used to say - “ta panta rhei kai ouden menei” - everything flows, and nothing stays. It sure has been a year of remixing, reshuffling, and reorientation. (more…)
Accountability in Small Businesses
Jens-Kristian Kiel for the WVSBDC (August 29, 2022) Introduction Becoming a small business owner is a straightforward endeavor. Taking a trip to the Secretary of State’s office, the state’s small business one-stop business portal, or utilizing an online service like LegalZoom, an individual can register a company within a day. (more…)
Seven Tips for Marketing Your Small Business to the Right Audience
Jens-Kristian Kiel for the WVSBDC (May 4th, 2022) Introduction As small business owners, we often focus on what we bring to the table — our products, services, operations, and experience. Yet, while these aspects are essential in establishing how our business is different from others, our audiences only care peripherally about them. The truth is that your audience cares about themselves. And that’s all right — they don’t owe you ...
Holiday Message 2021
“Everything is going to be all right!” We want to reiterate the promise of 2015. Back then, we shared a hope with you — driven by optimism, a love for what we do, an attitude of service, and the belief in a greater good. (more…)
Going Home
"Who says you can't go home?" -Jon Bon Jovi In January 2017, after consultation with Matt Ballard and the Charleston Area Alliance outreach team, I moved the Made in Germany office from our South Charleston home to the downtown incubator on Smith Street. With a trip to Germany planned to connect the Charleston and Rhein-Ruhr chambers, and close ties to the valley's business development entities, a brick-and-mortar office seemed the next step ...
Coronavirus Update
“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. [...] Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan, ‘press on’ has solved, and always will solve, the problems of the human race.” – Calvin Coolidge We hope this message finds you well, and want to share an update on the actions we are taking to help protect against the spread of COVID-19. The rapidly changing coronavirus pandemic is a source of uncertainty for ...
Holiday Message 2019
“There Is No Easy Way from the Earth to the Stars!” –Seneca Another year is nearing its end, and as you prepare to spend time with loved ones away from the day-to-day of the business, we want to reach out and wish you happiness, success, and a route to your personal and professional stars. (more…)
The Modifier Key
How It All Started If you followed this blog through the years, you've likely read the 2016 article mentioning my obsession with mechanical keyboards in passing. The love for clicky keyboards originated way back in 1990, with Andreas Pilgrim handing me an IBM Model M keyboard with buckling springs. The typing experience - very similar to the IBM Selectric Typewriter - sparks the rhythmic flow of words and sentences, and typos are felt the ...