www.kansascity.com 03 24 2008 Infinium"s Sue Mosby offers advice for startups

Businesses are constantly morphing, so it's important to always be listening and be ready to change, advises innovation consultant Sue Mosby.& 8220;You guide them and see things and add in, but your clients do, too, and your marketplace does, too,& 8221; she said. 8220;It really is a co-development. You have to be open.&

8221;« p»«p»Mosby, president at «strong»Infinium« strong», shared her entrepreneurial journey last week with about 30 people attending the Entrepreneur Speakers Program at «strong»Polsinelli Shalton Flanigan Suelthaus PC« strong».&

Mosby became a partner in a Kansas City architectural firm, «strong»CDFM2« strong» (now «strong»360 Architects« strong»), in the late 1980s and then helped design and create more than 5 million square feet of corporate office space. She also helped the firm grow from five to 55 people.& Mosby sold her interest in that firm in 2003 and took the & 8220;process of design thinking& 8221; to form a new company, Infinium, at 1919 Baltimore Ave.

Infinium helps organizations and individuals develop and harness creativity in their everyday operations. Clients include telecommunication companies, financial institutions, universities and health care.& Mosby offered this advice for startups:« p»«p»& 8226;You need more money up front than you think. When she first formed Infinium, banks wanted to know what other companies were doing the same thing.

They wanted a proven track record. When she said no one was doing it, they told her to come back when she could prove the concept.& 8220;I don't plan to need you then,& 8221; she said. But «strong»Missouri Bank« strong» did lend her the funds when she secured the loan.& 8226;Use uniqueness to your advantage.& 8226;Look at how unrelated things connect. How can I put these things together for these unmet needs?

Listen and look for connections, the language people are using, how others are forming businesses.& 8226;Keep a journal. Take notes on business concepts, questions you have & 8212; when to start, how to start, whom you can turn to. What does this mean to me and how can I use it?& 8226;Build a Web site.

At first, Mosby didn't think she needed a Web site since people didn't know to even look for an innovation consultant. But one of the first questions potential customers asked was for her Web site.& 8220;It was a credential,& 8221; she said.& 8226;Have a business plan, advisers and mentors.&

Mosby listed passion, desire, an ability to dream, tenacity, persistence, determination, energy and a positive attitude as key factors for entrepreneurial success.& 8220;People look at failure as defeat. But you're not defeated & 8212; you've just learned a lesson along the way.&

Businesses are constantly morphing, so it's important to always be listening and be ready to change, advises innovation consultant Sue Mosby. You guide them and see things and add in, but your clients do, too, and your marketplace does, too," she said. It really is a co-development. You have to be open." Mosby, president at Infinium, shared her entrepreneurial journey last week with about 30 people attending the Entrepreneur Speakers Program at Polsinelli Shalton Flanigan Suelthaus PC.

Mosby became a partner in a Kansas City architectural firm, CDFM2 (now 360 Architects ), in the late 1980s and then helped design and create more than 5 million square feet of corporate office space. She also helped the firm grow from five to 55 people. Mosby sold her interest in that firm in 2003 and took the "process of design thinking" to form a new company, Infinium, at 1919 Baltimore Ave. Clients include telecommunication companies, financial institutions, universities and health care.

Mosby offered this advice for startups: & 8226;You need more money up front than you think. When she said no one was doing it, they told her to come back when she could prove the concept. I don't plan to need you then," she said. But Missouri Bank did lend her the funds when she secured the loan. 8226;Use uniqueness to your advantage. Listen and look for connections, the language people are using, how others are forming businesses. What does this mean to me and how can I use it?

But one of the first questions potential customers asked was for her Web site. It was a credential," she said. 8226;Have a business plan, advisers and mentors. Mosby listed passion, desire, an ability to dream, tenacity, persistence, determination, energy and a positive attitude as key factors for entrepreneurial success. The metaphorical glass is "more full than not," Mosby said. People look at failure as defeat.

But you're not defeated & 8212; you've just learned a lesson along the way." I would rather be in a shack on a beach and say, & 8216;I'm glad I tried,' than to not have done it." To reach Joyce Smith, call 816-234-4692 or send e-mail to jsmith kcstar.com.

Important keywords of article: , you, can, but, use, business, new, kansas, web, plan