Jon Schallert Workshop Draws Praises During Today's Tough Economy.

"Wish you could have been here for our merchant meeting this morning.  We spent the first part of our meeting going around the room and discussing everyone's Aha! Moments from your workshop.  It was awesome to watch and listen to everyone talk about focusing on how their business is unique, or what they want to do with a monument (we have a metal smith studio that wants to build a 30 ft french case hammer to put on their building), or how they are now refocusing on the concept of time zones.  The mayor and the director of the Chamber were there and they were just as enthusiastic as all of the merchants!  It was really cool.  Thank you for an awesome workshop!"

John Shoemaker, Owner,Old Magnolia Trading Co., Wake Forest, NC

"Jon, I just wanted to tell you how much our community enjoyed your workshop. The participants left enthusiastic, and energized. The sparkle and dream was back in their eyes. I haven’t seen that in a long time. There wasn’t one person who left the workshop regretting they had been there, they all got something out of it that will transform the way they do business.

Our city manager and economic development director both had expected to leave at noon to be at other meetings. They cancelled their attendance at those, opting to stay at the workshop because they were so engaged and learning a great deal from it. They have both commented to our board of directors and to the city council that this was well worth the cost and one of the best uses of economic development funds in a long time.

One woman, who was skeptical of the amount we spent to bring you here, and that we could have had any number of local people do the same thing for a lot less, leaned over to a city council member during the workshop and said “this guy’s magic!”

Thank you for taking a group of people who have been beaten down by the economy and giving them back the belief that it is possible to be prosperous again by empowering them to take charge of their own business in ways they never thought of before ...  Thanks again."

Barbara Frederick, Executive Director, Port Angeles Downtown Association, Port Angeles, Washington
June 11, 2010