I hope it doesn’t seem like total self promotion — I’ve tried to avoid that as much as possible on this blog — but hey, tomorrow Palo Alto Software is going to give away thousands of copies of Business Plan Pro (and not a light version, the upscale, premier version) for free to Oregonians who want it. I would like to think that’s newsworthy, even if it’s my company.
And for more information, here’s the link to the page at Palo Alto Software that explains what we’re doing, and provides a map of the 85 locations (mostly town halls and chambers of commerce, no commercial locations (it really is a free giveaway)) where people can go tomorrow to get the software.
It’s just for the one day, tomorrow, July 1. For any Oregonian 18 years or older who goes to one of those locations to collect a download card.
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Comments
Tim
as you know I am a long-time fan of you and your blog. Please tell us why you are doing this generous thing? And I have over 200 relatives in Oregon so I will spread the word
Kare
Thanks Kare, and back atcha, I really like your work too. Why the boost? First, thanks for asking. Second: when we moved from Palo Alto CA to Eugene OR in 1992 my wife and I were the only employees, the business was completely dependent on my consulting, and we were struggling to manage fixed costs. Today we have 45 employees, 70% market share, no debt, and a feeling that we want to do what we can to help in tough economic times. We aren’t a big company, we’re family owned, so we can’t do that much; but one thing we can do is help Oregon, which has the second highest unemployment in the country, generate growth and jobs and small business.
Very well done indeed! I wish I lived in Oregon to take advantage of the free software. 🙂
I belong to Local First-Arizona and we promote buying locally and supporting local business. Local First has chapters all over the country, but they don’t seem to get much press–unfortunate.
http://www.localfirst.com/about
Tim, nice video! And nice gesture to support the entrepreneurial community in your home state. The economic downturn has caused me to focus more on my local area, both to find business and to promote others’ businesses.
I believe entrepreneurism will be the engine that powers us out of this mess we’re in, and the aftermath will be a lot more fun and engaging than the megacorporations of the past.
Well done!