Laura Rich at FastCompany published a great article today on Why You Should Start A Company in… Atlanta.

I’ve lived and worked in & out of Atlanta since 1981 – I’m passionate about this town, the quality of life here, and so much that it has going for it.  I know Alan Taetle at NMP and agree with a number of references in the article.  Unfortunately, here are several fundamental points Alan didn’t mention:

1. Lack of Ideas – Even with Tech and Emory in town, there are not enough compelling ideas being generated by intellectual curiosity and horsepower!  Wonder how many quality and quantity deals Alan has looked at in the past month?
2. Lack of Seed Funding – Atlanta has never been a strong capital market and we seem to lack visionary angel investors who are willing to put their money, experience and reputation behind budding entrepreneurs.  In the past Angels would fund early, promising ideas – now they’re looking for proven market validation, i.e. customers!  Wonder how many Angel deals of say less than $1M has been completed here in the last year?
3. Lack of Institutional Funding – ATDC can produce great ideas backed by decent entrepreneurs.  A handful maybe able to find Angel investors, but then what?  Without a robust and competitive venture capital community, how can these early stage firms mature and progress their vision?  Wonder of all of the deals Alan looked at last year, how many did NMP fund?  How many were co-syndicated by other local VCs?
4. Lack of Entrepreneurial Ecosystem – Detrimental to the entire picture is lack of any sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem. Unlike other regions where successful entrepreneurial exits tend to reinvest their green- and gray matters back into the market, Atlanta’s successful entrepreneurs retire to Lake Oconee or move on to real estate development, depriving the ecosystem from much needed fuel to support the next generation of ideas.
5. Lack of Leadership and Vision – The local business chronicle has yet to replace its technology staff writer from the last one they let go two years ago!  Leadership Atlanta seldom selects class members from the technology entrepreneur ranks.  The local technology association often confuses vibration with forward motion.  And our last several governors and mayors couldn’t spell technology if they tried.

Atlanta is an amazing town with some amazing people – unfortunately, a technology entrepreneurial Mecca, it’s not.  It’s about time we stopped kidding ourselves and started doing something about being seen as more than just the town that hosted the Olympics and home to Coke, UPS and Delta!

David Nour is CEO of the The Nour Group, Inc. and author of Relationship Economics (Wiley), ConnectAbility (McGraw-Hill), and The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Raising Capital (Praeger).

Wow – how times have changed since 1981 when I came to this country?  Wonder if "private consulting or professional speaking, or perhaps authoring a book" reform is coming?  I’m sure the Federal Solo Consulting Practitioners Administration can do what I do – or at least tell me how to do what I do – much more effectively…

If you haven’t read the Declaration of Independence lately, it makes for an interesting read…

I hope you’ll read this with shared disappointment in how our State Department / US Consulates treat global citizens and in particular their mistreatment of Iranian nationals.  We’re talking about valuable individuals who want to contribute to our business community and are trying to enter our country legally.  If we don’t take a stand against these abuses, not only will they continue but will become more rampant and degrade our perception in the world community and diplomatic stature – at the street level where it counts.

Separately, these bureaucrats need to learn a thing or two about “customer experience” and Citizen Relationship Management!

From: David Nour
Date: December 30, 2009 6:25:30 PM EST
To: “Jennifer Whitt, PMP”
Subject: Fwd: Request for NIV appointment for an Iranian National

Jen – thank you for the offer to help.  I’m outraged by the manner in which US Consulates in general, and the one in Dubai in particular a) mistreats Iranian citizens, and b) disengages from interaction with US citizens in an urgent situation.  They’ve become arrogant and disengaged from the fact that they have jobs because of our tax revenues and they are in the business of supporting US citizens in international matters.

I am writing stern letters to Governor Purdue, Senators Chambliss and Isackson, as well as Congressman Lewis.  As you know I also met Secretary Rice this past year – bottom line, the State Department’s policies and Consulate’s behavior are unacceptable and globally, citizens of various nationalities who wish to enter our country legally are being mistreated, abused, belittled, and outright discriminated against.

Here is a summary of what transpired today in Dubai, UAE:

• The Nour Group, Inc. has applied for and been granted an H-1B visa for an Iranian citizen to help me write my next two commercial books entitled “Escape from Oppression” and “The Immigrant Success DNA.”
• The non-immigrant visa process mandates that they attend an in-person interview to verify their credentials and the fact that they will return to their country once their work permit expires.
• There are four (4) consulates worldwide who will allow Iranian citizens to come for these interviews.
• One of those is in Dubai, UAE.  Working with the immigration law firm of Siskind Susser, and per their Atlanta office Managing Partner’s email below, we had secured an appointment for BOTH the principal employee and his spouse for today, December 30th at 7:30 AM Dubai time.
• When they arrived at the security guard station just outside the embassy compound, the Principal, was turned away because he was told that he did not have an appointment.
• His spouse was allowed to enter the embassy, but when she met with a consular representative, she was asked regarding the person for whom the H-1B was approved.  When she replied that it was her husband, she was handed back all of the documents we along with our law firm have prepared (over 200 pages and four separate application processes) to return to the security guard station to try to get her husband cleared to enter the compound.
• Because he was not on the appointment list – what clearly appears to be the consulate’s mistake, they left the embassy for their hotel and contacted me.
• At 12:30 AM EST (Dubai is eight and half hours ahead) I contacted the US Consulate in Dubai and through their automated system reached a live operator.
• I asked for the “non-immigrant visa section” and was told that “they do not take phone calls” and that I’d have to send them an email to which they’d reply within 2 days.
• I specifically mentioned that I’m a U.S. Citizen and that I had an urgent situation regarding an employee and a mistake in the appointment time.  The operator, with a thick Indian accent reiterated that I can not speak with anyone live and I’d have to send them an email to which they’d reply within 2 days.
• The next two days are New Year’s holidays and the US Embassy in Dubai will be closed.
• UAE requires a visa of Iranian citizens and the only way to get a visa from Tehran is to go with a tour company.  As such, the above mentioned employee and his spouse will have to return to Iran tonight at 12:30 AM EST (9 AM tomorrow in Dubai) and go through the entire ridiculous process all over again within the next 30 days – it simply takes that long to get back, find another tour company to return to Dubai for their interview.
• This episode has caused our small firm considerable expense in travel and legal fees, and a great deal of unnecessary stress and aggravation – simply because of the arrogance, carelessness, and lack of accountability in the administration of appointments by the US Consulate in Dubai and as mentioned earlier, their behavior is unacceptable.
• This is NOT an isolated incident and given the turbulent political conditions in Iran and the age of both our employee and his spouse, I’m concerned for their safety and candidly life.  Given President Obama’s open support of the Iranian citizens, I’d expect a more professional and supportive behavior by the US Consulate staff toward Iranian citizens and US Citizens who are their “customers.”

Thank you,
David

David Nour – CEO
The Nour Group, Inc.

Begin forwarded message:

From: “Karen Weinstock”
Date: December 30, 2009 1:22:17 PM EST
To: “David Nour”
Cc: “Elena Kochutin”
Subject: FW: Request for NIV appointment for an Iranian National

David,

I understand that you are upset about the situation but our office scheduled the appointment correctly. The embassy have messed things up entirely on their own. See below back and forth correspondence with the embassy scheduling the appointment. Unfortunately we do not have control over what goes inside the embassy, but perhaps they just didn’t add the Principal’s information to the security guards?

Karen

*******************************************************************
Karen Weinstock, Attorney at Law
Managing Attorney, Atlanta Office
Siskind Susser – Serving immigration clients throughout the world

In an astonishing fashion, the official Iranian government spokesperson recently announced that any dissatisfied citizen not only is more than welcome to migrate internationally, but that they would also be provided a stipend for their citizenship.

Said another way, if you don’t like our corrupt, injustice, devalued human rights, and oppressive regime, you are welcome to leave – permanently. We will even compensate you: $10,000 USD for you, $5,000 for your spouse and $2,000 for each child. Otherwise comply or risk detention, rape, or murder as other viable options on the menu.

In the past three decades, Iranian citizenship has experienced dramatic dilution in international acceptance and creditability. Consider this; as late as the 1970s U.S. was the sole country requiring an admissions visa; compare that to today where only 16 of an estimated 196 countries allow Iranian citizens entry. It has not been an incremental but exponential change in how Iranian citizens are perceived. Beyond its official status for cross border travel, one’s passport is an internationally recognized brand of a nationality, culture, and its global Reputation Capital – unfortunately Iran’s is currently at its lowest in centuries.

Iranian citizens should celebrate this day with Joyous pride in how their government is treating its citizens. In our work with multitude of global organizations, I cannot fathom the senior leadership / board encouraging and compensating its top talent to leave. Iran’s self-proclaimed governance model as “an inspiration for 100 other countries to follow” as claimed by Ahmadinejad is clearly flawed in this situation with this announcement.

How much is each citizen worth? And how does a government determine its ROI and lifetime value? How do you price culture, education, and global impact? How do you price talent, knowledge, and unparalleled sense of patriotism? How do you price love for one’s country, family, and sense of belonging? If you are asked to leave your own country where do you become a citizen of?

With an all time low brand perception and a “seller” that sees little to no value in its citizens, who would be a prospective “buyer?” Considering Iran’s current identity crisis, this is not a sale of its citizens but a disposal – with paid expenses.

In the past few decades Iranian citizens have been bartered, traded for political capital, manipulated for diplomacy and murdered in the name of religious freedom. Unfortunately much of it without success for the oppressive regime or the improved lives of its citizens; interesting perspective for the Iranian government to use revenues from its natural resources to expel its citizens. In essence proclaiming you are not worthy of an investment other than as an export.

The one-size-fits-all pricing is consistent with the communism-inspired governance model where a villager barely able to read is perceived to have the same export value as the PhD. This ridiculous notion reiterates why after three decades of oppression, this regime must go!

Have you ever had a perception of a public figure and when you finally meet them, it’s invalidated instantaneously? Largely due to her significant role as our 66^th Secretary of State, my perception of Condoleezza Rice had always been one of distant.  Although an early President Bush supporter, I’ve not always completely agreed with our foreign policy.  It certainly hasn’t improved materially under Hillary Clinton (see article on “US shows the world a naive side”).

What I was delighted to learn at a recent gathering of Revenue 50 executives in New York where Secretary Rice spoke is that she actually prefers to be called “Condi.”  She’s warm, personable, extremely well educated and very approachable (if you discount the number of very large men in black suits which escort her).

You see, Condoleezza Rice (whose given name is derived from the Italian musical expression, Con dolcezza, which means “with sweetness”) was born on November 14, 1954 in Birmingham, Alabama as the only child of a Presbyterian minister and a science, music, and oratory teacher.  She’s extremely well educated, plays classic music and is a huge sports fan! 

She is a professor, diplomat, author, and national security expert. Rice was the first black woman, second African American (after her predecessor Colin Powell), and the second woman (after Madeleine Albright, who served from 1997 to 2001 in the Clinton Administration) to serve as Secretary of State. Rice was President Bush’s National Security Advisor during his first term. Before joining the Bush administration, she was a professor of political science at Stanford University where she served as Provost from 1993 to 1999. During the administration of George H.W. Bush, Rice served as the Soviet and East European Affairs Advisor during the dissolution of the Soviet Union and German reunification.

In March 2009, Rice returned to Stanford University as a political science professor and the Thomas and Barbara Stephenson Senior Fellow on Public Policy at the Hoover Institution.

How do others perceive you before they meet you and what are you doing to make sure you’re seen (and felt) as genuine, warm, and approachable?

From: Fereydoun Taslimi

Sent: Friday, July 10, 2009 12:27 PM
Subject: Help American to help Iranians

Recent events in Iran have highlighted the importance of technology and access to internet. Without these tools we would not have been able to understand the extent of oppression and human right abuses occurring in Iran.  Presently information technology has become a major life line that the political prisoners and their families have to inform the world of their plights, giving them a chance to save lives.

Many have come forward to help and one group led by Austin Heap an IT Director in San Francisco: http://tinyurl.com/nahwqu is attempting to provide the technology needed to bypass the Iranian censorship, but he needs our financial help and if you can, please do so.

http://blog.austinheap.com/2009/07/06/how-you-can-help-iran-20-haystack/

Fereydoun

From: Costagliola, Paul
Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 11:46 AM
To: dnour@nourgroup.com
Subject: Good thoughts

Although I do not know you well, I would like to wish the best to you and others that you know that are currently affected by what is occurring in Iran.

Kind regards,

Paul

Paul Costagliola

Sales Manager

Universal Orlando Meetings and Events

For 30 years, the current “Islamic Republic” clerics have been raping and pillaging this once great land – of its natural resources, of its inherent wealth, of its people’s dignity, pride, and basic human rights.

30 Years ago, the last revolution which brought about the current regime overthrew then Shah of Iran due to allegations that he was not a true Muslim, that he was killing innocent people – many often political prisoners, his excessive purchase of arms, proactive use of a brutal intelligence service (Savak), and political relations with Israel.

This regime promised freedom, removal of the intelligence service, freedom for political prisoners, and distribution of the oil wealth to improve people’s lives.  Instead, they lied to possess power and now will do anything – include killing innocent citizens – to retain their power.

All of Shah’s castles are now occupied by the clerics. Their children (specifically those of Rafsanjani, Khamenei, Nouri, Tabasi) run factories – they’ve taken roles from productive, educated, competent managers and have given it to these often uneducated, morons.

The once mighty Persian Empire is in economic turmoil, despite its strong crude oil and gas reserves.  Massive unemployment, rampant inflation, and most importantly – the demise of basic hope and aspirations of its human capital are in despair.  Theft, murder, and generally described illegal activities have increased exponentially.

An estimated 50% of the country’s youth are addicted to illegal substances – heroin openly imported from Afghanistan and sold in black markets.  Addicts are robbing and murdering their family and friends to feed their addictions.

A young woman is unsafe in a taxi to her own home, 10 PM in Tehran.  If she takes a private car, she faces almost certain rape, robbery and mutilation and disposition of her remains in a remote alley.

Ahmadinejad and the clerics take revenues from the sale of crude oil and instead of investing it in factories, jobs, and economic stimuli, provide money, arms, training, and even manpower to Hamas, Hezbollah, and other militia fighters in Iraq and Palestine.

The Iranian treasury department audit found that in a three year period, an estimated 2000 incidents of illegal transactions has occurred under the Ahmadinejad administration – such as oil revenue discrepancies.  An estimated $1.6B USD from oil revenues is unaccounted for – with no explanation from the administration as to its whereabouts.

There is no country without a figurehead (leader), but the figurehead must believe in democracy to establish democracy, not amending the existing constitution towards dictatorship. The figurehead must be elected by the people’s vote for a limited term, not be appointed for a life-time leadership like Imam or Shah.  A corrupt or a dictator president would be kicked out of power by the people’s vote after the four year term of presidency. To get rid of a dictator, who is a life-time supreme leader, a long term bloody fight is inevitable.

The Shah who believed that his position in government was divine, imprisoned, tortured and killed people to save his lifetime leadership. The clerics are committing the same atrocities for similar reasons.  Mousavi is not a crook – he has questioned Ahmadinejad’s integrity and that of the clerics.  He was prime minister for eight years during the Iran-Iraq war and has been credited for solid economic policies.

What I anticipate in the short-term:
- The current uprising will result in removal of Ahmadinejad as the President
- It’s possible that the current regime will make Mousavi the new “people’s President”
- If the clerics allow, Mousavi can improve people’s condition

Long term success in Iran:
- Regime change will only happen with a strong (covert and overt) support of the US and UK
- In a tight timeline, they must turn the entire country free of the clerics
- Only a separation of mosque and state will create long-term prosperity in Iran

From: Steve Kinsley
Subject: Meetings & Recognition Programs Are At Risk!

John Kerry does not seem to have a clue about what he speaks when he blindly attacks our industry without learning the facts – see the link below:

http://www.mpiweb.org/cms/mpiweb/Blog/commonblog.aspx?viewblog=2656&groupblog=2

Meetings are quite often where a company trains their staff, recognizes them for a job well done and creates camaraderie that is vital to the success of a business. Not allowing companies that have received TARP monies to have any kind of gatherings is putting them at a competitive disadvantage to those that did not accept TARP monies, which will then make it more difficult for them to pay us all back.

Here is the location to send him an email:  http://kerry.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm

Regards,

Steve

Steve Kinsley

President

Kinsley & Associates, LLC | www.kinsleymeetings.com