A new business has popped up in California that’s offering support to self-employed and freelance workers by redefining “bring your child to work day.”

At Silicone Valley’s Cubes&Crayons, experienced child care workers will watch after your children (ages 3 months to 5 years) while you git-r-done in their comfortable, wi-fi enabled workspaces, conference rooms, printing, copy and fax center.

It’s open to members and non-members from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, and offers flexible scheduling so you make make an appointment or just drop-in. They even have a kitchen and break area for when you need a time out!

Members pay an annual fee of $149 with rates starting at $13 per hour; non-member rates start at $21 per hour.
Once again, a fantastic business idea we found on Springwise.com!

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Just because you’re a nonprofit (or work or volunteer for one) doesn’t mean you have to give up hope of working in a high tech, media rich environment. Getting your hands on the latest technology, everything from computers and phones to specialized equipment, can cost a pretty penny. However, there are still ways for your non-profit to shine as brightly as that snazzy dotcom startup on the penthouse floor.

TechSoup.org is a great resource that offers technologically challenged nonprofits a one-stop destination for free information, resources and support. You can ask tech questions online, read how-to articles and product reviews, and gain access to discounted or even donated tech products that have been generously provided by corporate and nonprofit tech partners of the web site.

Don’t work for a nonprofit but want to help anyway? TechSoup makes it easy for anyone to do their part in helping those nonprofits who work hard to make a difference in our world. Anyone can make a difference by donating extra, unused or outdated hardware or volunteering time to help others with their tech questions at techsoup.org

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Dealing with those less-than-supportive friends is an issue that few people talk about when it comes to dedicating your life to a startup. Having great friends around you for support is a must, but unfortunately, sometimes the people we love and expect to support us most can surprise us in adverse ways. Has this ever happened to you?

Look at the people you surround yourself with. Are they people who you respect? Do they motivate, stimulate or teach you? Do they discourage you, slow you down or get jealous about your successes? If they are uncomfortable with your lifestyle, fight you on your choices and influence you to make decisions that you later regret, you need to take a serious step back.

The wrong influences for an entrepreneur don’t necessarily have to be overtly “negative” to be counterproductive. Maybe you have friends who just don’t support what you do by not realizing how important your business is to you. Of course, the first thing you should do is to help them understand. But if that fails, there are a few things you can do to keep yourself on track:

• Remove, avoid or limit negative or counter-productive influences from your life.
• Don’t discuss business with people who don’t care or don’t want to understand.
• Surround yourself with people you admire and who motivate you.
• Read about other entrepreneurs who excite you.
• Accept the fact that you’re different. And be proud of that. You’ve worked very hard to get where you are. Don’t let anything or anyone chip away at your success or pride in it.

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Author Robert Fulghum said, “All I need to know I learned in Kindergarten” and I say, For everything else, there are mentors.

We look up to people who got more skills in hopes that they can teach us to master those skills as well. Many inspiring movies are about somebody who don’t seem to have anything going for his life until a mentor comes along and teaches him about the art of wax on and wax off.

But interestingly enough, sometimes we meet mentors who also don’t seem to have anything going in their lives. Drunk, washed up, has been, pathetic losers whose better days are behind them. They show no promises at all of becoming inspiration to anyone.

They’re the ones that come up with surprises when you least expect them. It might take forgiving the past, it might take a self-realization, it might take a tragedy, it might even take lots of trials and errors, mistakes after mistakes to finally bring them back to what they used to be good at.

Those who overcome themselves and rise above are the ones worth noticing. And so here is my top 10 list for this week. Hats off to Movies’ Unlikely Mentors

10. Drillbit Taylor (Drillbit Taylor, 2008)
Played by Owe Wilson who did an excellent job of pretending to be a bodyguard, and then pretending to be a teacher, and then pretending like he didn’t care about the kids when he actually did. You know how some people would tell so many lies, they can’t see straight anymore. Drillbit Taylor is one of those.

9. Irving Blitzer (Cool Runnings, 1993)
Played by the late John Candy who had excellent comedic timng and the dramatic ability to show a character who’s willing to do better when given the chance. His character has disgraced his reputation but still has a good heart and the determination to not make the same mistake twice.

8. Wilie (Bad Santa, 2003)
Played by Billy Bob Thornton who always seems to know how to come across as cool and awesome even when he’s not. His character is foul mouthed and a thieving loser but he still has conscience, enough to help the overweight kid to be confident and fend for himself.

7. Morris Buttermaker (Bad News Bear, 1976)
Played by the late great Walter Matthau, I saw this when I was a kid and immediately I felt sorry for those kids because the coach could care less if they’d win or not. Of course, the story proved me wrong.

6. Simon Wilder (With Honors, 1994)
Played by Joe Pesci. Someone once told me that I should treat the homeless people in a respectful manner just like any other human being because you never know if they were once somebody in the past and you never know what they’re capable of.

5. Dewey Finn (School of Rock, 2003)
Played by Jack Black. All his character wants is to win the Battle of the Bands and the kids don’t even know that they’re being used. But in time, Dewey realizes that those kids need Rock n’ Roll to get them away from their strict and boring life and winning.. isn’t everything.

4. Leon (Leon the Professional, 1994)
Played by Jean Reno. If you’re a hitman, would you want a little girl to be looking up to you like you’re her hero? But even a lonely assassin could use the company sometimes and a little girl could use a father figure.

3. Colonel Frank Slade (Scent of a Woman, 1992)
Played by the great Al Pacino. Whoo-Ah! That phrase never rings truer. My favorite actor is at the top of his game playing a decorated military veteran who’s on the brink of killing himself. Before that happens, he has to spend some time with a prep school student who can’t stand up for himself.

2. Doc Hudson (Cars, 2006)
Voiced by the great Paul Newman. Painful past can drown a legend. But you know there’s still a fire that’s burning inside, an old working engine waiting for the day to ride again. The question is how do you turn him from hating your guts into liking you just enough to bestow you with all the knowledge and wisdom that he has?

1. R.P. McMurphy (One flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, 1975)
Played by Jack Nicholson in his Oscar winning performance as the rebel who gathers mental patients to take down the oppressive regime of Nurse Ratchet. Being locked up doesn’t mean you can’t be free.

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There are two schools of thought when it comes to traveling solo for business: 1) You stick to yourself, watch some Pay-Per-View and order room service; or 2) You hit the town and buy rounds for everyone with your corporate Amex card. Now we’re no stranger to either one, but we’ve found a middle ground for you!

Often when we find ourselves in a strange city or on a business trip, we try to maximize the experience by tapping into local clubs and associations focused on young people, young professionals, entrepreneurs, students, or industry specific groups. Not only are these great places to network, but they’re also a great way to get the low-down on the best places to stay, the best restaurants, clubs, shopping spots and anything else you need to know.

Groups and organizations that pride themselves on having large national or international networks tend to be the most welcoming and hospitable to young travelers, especially if you’re already associated with their affiliates in another city or are considering getting involved. The best groups for these kinds of hook-ups are student organizations like sororities and fraternities, AIESEC, SIFE, or young professional groups like Junior Chambers of Commerce.

To make the most out of your travel adventures and connect with local organizations where you are traveling, start by doing a little research on the groups that exist in that area and then call or email them in advance. Let them know you’re looking to learn more about what they do in the area. Ask if there are any events or parties that might be worth attending while you’re in town, and see if you can check out their office or even take out one or more of the officers or members for coffee or drinks. (Feel free to utilize that corporate card if you can get away with it, too! You can always file it under “business development,” if not “entertainment expenses.”)

At the very least you’ll make some new friends, and who knows — these people could just turn into future business partners or clients down the road!

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