An overview of the projects that created all this wonderful chaos is below in the "The Projects" section. For more information about the past and current help projects for businesses and schools go to our BizHelpers page. Some of the education and business related projects are explained in more depth on those BizHelper pages.
Since 1999, the projects of the Thinktank have remained free thanks to a simple, yet uniquely profitable funding model. Following the philosophy of "Give more than you ever ask for" check out our pages in "THINKTANK FUNDING" to see how this lucrative process has been so successful for the original private members of the Thinktank. As of January 1, 2013 the Thinktank funding model is now open to the public, as well as private and philanthropic individuals and groups.
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We are proud to support and participant in the Google Fiber program for the region. Special thanks to the following entities who make many programs possible for the Thinktank and area businesses: Google, Intuit, Greater Kansas City Chamber, The Kansas City Kansas Chamber, Kansas City Area Development Council, Kauffman Foundation, Kansas City Sourcelink, Missouri Small Business and Technology Center, Association of Small Business Development Centers, SCORE, and Meetup. The Thinktank takes advantage of google phones, email, websites, and associated tools.
Click the button above to email or call Todd or Deo - 816.875.0062
News, Updates, and Blogging information will appear in this section. Check back often to keep up with the "Thinktankers".
* Ask for info via LinkedIn or private email on the following private networking situations:
1. To land some large contracts, A friend of the Thinktank needs a partner to take on a equity position in his company. Industry-changing product has already produced $7.5M in sales and large contracts with Fortune 500 companies are pending. He has built a $30M company before. He needs someone with a good financial statement. $200k to $800k will get 20% - 51% ownership stake in company PLUS everything in the pipeline.
2. A friend of the Thinktank would like to sell his very special property, which includes - over 600 acres, 2 homes, a vineyard with full-functioning facilities, stables, and a small lake. Located within 20 minutes of metro KC, this property is not listed.
* Here are two great organizations that we have privately helped in the past. We highlight them here because our 2012-13 plans call for us to increase our efforts with these two great causes.
Thanks to everyone who helped with the IndieGoGo campaign. Though we did not raise enough $ to convince IndieGoGo to promote all of Kansas City's needy causes, we did get a lot of people reaching out to us through this website. We may try again in a few months.
*GET BACK MORE THAN YOU GIVE!
We promote creative ways to "help" others. Check out the "perks" in our partner campaign with IndieGoGo at: www.indiegogo.com/thinktank.
We give people WAY more value than what they choose to give! This is part of a project for 2012 to bring attention to the many innovative ways people can help each other. From people with some wealth wanting to increase their wealth & make a bigger impact to "Hey, I've got $20 bucks, what can that do?" See how simple, easy, and meaningful it can be to "help" and be part of something special...and get back more in return!
* IMPORTANT - In honor of our original members, who all died of terminal illnesses, we are participating in a medical program that is on the leading edge of therapies and cures, and is in the process of head-quartering those efforts in Kansas City. If you know of anyone who might benefit from the procedures in the following health stories from CNN & NBC, contact us:
This is stem-cell therapy using the patient's own tissues or other adult stem cells, not embryonic tissues. The articles center around the heart, but those with severe lung or diabetes issues are finding success as well.
*GOING TO THE PUBLIC! As we've talked about often, the big day for us going from a very private entity to something transformed by going "public" is January 25th, 2012. In conjunction with the very cool crowdfunding company IndieGoGo, we will officially start to make the transition that day. IndieGoGo will help us release our story and our purpose to an international audience. Thanks to all those who have helped us while private AND to those who are helping us to transition to an open entity. The URL for the campaign is : www.indiegogo.com/Thinktank . Check in there often to get updates. There are also great perks on the site geared towards those interested in helping spread the word. Our site will go through some changes, additions, and improvements as well as we go to the public. But for now, refer to the IndieGoGo site for more frequent updates.
* Everything Google! Through our commitment to the region's Google Fiber program, the Thinktank and all the affiliated projects & organizations utilize the full network of Google products - Gmail, G2 phones, Google Voice, Google Chrome, and soon, Blogger.
* We have always had a love for new, creative, and innovative ideas, including technology. We will periodically share our experiences and research. We were one of the original Beta testers for a cloud storage and backup company called Digital Life Boat. Though the backup process can be a little slow, the price, reliability, and functionality of having automatic backup to a secure cloud storage solution was really appealing. For $30 a year for unlimited storage and automatic backup it makes a lot of sense. www.digitallifeboat.com .
The recent Fox4KC news story about the original members of the Thinktank is below. We hope to continue to have enough people duplicate what they did to make $ & fund projects!
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If you start by reading the "About Us" page first you will get an idea of how all this got started. That will at least give you a reference point for understanding the wild ride we have been on since day one. Though it is difficult to explain exactly how all the diverse projects came about, we will at least try to give you some idea of what they are. Where we go from here is open for suggestion. Become a Thinktanker and see for yourself.
The Projects
Original members of the group would meet periodically to simply talk and brain-storm. One member would bring up a particular subject or problem of personal interest, or the session might start with a funny or moving story. Brain-storming would begin and any members that wanted to create and work on a project together would do so. Sounds simple, right? Just remember, my friend, that "simple" does not always mean "easy".
Sure, let's "simply" take over a school for at-risk teens, run the day to day operations, implement innovative programs and processes, and keep it from being shut down. Oh, and you, Mr. Thinktanker there in the back, you want to create a re-alignment plan for the NFL because you think all the research, dealing with huge personalities, and running countless scenarios would be "fun & interesting". And 90% of you have people you know that need a lot of help with their businesses, charities, and personal issues. And the wonderfully interesting (but let's face it, a little scary) character "Doc" wants to experiment in human behavior, put sacks of cash on park benches and then see what people will do? And you guys over there want to "simply" buy companies and use the profits to fund these and other wild ideas you all want to do before leaving this earth? Sure, OK. Simple.
You can start to see why it might be just a little bit difficult to explain the scope, purpose, and the seemingly hap-hazard, willy-nilly diversity of the original Thinktank projects. But we did go in all these different directions...and the projects all took on a life of their own. And the path the projects created was challenging, and hard, and frustrating, and maddening, and wonderful, and rewarding, and fun, and most importantly, necessary...
In a group dynamic wherein every member was facing their own personal issues with dying, mortality, and legacy, it didn't matter how strange the collection of projects might seem to the outside world because this "Thinktank" group was going to remain private, anonymous, and fiercely independent. They agreed not to let the outside world even know exactly who they were individually, selecting pen names instead of given names to go by.
Though totally unintended at the beginning, the group was so adamant about anonymity, privacy, and individuality...a type of mystic, perhaps even a reverent spirituality, was created that seemed to grow and drive the group. They even joked about creating a philosophy called, Spiritual Patheism, which is another story all to itself.
So instead of having a neat, organized listing of all the projects of the original Thinktankers, it is only appropriate and fitting that the examples and stories are scattered about on different pages and different sites. They would have insisted it be that way.
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Secret Angel Projects
What started out as Doc's crazy experiments in human behavior turned into one of the favorite pet projects of the original members...the Secret Angel Projects. At the end of his life, even Doc's projects turned into "Let's help people and then charge them with paying it forward". So, the last time I went with Doc to the park to put a sack of cash on a park bench, there was a note inside that said, "Use this for good. Pay it forward. We are watching." Okay, so he had to add that last part in there to feed his need to perpetuate the mystic, but he did have a cool and interesting idea of carrying on this type of activity and to see how the spark actually grows and spreads. He wanted to set up a website that allowed people who were randomly chosen by fate to find this sack of money, follow the instructions to pay it forward, and then record what you did to pay it forward on the website. Perhaps 2013 will be the year we implement his plan.
Doc did inspire other members to create and execute their own Secret Angel and Secret Santa type of projects. New Thinktankers who might be interested to learn more about this, including ideas to implement, or perhaps using the Thinktank to carry out these types of activities are welcomed to contact us.
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Networking
Another unintended outcome from going down the diverse paths created by the original Thinktankers was the building of a private, yet surprisingly large network of experts, gurus, professionals, and down-right interesting people (part of this is addressed in the BizHelpers section on a seperate page (hit to link near the top left of this page). Using the same brain-storming techniques of the original projects, we will field questions, suggestions, ideas, problems, and interesting situations, internally analyze the situations, and then determine how to utilize both the private network and the newly formed public network of new Thinktankers to see if we can connect people, ideas, solutions, and maybe even more wealth for individuals to fund the projects with. No submittal will seem strange or insignificant after all the projects and discussions we've been through. Contact us.
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Spreading The Wealth
If you haven't read the section about our incredibly creative, simple and wildly successful funding method then please do so after reading this section. At the top left of this page, hit the "Thinktank Funding" link. One of the goals for 2013 is to allow others to benefit from our processes. For example, if a charity or organization wants to increase the amount of financial help they receive from existing donors and members, we will work with them to allow those individuals to utilize our funding model, pledge an amount to help our projects, and then use all or part of the new wealth to increase their financial donations.
Spreading The Stories
I can't tell you how many times I have shared only a couple of stories in relation to how the projects came about, and then had someone say, "Wow, you should do a book or a movie or something." Well, of all the oaths I swore to and the promises I loyally made to these original members, the most important were to respect and keep their anonymity and to wait until 2012 to release their projects and stories to the public. I also promised to find ways to carry on their legacy and write a book about it someday. So yes, this year I will entertain ideas from authors, publishers, producers, documentarians (no tv reality shows, please), and even the media. You can understand my fierce loyalty to wanting any representation done the right way to honor their legacy. And yes, we will attempt to revive our blogging, social "common"tary, and white paper activities again if we can.
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PRIVATE NETWORKING - Among all the projects throughout the years, there has been a private networking element that business owners, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and private individuals have taken advantage of. Since we started sharing the original Thinktank story and projects at the beginning of this year, there has been a marked increase in the private networking activity. Most of this information is sent through direct one-on-one communication via LinkedIn or individual emails. We will also be adding updated information in the 'blue screen' to the right. Contact us for more detailed info.
GREEN 2012! We are providing free help to companies and organizations so that they not only save money & help the environment, but actually make profit through government & private incentive programs!
Recently enacted government incentive programs require local utility companies to pay for Green Technologies to be implemented in qualifying businesses and organizations, which account for tens of thousands of dollars in savings & revenue generation. Solar power, 50% energy saving lighting, in-depth energy audits - we provide free help and info about everything green.
Click HERE to learn more about all the free help we can provide, or contact us directly. Save and make money and help the environment at the same time. We are proud to partner with local organizations throughout the region to help initiate these great Green programs and incentives!
INCREDIBLE NEW LEADING EDGE TECHNOLOGIES & INNOVATIONS RIGHT HERE IN KANSAS CITY!
From the first public cell phone charging stations with interactive content debuting at Sporting KC's Livestrong Park, to micro-electronic advances that are changing everything we do, to the interactive technology breakthroughs that are being utilized by Beats By Dr. Dre, Best Buy, Sony, Panasonic, and large sports venues. Click here for more pictures!
Though we do not own any of these companies, we are helping individuals and companies take advantage of the tremendous opportunities these leading edge technologies offer. And we have been using our private networking to help combine these innovations and create more and greater opportunities. Read on and feel free to contact us to find out more, take advantage of the new technologies, or even become part of the growth and/or ownership.
The interactive display technology advancement is at the center of all this innovation, cutting the costs of utilizing its' massive benefits by 10-fold and allowing for companies, organizations, and individuals who previously stayed on the sidelines to take full advantage.
The kiosks alone are already catching fire, with many large venues rushing to put them in place. They charge phones twice as fast as traditional wall chargers and have the ability for ever-changing informational/advertisement content and interaction. We loved the concept and possible applications so much that we provided help in the initial manufacturing.
And we can't yet publicly announce the names of the companies involved in the new micro-electronic innovation projects, but we can help companies and individuals find out more and involve them directly so they, too can take advantage.
Again, we are assisting companies, organizations, and individuals to find out more and take advantage by either utilizing the new innovations or becoming part of the growth. Contact us for more info.
