Whenever I travel outside of Northeastern Pennsylvania and tell people I’m from Scranton I usually receive the same response: “Oh Scranton, like The Office right?” After about four or five times this response becomes mind-numbingly old. To those of us who grew up in NEPA, Scranton is much more than a successful comedy show on NBC. Unfortunately to the rest of the world Scranton has become the butt of a depressing joke, which is no laughing matter. 

At twenty-one years old I’ve effectively spent my entire life in Northeastern Pennsylvania. I was born in CMC hospital in 1990, spent my childhood learning about trains from my Papa at the Delaware Lackawanna Railroad, went to high school in the suburbs outside of Scranton at Riverside High School, chose the University of Scranton for my undergraduate degree, and opened my business in the Scranton Enterprise Center on Lackawanna avenue in downtown Scranton.

Simply put, Scranton is my home and I’m proud of it.

Over the last five years I’ve watched as my beloved city crumbled beneath my feet. Local businesses closing and cutting jobs, talented individuals leaving the area after graduation, and a lack of fiscal responsibility and accountability in local government are just some of the many problems leaving a negative impact on our local economy. 

This summer was the straw that finally broke the camel’s back.

Early in July 2012 Mayor Chris Doherty cut all city workers’ pay to $7.25 an hour, claiming that Scranton had “run out of money.” What followed made International news, highlighting Scranton to the world as an incompetent fiscally irresponsible city. Gawker media, an American online media company and blog network, went as far as to label Scranton “America’s Most Financially Fucked City.”

As soon as this dismal news died down, the city rose to the national spotlight once again in early October after Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan brought up the unemployment rate in Scranton; which happens to be the hometown of Vice President Joe Biden, during the Vice Presidential debate. Users on Twitter immediately picked up this statement and within minutes “Scranton” was a trending topic worldwide. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate in Scranton is 10% as of August 2012; up from 8.5% in January 2009.

The weekend following this mention, NBC’s Saturday Night Live put on a satirical version of the Vice Presidential debate. Jason Sudeikis, the actor portraying Vice President Biden, is quoted saying: “Things may be bad where you live, but I guarantee you it is a paradise next to the burning coal heap that is Scranton, Pennsylvania. Do you know that show The Walking Dead, it would make a great ad for the city of Scranton. If you went down to the lowest point of hell you would still be forty-five minutes outside of Scranton. It’s the single worst place on earth.”

This isn’t how I want our city to be viewed by the world. Scranton is not The Office. It is not a coal heap. It is not the “single worst place on earth.” Scranton is a beautiful city with amazingly talented individuals who are waiting to be given the opportunity to release their creative energy.

The problem in Scranton is the same problem being experienced by the rest of the nation: jobs. Creating jobs is a very simple process when you establish an environment for business growth, workforce training, startups, and opportunity.

What Scranton needs to do is inspire a generation of young entrepreneurs and risk takers. Instead of fearing new technology and innovation, the city needs to embrace these things and foster economic opportunity for those who are crazy enough to think big.

Scranton is safe, has a low cost of living, a plethora of new opportunity, and is a great place to raise a family. Together we can create jobs and spur innovation, but only if the city’s leaders recognize the need to construct an environment for entrepreneurial activity.

What initiatives have been taken by our city’s leaders to create jobs and spur innovation? In 2008 Forbes named Scranton one of the “Fastest-Dying Cities” in America, which remains evident even four years later in 2012. Government isn’t the answer. Entrepreneurship, business incentives, and innovation are the answer. In my twenty-one years of life I have yet to see one-person step up to the plate and lead the way in saving this city.

So we at Kuhcoon have decided to step up and start the process of change.

In October 2011 my Co-Founder Charles Szymanski and I saw an opportunity to transform Scranton into a socially connected innovative economic engine.  We co-founded Kuhcoon.com to help business owners’ transition into the digital age, create jobs, stimulate economic activity, and inspire a generation of young entrepreneurs who we pray will follow in our footsteps. In May 2012 we placed 1^st in the Greater Valley Technology Alliance’s 10^th Annual Business Plan Competition. The GVTA is one organization leading the way by stimulating entrepreneurial activity in the local area. Their example needs to be followed by other complementary organizations and most importantly by legislation that provides business incentives, not higher taxes on job creators and commuters.   

Since our company’s inception we have expanded our workforce to over thirteen employees who are now working with businesses not only in Northeastern Pennsylvania, but also from around the world. Together our team is fighting to put Scranton back on the map. Considering that NBC’s The Office is on its last season, we decided that Kuhcoon could take over as the reigning “office” located in downtown Scranton.

As our company continues to scale we are hopeful that new entrepreneurs will rise to the occasion and stimulate the local economy with us. We are willing to work with these risk takers, help them become successful, and create jobs at all costs. If our political leaders are willing, our executive team will offer both our time and service to help stimulate the local economy by bringing fresh ideas and perspectives into the local political atmosphere. As we continue to partner with local businesses we invite the business community to join us in our initiative to create jobs and stimulate entrepreneurial activity. It is our moral obligation to take control of the wheel and guide our cherished city back to economic prosperity.

Together we can and will save Scranton. 

Andrew Torba
Co-Founder and CEO of Kuhcoon.com 

Tagged in scranton the office startups technology social media business.

 

As an entrepreneur I often find myself getting wrapped in a never-ending cycle of what most people would call “work.” My friends and family constantly tell me that I “work too much” or that I need to “get more sleep.” Starting your own business forces you to quickly learn that “balance” is truly an art form that takes years to master. If you don’t learn this early on, the problem you are trying to solve for the world can ironically become a newly created problem in your personal life. 

Many entrepreneurs get so consumed by the problem they are trying to solve that they let their passion for their business outweigh their passion for life. Finding proper balance requires both discipline and introspection. Every entrepreneur has a unique set of priorities in their life that make up their day-to-day activities, so it’s difficult to pinpoint a specific roadmap to the balanced life. The following eight life tips have helped me personally create a roadmap for balance in my life.

1. Make time for loved ones.
Although this tip is arguably common sense, family is often the first thing entrepreneurs neglect when their schedules become chaotic. We sometimes take our loved ones for granted and make the assumption that they will always be there for us when we need them. The truth is it’s really easy to become consumed in your work and let your family life dwindle away. If you’re going to live a balanced life you need to learn to make time for the most important people in your life. Take an interest in their life and appreciate them for their love and support.

2. Make time for yourself.
As the center of your company you’re going to be taking punches from all angles on a daily basis. Leading a company full time weighs on you both mentally and physically; so it’s important to make time for yourself to unwind. For me this “me time” is essential to my problem solving ability. I find that when I meditate and focus in complete silence I clear my mind and discover great ideas. Make time for yourself or you’ll quickly burn out.


                                        Fun times at a Techcrunch Philly. 

3. Make time for your employees.
Your employees are your company’s most valuable asset. They believe in you and your business. They’ve stood by your side during the worst of times and have had the tenacity to encourage you to move forward when times are down. They are the future of the company so it’s essential that you never take them for granted. Focus on building rapport and real longterm relationships with the people who are the lifeblood of your business. Talk about things other than business, make time outside of the office to have fun, and learn more about who they are and what they stand for. Making time for your employees is the key to building longterm loyalty, trust, and stability in your company.  

4. Make time for fun.
When I’m making sales calls, meeting with clients, brainstorming, designing, marketing, and everything in between; I’m having the time of my life. Everyday is a new adventure and a learning experience that leads to new results. Sometimes those results are great, sometimes things don’t work out the way you planned; but at the end of the day you need to train yourself to “clock out.” There are plenty of fun things to do outside of changing the world with your grand idea. One thing I’ve discovered is that having fun outside of work is another key component to problem solving and idea generation. Some of my best ideas have come from connecting with people outside of the workplace and having a good time.


                   No lie this butterfly landed right on my jeans. How cool is that!

5. Make time for nature.
When everything else in your life seems to be moving at the speed of light, make time to enjoy the simplicity of nature. Slow down, smell the roses and breathe in the fresh air. Listen to the the sounds of a bird chirp or a watch river flow. Find the beauty in a rainbow or sunset. Capture these moments in your mind or on film.  Explore. Learn new things, unrelated to work. Allow your mind to wander.

6. Make time to write.
Ten years from now the rush and excitement of building a new company will all seem like a blur. You won’t remember specifics from day to day. You’ll find yourself wondering how you executed certain ideas and why you didn’t execute on others. Keep track, whether you blog or keep a hand written journal; these are the days you’ll want to remember.

7. Make time for your spirituality.
Whatever you believe in and however you observe it, make time to do so. Don’t let work keep you from building your faith. As you grow older you’ll find that your faith keeps you going in times of distress and uncertainty. It can be your most powerful tool while also helping to keep you humble and grounded. 

8. Make time to exercise.
Step away from your daily grind and clear your head. As an avid weight lifter I love going to the gym to relieve stress and get my creative energy flowing. Exercise has been proven to reduce stress and improve your focus along with boosting your energy and improving your mood. Exercise also allows you to leave your phone and computer behind for an hour or so and just focus on yourself.

Among all of these points there is a common theme: time. It’s not easy; but finding the right time balance is the key to being successful in business and happy in life. You have to find the time balance that works for you, so learn prioritize based on your personal needs. There is no master plan for perfecting this art-form, but with pigheaded discipline you can learn to improve your life balance one day at a time. 

Tagged in entrepreneur entrepreneurship startups tech technology internet lol awesome advice tips balance.

One of the biggest problems I have been seeing over the years with the Facebook News Feed is the mass marketing tactic of tagging hundreds of “friends” on a photo of some sort of product or marketing material. This usually happens when one of your friends loses control of their account to a spammer. If you happen to be the person doing this, it can easily be fixed by simply changing your Facebook password. If you happen to be the user being tagged and you want it stopped, you can easily change your privacy settings in four easy steps. 




Step 1: Under the drop-down menu click “Privacy Settings.” 



Step 2: Click “Edit Settings” under “Timeline and Tagging.” 

 

Step 3: Click “Review posts friends tag you in before they appear on your timeline.”

 

Step 4: Enable Timeline review of posts. 


By enabling the Timeline Review you become empowered as a user to control what content is posted to your Timeline. If a friend tags you in a status update, photo, or location you will need to approve the tag before it becomes visible on your Timeline. You can review pending tag approvals at anytime by clicking the “Activity Log” on your Facebook Timeline. 


 

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