Since even before I started iThemes in my home in 2008, my partners and I were thinking that if at some point our fledgling business succeeds and thrives, we wanted to find ways to give back in various ways.

Now going on our fourth year of business, we’ve started to put our money and time and effort where our mouth is.

This year, we donated money to a local project that helps refugees in Oklahoma City through iThemes.

And this week I’m delighted to help announce a new nonprofit foundation that Digimedia LP and iThemes have created called The Div.

The purpose is to foster web innovation and creativity in Oklahoma City. We’re going to do that in a number of ways, including offering local training opportunities through weekly and monthly workshops and classes, coworking days to gather the local web community, hosting web-related user groups, and social gatherings periodically.

Learn more about The Div and what we’re doing here and be sure to follow The Div on Twitter. And if you’re a web professional in Oklahoma City, please signup to volunteer or sponsor events and activities.

Yesterday, I did a State of iThemes presentation to our community in order to unpack our core values, philosophies and business objectives and goals for 2011.

I’ve done this before, but in the last 3+ years running a business, especially an online one, I’ve realized how valuable it is to simply communicate transparently who we are and how we run our business.

With over 250 people registered, the response was overwhelming, exciting and motivating. We’ve had a number of community members tell us they love our business and our team and are committed to being customers with us for the foreseeable future.

Key takeaway: Explain who you are, your unique philosophy about how and why you do business … and it wins fans.

Here is the video replay from the webinar:

Here are the slides from the webinar:

My friend Scott Ellis asked me to be on his new vidcast Relentless Business recently and he’s just posted the video interview I did with him.

This Friday, I’m doing another webinar at StartupSofa — a new community for aspiring and rookie entrepreneurs — called How to Start a Web-Based Digital Products Business.

You can register online here: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/972390234

Also … I just posted 12 tips for how to be a professional – my advice for college grads with their first jobs and it’s gotten some good response.

Be sure to signup for email updates at StartupSofa too so you don’t miss anything!

Over at StartupSofa, my new project for aspiring entrepreneurs, I’ve got a couple of new things going …

I just posted an article asking key questions for those interested in starting new businesses … it’s called Is Entrepreneurship Right For You. It’s based on the first webinar I did last week on the same subject.

And I’m also presenting another new webinar this week that’s a followup to that post called Discovering the Right Startup Idea to Chase.

Be sure to sign up for the email newsletter and start talking on the community forum over at StartupSofa.

I just launched my newest personal project called StartupSofa — where I hope to help aspiring and rookie entrepreneurs.

We’ve got a community forum … and I’m doing the first webinar Jan. 14 called First Steps to Launching Your Business Dream.

(You can learn more about StartupSofa and what I hope to offer there.)

Here is the description to the first webinar I’m doing below:

“I have a great business idea, now what?”

Over the last couple years since I launched my business, I’ve had countless friends and acquaintances ask me about starting their own businesses, only to find out that they did not have the proper motivation, clear goals and objectives or commitment necessarily to be successful in business.

Admittedly, often what some have asked was simply this: “How do I get rich without any effort?”

So I’ve refined that first meeting to hammer one big hairy thought home with aspiring entrepreneurs (or those who pose as them) … which is:

Starting a business has been the single hardest job I’ve ever had in my life. It’ll be the toughest thing you ever do. Wimps need not apply.

I do follow up this statement to a select few who I think have what it takes to launch a startup with this one:

It’s also the most fun, fulfilling and rewarding job I’ve ever had.

But if you’re looking for overnight success … you have better odds and will create less damage by buying a lottery ticket.

So I’ve learned if you don’t have a healthy respect for the task at hand at starting a business … and the passion and commitment to work hard, to put in the time and effort necessary to make it a go … then stop now before you get started.

Honestly, I’d rather you not waste the time of your family and friends (and potential customers) because odds are you’re going to fizzle out before you launch … or fall hard and take them with you.

In this inaugural webinar for StartupSofa, I’m going to attempt to scare you … humble you …. and force you to dig deep inside yourself (and ultimately with your significant other) to make sure you are committed to the startup task before you waste time or money.

Webinar: First Steps to Launching Your Biz Dream here
Jan. 14, 2011
11 a.m. Central Standard Time
(Check local time here)

Reserve your online seat here by signing up for the StartupSofa Inaugural Webinar