What was once a working wharf full of fishermen, boats and canneries, Newport has reinvented itself for the 21st Century. The changes made to insure Newport's future prosperity were instigated by Cindy McIntee and a handful of business owners. Many say her business, Mo's Chowder, is the anchor of modern tourism in Newport, Oregon.

Topic for Discussion: What does it take to transform a community and why would anyone bother?

Answer: Every skill that you have developed to be a successful entrepreneur. You have to have a goal and be driven to achieve it. You have to recruit others to help then you have to give them direction and motivation. You have to "make sales" or raise the cash needed to repair the streets and paint the buildings and create parking places for customers and the list goes on and on.

You might take on this big task because it is in your best interests to do so and some might argue that you are not being generous, you are actually being greedy and self serving.

Michael Novak, the theologian in residence at the American Enterprise Institute, has written twenty five books about the positive power of democratic capitalism. He taught us that there is a difference between self interest and greed.

He suggests that you ask yourself what interests you and that is the thing that will motivate you. For example, if you are motivated to provide a high level of customer service, to produce a quality product, to establish a nurturing environment for your employees, then that's your self-interest. That's what is important to you.

That's not greed because greed is gluttony and avarice, the motivation to improve one's own lot without any consideration for others. Self-interest, on the other hand, is our passion, what motivates us, why we start our own businesses and make successes out of them.

You think about it: What's your self-interest?