business 101

IT'S NOT....

.......that I do product endorsements. After all who am I and what difference would my nod do?

However, there comes a time.....to make it in the blogsphere takes building a lot of "relationships" if you will.......that's an integral part of business....has been since Jesus was a corporal.....the medium changes but the message is always the same.

As if he needs an endorsement Seth Godin took a BOLD step in creating his alternate MBA.....if your a "re-tread"....ie: a teacher looking to change careers then an MBA is worthwhile. Otherwise you're contributing to the myth, empire building and didn't really pay attention as an under graduate...........

Seth Godin, because he is who is, is able to radically change the approach...SAMBA  ( www.sixmonthmba.com )is compelling...... now why can't academia grasp this concept?

Embrace change or become irrelevent......

"stay on the offensive and celebrate the small victories"

EVERY SO OFTEN........

......ya gotta just throw up! Another way of saying...to vent, no?

Most Saturday mornings I like to go to my office to catch up on administrative work. Pay the bills, invoice and general BS. As a business owner, large or small, there are only a couple of principles that are cast in stone. The first being, the sole purpose of a business is to maximize profits. NOT sales nor revenue but PROFITS. The second, although really #1, is that CASH is KING! No cash.....No business.

Get the bucket cause here it comes........why is it that my customers can't seem to run their businesses the way I do mine?? I pay my bills on time......if there's a discrepancy I resolve it.

They, on the other hand with few exceptions, will pay when and what they want. If there is a questionable charge they simply deduct it. Do you know how many times I've heard "We can'tpay you until I get paid"? They embrace the OPM (other people's money) principle rather well....they're using MINE!

When all else fails these guys will turn to a national distributorship to buy them out. Will they pay their outstanding bills? Not likely......and we're left to wonder why would a national company not require these folks to satisfy their obligations as part of signing up.

Whew!  ......I'm beginning to feel better...........

"stay on the offensive and celebrate the small victories"

THE WEEKEND IS..........

    .........upon us. It's Friday afternoon my staff has left and I'll follow shortly. It was a good week.

So much so that I nearly forgot my woes. I was brought back to reality by a client who shorted his payment by nearly $450.00 for reasons unknown. Then there was the employee who wanted his 2 week vacation paid in lieu of taking it. Then a call from a vendor looking for payment of an overdue invoice. Then there was the client who was looking for the goods to an order that was canceled in March of 2008!!! A frantic client looking for apparel that needs to be decorated for an event on this coming Monday..............

It was a good week..............

"stay on the offensive and celebrate the small victories"

THE ECONOMY IS MOVING..........

.......OR IS IT?? WOBBLING?

NOT to jinx things but from my vantage it would appear as though there is an "up tick" in activity. For the past several weeks established clients have been increasing their order volume and the order size is shifting to higher quantities. There's excitement all around. Challenges too as we try to meet increased demand with a smaller staff.

Small victories abound as well. Over the past several weeks I've been able to "pick up" several new clients that represent rather significant potential. As usual the result of effective "word of mouth" campaigning. Marketing is fun. Don't be so serious have some fun with creativity!

The economy is moving after......slowly but moving. Collectively we should do our best to keep it going...........

"stay on the offensive and celebrate the small victories"

WHO CAN BE.........

at the White House on Thursday morning? All or nearly all of the twenty people in the room raised their hands. The question was further qualified with " I need a small business owner" Hands dropped as the fellow sitting next to me was chosen. Sure enough just two days later, at a Small Business town hall meeting, standing two rows behind Mr. Obama was my colleague. Later that day he emailed all a blow by blow of his trip to the White House.

That trip would have been a huge PR opportunity for my business. Not to mention a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet the President. More importantly, however, is the message it sends to members of the association whose board I sit on. The association at work for you our members. Priceless!

The opportunity for this meeting was the result of hard work and chance. The gentlemen involved have spent their legal careers advocating for small businesses in the halls of Congress. They represent several professional associations (guilds) and keep us in the know regarding pending legislative issues. The Obama administration and his Democratic friends are shaking up Washington in many ways.

More importantly, for anyone dealing with Legislative issues, is to know the power of "grass roots" initiatives in dealing with Congress. Many groups have mobilized their communities via the Internet to "persuade" their elected officials so as to impact an outcome. "We the people" can work! It's not just the lobbyists.

UNEMPLOYED, UNDER EMPLOYED......

.........now may be just the right time to start you're own business. All together now, "you must be kidding".........

Twenty years ago I  decided to do just that. It was the ultimate "final exam". Bringing together academic achievement and professional experience in an attempt to control my own fate. Worst case scenario would find me back in the role of "employee". 

There's no easyway.....hard work alone isn't the answer either. Success calls on you to fully utilize all aspects of your intelligence, character and sense of community. You are never alone albeit there will be times when you feel that way. You and others will second guess decisions over and over only to conclude that your gut instinct was correct all along. You'll over think issues because your credentials require it when you'd be better advised not to take yourself, credentials and all, too seriously. Have fun along the way after all isn't that what you missed as an employee?

There's NO time like the present to start a business.......only the MOTIVATED need apply.

"stay on the offensive and celebrate the small victories"

INSPIRATION............

.........is everywhere.

In an earlier post I mentioned being in a funk.....too much thinking, anxiety and worry. Ah, the life of a small business owner.

How things can change. Upon arriving home yesterday I noticed a book entitled The Blue Sweater in the mail pile. After reading the jackets and skimmimg through pages I found myself in a wow moment.  You can change the world............

Later in the evening there was a preview for a new movie based on a true story...The Soloist. I hope the movie doesn't disappoint. You can make a difference.......

Finally on my way to bed I stop to check on my daughters as they sleep........angelic to be sure. They both have a rare genetic disorder, mitochondrial disease. Zoe, the youngest, more severely affected continues to inspire daily as she overcomes many challenges. Olivia, the older one, has been sick with near daily visits to the doctors for over a week. Through it all she smiles and looks forward to her reading and art projects while she rests at home. My wife, Suzanne, writes of their struggles and the impact of their illness on her blog....  www.specialneedsmom.com  ........despite their trials they quietly touch the lives of those they encounter.

Indeed, in these difficult times, inspiration is in abundance.........

"stay on the offense and celebrate the small victories"