As every honest entrepreneur will tell you, starting any new venture is always more complicated than you think. The book version of "It's Your Business" rolls off the presses this week. Publishing a book was certainly a new venture for me and it offered several important reminders of value to anyone getting started. 1) It's a lot easier to talk...
If he had one regret in life, it was that he never had a chance to bat in the big leagues. "I would have liked to have had my chance to stare down a big league pitcher. Make'em think you knew something he didn't. A chance to swing at the sky so blue that it hurts your eyes just to look at it." Those were the thoughts and words of Moonlight 'Doc'...
"Mousetrap myopia." It's an affliction that many businesses suffer from at sometime or other. There is so much happening on the inside that we forget about what's happening on the outside. "Build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door". In business, nothing could be further from the truth. It all started with the writings...
Two businesses were started about six years ago. One was founded by an engineer, the by other a craftsman. Both entrepreneurs were intelligent, competent, and hard working. Both enterprises got off to a successful start. Today one flourishes, employing nearly sixty people with sales approaching ten million dollars per year, while the other no...
Formal schooling, related work experience, and on the job training are all important parts of a business education. Conversations with several successful business owners show an interesting mix of the three. It has been nearly twelve years since the business first opened its doors. The three founders weren't sure how long their current jobs would...
College football bowl games and professional football playoff games will provide a backdrop for holiday entertainment during the coming weeks. At one time or another, most all of us will find ourselves captivated by the spirit of a determined underdog's bid for victory. For a few brief moments we will adopt, as our own, a distant group of...
Looking back on the early days of what developed into a successful career, an independent businessman reflected, "if it hadn't been for my wife's income, we probably wouldn't have made it. My experience is that what ever endeavor you choose, it's hard to get started." He continued, "Success never comes easy. The key is to choose something that...
When you get a new idea, its hard not to be excited about it. When you develop a new product, its natural to want to get it to market as soon as possible. While new ideas need advocates, there is also a need for prudence. Albert Einstein, the great physicist known as the father of the modern era, developed a number of new and exciting ideas. One...
Challenge #1. The first few years were a struggle but things have started to take off lately. Sales and profits are up and the customers know were to find us. Now, just when things are looking good, a new competing store opens right down the street! We built the business and now that things are looking good, somebody wants part of our action. Not...
You see them here, you see them there, you see them everywhere. Well, I ran out of them the other day so I had to make a trip to my local stationary store for a resupply. "Them" is the ubiquitous "Post-it" note pads. As I looked over the vast selection of shapes, sizes, and variations in which this simple little product was now offered, I...