The Journey continues...

I am taking another step in my school career.  I have finished another semester.  Much has been learned and experienced in this last semester.  When I look back I have seen growth on my behalf.  The age of business is ever changing and what are we doing to make sure we are changing with it.  I have been in business for nearly 15 years.  I have felt successful, but in the course of the last year as I have gone back to school, I have felt life come back into me to make my family business great!  I have a stewardship over the people I have hired.  I want the best for them both and their family.  My schooling has helped me to open my eyes the fact that I do not know everything about business.  I have been humbled and in the journey of learning I have brought my brother (business partner) for the ride.  He is educating himself through his own studies, but he chooses the best books to be influenced by.

This journey I have gone and continue to go on.  I wish to all to never stop learning.  To never stop dreaming.  Stop fearing!  If we could live our lives never fearing the consequences then what would we do?  I am not saying we should forgo any responsibility to pursue selfish ambition.  I feel if we can pursue that is praiseworthy to our families and the Lord we are deemed to have a good and fulfilling life.  I have lived a good life so far.  I choose to make my life better by applying sound business practices.

If you are doing to fail, fail forward. John Maxwell.  Don't let the fear of striking out, stop from batting.  Babe Ruth.  We all need a good hard failure young in our lives... Walt Disney.  I can keep on going that fear and failure are the means to stop us from progressing and reaching our potential.  Fight the good fight.

Failure...

This week hit on a subject very dear to me.  We have all failed in our lives.  I believe the failures we have in our lives constitute the trust the Lord has in us.  He gave us a promise for those days we fail. This is from the 1 Corinthians 10;13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. I truly believe the Lord will help us to overcome anything in our lives.  We fail, but does not mean we are failures.  If we let the trial overcome us then we are failures.  I know that my Savior would never let me become a failure.  This application applies to all aspects of life; marriage, business, sports, education, hobbies.   If we fail then fail forward.  Take the opportunity to learn.  People like Edison, Walt Disney, Albert Einstein are accustomed to failure, but if they let the naysayers tell them are of no worth.  We would not have the light bulb as we know it, Mickey Mouse or Theory of Relativity.  Each of us have potential that sometimes only our Heavenly Father truly knows.  If He, the greatest in the universe, can see it why can't we?  True failure is fear to learn and be better.  I have tried in my life to never regret and I have made some mistakes that have affected me and my family, but I have the courage to admit I made a mistake and move on.  

I finished this weeks business challenge.  I have read some really good ideas from the class.  I wish each of the them success and hope they will keep the spirit of entrepreneurship up.  The country needs more brave souls to live their dreams.  

Family Business

Do you go on your own or do you join ranks in the family and participate in the family business?  These are questions that are not the easiest to answer.  We feel that we need to have that pioneering spirit and do it on own.  However, we feel a sense of loyalty to take over the family business.  Both scenarios can bring wealth and freedom we all want from owning a business.

Coming from my own personal experience in the family business.  It is hard to run a business and have a cordial conversation with the family if something ugly happens at work.  Last year there were 4 siblings running the day to day task, now there is only 2.  The interesting part is the two that are here are the ones who came in last.  My advice to all who go into a family business is to document any agreement.  Make sure the responsibility are written up and agreed on.  Make sure the compensation is discussed.  Also make sure you discuss what is going to happen to the next generation and what is to be done with this generation when you want out of the business.  I currently get along with my sibling/partner, because we have had mutual respect for each other and we have documented the agreements.  We have become very successful.  I feel if you put God into your family business He will harmonize the business.

As for my charity business.  I am happy to say I have reach over $100 profit.  The weather has been so bad here, but I found someone who needed about $175 worth of plants.  By the time I pay back the cost of the containers I come out with $150 of profit.  If the weather was more favorable, I know I could have sold 5 times that.  In the month of March we have only 3 days of no traceable rain.  We have had some nice morning or nice afternoon, but weather is being my biggest foe right now.

Happy at Work

I read a good article this week in Entrepreneur.com.  It was talking how to make a successful workforce.  It has 5 steps: Have a good employees who fit the mold, have fun at work, gratitude to employees, leading with purpose, and lifelong studying.

I really enjoyed about what they stated on making work fun.  There was comment about an employee who came up to the boss, if they were able to meet a certain quota by a certain time, they could spend the rest of the day flying paper airplanes.  The boss was reluctant but consented, but by 3:30 the team had exceeded the agreed quota.  The point of the matter is that employees will rise to the occasion when given an option to enjoy themselves.  I also believe the last lesson about encouraging the employees to learn on the company dime that is relevant to the company expansion. I believe that knowledge is power.

This week the weather has broken into the 60s but still raining.  I am taking a chance this weekend to get people out to buy Arborvitae.  This winter was bad and caused a lot of the Arborvitae to snap or branches hang too low.  This causes people to want to replace.  I have put my ad out on Craiglist.  This method has been successful in the past.  I hope it works.

To Franchise or Not

This week I was able to learn more about business improvement process.  Owning my business in production it is key to know this process.  I feel having a team always on watch to figure out how to improve the system is key to success in the business.  We live a world when people want things yesterday.  I own a nursery and this is hard, because the fastest I can turn around is 1 year in production change.  However, over the years we have improved the quality of producing the plants through innovation.  My brother has been key to seeing the success on this.  We are able to pot up 20,000 #1 container plants with only 3 people, while the rest of the industry will do that with 9 people.  This process has allowed us to be the greatest value nursery in Oregon because our labor count is low.  I do have a great team to realize, even though we have achieved a great triumph we cannot sit too long to gloat of our success.  We believe here that we are continuously improving the process so we are always ahead of the game.

This week was awesome to explore more about existing franchises.  I feel there is some great money to be made in owning franchises.  I know that you can't buy a franchise and expect it to run on its own without you.  However, if you have good employees and share the vision of what you are trying to accomplish you able to have minimum manual labor.  My goal in about 4 years is to buy a franchise.  By then my purchasing agreement with my existing business will be paid off. They say the best way to make money is to buy a business and have someone else manage it for you.  A franchise has standard procedures already in place so it should be easy to have someone else manage for you.

The weather continues to be bad here in Oregon.  We should see a break in the weather this upcoming weekend.  My business all it takes is one big order and it makes money.  The weather is warming up, I just need the rain to stop.

Hire the Best

This week we were able to read about Jet Blue Airline.  They are a good company that has a lot of similarity of SWA.  However, they are not unionized.  They treat their employees well, they did not make a cookie cutter HR program. They understood the market for employees and knew the employees had different needs and wants.  By spending a great deal on HR of the company you can become a better machine to find people.

Hiring people is not a simple thing.  We want the best, but are we willing to do what it takes to get the best. We have to take the time to find people.  Dave Ramsey taught, "you should give yourself 60 days to find and hire someone for your position."  But before you do that you need to have a good idea what you are looking for.  The requirements to do so are: have a good job description written out, a compensation package figure out, and good questions to ask for the interview.

In my personal experience I have had some good hires, but I have had some really bad ones.  It wasn't the people fault that I hired people and later fired them, it was mine.  I did not take the real time to find out what I wanted.  Once I found out what I wanted, then I can know what to ask and how much I wanted to pay the person.

My $100 challenge is not going as well as I was hoping.  This weekend is another downer.  The rain is here and people are keeping themselves away from working outside.  I don't blame them, but my business is very seasonal.  I do know that once the weather does break it will be a great sale.

Leadership vs Management

We feel today that everyone should be a manager of something.  We have come to understand what management is.  Leadership on the other hand is not easily define.  Peter Drucker said, "Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things. The question then is what is the right thing?  Leaders are people who march in front and inspire those who follow.  Another quote that I have heard, "you are only as good of a leader by the number of people who follow you."  I don't know if I agree to that.  I have read some good material from people who died a long time ago and did not have much followers then.  However their literature and teachings have inspired many since.   Does leadership go beyond the grave?  

Have you ever thought to think about why is there Business Management degrees, but no Business Leaders degrees?  I feel management can be taught, replicated, and packaged.  Leadership though is emotional.  You have to have passion and drive.  Trues leaders have purpose and seek only to give glory to that purpose, not to themselves.  The greatest is Jesus Christ.  His example of leadership and influence has impacted billions of people.  I feel He had success because His purpose was divine and the credit was given to His Father.

This weeks lesson was greatly emphasize on leadership and what it means to be a good leader.  Don't get me wrong me wrong managers are greatly needed.  We need things done right.  I am grateful that I have many great examples.  I hope to lead like those before me.  

I have not made much progress in regards to my charity business this week.  I am just still waiting for a nice few days to start advertising.  In Oregon you have to have a few good days before people will come out especially at this time of the year.  

Is the Customer Always Right?

I have been in sales/customer service for over 10 years.   I am not sure if I feel that a customer is always right.  I am in the wholesale business and the people that I work with are knowledgeable about the product we sell.  I feel when a "customer is always right" is in the retail.  However, in the wholesale business I think the customer and the vendor are more on the same playing field.

My father taught me, "if someone comes up to you and buys from you and you don't know him/her from Adam, then be very cautious".  What my father was illustrating to me was that relationship is very important.  I have had to questions long standing customers request for credits or returns not because they were wrong, but if they had gotten all their facts right.  I believe instead of "Customer is Always" to say "Always Communicate with your Customers".  When you communicate extensively then you can assess the situation if the customer is right nor not.

This weeks progress on my business has halted because the weather here in Portland is nasty.  People will not come out and buy plants when 6" inches of rain falls on you in a week.  We need about a week of nice weather before people will come and buy.  Mostly because the ground is so wet.  However, I have taken pictures and are ready to put it on Craiglists on first day of a long range forecast of nice weather.

Purple Cows and Long Hair Adviser

Reading this last week was emphasize on Seth Godin book "The Purple Cow".  Reading the article it makes perfect sense on what as business owners need to do to make sure he/she is successful.  What does a Purple Cow have to do with anything in business?  In business you need to differentiate yourself from your competitors.  Sometimes you have to push some abstract ideas.  I remember at the nursery trade show every year there was as man who dressed up a like a leprechaun.  I don't know if his business was successful, because our product line never crossed.  However, I do remember what he sold, it was small green ferns, mosses, and other greenery to liven the home up.  He was the purple cow at the show.

Reading E-myth is a great way to help standardize your business.  He talks greatly about franchises and making sure your business can be duplicated.  I liked he told his background of being a long hair adviser.  His book is brilliant, I have been using much of what he is teaching into my business currently.

There has not been much progress in my business.  My business is greatly influenced by good weather.  In the great NorthWest, it rains a lot in the winter.  But when we get a break in the weather people come out and enjoy the outdoors and work in their yards.  This years weather with the snow we have had has done big damages to plants, so this is where I can come in an advertise the low cost savings to replace the plants.  I am just keep securing the plants for when the weather is nice.

Hero's Journey to Entrepreneurship

How do we become great?  I have read some good things on how good and even great companies have started with nothing more than a few bucks, a big dream, and the will to win.  This week I listen to Desh Deshpande story of how he became successful.  It was a dream and $8.00.  Now he is worth billions.  It is not just the will to dream, but the will to win.  When the world kicks you down, you get and go for another round and knock adversity square in the chin and come out victorious.  Sometimes what keeps from losing and winning is the optimism to say to yourself, "I will not be beaten."  Once we make it we become the Hero to the upcoming entrepreneurs.

I am about to kick off my small business idea.  I hope it is successful.  I am excited to see if I can sell what I think will be a help to those who want a job done for less and get the same results.  I have already procured enough material to help me get the job done for the $100 challenge.  I just want to see it do more.  I am a person who does like to make status quo but to exceed expectation.  Also I am fighting for a cause greater than myself, when your fight involves the welfare of others you tend to rise beyond the what is natural.

The Dream of Every Entrpreneur

Those in the Entrepreneur world dream of the day when we make the first sale on our product/service.  We dream of the millions we make from those sales.  We are excited and wish to make that dream a reality.  We put our heart, soul, and passion into developing the product/service.

This week I was able to read from E-Myth.  I love how Gerber was able to tell of the stages of the business.  We go through infancy.  At this stage we are extremely motivated and small.  We get excited about every sale and every customer.  Then we move onto adolescence stage where need to hire new people, expand the line, create more work.  The last stage is maturity, this is where the old companies are at.  They have gone through the pains of growth and are enjoying the hard work and culture they have created.  However, to make it to the last stage is not as easy as we make it out to be.  In the adolescence stage people are defined here.  This is where we have to step up the game of being a good manager to hire the people, to be a good entrepreneur to expand the line, and the technician to handle the work.  It doesn't mean we have to do it all, but we have to lead it all.

I have enjoyed this week in the progress of the $100 challenge.  In this challenge we are faced to create a business to give to charity.  This is a cause worth fighting for.  It was good to put pen to paper on what it should look like.  Also I was able to put pen to paper on my dream business.  I am really stoked about the Holiday Farm I want to create.  The biggest hang up is the capital to make it happen and also the land.  I would love so much to start the Holiday Farm.  I feel that would be my passion.  Like my opening paragraph stated, it is my dream.  I would love to make my dream a reality.

The World and Entrepreneurs

This week we were challenge to what company we should start for our charity.  I chose to sell #2 quality nursery stock.  I would go about looking at the poor quality nursery stock we are going to throw away because our customers would not be willing to take it due to quality.  To save it from the dump I would advertise to the local community if they are interested in a plant that would cost at Home Depot $6.00, mine for $2.00 and the only problem is that the plant is leaning in the pot.  With a little bit of education to the buyer of these plants that there is nothing wrong with these plants and that all they would have to do is plant it straight in the ground.  I have located a spot for the sale of these plants.  There is no cost for the plants except for the price of the container and that is only if I sell the plants.

I also learned more about what a true entrepreneur is all about.  It was nice to read about how the world views the entrepreneur.  America is still the land of opportunity according the reading this week.  There is a lot of opportunity growth in the US.  I also did not know that the US was the first country to adapt to the Entrepreneur Management style back in the late 70's.  I am curious to know what the world be like in 20 years in regards to business.  Would the US still lead the pack in regards to business.  I know that people say China will dominate over the US, but if you have a country politics operate a good portions of the companies in their country they can dictate a lot of the outcome of the businesses.

I also never realize how important Israel is to the tech and financial world.  They seem to know what is going on.  They are very business friendly.  They said a reason for success is the men are required to be in the army, and from there many business came from because the men would share their ideas of business in the barracks and start partnership.

A New Journey

I read this last week 4 Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris.  I have read it before, but I felt inspired to read it again from the many choices I had to select from my class.  What was read this week was already known, but I felt this time the book really jumped out of me.

My business that I work with my brother is going through a transitional period.  My brother and I had made a decision that we are tired to work for the company and change it to have the company work for us.  Our first job was to get our top managers to buy into our new vision for the company.  Once we have the right people on the bus now we go to work and figure out what is the best for the company and what legacy we want to leave.  My brother is on the business side and I am on the production/sales side.  The book gave me great insight on Pareto's Law.  I took it to heart and figured that we need to figure out what 20% of the product is producing 80% of the revenue.  Now the next step is what kind of profit are we making on those product.  After figuring our profitability I will be going through and seeing which 20% customers do 80% of the business.

The book also helped me to realize how to get the business to work for me.  I have dreamed of working remotely and traveling the world.  I have told my brother that we have 4.5 years to figure this out.  Any company that needs the owners to run the company on a daily basis has failed in creating a legacy that will live on past us.  I will be recommending the book to him after this week.
I am excited to take on what I have learned and past the knowledge to those around me.  Our company has been a very efficient nursery, but it has not been the best of being effective.  I am working on making sure what dollar is spent gives us the most productivity.  We have a new motto at the business "Don't trip over dollars to save a penny".

With constant education and clear vision of the business this transition will escort the company into a Golden Age.