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Change or Die

September 11, 2008 in Business Start-Up, No More Mondays, Uncategorized with 2 Comments

Last Saturday Joanne and I were returning from a few days in Washington DC.  At the Reagan airport we ran into my good friend and blogging coach Bill Seaver.  So the three of us boarded the plane for Nashville.

Amazingly, there were only 2 other passengers.  Bill whipped out his little Flip Ultra Video camera and shot this video of me describing the nearly empty flight.  This is a glaring example of why you can’t do business as usual anymore.  What worked ten years ago may not work at all today.

If you’re doing the same things today that you were doing ONE YEAR ago you are likely falling behind.  Make sure you’re watching, learning and realigning every day.

"Social Entrepreneurship"

August 7, 2008 in Business Start-Up, Finding Passion with 2 Comments

Many of you have asked to hear more about “social entrepreneurship.”  I have mentioned this frequently over the last couple of years as a growing example of being able to “do good” while “doing well.”  What I mean by that is that you can change the world, address pollution, poverty, share the gospel, make the world a better place – you get to decide what your passion is – and MAKE MONEY in the process.

In this week’s podcast I have my son Jared as my guest.  Jared is executive director of Sisters or Rwanda in Kigali, Rwanda.  He has a great model of working with the women at the bottom of the ladder economically and socially, and has now created a model where they can earn significant income while providing funding for the organization’s administrative needs as well.  Read more »

Oh The “Inexpressible Comfort”

July 21, 2008 in Business Start-Up, Finding Passion, Personal Development with 3 Comments

In last week’s teleseminar I responded to the avalanche of questions regarding “What’s Holding You Back?”  In addition to lack of money, fear, procrastination, and no time – I received an unexpected category – that of no spousal support.

Comments like this:

– My problem holding me back is my husband. ….When I want to do something, I take off running, deal with the problems when they arise but my husband is the most negative person and always picks apart everything and tells me all the reasons why it won’t work. I think I have some very good ideas but he won’t even listen. I am 46, deep in debt and he says my ideas are stupid.

Not having the support of those closest to you is a major deal.  I know this may sound cheesy but the most amazing thing I’ve ever done is to marry the women I married.  She’s my biggest cheerleader – she’s given me the freedom to try and fail – and yet continued to love and support me.  Read more »

Are you making money?

July 7, 2008 in Business Start-Up, Just a Job, No More Mondays with 14 Comments

This morning I read in one of my business magazines that it costs the government 1.67 cents to make a penny.  Somehow that struck me as totally absurd.  How could they possibly justify making pennies when each one costs them 1.67 cents?  Now you and I are not the US government.  We have to make our businesses make sense.  We can’t just tax our customers more to cover our mistakes and inefficiencies.

(I might add here that even if you are an “employee,” you are in business for yourself.  You must provide a valuable service for your employer or you will not continue to be paid.  If it costs your employer to have you around, he should release you to go bring value somewhere else.)

Another way to “make” money is to use sophisticated copy machines to reproduce counterfeit money.  Of course, that’s illegal and will land you in prison.  Read more »

Meet me out back, Dude!

July 5, 2008 in Business Start-Up, No More Mondays with 1 Comment

To survive in today’s business economy you better be willing to be creative.  Anyone can make a hamburger, sell t-shirts, or provide web and email services.  But McDonalds, Threadless and GoDaddy have set themselves apart from the competition by being creative.  Here’s another example.  We all know the airlines are struggling – with many already in bankruptcy.  But Southwest continues on with profitability.

Here’s a glimpse into their creative culture.  Back in 1996 Stevens Aviation threatened to sue Southwest for using the motto “Just Plane Smart.”  Although Southwest CEO Herb Kelleher is a lawyer, he challenged the CEO of Stevens to an arm wrestling match to settle the issue.  Kelleher lost the 2 out of 3 competition – or did he?  The event created world-wide exposure for the company and is now sometimes referred to as the greatest publicity stunt ever.  It created such good will for both companies that Stevens Aviation agreed to let Southwest use the slogan anyway.   Read more »

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