Our home is located between two grocery stores. One is a high-quality grocery store with a nice selection of meats and fresh produce. The other store has somewhat lower prices but low quality and selection. Recently Aldi’s and Whole Foods moved-in near the lower priced grocery store. Last week that store announced it’s closing. While the high-quality grocery store is ...
When a salesperson cares about what’s best for me, instead of for themselves, it can be so refreshing. Last year, I was speaking to the CEO of a software company about our software needs as a ministry. He owns a well-respected software company that serves nonprofits. After he listened to our needs, this CEO said, “We could probably make our ...
Frustrated by the over-the-top security features that continually locked my retailer-branded credit card, I called the bank that issued it to cancel it. I was stunned at the process. The audio system handled everything without engaging a real person to intervene. The bank had no idea why a long-term customer was leaving. And the retailer whose name was on the ...
In this series we’re discussing seven keys to successful startup businesses. The second key to success is deciding how you will set yourself apart from any competition. Years ago, I helped launch a coffeehouse. We could have competed by having better or cheaper coffee, but we set ourselves apart by focusing on building community and being a convenient location for ...
I’ve personally been involved in at least seven business startups. In this series, let me share seven keys to success for aspiring entrepreneurs. Legendary consultant, Peter Drucker, wrote, “There is nothing quite so useless as doing with great efficiency something that should not be done at all.” In my opinion, the first key to success is producing a product or ...
Years ago, Michael Gerber wrote a popular book called E-Myth. The primary premise behind the book is that many entrepreneurs work hard at their craft, but they’re not always adept at developing systems and processes. This results in many entrepreneurs working harder, but not smarter. Which is often why franchises succeed more frequently than independent businesses. Franchises provide entrepreneurs ...
Recently, I ordered some sleeping equipment. A friend of mine had ordered similar equipment from a large bureaucratic organization. My friend felt that because he went with a large organization his experiences resulted in being impersonal and inflexible. I decided on using a locally owned business instead and I’m glad I did. This local medical equipment store was friendly, efficient, ...
Recently, an insurance adjuster assessed our roof for hail damage. From the moment the adjuster climbed out of his truck, he moved diligently and at a fast pace. He knew what he came to accomplish, and he was determined to do it as efficiently as possible. Instead of pulling out a ladder, he pulled out a drone. In minutes, ...
Years ago, I was selling my used car. One family came to look at the car for their teenage daughter. This father tried to negotiate the price lower. But I knew my price for this car was a fair price and I could tell his daughter loved the car, so, I said, “No.” As the family drove away, I ...
In the 1990s, the internet became public. Investors began investing in local companies that now had a global market available to them. Almost anyone with a Dot-com web address started getting investment capital, even if they never made money. By 2000, when these investors began selling their money-losing stocks it created the Dot-com bubble and the stock market crashed. ...
Equipping Others to Do Work Differently
