Hey All,
My new Product is getting designed, I'm going to call some manufacturers in the states today, and I negotiated another day off with my boss, plus more pay.
hustling pays off.
I'll explain how i did it next time.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Awesome Articles, and an interesting problem.
http://hbr.org/2011/11/what-business-can-learn-from-organized-crime/ar/1?cm_sp=most_widget-_-hbr_articles-_-What%20Business%20Can%20Learn%20from%20Organized%20Crime
great points! technology is something you should ABUSE! make it your b%^#
In other news, I had an interesting obstacle to overcome today. Besides trying to contact my first "mentor" a la my DIY Harvard Business School Program, which led to eminent failure as his website has a few bugs (good talking point when i get him on the phone tomorrow)My friend offered up the exciting news that he's planning on opening a car shop in town focused on performance import vehicles. He is, undeniably the BEST mechanic I have ever met, able to fix anything with wheels in a matter of minutes. His financial and business mind is not quite as powerful. This is a guy who has a hard time understanding the idea that his skills have value, and I have to pay him in favors instead of cash every time he fixes my car! He has a true and honest love for his trade, and it is so deep and so pure that he believes that putting money in the way will somehow tarnish it.
The first thing I said to my good ol' buddy when he announced his venture was "Great! Let's sit down next week and get a business plan together"
This met with a suprisingly large amount of resistance from him. Resistance I did not expect.
What I didn't understand is that he (the tradesman) had not separated his trade from the idea of a business model, and he thought that I was implying "I know more about your TRADE, let me show you how to do it" instead of "I want to help you succeed IN YOUR TRADE." this is an important difference.
It finally came down to me saying this "look, I know you know about one MILLION times more than I do about cars, I'm not disputing that. I'm just saying that I may know about 500,000 times more about putting a business plan together so that you can make sure you succeed." Unfortunately, I think the damage had been done. I have a feeling that before the doors of the shop opens he WILL talk to me about his business, but it will be on his terms. Good Learning experience! Its important to ASK if people if they want your help before you OFFER it. Even if they're you're best friend.
Til next time.
great points! technology is something you should ABUSE! make it your b%^#
In other news, I had an interesting obstacle to overcome today. Besides trying to contact my first "mentor" a la my DIY Harvard Business School Program, which led to eminent failure as his website has a few bugs (good talking point when i get him on the phone tomorrow)My friend offered up the exciting news that he's planning on opening a car shop in town focused on performance import vehicles. He is, undeniably the BEST mechanic I have ever met, able to fix anything with wheels in a matter of minutes. His financial and business mind is not quite as powerful. This is a guy who has a hard time understanding the idea that his skills have value, and I have to pay him in favors instead of cash every time he fixes my car! He has a true and honest love for his trade, and it is so deep and so pure that he believes that putting money in the way will somehow tarnish it.
The first thing I said to my good ol' buddy when he announced his venture was "Great! Let's sit down next week and get a business plan together"
This met with a suprisingly large amount of resistance from him. Resistance I did not expect.
What I didn't understand is that he (the tradesman) had not separated his trade from the idea of a business model, and he thought that I was implying "I know more about your TRADE, let me show you how to do it" instead of "I want to help you succeed IN YOUR TRADE." this is an important difference.
It finally came down to me saying this "look, I know you know about one MILLION times more than I do about cars, I'm not disputing that. I'm just saying that I may know about 500,000 times more about putting a business plan together so that you can make sure you succeed." Unfortunately, I think the damage had been done. I have a feeling that before the doors of the shop opens he WILL talk to me about his business, but it will be on his terms. Good Learning experience! Its important to ASK if people if they want your help before you OFFER it. Even if they're you're best friend.
Til next time.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Beautiful Reception On Sunday!
Back to the grind after a great weekend shared with my new family. It was very encouraging to meet with several Cornell Grads at the reception and they all seemed very interested in what I was doing! Only one statement that "going it alone is really hard" for business consulting, which interested me. I expected a lot more doubt and fear.
I was,of course, asked every one's least favorite question "what do you do?" I decided to steer clear of my usual answer of "well, golf is what takes up most of my time" to actually answering in a way that these folks expected. As i droned on for about the fifth time answering this long question, I noticed that I "do" way too many things. I answered the questions with the following criteria:
student
waitor
chef
business consultant
entrepreneur
stock arbitrageur
too much.
Unfortunately the two least glamorous (chef and waitor) pays my bills, so those have to stay. My stocks I have put into a bond fund until i can spend more time on them, and they're still doing quite well. Business consulting is my goal, and I spend most time on that beyond my regular work day and school. My businesses are actually the leas time consuming, as i spend less than 4 hours per week on each. (more info on those later)
Still, soon something will hopefully give and my hourly income will increase greatly. With all of these new moves I'm making, it can't be much longer.
til next time. don't budge for the Cornell grads (especially when your mother in law was the valedictorian!
I was,of course, asked every one's least favorite question "what do you do?" I decided to steer clear of my usual answer of "well, golf is what takes up most of my time" to actually answering in a way that these folks expected. As i droned on for about the fifth time answering this long question, I noticed that I "do" way too many things. I answered the questions with the following criteria:
student
waitor
chef
business consultant
entrepreneur
stock arbitrageur
too much.
Unfortunately the two least glamorous (chef and waitor) pays my bills, so those have to stay. My stocks I have put into a bond fund until i can spend more time on them, and they're still doing quite well. Business consulting is my goal, and I spend most time on that beyond my regular work day and school. My businesses are actually the leas time consuming, as i spend less than 4 hours per week on each. (more info on those later)
Still, soon something will hopefully give and my hourly income will increase greatly. With all of these new moves I'm making, it can't be much longer.
til next time. don't budge for the Cornell grads (especially when your mother in law was the valedictorian!
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Hustling on a budget!
I'm hoping I can find some schmuck out there will make up a solid works file or a blueprint for me for free! here's a few tricks I'm using.
1. I'm contacting my friend's brother who does this stuff as a job. my product isn't that hard to make, but his 5 minutes of work would be my 5 hours. good payoff if he'll do it for a 6 pack of beer.
2. i'm looking for local engineering students who would be interested in some real work experience. i'll gladly give them recommendations for future jobs. Probably more valuable than money at this point in their career.
I'm hoping that I'll get a response sooner than later, I want that thing produced and sent to my supplier ASAP.
As with my business client:
He's looking for a service flowchart, which I'm struggling to put together, in some ways. I want to get some information on other company best practices, service standards etc. so I can see how the already made it companies are doing it. Unfortunately, these don't seem to be out there and easily findable. Oh well, shoot from the hip.
First day at Inventory and costing tomorrow as well. Hoping to pin point some real loss sectors and create some better systems to help flesh out some places where cost can be saved and money can be made. I've already created a spread sheet that has everything broken down by measurement unit, cost and totals, so hopefully that will make everything a bit faster.
Here's to the first real big step in efficiency and cost savings for my client!
1. I'm contacting my friend's brother who does this stuff as a job. my product isn't that hard to make, but his 5 minutes of work would be my 5 hours. good payoff if he'll do it for a 6 pack of beer.
2. i'm looking for local engineering students who would be interested in some real work experience. i'll gladly give them recommendations for future jobs. Probably more valuable than money at this point in their career.
I'm hoping that I'll get a response sooner than later, I want that thing produced and sent to my supplier ASAP.
As with my business client:
He's looking for a service flowchart, which I'm struggling to put together, in some ways. I want to get some information on other company best practices, service standards etc. so I can see how the already made it companies are doing it. Unfortunately, these don't seem to be out there and easily findable. Oh well, shoot from the hip.
First day at Inventory and costing tomorrow as well. Hoping to pin point some real loss sectors and create some better systems to help flesh out some places where cost can be saved and money can be made. I've already created a spread sheet that has everything broken down by measurement unit, cost and totals, so hopefully that will make everything a bit faster.
Here's to the first real big step in efficiency and cost savings for my client!
As if business consulting wasn't enough
I'm working on a roll out of a small product for ducati owners before the holiday season... I had a product developer call Me at one am last night! Oh time zones... IM pushing everyone toward email of course, so hopefully that will be the last time I have an angry wife. I'm currently hiring a college intern to develop a blueprint for the product as well. If anyone is interested please email me! Once the product is complete and up for sale ill give more details. Til next time
Friday, October 14, 2011
It's Official!
I got the job.
After a long meeting, had over a few glasses of wine, my client and I came to an agreement and it is offical. I am his business consultant! I made sure to wow him with answers to his biggest problems, which are the following.
1. Lack of food consistency.
countered with re-writes of all recipes and a set time for the chef to come in an retrain the kitchen staff
2. high food cost.
a system for food inventory and food costing that can be done weekly
3. Getting business
a marketing plan with a menu re launch, word of mouth advertising, online marketing answers etcetcetc.
He gave me a brake even point to work with, and now I know.
its late, and I'm going to eat pizza with my wife.
til next time.
After a long meeting, had over a few glasses of wine, my client and I came to an agreement and it is offical. I am his business consultant! I made sure to wow him with answers to his biggest problems, which are the following.
1. Lack of food consistency.
countered with re-writes of all recipes and a set time for the chef to come in an retrain the kitchen staff
2. high food cost.
a system for food inventory and food costing that can be done weekly
3. Getting business
a marketing plan with a menu re launch, word of mouth advertising, online marketing answers etcetcetc.
He gave me a brake even point to work with, and now I know.
its late, and I'm going to eat pizza with my wife.
til next time.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Productive or just active?
This is one of my favorite quotes from the four hour work week, which really could be a synopsis for the entire book: "am I being productive or just active?" the more fitting sentence that I use to keep myself on track is this:
"am I inventing things to do to avoid the important?"
I have this pop up on my phone at 3 pm every day as a reminder to keep on task. What are my tasks?
1. What are my clients the major concerns?
2. What am I doing right now to overcome those problems?
thats it.
If IM not making my client feel better about his top three worries, IM out of a job.
Til next time.
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