There are 6 posts for the month of June, 2010.
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In 2009 our economy was rated by the National Security Agency as a higher threat to our national security than terrorism. One side blamed big government and the other blamed big business and big banks. But virtually no one was angry with local business or local government. This is very instructive as to where the problem is and where the solution lies.
Palo Alto Software, which makes business planning software, just did a survey to their own users to show that those who completed business plans that they started with Palo Alto were nearly twice as likely to successfully grow their businesses or obtain capital as those who didn’t finish.
This research is a classic example of “there are lies, damnable lies, and statistics” (stolen from Twain who got it from someone else). An even more reasonable conclusion – people who DO SOMETHING and follow through on it are twice as likely to successfully grow their business.
Wells Fargo is likely the “great bank” among the big ones, with the highest integrity and the lowest tolerance for bad banking practices among the bigs. But if my experience is typical as I believe it is, that should scare us all.
The books are all wrong. The standard claptrap in the shelf-help books is that we fail our way to success. Nobody fails their way to success and you need to stop listening when experts tell you that you will.
I think businesses should grow up. I don’t mean “it would be nice if it happened.” I mean we should all, every one of us, expect our businesses to grow up and start giving back to us and to the world around us. We should assume that at some point in the first few years our business would move from survival right through success to significance.
On the way from the Charleston airport to speak at a conference last Thursday evening. I engaged our cabbie in conversation, which of course always gets around to food. I asked what seafood he liked since he lived on the coast, and his first response was “I don’t eat shrimp.”
You’re too busy making money; no business can survive that. Your business should give you both time and money. Not just money.
I started Crankset Group out of a desire to help small businesses in the Denver, Colorado area grow and mature. It continues to mature itself as we bring a lot of the tools and practices that I’ve created working one-on-one with business owners over the years online. Now these tools and resources are available to you.
Twitter is a great way to get ahold of me or interact with me.
I’d love to let you know what I’m up to from time-to-time.