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We’re all supposed to think the rugged individualist is the great American way to do business. I’m a reformed rugged individualist and can tell you that if you want to build a successful business, going it alone is a bad idea.
ShopLocally.com aims to change the world, not just make money. My company, The Crankset Group, is focused on the same thing. We’re going to do it together going forward. It’s possible you will benefit directly. We certainly intend for you to.
Imagine building a boat without an engine or a sail. That’s what we call a raft. You could build a gorgeous multi-million dollar 60’ cruiser, but if there is no engine, it’s still just a raft. And if you actually want to have some control over where you’re going, drifting around aimlessly in a raft isn’t the best way to get there. Or the fastest. Or the safest. You get the idea. You need an engine.
The Industrial Age of 1780-1960-ish was the greatest advance in physical lifestyle benefits in history, and likely the worst thing that ever happened to our real lifestyle. As a business owner, your view of business has been radically tainted by this very short period of time in history, and the sooner you stop using it as a reference for your business, the better off you and your business will be.
The Industrial Revolution of 1780-1840 and the subsequent Industrial Age of 1850-1960-ish is easily the best thing that ever happened to our standard of living, and the worst thing that ever happened to our view of life. And as a business owner, you’re carrying a lot of of baggage from it that won’t fully go away for some decades to come. But you can fight it’s effects on you right now. He who makes the rules wins, and you need to stop running your business on Industrial Age rules.
I went to Home Depot last week to return the toilet guts I had bought nine months earlier that had stopped working. Turns out they knew what they were selling didn’t work locally but that didn’t stop them. It’s really hard to be the best nationally and locally. As a local business owner, you’ve got an unfair advantage.
There is such a strong pull in our western business culture to ‘have it all figured out.’ But there is a simple, counter-intuitive yet powerful principle that successful business owners know which keeps both them and their businesses growing:
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.
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.
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.