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When we started this business four years ago we decided we wanted it to grow up and make money while we’re gone. Today we leave for New Zealand for 3 1/2 weeks while others run the business. We’ll do things like that regularly going forward. We weren’t lucky, just intentional.
Two years ago, in March of 2009, I wrote this blog http://chuckb.me/xF about how I started my business 3 1/2 years ago in March of 2007. Four years after we started we’ll have a Mature Business, which is what we intended to do.
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.
There are really only two fundamental driving forces in business. One of them can be helpful but is short lived, but the other one can make you very successful for decades.
Only the second one creates lasting success. The first one might even create failure.
I built five businesses from the ground up. Each time in the process I found myself as a hostage of my business, never knowing how it would work out, how I would get off the treadmill, or most importantly, a firm date for when I could look forward to enjoying my business. It all seemed to be up to chance, and that the best I could do was work harder and increase my “chances”.
Within a few weeks of the birth of our first child, Diane and I were already imagining and anticipating how it would be when he was all grown up, had graduated from college and was out on his own. We had these same conversations after the birth of all three kids.
The only motivation book I will recommend to others is Self-made in America, by John McClintock. John introduced me to an obscure English word that I now use as a cornerstone of my daily activity – conation.
Small businesses with the fastest growing revenue know exactly where they are going. According to Inc Magazines 28th 500 fastest growing small businesses list, approximately 88% of them have a statement outlining where they are going. The other 12% are living dangerously.
We had five days straight of overcast, rainy, sloppy weather Friday thru Tuesday in Denver, something we almost never see. It dominated Memorial Day weekend and kept us all inside for the most part.
Guiding Principles of a business are necessary (honesty, integrity, customer service, etc.), but there is another set of principles that help the Business Owner in particular: decision-making principles.
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.