This will be my last post for 2008 and I will make it shorter than what I'm sure most of you expect from me. For me, this time of year is the time to reflect on my goals and how I met or exceeded them over the last 12 months. What changes do I need to make to my goals if any and, do I need to create a new plan of execution on my goals for the New Year?
Without a plan I don't have a road map to success. Without a plan I may still reach my goals but I may take a longer more detoured route to get to my destination. Thus a map saves me time and fuel.
I also make sure that my family, (my support system), agree with my goals and my plan so that I'm not at odds with them over the year. For example; if working longer hours is a requirement to make more income which will give us a bigger house then, the family needs to agree that the goal of a bigger house is what we all want and therefore Dad, husband, wife, need to support each other during these times of sacrifice when working late. In other words, the goals and the plan become 'OURS'. We all take ownership. As a family we are all driving in the same direction taking the same route to the same destination. This will create a much more harmonious environment for all and will contribute to reaching your goals. Even if you are single and not married you still have family and a support system of friends. To succeed in business you need to succeed in life. You need a balance between family, friends, your personal spiritual beliefs and business.
I hope my experiences expressed give you guidance and again, HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Paulo Coelho And Another Christmas Gift to His Readers
I received a special Christmas email today from Paulo Coelho author of 'The Alchemist' which is one of my favorite books listed at the bottom of my blog. Paulo never forgets to send a special story at Christmas to his fans. We can learn from this in business and that is to never forget your customers at Christmas. All your customers, those small and great and those in your pipeline who will become your customers. Enjoy the story:
The music coming from the house
Paulo Coelho
On Christmas Eve, the king invited the prime minister to join him for their usual walk together. He enjoyed seeing the decorations in the streets, but since he didn’t want his subjects to spend too much money on these just to please him, the two men always disguised themselves as traders from some far distant land.
They walked through the centre of the city, admiring the lights, the Christmas trees, the candles burning on the steps of the houses, the stalls selling gifts, and the men, women and children hurrying off to celebrate a family Christmas around a table laden with food.
On the way back, they passed through a poorer area, where the atmosphere was quite different. There were no lights, no candles, no delicious smells of food about to be served. There was hardly a soul in the street, and, as he did every year, the king remarked to the prime minister that he really must pay more attention to the poor in his kingdom. The prime minister nodded, knowing that the matter would soon be forgotten again, buried beneath the day-to-day bureaucracy of budgets to be approved and discussions with foreign dignitaries.
Suddenly, they heard music coming from one of the poorest houses. The hut was so ramshackle and the rotten wooden timbers so full of cracks, that they were able to peer through and see what was happening inside. And what they saw was utterly absurd: an old man in a wheelchair apparently crying, a shaven-headed young woman dancing, and a young man with sad eyes shaking a tambourine and singing a folk song.
‘I’m going to find out what they’re up to,’ said the king.
He knocked. The music stopped, and the young man came to the door.
‘We are merchants in search of a place to sleep. We heard the music, saw that you were still awake, and wondered if we could spend the night here.’
‘You can find shelter in a hotel in the city. We, alas, cannot help you. Despite the music, this house is full of sadness and suffering.’
‘And may we know why?’
‘It’s all because of me.’ It was the old man in the wheelchair who spoke. ‘I’ve spent my life teaching my son calligraphy, so that he could one day get a job as a palace scribe. But the years have passed and no post has ever come up. And then, last night, I had a stupid dream: an angel appeared to me and asked me to buy a silver goblet because, the angel said, the king would be coming to visit me. He would drink from the goblet and give my son a job.
‘The angel was so persuasive that I decided to do as he said. Since we have no money, my daughter-in-law went to the market this morning to sell her hair so that we could buy that goblet over there. The two of them are doing their best to get me in the Christmas spirit by singing and dancing, but it’s no use.’
The king saw the silver goblet, asked to be given a little water to quench his thirst and, before leaving, said to the family:
‘Do you know, we were talking to the prime minister only today, and he told us that an opening for a palace scribe would be announced next week.’
The old man nodded, not really believing what he was hearing, and bade farewell to the strangers. The following morning, however, a royal proclamation was read out in all the city streets; a new scribe was needed at court. On the appointed day, the audience room at the palace was packed with people eager to compete for that much-sought-after post. The prime minister entered and asked everyone there to prepare their paper and pens:
‘Here is the subject of the composition: Why is an old man weeping, a shaven-headed woman dancing, and a sad young man singing?’
A murmur of disbelief went round the room. No one knew how to tell such a story, apart, that is, from the shabbily dressed young man sitting in one corner, who smiled broadly and began to write.
Based on an Indian story.
Translated from the Portuguese by Margaret Jull Costa
The music coming from the house
Paulo Coelho
On Christmas Eve, the king invited the prime minister to join him for their usual walk together. He enjoyed seeing the decorations in the streets, but since he didn’t want his subjects to spend too much money on these just to please him, the two men always disguised themselves as traders from some far distant land.
They walked through the centre of the city, admiring the lights, the Christmas trees, the candles burning on the steps of the houses, the stalls selling gifts, and the men, women and children hurrying off to celebrate a family Christmas around a table laden with food.
On the way back, they passed through a poorer area, where the atmosphere was quite different. There were no lights, no candles, no delicious smells of food about to be served. There was hardly a soul in the street, and, as he did every year, the king remarked to the prime minister that he really must pay more attention to the poor in his kingdom. The prime minister nodded, knowing that the matter would soon be forgotten again, buried beneath the day-to-day bureaucracy of budgets to be approved and discussions with foreign dignitaries.
Suddenly, they heard music coming from one of the poorest houses. The hut was so ramshackle and the rotten wooden timbers so full of cracks, that they were able to peer through and see what was happening inside. And what they saw was utterly absurd: an old man in a wheelchair apparently crying, a shaven-headed young woman dancing, and a young man with sad eyes shaking a tambourine and singing a folk song.
‘I’m going to find out what they’re up to,’ said the king.
He knocked. The music stopped, and the young man came to the door.
‘We are merchants in search of a place to sleep. We heard the music, saw that you were still awake, and wondered if we could spend the night here.’
‘You can find shelter in a hotel in the city. We, alas, cannot help you. Despite the music, this house is full of sadness and suffering.’
‘And may we know why?’
‘It’s all because of me.’ It was the old man in the wheelchair who spoke. ‘I’ve spent my life teaching my son calligraphy, so that he could one day get a job as a palace scribe. But the years have passed and no post has ever come up. And then, last night, I had a stupid dream: an angel appeared to me and asked me to buy a silver goblet because, the angel said, the king would be coming to visit me. He would drink from the goblet and give my son a job.
‘The angel was so persuasive that I decided to do as he said. Since we have no money, my daughter-in-law went to the market this morning to sell her hair so that we could buy that goblet over there. The two of them are doing their best to get me in the Christmas spirit by singing and dancing, but it’s no use.’
The king saw the silver goblet, asked to be given a little water to quench his thirst and, before leaving, said to the family:
‘Do you know, we were talking to the prime minister only today, and he told us that an opening for a palace scribe would be announced next week.’
The old man nodded, not really believing what he was hearing, and bade farewell to the strangers. The following morning, however, a royal proclamation was read out in all the city streets; a new scribe was needed at court. On the appointed day, the audience room at the palace was packed with people eager to compete for that much-sought-after post. The prime minister entered and asked everyone there to prepare their paper and pens:
‘Here is the subject of the composition: Why is an old man weeping, a shaven-headed woman dancing, and a sad young man singing?’
A murmur of disbelief went round the room. No one knew how to tell such a story, apart, that is, from the shabbily dressed young man sitting in one corner, who smiled broadly and began to write.
Based on an Indian story.
Translated from the Portuguese by Margaret Jull Costa
Monday, December 15, 2008
To Use A Business Broker Or To Not?
I've been asked many times by people who are looking at a franchise business if they should use a Business Broker and I've always stated that the best start is to decide what industry you want to work in first. The questions that should be answered first is; can I succeed in the long haul in this industry? Is it a high growth industry? How much market share will I have and how quickly can I grow my market share? Who is my competition and where is the competition coming from in the future? Can my franchisor adapt to industry changes and challenges in a timely manner so that I continue to grow my business? (reference Thomas L. Friedman's book 'The World is Flat' or click on my link to his MIT presentation found at the right side panel - 'My Favorite Videos Library') Will I enjoy working in this industry? Will my business afford me the lifestyle I'm accustom to and strive to achieve? For example; will my business provide me freedom to enjoy life or will it require me to be a slave to the business? Will it require travel?
Essentially a broker can help you identify these questions and then help you answer them by finding the franchise business that best meets your needs. Or, they could be helping themselves by matching you to a franchisor or selected few franchisors that meet their personal criteria which is; who pays the biggest and quickest commission.
I could go on and try and answer the question of 'To Use A Business Broker Or To not' or I can have you read an article from Entrepreneur.com written by Mark Siebert which will take you inside to the seldom seen world of the Business Broker. His insight will perhaps answer this question for you better than me. 'Should You Use Franchise Brokers?'
Here is also a great video discussion with franchise lawyers on the topic of; 'The Pros and Cons of Franchise Brokers' from the AllBusiness.com website.
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Essentially a broker can help you identify these questions and then help you answer them by finding the franchise business that best meets your needs. Or, they could be helping themselves by matching you to a franchisor or selected few franchisors that meet their personal criteria which is; who pays the biggest and quickest commission.
I could go on and try and answer the question of 'To Use A Business Broker Or To not' or I can have you read an article from Entrepreneur.com written by Mark Siebert which will take you inside to the seldom seen world of the Business Broker. His insight will perhaps answer this question for you better than me. 'Should You Use Franchise Brokers?'
Here is also a great video discussion with franchise lawyers on the topic of; 'The Pros and Cons of Franchise Brokers' from the AllBusiness.com website.
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