It’s so easy to get sidetracked when you come up with a new idea – you just want to talk about it, mock it up, brainstorm. The problem with the new idea – it doesn’t pay the bills – not yet anyway.

I read one of Seth Godin’s posting on “15% Changes Everything” and what I remembered was that we have a healthy line of products – stepping up those sales would give us the cash to bootstrap the new idea. We got right on it – and are already seeing results.

We are also doing our reviews and revising our goals – again, all focused on where we want to take our business. If you don’t bust out the road map and make sure you are going where you want to go, it probably won’t happen.

“Get out of the blocks, run your race, stay relaxed. If you run your race, you’ll win. Channel your energy. Focus”. – Carol Lewis

There is way too much that can go wrong in a small business. Some people make it harder on themselves by stacking the deck against themselves. As a small business owner, I have to say I love to watch other business owners at work – some I feel great admiration for and seek to emulate – others…not so much.

Last night on Kitchen Nightmares, a show in which chef Gordon Ramsay helps failing restaurants, it was unbelievable how utterly clueless these owners were about why their business was failing. As an outsider, it is far easier to see the forest for the trees:
1. The place was called “Flamangos” – get it Florida+Mangoes
2. They had 50 things on the menu
3. The chef of 1 month was saddled with trying to execute 50 different dishes
4. The customers hated the food
5. The owners mistreated their staff and customers

Truly, the only thing cooking at this place was the pot of misery the owners were making and serving up in big bowls. It seemed the biggest issue was NOT wanting to change – despite the fact that they were bleeding money with no end in sight.

To Chef Ramsay’s credit, he jumped in and despite the loud objections from the people he was trying to help, he completely resurrected the restaurant from the ground up – you could see the staff jump on board, eager to follow a positive leader, the customers followed and last to get on the clue train were the owners, who finally realized that change is a good thing and it was coming whether or not they wanted it.

It took just one person to stand up and confront the bunch to turn a seriously failing business. So, take a look at your business today – are you the changer, the leader or are you the clinger, the one who fears change and what are you going to do – who are you going to be, starting TODAY?

I have been shopping online for a new car and I am getting a lesson in customer service – which REALLY surprised me. I chose my model with all the trimmings and emailed my very specific needs to both Honda and Toyota. I got back a reply via email immediately, acknowledging my request and received a quote with a notification of 1 car of my type in stock within half an hour and I had the guy’s email and direct dial. Oh yeah, and the Honda guy called me directly this morning and offered an additional discount if I showed up to buy it and even offered to cook dinner for me (True story!! I said I’d be bringing my husband and the offer was still good!)

If ONLY we could do business with pharma so simply and easily. They KNOW what they want and they sure as heck know how much they have to spend, so what’s with all the shenanigans? I would love to do things this way – maybe we’ll lead the pack…

We don’t thank our good clients enough.  I was on the phone this morning to one of our favorite clients, who had just provided a lovely referral for us.  I realized I haven’t told this client how much we enjoy working with him, that he gives us clear direction, takes our advice and has helped forge a true partnership – and we work harder for him!  So I told him all that and more and thanked him for being a great client…and then I realized I have more calls to make – so that is what I am going to do.

Have you thanked your good clients lately?

Read an interesting article in the dining section of the NY Times yesterday entitled “His Big Idea is to Get Small“.  Randall Grahm, owner of the Bonny Doon Vineyards is examining his business model and asking a key question:  “How do you create the conditions for originality?”  It is the question every small business should be asking these days.  Further, Mr. Grahm recommends “following one’s own muse” in order to figure out the business model that will lead to satisfaction and ultimately a unique offering.

As our company continues to grow, we are mindful that we want to maintain our originality, and continue to focus our efforts on following the path that has brought us success, while continuing to search for new and different ways to approach business.  I love to see a guy who has been running a wildly successful company have the guts to take the risks he has – my bet is he’ll be more successful than ever.

Bluto: Over? Did you say “over”? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!
Otter: Germans?
Boon: Forget it, he’s rolling.
Bluto: And it ain’t over now. ‘Cause when the goin’ gets tough…
[thinks hard]
Bluto: the tough get goin’! Who’s with me? Let’s go!

Some days just cry out for a good quote from “Animal House”.

At least that is the belief of Alex Bogusky (Crispin Porter + Bogusky Creative Chief), who is my new hero.  According to him, entrepreneurs are the ones who will help lead the US out of the recession, since small businesses represent 75% of our gross domestic product.  It is true – smaller shops have advantages in flexibility in offerings, can get ideas off the ground faster and have more at stake when it comes to true innovation and you get the A team – because that’s all there is.

So as an American, do your patriotic duty, hire a small agency today and help save your country!

Oh, how to become as necessary as mascara?  Every vendor seeks that holy grail.  As I was putting my new mascara on that I purchased in a drugstore, but for twice the amount of my usual mascara, a few thoughts came to mind – I feel like I NEED mascara (how can we make our clients realize they NEED our products?), I read about this product and immediately went to get some (how can we compel our clients to WANT our products?) and though it was twice my usual cost (OK, $10), I am really satisfied and will tell others about it (how can we provide satisfied clients that TALK about their happiness with our products?)

And in case you wondered, the mascara is L’oreal Bare Naturale in blackest black.  And yes, I’m worth it.

I was reading “Fast Company” last night – I find something inspirational in every magazine – Marye Anne Fox, Chemist and Chancellor of UC San Diego had some insight on responding to the changes in the world and used Darwin’s words: “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives.  It is the one that is most adaptable to change.”

So, you don’t have to be strong or smart, just adaptable.  We can do that.

The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word “crisis”. One brush stroke stands for danger; the other for opportunity. In a crisis, be aware of the danger — but recognize the opportunity.
– John F. Kennedy speech in Indianapolis, Indiana April 12th, 1959

The key to surviving in a cruddy economy is to recognize and be cognizant of the dangers, but there are always opportunities available to those companies with their eyes and ears wide open, ready to act.