What Kind of Businessman Am I?

One of my goals as an entrepreneur is to always get returning business from loyal customers. Having a good relationship with customers is an indication that I’m doing things right. In my eyes, getting rave reviews about my product or services affects me as a person. In a way, my business is an extension of myself. It is a reflection of who I am as a person. If I get a bad reputation, others will no longer do business with me and in turn it effects my name and reputation. With my tee shirt business, I’ve already had an unsatisfied customer who asked for a refund. Even though I had to go out of pocket to refund their money, I wanted to make sure that customer was satisfied no matter what, even if it means inconvenience for me. It's very important to me that my customers have a good professional experience. Its a reputation thing but also its who I am as a person. Sometimes I don't know if I can succeed in business. My wife tells me I'm too nice. But to me, somethings don't bother me as much. I take on this online store with minimal risk. $29 dollars a month is not worth a bad reputation. So I'm still in question as to who I am as a entrepreneur? I want to succeed but I don't want to angry customers. What would you suggest? Comment below and let me know what you think?

How to use Instagram to promote your business.

For the past 2 months I've had an online business selling tee shirts. I've had a lot of fun designing shirts. It's almost a way for me to remember those "a ha" moments and put them on a tee shirt. I've had some success promoting the business on Instagram and I wanted to mention some of the things I'm learning, what's working and what's not working. The first is the power of the # hashtag. Hashtags are a powerful tool to reach not just the masses, but you also have the ability to focus on your niche audience. I've had a lot of success with the hashtag, not just in business but also with attracting other entrepreneurs. I can now network with them and see what their struggles and successes are. I've also learned the importance of keeping my niche audience engaged. When I post a product I try to encourage discussion by leaving a thoughtful, purposeful comment to encourage discussion. I want to engage the customer to try to connect with them. It's important to me to try and find a common ground with them so I can cater my products to their needs and desires. If there are any other things you guys are currently doing with Instagram, please let me know. Even though I have more friends on my facebook, Instagram seems to be a better platform to do business. Let me know, and while your at it, happy blogging.

From Good to Great

One of my favorite quotes from this weeks reading material has to come from Jim Collins, "Good is the enemy of Great!" What an awesome quote. Mr. Collins continues to school us in what he meant by that. He says, "“Good is the enemy of great. And that is one of the key reasons why we have so little that becomes great. We don’t have great schools, principally because we have good schools. We don’t have great government, principally because we have good government. Few people attain great lives, in large part because it is just so easy to settle for a good life. The vast majority of companies never become great, precisely because the vast majority have become quite good – and that is their main problem. That good is the enemy of great is not just a business problem. It is a human problem. If we have cracked the code on the question of good to great, we should have something of value to any type of organization. Good schools might become great schools. Good newspapers might become great newspapers. Good churches might become great churches.Good government agencies might become great agencies. And good companies might become great companies.” In thinking about what it means to me, I have identified a few personal characteristics that I can change to get to that "great" level of leadership. I will need it if I plan to be a manager at my employer. Some of what I have to change is personal but I will mention one thing I need to change. I need to learn the power of delegation. I also need to learn how to say "no" to people. I get overworked because I don't know how to change that aspect of my decision making. If I change just that one thing, I think I'll be on my way to becoming better....not great yet. But it's almost there. Lets do better to change our attitudes from good to great! I think I can do that at least. I know I can have a great attitude to start my day. I can have a great attitude when I have a bad day. Maybe I'll start there. Let's make it a great day, not just a good one.

Be Not Weary in Well-doing!

I'm only 4 weeks into this semester and I am starting to feel the pressure. I love everything that I'm learning in school but my mind feels over loaded! This week was especially hard due to my family obligations, work obligations, church obligations, business obligations, and just life in general. It feels like I have to run ahead 10 yards to do 2 yards of work just to keep pace in school. As I talk to my wife at night I let her know my frustrations. I actually made the comment that I should just quit. School is getting to be too much! It wasn't until I read an article by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. I envision Elder Holland's intensity as he reads and pleas with his audience to hang in, and hang on. He quotes from the Doctrine and Covenants section 64 verse 33. "Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great." I'm sure I've read that scripture a million times but envisioning elder Holland say it brings me great comfort and encouragement. Everyone has to go through this learning process. Be not weary in well-doing. That is my new anthem to help me get through this semester and on to my degree. I understand the process. It's just hard sometimes. But knowing that God is there to cheer me on brings me joy. Better things are coming, I know it! Hang in there, hang on. Enjoy the process, trust the process, and have a little more faith.

Who Am I? The Manager or the Entrepreneur

As I thought about this week's reading material I couldn't help but reflect upon my personal goals in life. One of my career goals is to earn a spot in management. Whether it's with the city or in the private sector, I want to be a manager. But I kept thinking about the horror stories of my day in dealing with bad managers. I promised myself I would never stoop to that level. I wrote a few things down that will help me remember who I really want to become. Entrepreneurs have a different motive than managers. Managers are put into position to keep things in orders, to keep a schedule and to manage a department. Managers need organizational skills. They need to be able to communicate effectively both written and verbal. The only motive they have is to do their job well and to keep things in order. They don’t necessarily have to be experts in all fields, just provide support when their team needs it. Managers are not leaders. There are no special attributes or characteristics required to be a manager. Entrepreneurs on the other hand are require to have all the skills of a manager. They must communicate effectively, be organized, and balance their time. Entrepreneurs are motivated by the success of their own doing and strive to better themselves. They are also leaders among their peers. They lead because they have been there done that. They desire to help others and serve the community. They are in it for the love. Their passion for business far exceeds their desire for money.

Have I Contributed Something Meaningful?

If you know me like my wife knows me, you probably know that I'm a 'jack of all trades.' I consider myself pretty handy around the house. I can make the basic light bulb repair and fix the door knob when it needs replacing. I'm pretty proud of that! But in reality, I know that I'm really a 'jack of all trades, master of none' type of guy. I can do many things but I'm no master of any trade. The good Lord has blessed me with a lot of talents and I try to exercise those talents before it floats off into never land. Putting that into perspective, I have often wondered how I can apply my talents to business? What good can I contribute to the world? How can I contribute something meaningful? Whats a need in the world that I can satisfy with my talents? These questions are a great way to figure out what type of business I want to do because it brings our passions at the fore front of why we do business. In last weeks blog, I mentioned that money shouldn't be our primary reason for doing business. All successful businesses make money. Some more than others. Success is not measured in dollar signs. Success is measured in doing something meaningful and great! So the next time you ponder and think about what type of business you want, think of last time you lost track of time. That might be your God give talent. If it satisfies a need in the world, and it causes you to help and serve other, that might give you a clue on what to do next.

It's Not About the Money

Why did I chose to study business? Why does it interest me? What can business possibly teach me that will benefit my life? Was I in it for the money? How much can I earn? After many days of pondering and reflecting on these questions, I came to the realization that business chose me. At the core of beliefs are the teachings of Jesus Christ. He is my Exemplar of what a great businessman should be like. Only his business is saving souls. If He was paid for his Work, He would be known as the Greatest businessman ever! Which brings up a good point, if Christ didn't do it for the money, what did He do it for? I've allowed that to marinade in my mind I have dug deep into my heart and soul of what is my purpose in business? I know I want to help people. Starting with my family. I want to provide for them and give them the quality of life they deserve. Second I want to provide a service or give people something they can use to better their lives. Money is not my motive for business but the benefits of success can provide me the opportunity to better serve others. I am learning each day that success is a difficult path to follow but comes with hard work, a love or passion for others, ethical boundaries, and dead aim focus on accomplishing goals. It truly isn't about the money. To me, the process towards success is rewarding enough. The money will come. It is only a matter of time. But I don't want to loose focus on the reasons why I do what I do.

Week 2 of Business Class

I've come to appreciate my church standards even more this week as I've engaged myself in business ethics 101. No one ever tells you that what you're doing in church directly affects the way you do business in the real world. In church you learn to be honest in your dealings with your fellowmen, to serve others and treat them with respect, and to live with in your means and stay out of debt. Now going off of what I learn in church I've just put myself ahead of the game by at least 5-10 years. Another important church principle I'd like to focus on is faith. In church we learn that faith is the evidence of things not seen but are real. How does that relates to business? Faith is the key to overcoming your fears of getting yourself into something you have no idea will be successful. Faith is the opposite of fear and vice versa, fear is the opposite of faith. If your too scared about starting a business and spending money you might not get back, then faith is most likely what you're missing. Might I emphasize the word faith is a verb or an action word. It requires work. We can't just start a company and hope that it will grow on it's own! We've got to put forth the effort and work. A prophet from my church said these important words when I was a kid, "Do your best, do your very best!" I know by experience my best effort is pretty good. I know if I do my very best, it is good enough where people pay me for my services or products. It's already been done so my faith is dormant no more. I know I can do business. The question is will my faith continue to grow and continue to overcome other fears I have not experience yet in business? I believe the answer lies in the DOing. But not just any Doing...it's gonna be my very best Doing. Which means I have to learn and grow as an entrepreneur. I have to adjust with the times but not adjust my standards. My standards are what make my faith stand upright and true. It is the solid foundation upon which my faith is allowed to stand. Just like a house build on a concrete foundation and not a sandy one. This is how I will do business.