Does Size Really Matter For Business?

By James Dalman · Comments (0)
Thursday, February 18th, 2010

Have you ever wondered if the size of your business really mattered?

Many entrepreneurs believe that success comes from how big their business grows or how many clients they can close on.  Bloggers determine that having a larger audience or comment base is better and hardcore Twitter lovers place an extreme value on how many followers they have.  If bigger is better, then why do so many big businesses fail?

Think about Starbucks.

They are hurting right now and have been closing stores because they grew way too fast.  The placement of Starbucks stores in about any location or venue they could place it damaged the unique experience people loved.  Now they are trying to regain market share by becoming small again and by inventing “local coffee shops” that are forced and inauthentic.  It’s an epic failure.   The same thing happened with Krispy Kreme and Orange County Choppers.  Something unique is created, the demand is raised to higher levels, and then mass production destroys the uniqueness … and profits.

Seth Godin preaches about how scarcity generates value.  This is not a new concept but it is absolutely true.  The less likely you can get something, the more it is worth.

I like love this mindset for business!  Cory Miller and I had a conversation about this while at WordCamp Boston.  He asked if I thought highly popular “mom and pop” shops should grow to meet the demand of new customers or stay small.  I believe that when you start getting bigger and making more of your services or products available to a wide range of audiences, that the short term profits you might earn now, will hurt the life of your business later. I’ve seen entrepreneurs who keep their businesses small or limited, thrive year after year.   Eischen’s Bar in Okarche, Oklahoma is well known for their fried chicken.  It’s a small bar that is packed out every weekend and lunch day (regardless of reviews going either way) and much of the allure is because they’ve decided to keep the special “whole in wall” experience to one location and a limited menu.  Other businesses that use similar strategies are In-N-Out Burgers and Tom Bihn Bags.

My point is that you don’t have to have a large client list, following, or readership to be a successful brand or business.  Sometimes the best thing you can do is stay small and focused, or just create a really cool or unique experience.  If you are something remarkable and worth talking about you won’t have to worry about being a huge success.

Categories : Branding, Business, Business Lessons
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20 Tips for Becoming an Entrepreneur

By James Dalman · Comments (2)
Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

I cannot tell a lie.  I love being an entrepreneur.  There is just nothing else like it.

Back in 1986 I was bitten with the bug and even though there were a few times where I had to take a job to make ends meet, I always kept one of my ventures going on the side.  Once you are addicted to the freedom and rush of doing your own thing, it doesn’t feel right to do anything else.

People continually ask me for advice about launching their own business and while there are so many in-depth conversations I could provide, I just want to share some quick tips that I recommend anybody ready to make the leap to think about.

  1. Do it. Plain and simple…you will never know what you are missing, succeed or fail, until you do it.
  2. Love what you do. Start off with something you really enjoy or get excited about.  It helps you through hard days.
  3. Don’t be a perfectionist. People who take too long never launch.  I owe this insight to Cory Miller.
  4. Make money, but don’t obsess over it. If all you chase is the money, you won’t find satisfaction – ever!
  5. Create a plan. It doesn’t have to be a 500 page book.  Write down goals and milestones for year one to start.
  6. Use social media to your advantage.  Pick a few tools and use them wisely for your benefit.
  7. Learn from others. If you can get entrepreneurs to share, even if you have to pay, do it.  It will be a tremendous asset.
  8. Don’t waste money. Advertising, fancy offices, expensive office equipment are usually a waste.  Keep your cash for other things.
  9. Don’t waste time. Time is precious and easy to burn.  Say no to anything that doesn’t get you closer to your goals.
  10. Protect your dream. People like to bring you down so be wise who you talk to or share your ideas with.
  11. Read books. You can learn so much from reading so make it a habit.
  12. Focus. Pick your horse and stick with it.  Changing your mind daily will kill you and your business.
  13. Create boundaries. Make sure you set rules for work hours and limit interruptions.
  14. Work smart and work hard. You can’t easily build a business but you can make some things easier.
  15. Don’t give up. Too many people quit too soon.  Only give up if you know the dream is dead.
  16. Take time off. Working longer without breaks kills productivity.  I promise!
  17. Fire customers and clients if needed. No, customers are not always right or a match for you.
  18. Learn to say no. Go with your gut if something doesn’t feel right.  Be willing to walk away.
  19. Be confident. Charge what your worth.  Believe in yourself or product.
  20. Be willing to fail. No one succeeds all the time and even in our failures we learn a lot.  Take a risk and don’t look back.

Of course there’s more, there always is.  But keeping these twenty tips for becoming an entrepreneur in mind will be a great platform for making that leap!

Categories : Business, Life Journies
Comments (2)

Give Your Art Away

By James Dalman · Comments (0)
Sunday, February 7th, 2010

I used to be a true artist.

My days used to be filled with airbrushing custom t-shirts, illustrating greeting cards, creating comic books, and sketching whatever came to mind.  I did these things because I loved to do them.  Time always seemed to stand still and hours would pass before I ever looked at a clock while being immersed in my craft.  It was a beautiful time.

The other side of letting my imagination go was that when I completed my art, it seemed to benefit other people as well.  There was an immense satisfaction when friends and family would enjoy the fruits of my labor… and for an artist, this is payment enough for our investment.

It is a blessing to give a piece of yourself away.

I was reminded of these “old” memories as I’ve been reading Linchpin, the latest brain-work of Seth Godin.  Godin writes about how we are artists and that we can actually enjoy giving away gifts through our work and jobs.  On page 83 he writes, “An artist is someone who uses bravery, insight, creativity, and boldness to challenge the status quo.  And an artist takes it personally” Seth then goes on to say, “Art is a personal gift that changes the recipient. The medium doesn’t matter.  The intent does.”

This really resonated with me because for so long I have forgotten what it is to give my art away.

I’ve only been focused on the monetary payoff or Return on Investment …and it has robbed me of the joy and satisfaction I once knew.  Sure, we should be able to make a living from our businesses or skills but there are ways in which we can improve the joy of our work by being an artist that gives away our art.

How does this apply to you? Maybe you feel as though you’re not an artist, but Seth goes on to explain that being one isn’t about creating a masterpiece with a paint brush, but rather art is as simple as a smile to someone who needs one to writing a blog post that inspires a reader.  So to sum it up, true art isn’t about money or fame or even a drawing; true art is about making a difference in the person who receives it – and we are all capable of achieving this!

My goal is to get back to being a real artist.  Not in the medium but in the giving.  And I encourage you to as well.  Remember, we can all be remarkable by doing small things that change the world, one person at a time.  Give your art away!

Categories : Business, Life Journies, Passions, Thoughts
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