We will never get anywhere in life if we don't have the courage to make a move. Without courage to make a stand, venture out or to see what is on the other side of the fence, we will end up as a recluse. An entrepreneur has to have real courage.
Here are some of my favorite quotes about courage. See how they might apply to your own life.
Without courage, all other virtues lose their meaning.
- Winston Churchill
Success is never found. Failure is never fatal. Courage is the only thing.
- Winston Churchill
Courage is the greatest of all the virtues. Because if you haven't courage, you may not have an opportunity to use any of the others.
- Samuel Johnson
Nothing but courage can guide life.
- Vauvenargues
Why not go out on a limb? Isn't that where the fruit is?
- Frank Scully
In times of stress, be bold and valiant.
- Horace
It is the bold man who every time does best, at home or abroad.
- Homer
He who loses wealth loses much; he who loses a friend loses more; but he who loses his courage loses all.
- Miguel de Cervantes
True miracles are created by men when they use the courage and intelligence that God gave them.
- Jean Anouilh
It is a sad day when we are afraid to test the waters and freedom that awaits each of us if we will only try.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Dull Companies
Warren Buffet said: “Dull companies with steady earnings growth may not make for stimulating cocktail party chatter but over the long haul, they make the best investments.”
If too many people want to do the business, there is too much competition and no one makes much money!
I know a window cleaning franchisor has a franchisee making over 500k profit. It costs less than 100k to open one up. How good of a ROI would that be? Can you imagine becoming a millionaire cleaning windows? I can guarantee you the owner is NOT the one cleaning windows. Some might say anyone can wash window, but most don’t know how to grow big, market themselves or make much money. That is where the system makes a difference.
I know of a home and business restoration franchisor who has franchisee that paid something like 60k to open and now they have 40 trucks and have revues over 6 millions of dollars a year.
I know some carpet cleaning franchisees are making a few hundred thousand dollars a year.
If you want to start a business and want to be successful, find something DULL that few people are willing to do.
If too many people want to do the business, there is too much competition and no one makes much money!
I know a window cleaning franchisor has a franchisee making over 500k profit. It costs less than 100k to open one up. How good of a ROI would that be? Can you imagine becoming a millionaire cleaning windows? I can guarantee you the owner is NOT the one cleaning windows. Some might say anyone can wash window, but most don’t know how to grow big, market themselves or make much money. That is where the system makes a difference.
I know of a home and business restoration franchisor who has franchisee that paid something like 60k to open and now they have 40 trucks and have revues over 6 millions of dollars a year.
I know some carpet cleaning franchisees are making a few hundred thousand dollars a year.
If you want to start a business and want to be successful, find something DULL that few people are willing to do.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
An Entrepreneur was Born
As I reflect on my life, there were many life business experiences that helped mold me into the man I am today, most were good some were bad. Choices any of us make in our youth and as we grow older help define who we become.
When I was 6 or 7 my younger brother Randy would collect pop bottles from our neighbors and then sell them to the local grocery store. I graduated to selling Christmas cards and at the age of 12 took the money and bought a new 3 speed bicycle. I believe this is when an entrepreneur was born in me. No doubt my mission I served for 2 years where I tried to sell nonbelievers about Christ, changed my life.
After my mission I became a salesman where I cold called and sold correspondent courses at a trade school to veterans of the war. I sold real estate. I started a yard care business, then an insect control company. I looked at a multi level marketing company and joined them for about 2 weeks. My younger brother and I started raising rabbits so we could sell their pelts. Even though each endeavor never really made much money, I kept trying to find that home run.
My next experiment was the home run and changed my life again. I will talk about it in my next blog.
When I was 6 or 7 my younger brother Randy would collect pop bottles from our neighbors and then sell them to the local grocery store. I graduated to selling Christmas cards and at the age of 12 took the money and bought a new 3 speed bicycle. I believe this is when an entrepreneur was born in me. No doubt my mission I served for 2 years where I tried to sell nonbelievers about Christ, changed my life.
After my mission I became a salesman where I cold called and sold correspondent courses at a trade school to veterans of the war. I sold real estate. I started a yard care business, then an insect control company. I looked at a multi level marketing company and joined them for about 2 weeks. My younger brother and I started raising rabbits so we could sell their pelts. Even though each endeavor never really made much money, I kept trying to find that home run.
My next experiment was the home run and changed my life again. I will talk about it in my next blog.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Network Marketing your Business
There are four networking groups I wanted to talk about today. I know there are many more but these four I know work. Networking takes time but is very valuable for a many reasons. Too many times we are stuck behind our desk in our home office. We talk to people on the phone most of the day or we play around on the computer looking for leads. I find this can be hard on me mentally. If I don’t get out, I might not talk with anyone in person other than my wife for days.
Almost with any business you have, networking is invaluable. Not only is getting out of the office refreshing, it produces leads. Usually referral from these groups are golden leads. These type of leads can have a closing rate of 90 % or sometimes even better.
When you get this type of a referral lead, it is like getting a testament from the person who gave it to you. They basically are saying, you are a good guy and I trust this person. Because of this, you must not disappoint or you’ll never get another lead from that person or group.
Here are my 4 favorite groups.
• The BNI networking group is the largest in the World. They get together weekly to share ideas, contacts and most importantly, business referrals. This might be the most effective use of your time in search for referrals.
• The Corporate Alliance does the same thing but normally they are the CEO’s and upper management of different companies. It is a newer national organization but it is growing and can be very effective.
• Your local Chamber of Commerce is a great resource for most companies.
• The last but not least is your local Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis, Elks or other type clubs in your city or county. Serving and making friends return big benefits.
No matter what your business is, effective networking can make the difference between success and failure.
Almost with any business you have, networking is invaluable. Not only is getting out of the office refreshing, it produces leads. Usually referral from these groups are golden leads. These type of leads can have a closing rate of 90 % or sometimes even better.
When you get this type of a referral lead, it is like getting a testament from the person who gave it to you. They basically are saying, you are a good guy and I trust this person. Because of this, you must not disappoint or you’ll never get another lead from that person or group.
Here are my 4 favorite groups.
• The BNI networking group is the largest in the World. They get together weekly to share ideas, contacts and most importantly, business referrals. This might be the most effective use of your time in search for referrals.
• The Corporate Alliance does the same thing but normally they are the CEO’s and upper management of different companies. It is a newer national organization but it is growing and can be very effective.
• Your local Chamber of Commerce is a great resource for most companies.
• The last but not least is your local Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis, Elks or other type clubs in your city or county. Serving and making friends return big benefits.
No matter what your business is, effective networking can make the difference between success and failure.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Franchise Symposium & Expo
In just over a month, on November the 10th the Northfront Business Resource Center at the DATC in Kaysville is sponsoring franchise Symposium, teaching people about franchising. Is buying a franchise right for you? Why is franchising good or bad? How can you finance your small business? How do you tell if you are looking at a great franchise opportunity or a poor one? Those are some of the franchise questions being answered at this franchise Symposium and Expo.
Believe it or not, they have asked me to speak and be on a panel board discussion. You can get details plus more information and register at www.datc.edu/franchise. If you know of anyone who might be interested, please forward them the web site and registration instructions. It costs $15 if you preregister and $20 if you don’t, but you get a breakfast, lunch and materials which come with registering.
If you have ever had an interest in becoming an entrepreneur, financing ANY business or just want to learn a little about starting a business, it will be worth your time.
Our State of Utah Lt. Governor Greg Bell will be the Keynote speaker.
Let me know if you are coming so I can look for you.
Believe it or not, they have asked me to speak and be on a panel board discussion. You can get details plus more information and register at www.datc.edu/franchise. If you know of anyone who might be interested, please forward them the web site and registration instructions. It costs $15 if you preregister and $20 if you don’t, but you get a breakfast, lunch and materials which come with registering.
If you have ever had an interest in becoming an entrepreneur, financing ANY business or just want to learn a little about starting a business, it will be worth your time.
Our State of Utah Lt. Governor Greg Bell will be the Keynote speaker.
Let me know if you are coming so I can look for you.
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