Character shows up in those little things most take for granted like keeping your word especially when it’s inconvenient, taking personal responsibility even if it cost you, returning phone calls, looking out for others well being before your own.

Basically, the way I see it is business success in this new economy will depend largely on your intentions, your motives. That is the way it used to be and that is how it should be in my books.

Everyone gets it you are in business to make a profit but what are your intentions and motives towards your customer, your employees, your vendors, your competitors, your community, your country?

That is the question and observation on the minds of today’s new consumer. Gone are the days of “Sell, Sell, Sell!!” Consumers have so much choice when it comes to deciding who they will spend their money with. You can’t rest on ‘old model’ business thinking and processes any longer if you want to ensure they choose you to spend their hard earned money with.

The intent and motive of your heart (your business, corporation, whatever started in the heart of someone) is going to be a deciding factor on what side of the “Great Business Divide’ occurring now.

What I am talking about here as to having a ‘Good Heart’ should be the basics for anyone in business. If it’s not…the new consumer emerging today will demand it and if you don’t genuinely deliver, you will have a hard time with business success in the 21st century.

Wow! What a sad situation our country is facing as we prepare to celebrate and enjoy the freedoms that have been purchased and ransomed for us today on the backs of many a fine American. I thought to myself, “Is this our story for 2010 and on?”

The article went on to say “even though we’ve gained about 600,000 private sector jobs back, we’ve got nearly 8 million jobs to go,” said Lakshman Achuthan, managing director of Economic Cycle Research Institute.

The article went on to point out; it would take the creation of 10.6 million jobs immediately for the same percentage of the population to be working as was the case three years ago. Many of the workers who have lost jobs were in industries that are not likely to recover their former strength. They are predicting that as many as half of the people who lost their jobs will have to find something else to do.

This is very disturbing news. Millions of folks who have lost their jobs are not going to be able to find jobs in their line of work so they better figure something else out, right?

Ok, well I ask myself… what can be done about this? Are we just going to throw up our hands and except this? How are we going to turn this mess around? Are we going to wait for the government or big business to “bail us out”…again? Whatever good that did!

I THINK NOT!!

While I don’t pretend to have all the answers I do know a thing or two about entrepreneurship, small business and this New Business Era we have been sucked into!

I know they are right when the Foreman says these” jobs are going boy and they ain’t coming back”.  Those dinosaur industries and companies are falling like flies and more are to come. Much more judging by the way they are not willing to enter in to this new digital age and 21^st century marketing!

I know the golden egg for economic recovery and stability in this country is in the rise and well being of entrepreneurs and small business.

I know there are incredible opportunities for ANYONE to be in business for themselves doing what they love doing like never before! The internet and social media has knocked the feet out from under the gatekeepers. You can go in there and get yours now!

I know if we (the average everyday American) would support and commit ourselves to conduct the majority of our business transactions with entrepreneurs and small businesses across this country we would not only start money flowing into our communities again but we would see lots of jobs being created.

I know the internet and social media can and will facilitate the needed handshake where we tell one another about small businesses in our circle and community that are providing great products, services and customer appreciation and we recommend them to our friends and family to support them.

I know entrepreneurs and small business can beat out the big boys hands down, every time, on quality, price, creativity and service to make us want to transact with you…so Do It.

I know we all (both those of us in business and those of us the customer) care deeply about this and want to do our part.

I know we can and will support buying Local!

I know we are still the GREATEST country in the world and we have not lost who we are because we are innovators, creative, hard workers, good hearted, resilient, and we love to help each other out when we are in a jam. And folks, we are in a JAM!

I know when we make supporting our entrepreneurs and small businesses a priority like we have for causes like ‘Green living’, ‘Recycling’, Relief for Haiti, Tsunamis and countless other good things we do without a second thought…we can get behind entrepreneurs and small businesses who are committed to earning our business and support them so we can get back on the path to financial stability in this country.

I know this Fourth of July, 2010 we can also commemorate the adoption of…

BUY AND SUPPORT AMERICAN ENTREPRENEURS AND SMALL BUSINESSES.

I know anyone can make it in this great country and they don’t have to be left at the mercy of companies who care more about their bottom-line and shareholder than they ever will for you!

I know you can say loudly to those companies that sent our jobs abroad to increase their profitability, who managed poorly, who didn’t give a heck about the customer, our communities or our country, who over built, over indulged, and just passed their wows on to the employees…
Take this job and shove it! I ain’t working here no more”!!!! I’m starting my own business!

I know I am going to do my part and practice what I preach. Will you join me?

HAPPY FOURTH of JULY EVERYBODY!

Independence Day

During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the American colonies from Great Britain occurred on July 2, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia.^[4][5] After voting for independence, Congress turned its attention to the Declaration of Independence, a statement explaining this decision, which had been prepared by a Committee of Five, with Thomas Jefferson as its principal author. Congress debated and revised the Declaration, finally approving it on July 4. A day earlier, John Adams had written to his wife Abigail:

Adams’ prediction was off by two days. From the outset, Americans celebrated independence on July 4, the date shown on the much-publicized Declaration of Independence, rather than on July 2, the date the resolution of independence was approved in a closed session of Congress.

Wikipedia

For many of us it conjures up memories and emotions of wholesomeness, family, fall colors, great food and of course, being thankful to God for all of the blessings we have.

Despite the fact Thanksgiving is just about being swept off the map and overshadowed as a major holiday these days…it will always be a significant holiday I will respect and honor in my lifetime.

I believe Thanksgiving 2009 offers up a special opportunity to those of us in business. No doubt it’s been a tough year for many of us here in the U.S. despite what the news says. I was just reading in my local paper that most folks say (that’s you and I not the talking heads) that the economy hasn’t hit bottom yet.  In fact, many were saying things like things like …

Don’t buy the bull! Anybody who thinks things are turning around is living in a dream world.

Worst yet to come. Hold on to your wallets folks. It’s only starting.

Something is very wrong in America. Have you ever known a federal government to do anything efficiently?

This one really hit home with me…

Stimulus didn’t work. No matter the media is reporting unemployment rose to 10.2 percent in October 2009, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The economy shed 190,000 jobs in October for a total of 7.3 million jobs lost since the recession began in December 2007. That does not show any signs things are getting better. What are all those people doing to make a living now?

You can agree or disagree with these views but the point is the U.S. has had a tough year and many businesses have seriously felt the effects of those 7.3 million job losses and all the other things going on in the 2009 economy.

I point all this out to lead to what I call a “blessing in disguise for those of us in business”…and that blessing is wrapped up in this year’s Thanksgiving!

Why do I say this?

Well for starters, this holiday can be an extremely helpful milestone for us to look back over our should as to what the past 11 months held so we can learn from it. At the same it can be the pivotal point for looking forward to the new year and getting our bearings to make adjustments before the onslaught of the mad rush and stress the Christmas holidays and the New Year always bring no matter how hard we try to fight it off.

Think about it. If this is a part of your 2009 strategy, this alone could help transform your business for 2010!

But that’s not all. Thanksgiving also offers us the opportunity to reevaluate the heart of our business. What I mean is, in case you haven’t noticed, customers no longer will not accept lip service, status quo, missions statements, slick advertising or gimmicks and all that phony baloney stuff. What they want are businesses to walk their talk, demonstrate you deliver what you promise you will, be treated with respect and such. They want to be loved!

I know that may sound corny but it’s been said its one of the greatest need we humans have and we do some crazy things to try and get it. Why not sincerely give it to your customers… if it’s what they want? Thanksgiving can be the perfect time for you to fall in love with your customers again. It’s also a great time to redefine what kinds of customers you really enjoy working with too you know.

In addition, Thanksgiving is steeped in transition. Fall to winter, end to new beginning, and fast pace to slowing down. See the opportunities in transitions.

Every business that wants to succeed in the 21^st century needs to get very good at transitions. Business will never be the same as it was and as it continues to evolve and morph just like the seasons do, I believe anyone in business who does not embrace change in this new business era will likely not make it over the long haul. What transitions will you employ in your business for 2010? Keep in mind; transition without creative strategy is just busyness. Thanksgiving is a good time to seriously think about this and start planning.

Lastly, but not least…Thanksgiving 2009 holds incredible opportunity to transform your business because its very purpose is about being thankful and blessing others. Despite what has gone on with this lousy economy this year…anyone still in business, both large or small has many reasons to be thankful.

This has been one of the toughest times to be in business this country has seen in a long, long, time. Being thankful for our business, our employees (if we have them), or customers and vendors just does something magical to your outlook and purpose for being in business.

Business is people serving people. That’s why it even exists! People are at their best when they are thankful and that most certainly translates into their businesses.

Man, I love Thanksgiving and all the blessings God has bestowed upon me even though I have had one tough year in business. I also love I can have a business in the greatest country in the world, America.

Have a very ‘blessed’ Thanksgiving everyone.

Some are really very entertaining, dancing and performing while others, well…just spin the sign.

If you’re anything like me, I bet you have even felt sorry for them, especially when they are out in the hot sun or cold weather.

Coming home from grocery shopping this week I saw a spinner for Little Caesars’. He was spinning a sign that was shaped as a guitar of all things which may have been because we are in the Music City area (Nashville, TN), but whatever the idea was it was a creative display. As I passed the guy listening to his iPod and acting like he was playing that guitar sign, I began to ponder the ‘sign spinners’ and add up a few things I have come to realize about these hearty souls that quite frankly, made me take a second look at them and made me size them up a bit differently.

One thing I realized was this is not a job for the faint at heart. It takes a pretty special person to stand out there in the open as cars race by stuffed with people whom you may know and plenty of those you don’t.

You gotta be able to handle the fact some of those faces blurring by are giving you looks filled with judgments, some flat out laughing at you and making fun of you and others clearly giving you looks of pity or ignoring you all together.

You also have to be a person who is not led by their pride or overly concerned about what others think. Add to that, you have to be a hard worker. Try standing out there for hours on end holding, moving and spinning an over-sized piece of cardboard or whatever it’s made of!

And here’s the kicker…I’ve noticed most all of them are young people…out there hustling and working for a living. Most of these jobs pay a measly $7.50 to high end $10 bucks an hour but despite the low pay these ambitious young people are out there gracing our corners with signs that their employers are sure will bring herds of customers rushing in to spend their money (I’ll address this in a minute).

I came across an actual ad on Craigslist today for a sign spinner. Check it out…

ABC Computer Minus is looking for multiple sign holders/movers (as in moving around, standing up and rotating/flipping a sign) for the following dates and times: Friday-Sun, Aug 7-9, hours and shifts will vary from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. on Friday, 8 a.m.- 8 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday @ $7.50 an hr. Come by the store to fill out an application between now and Friday, July 31 between the hours of 10 a.m.-8 p.m. This is a temporary position for the dates listed above. Energy, crazy wigs and bright clothing are a must! No phone calls. Only in-person applications will be considered. Easy money!
Compensation: $7.50 hr.

See what I mean.  Wigs? Bright clothing? Oh yeah…that’ll bring us in to buy!

Anyway, back to my point. As I said at the beginning of my conversation on this topic, I think the sign spinner type of person is actually the kind of employee many businesses should be looking for.

They are young, ambitious; roll-up their sleeves kind of people who are not afraid of hard work and doing what it takes for the job. Notice I didn’t say make a living because truthfully anyone having to accept these kinds of wage is NOT making a living.

In my opinion, I think it’s time businesses take a second look at their old model hiring standards and systems which have long been widely used.

Why? Because many times those systems are broken when it comes to helping a business get the best type of candidate for the job. Those systems are built to lock a company into same-minded type people and skill sets and it basically discourages hiring ‘mold breakers’ whom every business needs a few at least on their team to compete in this new business era.

Just as the landscape of 21^st century business has changed drastically, so has today’s workforce needs. Businesses willing to hire outside of their industry types and requirements will have the added advantage of bringing in fresh new thinking and ‘creatives’ which every business needs today.

I’ll give you an example of what I mean. I have personally seen many companies post jobs in the digital marketing field of which I have been working in for over 13 years now and they almost always insist on an individual who has a degree in marketing. I’m not knocking a person who has a degree but the digital media and marketing world has not been around long and it’s ever changing. In addition, marketing online is very different and always evolving compared to offline methods.

The person who has hands-on, real time business experience in this sector is most likely a person who has been involved in it from the beginning and you will not find many of those folk’s with degrees in digital marketing or media. But they are worth their weight in gold because they have knowledge that is only found at the grassroots level. And just for the record, I’m not saying these folks are uneducated. I’m saying they are the early adapters who jumped in and have been apart of pioneering what we now call the online world. They have grown up with the digital business scene and this is an advantage that cannot be learned from books.

In summary, Spinners are Winners!

Oh, as for those businesses that are using the sign spinner approach as a way to market their products and services…I would have to say the majority of you are not only out of touch with your customer…you are also exhibiting tactics of the desperate. Waving shiny bright things to lure the dumb customer in, really?

At this time, job losses from mass layoffs added up to 3.6 million, up 66 percent over the preceding 18 months.

Since many people who have not been able to find a job, we are seeing an unprecedented number of people choosing to go into business for themselves. Historically small business’ job creation will be key in our economic recovery.

The US Small Business Office of Advocacy states there are two kinds of small businesses: those without employees (or non-employer businesses), and those with paid employees (or employer businesses). In 2008 it was estimated there were 23.1 million non-employer and 6.1 million employer businesses in the US.

Small and Medium size business can very well bring a positive impact to our economy if we will all do our part and support them! When is the last time you hugged your local small business?

Let’s spend our money on their products and services so they can continue to help our country prosper again friends!

I soooooo agree with your caller Craig tonight. Why did your guys keep cutting him off? He has brought up a huge issue that hardly gets any air time! When he addressed the issue of what Hershey is doing laying off American workers and moving to Mexico Jeff Macke shoots him down and asks does he want to pay $10 for a candy bar!

That is not the main reason Hershey and almost every big American company in the US has sold their soul abroad. The real reason is GREED! Hello! You mean to tell me the experts on your show have not heard that sucking sound of our jobs gone abroad? Heck I’m just a hard working small business person who doesn’t know near as much as the guys on the show tonight (who by the way I really have enjoyed them but cant believe they are not on this) but I DO KNOW you loose all the jobs we have over the past 10 years its gonna bite us in the butt!

No work, No Money!!!
I know this has happened, it is factual as I worked in the US manufacturing sector in the early 2000′s. These companies like HP, Walmart and on and on who got their start here in our country have sold their loyalty to the USA by now being a so-called “Global” company so they don’t have to play fair here in the US. Give us a BREAK! Traitors is what they are in my book.

Look, many of them have spent millions of dollars investing and building infrastructure in these foreign countries so they could setup shop abroad and stake their claim on the new promise lands!! They would be NOTHING without us US Consumers, workers and ingenuity!

Think about it…tonight the guys on the show said we gotta create jobs! What companies are going to do that when they have easy access to cheap labor and can undercut American Main Street. This makes no sense…am I the only one seeing this?