Road Rage in a Parking Lot

I backed my car out of its space being careful to avoid hitting a huge truck that was jutting out past the lines. I kept close watch in my mirror. Then I was about a foot away, I stopped, put the car in forward and drove about ten feet to the stop sign for the inner road of the lot, passing a truck that entered. Then I drove another 20 feet to the stop sign at the main road of the parking lot. There was a local police car with an officer writing a report.

I hear someone yelling and screaming. A red-faced man was charging my car claiming I hit him. I said I didn’t feel anything or see the vehicles touch. He continued his red-faced rage. The officer got out of the cruiser with his hand on his gun, put up hand for the red-faced man to calm down. 

The officer looked at me for an explanation. I said, “I felt nothing, saw nothing.” My passenger said, “We didn’t hit him.”

He looked at the red-faced man and said, “Was there any damage?” The man said. “No.”

The officer instructed the red-faced man to leave. I drove away.

Afterward, I checked my bumper and found not even a scratch or smudge. I can only imagine that the truck that passed me touch this man’s bumper and he thought it was I who did it.

This event shows how quickly an enraged person can cause a major incident. Even if he was hit, and there was damage, his response was totally inappropriate.

Merry Christmas from Chuck Norris; Forget Jean Claude Van Damme

Micro Business Stratgey

Most books on strategy create complex methods, use technical jargon that requires extensive knowledge of business operation and processes, and often have academic slants. Do micro business entrepreneurs need this, or do they want simplified methods to make strategies to achieve their vision?

One option micro business entrepreneurs have is to attend seminars. Many seminars are costly and require large amounts of time. Don't entrepreneurs want a quick and simple way to visualize their futures?

# micro business entrepreneurs

# Micro Business Strategy

How many people know how to create strategic plans for micro businesses?

Meditate on This

Micro Business Strategy Guides

I’ve secured my new website, www.microbusinessstrategy.net (under construction), which will serve as the focal point of the Micro Business Strategy Series. The series begins with Micro Business Strategy: Workbook. The next title: Micro Business Strategy: Marketing, Micro Business Strategy: Branding follows that. With the last release, I will open a branding store.

Each of these workbook focuses on a different aspect of micro business management. The first will get you up and running. The second will help you position your micro business in the marketplace by helping you find that comfortable niche. The third will allow you to create your brand.

I believe that by the time you finish all three titles, you will have a thriving business.

The Micro Business Strategy Series borrows strategies, tactics, and mindsets from large corporations, academia, and history and creates useable information that are simplified and applicable to any situation. The series follows the time-proven KISS maxim: Keep It Simple Stupid.

Why am I doing this?

This Bureau of Labor Statistics Report indicates that adult men and women greater than 20 years of age have large numbers of unemployed: 14.3 million. In addition, 5.5 million people work part time jobs due to slack work or business conditions. These individuals need options, and it does not appear that the job market will produce jobs for some time to come, if ever.

In the News:

Forbes reports, “New business creation by the 55 to 64-year-old age group is up sharply over the past 15 years—from 14.3 percent of all entrepreneurs in 1996 to 20.9 percent in 2011, according to the Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity, 1996-2011.

In June, an AARP/Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) survey of 50 + employed workers revealed that one in twenty plan to start their own business; nearly one in five unemployed workers would prefer to do the same.

An article in Barrons by J. Laing reports some dismal expectations for the economy. “Over the next 20 years, the U.S. economy is likely to grow only 2% a year. That’s down from 3% or better since World War II”

Vision, Vision Statements, and Micro Business

In his Inaugural Address John Kennedy said, "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country." While in office, he worked on his campaign pledge to get America moving again.

·         His economic programs launched the country on a long period of economic growth.

·         He laid out plans for a massive assault on poverty.

·        His vision created the program that landed us on the moon.

Ronald Reagan had visions of a nuclear free world, economic prosperity, and an end to the cold war. While in office, he worked on his campaign pledge to get America moving again

·         His economic policies expanded the economy for an extended period.

·         His collaborations with Mikael Gorbachev led to the INF (Intermediate Nuclear Force Reduction) and START, the strategic weapon reduction treaties.

·         No one can forget the “bring down this wall” speech that marked the beginning of the end of the cold war.

 Both of these men were visionary leaders. There are others. You may know some locally. If you look around, you’ll see corporations that have vision: Procter& Gamble, Amazon, Apple Computer and more. If you follow the B2B market, you know IBM and Xerox created strategic visions that propelled their companies to become leaders in their industries.

A vision is a mental picture of what an organization aspires to be at a future date. Once you have the vision, you need a vision statement. The vision statement flows from the vision. Vision statements have a purpose.

1.      The vision statement provides the general direction for an organization. However, it does not specify results. In 1865, John Soule created the statement made popular by Horace Greely, "Go west young man, go west, and grow up with the country

2.      A vision statement also provides a framework for decision making because decisions need to fit the vision’s direction.

3.      It affects organizational structure because the leaders will create a structure to fit the vision.

4.      It will change working relationships because of the values the vision statement instills in the people.

Vision statement are clear because a vague message, open to interpretation helps no one. Further, a clear statement is easy to understand.

They present a challenge to everyone involved. If it's too easy, people do not give a full effort. Too hard, people stop trying.

Good vision statements inspire people to act.

Micro businesses can use vision and vision statements to launch and sustain their small business operations because they empower everyone involves with the organization.

Starbucks and Lean Management

If you ever read this blog, you know that Starbucks has been a great disappointment to me. For years I visited local Starbucks four to six days per week. Now I've been there once in the past three weeks. I did make several visits. However, when they fail to have the product I like and want to drink, I leave and go elsewhere.

The product I seek is freshly brewed decaf coffee, which was readily available at all times. Currently, all you can get in my area is the Pukey Panther-Piss Pourthrough with the horrible taste and worse aftertaste.

The only reason I can think of why they did this is due to major changes and monstrous greed on the part of Howard Schultz.  The harbinger came to light with the name-change from Starbucks Coffee to Starbucks, and most likely, lean management.

For all practical purposes, this means my Starbucks Gold Card has been rendered useless, my relationship with this retail establishment is over, and Dunkin Donuts  gets my business now.

Awesome Rendition of the Star Spangled Banner

A Facebook friend posted this awesome rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. It has a heavy metal sound and get the emotions going. Please enjoy the video.

Entrepreneurship: The Wave of the Future

In July 2013, the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Situation Report indicated that 144,285,000 people had jobs. Contrast that with the July 2007 report that showed 146,110,000 were employed. During that period, more than five million people entered the labor force. It’s painfully obvious that job growth has failed to keep pace with population growth. This phenomenon is not limited to the United States; the global population faces high unemployment. The solution is entrepreneurship; however, not everyone has the resources, knowledge, or tools to plan a large-scale business. Micro businesses, those with 10 or less employees, will fill the gap.  

This is why I'm currently writing the Micro Business Strategy Guide.

Starbucks Fails Again

The other day, I went to one of their stores and discover why they changed their name fro0m Starbucks Coffee to Starbucks. For some time, Starbucks has had freshly brewed decaf coffee on hand. But the other day, they wanted to make a cup from what they call pour through. Any true coffee aficionado will tell you that it taste like monkey piss, and it leave a horrible aftertaste that lasts for hours after drinking it.

I cancelled my order and prepared to leave. A customer who was at the counter (someone I know) told me the clerks said I was mean. I had to laugh. In other words, I’m mean because the shop the sells freshly brewed coffee failed to have freshly brewed coffee and I refuse to spend money on something that tastes terrible?

Back to the name change: Starbucks has ventured into other markets that most likely provide greater profits for them. The attitude is, damn those who made us what we are today. What will the future bring? 

How about some competition in the market? 

When will someone else get into the coffee business and do a better job than Starbucks?

When will someone give Starbucks a run for the money?

 

Excuse me for whining.