Store It Correctly

A buddy of mine
loaded up on printer paper
during a local business’s
liquidation sale.

She knew she’d use
that paper…eventually.

And it was a great deal.

She then stored this paper
in her basement.

Her damp in the Spring
basement.

Yep.
All of the paper
has been damaged so badly
it is unusable
in printers.

Invest in waterproof containers
and moisture absorbers
(oxygen absorbers
for things like food)
and other tools.

And place
your supplies and other items
in the best
storage location
possible.

Don’t destroy
your investment.

Store supplies
and other items correctly.

Adding Investments Gradually

I am gradually expanding
the vegetable garden
in my backyard.

Every year,
I add another perennial,
a plant that will return
every spring
and produce food for me.

Perennials tend
to be more expensive
to purchase.
I also have to learn
how to plant them
and how to best care for them.

They are an investment.

I only add one a year
to my ‘portfolio.’

This allows me
to focus on the new addition.

And that increases the odds
my investment
will pay off
…for the rest of my life.

This gradual and steady approach
can apply to ANY investment,
including investments
in our businesses.

Consider adding investments
slowly
and gradually.

That will increase the odds
they’ll provide the return
you need from them.

Reacting Emotionally

A subcontractor responded
extremely rudely
and over-the-top emotionally
to one of my questions.

My first reaction,
based purely on emotion,
was to tell him
to f*ck off.
I’d work
with someone else
to finish the job.

Except that
might have placed the project
in jeopardy.

It would have definitely
delayed the project’s completion.

So I sucked back
my anger
and I am continuing to work
with him.

For this project.

For future projects,
I’ll work with other people.

And he definitely won’t
be receiving any referrals
from me.

Don’t make decisions
or shift relationships
based on emotion.

Think before you react.

One More Use

I try to get
one more use
out of just about everything
– packaging,
clothing,
computers,
space in my home,
etc.

I use the empty potato chip bag
as a garbage bag.

I plant some radishes
in an unused corner of my yard.

I convert torn clothing
to cleaning rags.

On their own,
these one more uses
don’t save much money
or other resources.

Collectively,
however,
they have funded business start ups
in the past.

Try to get
one more use
out of everything around you.

Call To Confirm Attendance

A buddy of mine
is getting married this year.

She sent out the invitations.

Only 10% of the guests
RSVPed by the deadline.

That isn’t an unexpected result.

When I hosted events
before COVID,
I had to call
most of the invited guests
to confirm they were attending.

Now, we’re dealing
with people with COVID brain.
They can’t remember sh*t.

So not only do we have to
call to confirm they plan
to attend events
but we also have to
call to remind them
to attend them.

Factor that into
your planning.

Bird Flu And Running A Business

Bird flu is spreading
between cows, birds, cats, dogs.

It is only a matter of time
before it spreads
from human to human.

Business builders in
food, pet, medical
and other directly impacted industries
have a sh*tload of changes
to possibly implement.

The rest of us
should already be prepared.

As bird flu is airborne,
we simply continue to implement
the same strategy
we’re using with COVID
and the many other viruses circulating.

We supply masks and hand sanitizer
to employees
and perhaps to customers.

We ensure we have
online and other virtual options
available,
if at all possible.

We prepare to pivot
to working from home
and to working with fewer employees
if that is needed.

We are building businesses
in the age of pandemics
– multiple pandemics.

Dealing with situations
like the spread of bird flu
is part of our jobs now
as business builders.

It is time
to do that job.

The Right Amount

I stayed in a hotel
recently
that offered guest soap
that had the dimensions
of a regular bar of soap
except it was half as thick.

Because that is all
the average hotel guest would use
during a stay.

More is wasteful.

It costs the hotel
additional money to supply.
It creates more garbage.
And it doesn’t add value
to their guests.

More is not always better.

Figure out what your customer
needs
and offer your products
in that size.

The Importance Of Colors

There’s a certain shade of blue
that in liquid form
is associated with mouthwash
in the US.

I recently stayed in a hotel
that had guest shampoo
that was the same color
and consistency.

I picked it up,
thinking it was mouthwash,
but, thankfully,
noticed it was shampoo
before I put it in my mouth.

Certain colors
have connotations.
There’s ‘mouthwash’ blue
and ‘mint’ green
and ‘recycle bin’ blue
and others.

Think before using
those colors
for your products.

Put Aside Resources For Repairs And Maintenance

We’re painting the front door
and some trim this upcoming weekend.
We do that every five years
or so.

We plan for it.
We put aside money
for the paint.
We dedicate a day to it.

Just as we put aside money
and time
to repair the car.
And the lawnmower.
And other machines/tools we use.

Because repairs have to be made.
Maintenance has to be done.
Sh*t breaks down.

That’s true for business sh*t also.

Set aside resources
for repairs and maintenance.
They WILL need to be tackled…eventually.

Assume Your Customers Can’t Do Math

An editor buddy of mine,
in the past,
would quote the cost
of her service
in cents per word.

She would tell writers
their story would cost
X cents per word to edit.

That X is a small figure.
And many writers can’t do math
so they assumed the cost would also be small.

But most stories are long.
My editor buddy would give them a bill
for over $700
and the writers would freak out.

They wouldn’t or couldn’t
pay my editor buddy
for the service
she already gave them.

Now, my editor buddy
gives prospective clients
an estimated total cost
based on an estimated word count.

More prospective clients
decide not to hire her.

But almost all of the clients
who DO hire her,
pay for her services.

Most of your customers
can’t do math.

Factor that into
pricing discussions.