After reading the "Seeing
Greens" article in your November issue ("Smart
Ideas"), I became ill.
Imagine placing ads on golf carts, flags, banners in the locker
rooms. What's next? Ads on golf clubs, balls, caddies' hats
and jackets? And what about a short commercial when the ball is
lifted out of the cup?
I'm an avid golfer and consider the golf course a pleasant
site of recreation and an escape from the blatant ads you see in
newspapers, magazines and on TV and radio.
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Where does it all stop?
I suppose it's only a matter of time before advertising will
work its way into the cemetery. Just look at all that space on the
cemetery fence going to waste. And then, of course, there are the
tombstones themselves.
All's fair in love and advertising.
Lawrence Mak
Owner
L&M Publications
Paradise, California
Value Added
Although the article "Hire
Learning" ("Biz
101," November) was of immense value, I would like to
address issues pertinent to the core of the article, and also to
Kathleen Miller's advice.
The biggest mistake many entrepreneurs make is not understanding
the real reason they are hiring their first employee, or [not]
recognizing the person as the most important asset they will ever
have. Many of my newer clients are so focused on timing their
products for entry into the marketplace and creating a buzz around
[them], they end up hiring their first employee out of a sense of
urgency rather than as a conscious long-term investment
strategy.
I advise my newer clients to create a list explaining not only
the need, but [also] the benefits their first hire will provide. I
ask them to think not in terms of longer lunch breaks or more time
with the family, but in terms of a person who will provide the
necessary balance to the entrepreneur's strengths and
weaknesses. My clients have learned that finding balance in a small
business equates to each person having respect for the
contributions of others, no matter how large or small.
Having cleared these hurdles, my clients explain to me what
their new employee will be doing. We then work on assigning each
task, no matter how menial, a real value or a degree of
significance as it relates to the overall success of the business.
By doing this, entrepreneurs gain an understanding of the overall
importance of the task and can communicate this to the new employee
when the eventual question of "What am I doing this for?"
arises.
Out of professional respect for Miller, although her advice is
quite sound when she talks about "distilling information in
levels," my decade-plus of experience in dealing with
entrepreneurs and startups has taught me that information [given]
to any employee, especially a new hire, [that] is not appointed a
value or significance to the overall quality or integrity of the
product/service will only lessen its value or significance to all
parties involved. Soon, no one will want to perform the task, and
it will quickly become a quality or production issue of a much
larger magnitude.
When I have clients like Mike Wilson, featured in the same
article, who are time-challenged and preparing for their first
hire, I have asked that a family member, loved one or friend
observe them while they are working. My clients later review their
notes and can then provide answers to the "whats" and
"whys" and begin assigning them a value or significance.
Although my clients have complained about having to do this extra
work, never once did any regret the successful results.
Rich Keller
President
The Healthy Business Doctor
Ocala, Florida
After the Makeover
We are so happy to have been chosen to win our wonderful prize
("To the Rescue," November). Our offices are
beautiful, efficient and so much nicer to spend 45 to 55 hours a
week in. We appreciate all that you have done. We are really moving
ahead this last quarter at a bigger, faster, greater pace than [in]
previous years. This has made Mad Science of Scottsdale a stronger,
more productive and efficient business.
Jack and Kathy Hamlett
Chief Mad Scientists
Mad Science
Scottsdale, Arizona
Sowing the Seeds
Thank you for continuing to provide inspiration, tips and
tricks, and great articles for this small-business owner! The
November issue flooded this entrepreneur's brain with great
ideas and, more important, reinforced what I should not do in
business. In addition, your website is a daily stop on my web
activities.
Thank you for continuing to plant the seeds of inspiration.
Lori Davis
Director of the Future
Davis Virtual Assistants
Starting Young
I'm a college student attending Westminster College. I am
self-motivated and feel there must be a way I can start a small
part-time business and get my studies finished. I enjoy outdoor
activities, computer work, photography, graphic design and
advertising, but am clueless as to which of these skills could
produce revenue. The hourly jobs I've been working take too
much time and seem to get me nowhere. Is there any way you could
include an article about college students in
Entrepreneur?
Christian Polleys
Salt Lake City
Editor's Note:
In response to this kind of interest, we have launched a new
column focusing on college entrepreneurs. Look for "Biz
U" in the February issue of Entrepreneur.
Corrections:
The Brain Alchemy Master Class ("Biz
101," October) is not a company, but a product of
PsychoTactics Ltd.
The website for Global Wine Partners LLC ("Wine
Businesses") is www.mkf.com.