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Better Business Idea #36

Custom designing your business

© 2000 by Michael C. Gray

April 28, 2000


As a business owner, your primary job is to be the architect of the business. In other words, it's defining "This is how we do it here."

You get to define the ground rules for your business. Although you must be responsive to a market that can support your business and your family, you should step back and think about the role the business will play in your life. This is an important first step in making your business serve you instead of you becoming the slave of the business.

If you don't establish the ground rules so the business fits a defined role to contribute to your life, you might as well be an employee for someone else's business!

The good news is that, even if you haven't done this before, you can start now. You can communicate with your customers what your new policies and procedures are that relate to them.

Don't be afraid. You can sell any arrangement. "For your convenience, we are available to you 24 hours a day by cell phone." "We serve an exclusive clientele and prefer to keep a low overhead, so we have limited availability."

Sometimes people become inspired with an idea for a huge, exciting business. When they re-examine their personal goals, they find the demands of such an operation just don't fit. For example, they may seek a lifestyle where they spend a lot of time with their family, play golf regularly and enjoy personal travel. This is not the picture of a high-powered corporate executive. Maybe they can license the idea to someone else. Maybe they can use the idea on a smaller scale.

Some people find it helpful to have someone be a "sounding board" to discuss these issues and help them keep on the right track. This is one of the roles we serve as business advisors. If you would like to discuss this further, please call Mike Gray at (408) 918-3161.

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