Re: Intro and question

On Thu, Feb 27, 2003 at 01:10:56PM -0800, Rich Bodo wrote:
> 
> > is it possible to build a business without a large nest egg?
> 
> I'm more of a peer than a mentor, 

Cool.  I'm just looking ofr people to discuss these topics with.

> Market to increase sales to increase revenue to save money to hire
> people.  

I've got some questions on how to do this, but that's another thread
(coming soo! :-).

> Consider your time.  I recommend the E-Myth by Gerber.  

Or in my case, "The E-Myth Revisted".  I love that book and I fully
embrace it (although from your definition, the two books might be
sufficiently different for me to find the first one).

that book is what is, philosophically at least, driving me.  One of my
problems is that I can't figure out how to apply it to a service.  When
I say service, I don't mean like McDonald's.  they're not selling a
service, they're selling hamburgers.  There I understand the E-Myth
application.

From what I gather, my clients are hiring *me* and my expertise.  Now,
my expertise is easily replicated in others (although I don't think my
trouble-shooting skills are), but I'm not easily replicable.  I wat to
extricate myself (I think) so I can take a vacation. Just like Gerber
says. :-)

> You browse
> through the sales and marketing sections at your local bookstore for
> motivation here, but IMHO, you will need experienced mentors in your
> field for input on this.

Which is what I'm doing here.  I think an FSB is different enough that I
need to talk to other FSBers. 

> This is primarily because we just hang in there
> and satisfy most of our customers.  I have come to believe that this
> is unusual enough behaviour that any business that can emulate it will
> grow within their market by word of mouth.

WOM is simply not working for me.  All of my clients, save one, I've
gotten through my web page (the other was a fellow I met in Tai Chi who
then went to my web page :-).  When I ask for referrals, none of my
clients can think of anyone (but they continuously call me back in for
work).  I've got the same problem when I ask my friends to hook me up
with women. :-)


-- 
 
Regards,
 
Faber                     

Linux New Jersey: Open Source Solutions for New Jersey
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