March 4,
2004
~ Get Back Into The Box ~
What makes your business so special? Is it that you do
the best job or that you have the best prices or even that you
look the best. But what if you’re the business sitting on the
curb like everyone else waiting for that one big innovation to
come along so you can capitalize on it first and get yourself
off the curb? I tend to have less faith in business than that.
A recent question posed to me from a college
application stated: “What makes you a better applicant than
all the others?” I thought about this for a moment then
silently answered: “Because I am.” It’s this type of reasoning
I would very much like to see in most businesses these days. I
don’t know how many companies I’ve encountered or observed
that have simply missed the mark in being different. Many
people think that being cheaper is more effective. Others that
they are more comprehensive, though they charge more and in
some cases, neglect customer service. Still others go on about
the newest technologies that they use to make the job easier
or better. Though they all have something to offer, they don’t
present a full package.
Now it is arguable that this notion of being the best
out there is bunk. I mean, there’s already a top dog company
out there that’s bigger than you’ll ever be, so why bother
beating out everybody when you can simply run your company and
have at it. But that company didn’t get so large without
finding ways to be the best at what they’re doing.
So what I’m saying is that I know we can all do better.
And I think it’s time that we started.
Start with some creative thinking. Yes, I know
“Thinking outside of the box” can be a bit difficult. But
that’s not what I’m asking. I want you to go out and find a
different box. Go find a box that you like or one that fits
what you’re doing and has worked at doing well at it. Look
into this box and get lost somewhere in the cardboard. Then,
when you know what you want to do, go do it. Plan it if you
like, but go do it. And don’t let anything stop you from
getting it done.
That’s the business attitude I would like to see the
business owners of America exude. After all, it’s this
attitude that allowed us to break away and build America. Let
alone make it a great country.
P.S.: We updated
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