Saturday Night Business Plan

Starting a business is the easiest thing in the world to do. I should know, I’ve started A LOT of them. Most of my businesses were started on a Saturday night. You know how it goes; you’re tired and frustrated from a week on the slave ship and you’ve made up your mind that enough is enough. You pull your self a killer business idea from the brain files and have a beer to celebrate. You may even go so far as to give your new business a name. Po No Mo, Inc. will revolutionize the industry. Customers will be tripping all over themselves to pour their pennies into your coffers.

Most Businesses Never Make It Past That First Saturday Night

That’s the typical story. We completely sell ourselves on the perfect business, we put together a mental business plan, then we bounce the idea off of a few people. We’ll typically get a few thumbs up but we’ll also get some non-believers who NEVER appreciate our business ideas. I don’t know why we keep going back to these naysayers but we spend the rest of the day thinking of the look on their faces when we whip up in the new Lamborghini.

Unfortunately, Monday comes all too soon.

The cold, harsh reality of life on planet Earth hits us like ice water on the back as we drive to work Monday morning. We’ll be lucky to spare a thought for the newborn business all week. This is the way it goes. Over the next few days/weeks we may get a few small tasks done before the business is no longer as viable as it was that first Saturday night. Finally, we relegate it to the same place as that $400 remote control car that we had to have or that old 3 wheeler we bought four years ago that we plan to restore. It becomes something that you used to think was cool but now just takes up space.

Business Is A Lifestyle

When you really decide you’re serious about making a go of a business it consumes you. It must consume you. Every spare moment must be used for planning, networking, designing, writing, calling, and building. In the beginning, you must wear many hats…actually, you will probably have to wear every hat. For the startup, there is one simple rule that can keep you ahead of the failure curve:

Everything you can possibly do, do it daily. You must challenge yourself to fight against procrastination. If there is anything that will absolutely stand in the way of you making your own luck, it is procrastination. Luck favors the prepared. Always assume that you will meet Mr. Destiny and have one chance at a successful sales pitch. This rule is especially true for marketing. One of the most important functions of any business is spreading the gospel as to who you are and what you do. As an entrepreneur, you are constantly marketing your business. Everything you do and every facet of your life should be marketing. EVERYONE YOU MEET IS A CUSTOMER.

This Is A True Story

I once started a graphic design business. I always had a natural flair for art but for reasons known only to God, I did not pursue design in college or as a profession. Well, somehow I was able get a couple of clients to pay me for designing business cards and logos. I hadn’t done any marketing or business development of any kind but I got a couple of inquiries for design work through networking with friends. I didn’t do a bad job taking care of my clients but my business organization left A LOT to be desired.

My Weekly Trip To The Bookstore

I’m a readaholic; a book junkie. I make a trip to the bookstore three times a week or more. My routine is the same: First I’ll check out the periodicals and then browse the computer, business, self improvement, and science fiction sections.

I was looking at a book on Photoshop when I noticed a gentleman standing near me browsing the same section. He looked every bit the busy executive. He was a middle aged guy, roughly 50 but his graying hair hung over his collar. Different. He wore the confident uniform of a major player including the loafers that were once some type of large, toothy reptile. He rocked a navy pin striped suit with a pink shirt. The pink shirt is what gave me the impression that if he worked for someone he was definitely top management; no mid-level bozo could pull off this look. He didn’t wear a tie…I think his French super model girlfriend must have taken it off and tied it around her thigh. Of course he had the watch. I don’t know what brand of watch it was but it was BIG and gold. It looked like something he might have plucked from the dash board of P-Diddy’s private jet.

I am strong with The Force. I absolutely KNEW he was going to say something to me and sure enough, he did:

“Excuse me, I don’t mean to bother you but do you know anything about Photoshop?” My first instinct was to back away from this dude just in case he was trying to hit on me or something. He may have just gotten out of prison for all I knew.

“Yes, I know a bit about it, what are you trying to do?” Entrepreneur mode took over.

“Well, I’ve got a small telecommunications company and I’ve got some good ideas for a new identity. I’m not much of an artist but I know what I want. I worked with a couple of designers but they either want to do things their way or in one case, we communicate and I never hear from them again!”

KA-CHING!!!

“I can certainly show you some good books but Photoshop is a huge program and it won’t be easy to learn unless you have ALOT of time to work with it! ” ( Entrepreneurs never have much time so I knew I’d hit a hot button now. )

“Yeah, you’re probably right, judging by the size of some of these books. What do you do for a living?”

GOT HIM.

“Well, I do some freelance graphic design…mostly for small businesses and non-profit organizations (my church!). Logos, business cards, stationary, and flyers,”

He looked well pleased at his own good fortune and said: “Really? I tell you what, if you have time for a new client I’d love to see some of your work! Let me have one of your cards!”

Now, I want to explain something…he didn’t ask me if I had a business card. He knew I had a card (that I had designed) and wanted one. There was never a question of if I had card, what kind of business person doesn’t?

“I’m sorry…I…don’t have any cards with me.” He waited like he expected me to say something else:

“I’ll write my number down for you….” I said very meekly….“uumm. do you have a pen?” This was bad. No business card, no pen, and here I was getting a chance meeting with Richard Gere’s character from Pretty Woman. I hoped he wouldn’t ask me for anything else.

“Tell you what… what’s the name of your website and I’ll look you up?”

Oh, Jesus.

“Sorry, my web site’s not up yet…” Court adjourned. He looked at me the way a drop dead, beautiful woman does when she tells you she’s interested in you and you tell her that you’re married. It was a combination of disbelief, disappointment, and disgust.

“Well, I guess I’ll try this one, it looks ok!” He said as he picked up a big Photoshop book that looked smarter than I was. He didn’t care about my opinion on the book anymore. He probably didn’t even believe I could read. He grabbed his PDA out of his pocket, put it to his ear and walked off.  I imagine he probably paid for his book with his American Express Black Card, jumped in his Maserati and burned out listening to Jay-Z rap about pimps, hoes, and money.

A rule about networking and relationships: People tend to run in the same circles. Who knows where that one contact could have taken me? He likely had many high profile, business owning friends that needed my services. I wonder where I’d be if I’d been prepared? Possibly sitting on my yacht, The Anaconda, in St. Tropez or writing my blog “FilthyStinkinRich101″ from the man made beaches of Dubai. I just hope and pray that Mr. Destiny visits more than once in a lifetime.