One of the greatest books I read regarding business, particularly small business, took me about 2 years to read. One of our sales people attended a local seminar produced by a local networking group, staring Tom Gegax, the founder and former CEO of Tires Plus. At the seminar copies of his book “The Big Book of Small Business” were distributed for attendees. A copy appeared on my desk a few days later. I didn’t pick it up for almost a year. But, I’m glad I did.
There are a lot of gems inside its pages. It is essentially a small business manual. It is not structured in the way any other business book I have ever read is. It has so much information, advice, and guidance within its pages for situations like hiring and firing, management, finance, even real estate and business location. It is truly invaluable.
But, one of the biggest things I took away, one of the biggest things I have taken away from the experience of owning my own business is the idea of opportunity. Prior to running my own business I had all of these crazy ideas. Notice I wrote “crazy” they were just up there in my head, keeping me up sometimes while laying in bed or making social situations awkward as they crowded my mind during casusal conversations. Ideas from employees to new business ventures… everything and anything.
One of the things “The Big Book of Small Business” discuss is where to find employees. While out and about you meet people everywhere, on the street, in a McDonald’s that are all potential hires. They have the abilities and magic that might fit you or your business. Regard everything, every situation as an opportunity to find employees. But, this can be extended.
There are so many ways to get business, to create strategic partnerships or relationships, or create something entirely new, every moment of every day. You just have to be creative, understand that the opportunity is there, and go for it. I am not suggesting switching directions every day, or switching directions based on the response of these opportunity solicitations, but I am suggesting that, within your own business plan or model, there are tons of opportunities. Conventionally, fear holds people back from asking a colleague to listen to an idea, or to ask for a meeting with a local competitor about how to work together, but if you’re creative enough, and the idea is truly worth while, you will be heard, and you will probably be surprised at how this is able to grow your business.
I can’t go into too much detail, because these opportunities will arise in different forms for everyone. But, I can give you an example. I receive the local enewsletter called “Gulfshore Business Daily” it’s always chocked full of local business news – mostly PR snippets. But, occasionally there are things that I view as an opportunity. One such opportunity came through this email when a local marketer, I read, had just won a number of awards for some radio ads they had produced for a client. I contacted the company to congratulate them and from there one thing has led to another and we are now working very closely together to provide services for their clients and vice-versa. One tiny opportunity, one tiny email, now a tremendous business relationship.
So keep your eyes open.
