The Kitchen Table Entrepreneur Blog by Jackie Rogers

Say Yes First

Recently, I had the pleasure of having as guest on my radio show: The Kitchen Table Entrepreneur, Ms. Saskia Shakin. Saskiais known as the "Keynote Coach". She is an expert on public speaking and the art and science of communication. She is the author of a small book of great wisdom and encouragement called "More Than Words Can Say - The Making of Inspired Speakers".

At the end of the interview, Ms. Shakin offered a piece of advice that I believe should resonate not only to those who wish to be inspired speakers but those who wish to lead inspired lives.

As people throw up their hands at unemployment figures and wonder when it will end and then realize to an extent it won't, let me share with you Ms. Shakin's inspired words: "Say yes first. You can always say no later."

Ms. Shakin shared with my audience how her wonderful career came about by her changing her mind and saying yes to something she initially didn't think she could do. Thankfully the position that later became the springboard to her life's passion, was still waiting when she revised her answer.

It's as clear as mud. Some jobs are not coming back. Techno Darwinism is fast moving jobs and some industries toward memorabilia. So in times like these that seemingly will always be (hopefully to a milder extent); to not just survive but to thrive; don't be so quick to say no.

There's a great big world out there that's getting smaller every day. The skill-sets you learned on a job, throughout your career and in running a business can serve you in numerous opportunities that are out there; if you're willing to say yes.

If you're willing to say yes to a part of an opportunity that you do know and harness what you don't know to an enthusiasm to learn; you just might find yourself doing what you never imagined you could..and loving it.

"You can always say no later", Ms. Shakin says. You can always bow out, run back or sit around and wait for the return of "what used to be". You can always do what you've always done and be what you've always been. Or you can say yes first; to starting that business, reinventing the business, closing a business and starting anew. You can say yes first to being uncomfortable and challenged...to growing.

What do you have to lose but one more thing off that list entitled "shoulda, coulda, woulda." Say yes first.

The Answer to Economy Fatigue - By the Book

I am thoroughly sick and tired of all the talk about the economy. I am bored senseless with the daily diagnosis; recovering, on the mend, depressed, etc. I'm numb to all the siyblline prophecies of either gloom and doom "that three bedroom ranch is still on the market!" or prosperity "three Chevy Silverados were sold in Bayonne". Simply put I have economy fatigue.

Yes some people have been horrendously effected by what has gone on and will continue to go on with markets and the men. There have been and will continue to be many a sad story as we lurch out of the Industrial Age.

But as some people go about bemoaning the fact that they can't go to Greece this year or the planned deck on the house will have to wait; other people are seeing this period on both a personal and professional level as the opportunity of a lifetime.

I recently had as a guest on my show The Kitchen Table Entrepreneur Dan Poynter; the acknowledged founder of self publishing.  Dan began writing, publishing and selling his books in 1969 - 40 years ago.  It was free love (Woodstock) and anti war (Vietnam). The seventies were waiting in the wings with it's own mix of economic and industrial drama.

Instead of waiting for the right time or waiting for someone else (aka - a big time publisher) to carry out his vision; Dan did it himself. Dan has a passion for parachuting and skydiving and he believed many others shared his passion as well. Perhaps not enough to satisfy a big East Coast publisher - but enough for Dan to write, market and sell to...successfully.

Four decades later Dan is still doing what he loves best - writing and publishing his own books. Along the way he has become the Ctlr-G for self publishing with his book (now in its 16th edition): The Self Publishing Manual

However Dan is not only the original DIY of publishing; over the years he has also become a great motivational speaker. Regardless of whether you want to write and publish a book, Dan encourages people to act on their passion and not hold it hostage to some perfect time that will never come. There is the saying that if one door closes, another one will open. But according to Dan and many like him sometimes you have to cut out your own door.

And by the way, something else happened that last year of that tumultuous decade known as the sixties. Neil Armstrong walked on the moon and said these famous words: "that's one small step for man and one giant leap for mankind."

For over forty years through up markets and down markets Dan has shown; there are no limits for those who want to beyond where they've already been. Rejection sometimes gives you that first step on to leaps and bounds, enabling you to discover new worlds when you put your economic future in your own hands.

That my friends is always exciting!

Following the Mister Ed Model of Social Networking

I haven't posted anything new to Twitter for days, nor Facebook or LinkedIn and I'm OK with that. I'm in a Mister Ed frame of mind.

Mister Ed was the name of a show in the early sixties. It was all about a palomino who could talk but chose only to do so with his owner; Wilbur. Some of the lyrics to the theme show hit the nail on the head about my feelings regarding social networking and it's importance.

   " People yakkity, yak a streak and waste your time o' day. But Mr. Ed will never speak unless he as something to say. "         

I've taken a step back and humbly realize I have nothing to say or not as much to say as the experts would have me to say to "get my name out there". 

I'm host a radio show on VoiceAmerica.com called the Kitchen Table Entrepreneur; a show that aims to motivate, educate and entertain small and micro business owners. I love doing it, talking about it and promoting it. I'm also in the midst of publishing my first book.

Both of these endeavors would be greatly helped by MORE social networking. I know it. I get it. But at present I can't give it any more time. I need that time to actually do what I network about. Oh, I'm not ignoring social networking. I simply no longer feel compelled to say something just to say something when in reality I have nothing to say to my audience or customers that matters or even mildly entertains; certainly not on a daily basis.   

A month ago, I found myself grasping for hipness; joining this that and the other social network. I was commenting on this, that and the other; all for the sake of saying I did it. It became a chore, devoid of meaning; all this networking without a purpose. That's not at all how social networking should be; at least not for me.

So, I've come to the conclusion that for awhile, I'm going to be like Mister Ed. I'll work on making the Kitchen Table Entrepreneur exciting and informative with a tweet here and a tweet there. I'll finish and publish my book, and continue networking about that also.

But for now, I won't talk about whatever I'm doing everyday. It isn't warranted. Right now like Mister Ed, I'll only network when I have something to say.

A Small Business Bounces Back!

More than likely, you will not see Fern Allison, the owner of Lakeside Interiors based in Evanston, Illinois on CNBC, CNN, Bloomberg or on the cover of Inc. or Entrepreneur magazines. And that is a shame because Fern is a prime example of what small (not multi million dollar small) business owners are doing throughout the country to stay in business. What Fern and so many like her are doing is defined in a book I just finished reading called Bounce - Failure, Resiliency and Confidence to Achieve Your Next Great Success by Barry Moltz.

The cover of Barry's book shows a ball made out of rubber bands. In the book, Barry list ten bands he says are needed to build business confidence. When I think of Fern and her business, two of these bands come to mind. One of the bands Barry names is "effective risk taking". Fern is in the midst of a business do-over; redesigning her business for greater profitability. She's doing some new things and doing some old things differently. Fern is examining each change that she makes; weighing the pros and cons and then taking the leap of faith that she's made the right decisions for her customers and her business; that the outcome will be well worth the risks she's taking.

Another band Barry discusses in his book is called "value action". During these challenging times many businesses have thrown in the towel and many who wanted to start a business left the showers. Some of those who threw in the towel became victims of analysis paralysis. Some who just went home became victims of procrastination; scared off by all the bad news; waiting for the planets to be aligned. They're going to meetings and waiting. They're going to classes and waiting. They're talking about starting a business and/or making some changes in their existing businesses; but that's all it is: talk.

Meanwhile Fern and those like her are taking action. They're doing what's necessary and sometimes painful to keep their businesses afloat. And in taking action; Fern and so many business owners around the country are helping to slowly but surely turn the economy around. In determining to keep their doors open, Fern and all are keeping the faith in American enterprise, in entrepreneurship in you and I as customers who are also contributors to the backbone of our country's economy called small business.

Thank you Barry for writing the book and thank you Fern for living it. Much success to you both. Much success to us all!

 

Simple Job Security

I have a post office box at the Main Post Office in my city. I'm there quite often. It is located downtown surrounded by many big building, containing many types of businesses. There are lots of government offices in the area too. People also come to this Post Office with their personal mail with the belief that since this is the Main Post Office with all these business and government buildings around it - their mail won't get lost.

So its usually busy and the lines are usually long. I heard that even the Post Office is experiencing layoffs. But the lines wouldn't be as long, at least I wouldn't find myself standing in them as much, if I could only buy stamps on my own.

There used to be machines; vending machines; in the building that would allow you to bypass the lines filled with people shipping packages, getting money orders, sending certified mail and so much more and just get your stamps. But not anymore. The machines are gone that made getting your stamps as easy as getting a candy bar. The machines were taken out and now you must stand in line and ask a Postal Clerk for them.

I asked a worker who always seems disgruntled but is always very helpful about this. I asked her why they took the handy dandy stamp vending machines out. "They took them out so that people will have to come to us," she said, then added "I dunno," as she gave me my stamps.

So stamps equal job security? Never mind that most of the population does most of their banking and accessing media online. Never mind there is only one generation left to care enough to send the very best. Never mind that like everything else you can get stamps online. Just as the clerk said, "I dunno".

Shoulda, Coulda, Now Have to

When this storm has passed and we can all go out and buy name brand cookies again; there will be many a heroic tale of what had to be done in order to make it. But what will probably be lost in all the tales of financial derring do is something of an old lesson that got lost as we chased the next new thing.

Both personally and professionally, many of us are experiencing what the auto and other industries and businesses are facing: the failure of ignoring the wisdom that it is better to should do something than to have to do something.

We should not have spent like there was no tomorrow. Here's that rainy day. We should have paid closer attention to the competition and conversations of want our customers wanted. We should not have thought that we knew everything. Weshould have known that what goes up doesn't stay that way. We should have started a business, maybe just something on the side for extra income. We would have gained knowledge and expertise for the time it would be our only income. Shoulda, coulda, woulda...

Having to do something is never pleasant. It takes away the freedom of choice; aka power. You're a kid again having to take the medicine...without the spoonful of sugar. But the silver lining is this: once you you swallow that bitter pill of the reality of something's not working; you can feel better about setting things right.

With strength and purpose of mind, you can think clearly now that the rain is gone. You can do the things you should do and not be at the mercy of having to do, all that you should have done right from the start.

If You're Talking Economic Recovery: Count Me Out

First let me explain by providing some definitions:

Recover - verb: 1) to get back, regain 2) to bring back to a normal condition, 3) to save from loss and restore to usefulness

Renew- verb: 1) to restore to freshness, 2) to make extensive changes, 3) to begin again to become new or as new

Revitalize - verb: to give new life and/or vigor to

People, politicos, potentates and pundits are looking, talking about, legislating, investigating and hoping for an economic recovery. Not me.

Looking at the first two definitions of recover; to get back, to regain; to bring back to a normal condition; that's not what I want our economy to do. What was normal about financial institutions engaging in all types of phantasmagoria to the point they couldn't decipher their own balance sheets. That's not something I want to recover.

I sincerely hope we don't bring back a housing industry supported by the aforementioned financial institutions; who with eyes wide open allowed practically anybody to get a mortgage regardless if they could afford it. I certainly don't want to recover a housing industry who promoted an instrument called "low doc" as in low documentation required for people to purchase something costing hundreds of thousands of dollars.

I don't want to recover business practices that dictate a company cut tail and run at the slightest scent of cheap labor; that wax eloquently about customer service and then go out and hire people we can't understand to give it to us. I don't want to recover extolling celebrity hood to corporate chieftains who walk in the path of Ned Beatty's character Arthur Jensen in the movie Network; when he lectured Peter Finch's character, news anchor Howard Beale that "they are no nations"...but one vast multinational dominion of dollars, an international system of currency that determines the totality of life on this planet." People; forget about 'em.

Whether big or small, I don't want to recover a Napster like business ethics that allows a business to "have everything; own nothing"; to receive profits without the slightest compunction to reinvest in people and communities.

I would like to think at this time in our history when hopefully there's nowhere to go but up; that we work for economic renewal and revitalization. It doesn't begin with China. It doesn't begin with Japan or India or anywhere else. Economic renewal and revitalization begins with us...with you.

I think this is an amazing time for small and micro businesses. This is a great time to start a business. Whole communities are in economic shambles. Now is the time to start thinking, planning and implementing how we want to serve our neighbors, our communities and our country in better ways. However if you're from the recovery school, let me share with you one definition of insanity: "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got."

It's been a hard winter but spring is just around the corner. It might still be cold but buds will still appear. Trees aren't trying to recover the leaves that fell last autumn. They're concentrating and focusing their energy on bringing forth the new. So should it be with us...with you.

It makes no sense to go through a time like this and not be better. There's so much work to do. There's so many opportunities just waiting to for us to take hold of; waiting for us...for you to implement for the renewal and revitalization of our communities and country.

If in some form or fashion we look ahead and not behind then I will gladly accept recovery that by our hard work and commitment will save and restore us collectively and individually from loss to usefulness once more.

Change You Should Conceive In

...all of my working class parents savings were being spent on my college tuition. After six months, I couldn't see the value in it. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and had no idea how college was going to help me figure it out. And here I was spending all of the money my parents had saved their entire life. So I decided to drop out and trust that it would all work out OK. It was pretty scary at the time but looking back it was one of the best decisions I ever made...much of what I stumbled into by following my curiosity and intuition turned out to be priceless later on...

            - from the commencement address by Steve Jobs, delivered at Stanford University June 12, 2005

Mr. Jobs went on to talk about how he took a calligraphy class simply out of curiosity. There didn't seem to be a practical application of it to his life at the time. But time passed and approximately ten years later the lessons of typography and design Mr. Jobs had learned were applied to the design of the first Macintosh computer and it continues to this day throughout the world of Apple.

Prior to the above excerpt Mr. Jobs spoke about how his biological mother only signed the final adoption papers after the adoptive parents promised they would send little Stevie to college. They did but it didn't work out.

I say all this because not much has changed in the way we view the connection between college and success. As soon as the pregnancy is confirmed, well meaning parents start in earnest devising a financial plan to send junior or junrette to college. The great post secondary education industrial complex has done it's marketing job extremely well. Not only does the belief system equate a college degree with a better life; but that one is practically entitled to it. And most of us know oh so different. But beliefs like habits are hard to let go of.

Let's say you have a baby this year. In 17 to 18 years; let's say the cost to go to a good college (we won't even mention the Ivy Leagues) is half million dollars (yes, an exaggeration but probably not too far off) . Personal financial experts have been saying for years that it's better to plan for retirement than for college. But in some quarters not planning for your child's college education is tantamount to admitting child abuse. However by locking yourself and your child in that belief system, maybe the real abuse is denying your child the ability to choose and you the ability to by groceries and medicine.

I believe each child comes into the world with a set of unique gifts, talents and skills. And I believe these attributes come into view quite early; for example; the child who likes to tear things up only to put them back together. These gifts don't necessarily need a university's stamp of approval. They need nurturing and discipline to be ready for the opportunities to use them.

The American Dream exists for those who wake up to the fact that it is what we and people all over the world say it is: the land of opportunity. And what is opportunity. Well according to the dictionary it is a favorable time, due to a conjuncture of circumstances that will produce a positive result. Youth yet unbound by adult dictates and demands is a favorable time to discover who your are and what you're passionate about doing. And then being just crazy enough to go do it.

I'm not anti college as much as pro opportunity. The best thing we can do is to educate our children that security comes from within. We should teach them the value of using their talents and gifts as a way of providing for themselves and benefiting others. Contrary to popular opinion most children catch on to basic business concepts rather quickly; from the lemonade stand mogul to the dynamo girl scout cookie salesperson. It is a joy to see a child full of healthy pride; a spark of empowerment ignited by what the work of their hands have done.

Let's raise our children to love learning which is a lifelong endeavor. And the best learning often comes from outside a classroom. Unfortunately many of our young people spend an inordinate amount of time watching...the internet, television.They are spectators to the success of others, while their own skills go unburnished from lack of use, from lack of confidence and dare.

Let's raise our children to be daring with their talents. And let's teach them that they don't have to wait for ceremonies and certificates to validate their success. Their success will come from being true to their highest selves and having the confidence to take action with their talents and gifts. Richard Branson, Michael Dell, Bill Gates, Rachel Ray along with Mr. Jobs are just some of the entrepreneurs who had enough confidence in their vision take their show on the road, that at their respective times was less traveled but eventually made all the difference; not just for them but for so many others as well. 

A Toast to the Security and Success of Change!

Opportunity - noun - a favorable time due to a combination of circumstances that presents itself for a purpose

New - adjective - that which appears, thought of, made or developed for the first time, different from what has been, strange unfamiliar

A wise minister once said the past is to be used as a reference. It's never to be revisited or relived to seek refuge from your present situation. As many people know; one of the most painful realities is that of missed opportunities. And one of the reasons many were missed is that the opportunities were attached to a risks we at the time were unwilling to take.

But that was then. Now as always time and circumstance have presented each one of us a chance to take hold of the vast array of opportunities that are all around us. To better the economic condition of ourselves and our families and in turn our communities we have to take that chance which is another word for risk. And for 99.9% of the time, risk takes change.

Except for underwear, change is unsettling. And my friends, I'll share with you that I'm risk adverse. But I'm also pain adverse and at this point in time to stay the same is painful. The lesson always to be learned from economic uncertainty is that it brings the greatest rewards. Successful people live for times like these. They have the nerve to walk on shaky ground while others are running for cover...and comfort. They learn to clear a path for themselves regardless if anyone follows them or not.

As we look across our present economic/industrial landscape, we see so much failure, much of it caused by the schizophrenic belief that you can stay the same in a changing world and move forward. Whether you are employed or not, it should be very clear that you can no longer depend on a job for economic security. There's no such thing and it hasn't been for quite awhile. However some of us have been in denial. But now a combination of circumstances have presented a favorable time to change for a purpose; that of employing yourself either full time or part time.

Bonnie Price the creator and owner of the social network silvervixens.com runs workshops called "ITS REINVENTION". We all have innate talents and over time we've acquired skills. Now is the time to put them to work for ourselves. Now is the time to use them for the purpose of making the changes that will allow us to reinvent ourselves and take our lives to the next level. There is a beautiful song titled "Everything Must Change." The opening lyrics are such:

                Everything must change,

                nothing stays the same,

                everyone will change,

                no one, no one stays the same...          

What is the New Year celebration all about but optimism about the future; time not yet. It's good feelings about the unknown but faith that all will be well. And it will be if we're willing to take some risks and accept uncertainty. I've been told you can't get anywhere being careful. One must act while others are still thinking, still contemplating, still staying a worn out course, still procrastinating.

Don't let December 31, 2009 find you with you knee deep in shoulda, coulda, wouldas because you were too afraid to step off the curb, fight traffic and get to the other side. You ever notice that when people talk about a person with great potential; its usually because the person never used it. Don't let the different, the uncomfortable, the difficult keep your from realizing yours.

Happy New Year.

Thanks VoiceAmerica.com - It's Who You Know That Counts

    Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work;... - Ecclesiastes 4:9

During the three months that I have been the host of the Kitchen Table Entrepreneur thekitchentableentrepreneur.comradio broadcast on VoiceAmerica.com - voiceamerica,com; one distinct lesson has been reiterated to me each week ; it's who you know.

Of course this isn't a new revelation to anyone over the age of three. However what my guests have taught me is both a deeper meaning and appreciation of this common concept. I'm not talking about quid pro quo - you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. And by the way in this type of relationship; the priority is to answer an immediate need with the promise of going no further until the next alarm is sounded.

As a business owner and especially one that sits on the board of me, myself and I, you cannot afford alarmist relationships. You need to access to people who can provide counsel and advice before an emergency happens.

As much as you may want to or wish you could; you cannot run your business by yourself, unless you want to run both it and yourself into the ground. As Bette Midler sang years ago "You Got to Have Friends".

As we get ready for the New Year; it is my hope that you begin (if you haven't already) to develop the kind of business relationships the provide you the opportunity to share value rather than cost.

The following are guests and others who have helped me take the Kitchen Table Entrepreneur from a piece of notebook paper to a radio show. I hope you have persons of this type to assist you in your business endeavors. For it's not only who you know but that who you know; knows what they're talking about and are willing to share. That's what counts.

So thanks to the following for enriching me and the Kitchen Table Entrepreneur radio show experience.

Melissa Schmitz- Producer Modavox.com - thanks for challenging me and for constructive criticism that seeks to build up rather than tear down. - modavox.com

John Abdo - Motivator, fitness expert - thanks for teaching me that each and every success begins with change. -johnabdo.com

Louie Bernstein - Small Business Expert - thanks for being so cognizant of the needs of small/micro business owners by sharing valuable cost saving tips. - sales-getter.com      

Mitchell John- Country & Western Star and Entrepreneur - thanks reinforcing to our audience that nothing resonates to customers like authenticity. - mitchelljohn.com 

Andrea Sittig-Rolf - Sales Dynamo - thanks for your motivation as well as education as to what true networking or "Power Referrals" is all about - sittiginc.com 

Benjamin Tran- Website Design Expert - thanks for helping to cut through alot of technical jargon and making it plain about website rankings - deographics.com

Jason Rosado- Personal Coach - thanks the reminder that coaching is a commitment that depends just as much on follow through as just showing up - distinctivecoaching.com

Dawn Rivers Baker - Micro and Small Business Journalist and Expert - thanks for telling us that when it comes to business - size doesn't matter. Micro businesses are crucial to the country's economic growth. - microenterprisejournal.com

Brian Rolf - Visionary and Entrepreneur - thanks sharing your journey and encouraging the audience to be diligent in making their dreams a reality. - seattlebugsafari.com

Frank Schmitz- Big Game Expert and Renaissance Man - thanks for being such an unselfish self made man that lives by his creed: "sharing others success supercedes the act of  accomplishment of personal harvest". - whitebirdsummit.com

Rich Tehrani - Tech Guru a tomorrow guy for today - thanks for increasing our technical awareness regarding new ways to communicate with customers and insights on the Generation Y customer in particular. - tmcnet.com

Bonnie Price - Motivator, Trainer and much more - thanks for showing that entrepreneurship has no age limits and re-invention is a part of life...at least a successful one. - silvervixens.com 

Anne Obarski* -  Customer Service and Sales Expert - thanks  for your expertise in customer service and providing a wealth of information and tools on your website. - merchandiseconcepts.com  

*Anne's show airs January 8, 2009 but was pre-recorded this year.

Thanks again one and all - Jackie Rogers