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Archive for the ‘business’ Category

Business: Fulfilling a Need or Creating a Want?

30 Jul

I think the hardest aspects of a business are deciding whether to answer a need, such as food, shelter and clothing, or creating a want for something people don’t necessarily need bottled water (if you already have clean, filtered tap water), gym membership, nail salons and the like. Now, people will say the gym and nail salon have some beneficial qualitites that could improve someone’s life, but they are not necessities.

Our needs are rather basic. Food, shelter, clothes, companionship (with or without sex) and mental / physical stimulation. We need friction to survive. Life without stress is worse than one with a wee bit too much stress. Extremes are not good for us.

Most of today’s businesses look to create a want to drive an increase in sales. We are bombarded with ads that will show us humor or humiliation for not selecting their product. A company has to look for enough resources to drive the demand for their product be it TV, radio, Internet social media, and print media.

I believe companies that make a dent into Internet social media, when they launch a successful campaign, have several things going for them: media connections (TV exposure), money, much much money, and reporters eager to pretend that their “news story” is not a PR campaign. For an individual to pierce this wall they have to be incredibly savvy in exposing their material, have lots of energy, patience, and an ability to follow through with their initial message or offering.

Follow-up is key.

I think the second most important aspect of a business in getting this message across to generate a want, which may fulfill a need, is to have the infrastructure in place to answer the demand. If people want your product or service, there better be the means to answer this demand.

 
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Posted in advertising, business, consumers, making things, marketing, money

 

The 4 Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss

08 Mar

I listened to most of this book from the library. I would say that Tim Ferriss has the kind of focus successful men have. I believe women can do it too, but we have distractions that we cannot put aside.

I can take his advice, realizing I can only get as good as 4 hours everyday of the week. Maybe I will be able to improve upon that schedule. It’s like studying back in high school and college. One should do research upfront and read some of the syllabus ahead of class. It will put one ahead of the curve and save time come examination time as well for writing research papers.

I agree with his tips on getting things done.

  1. He recommends outsourcing small at first to get used to delegating work. I am a micromanaging control freak. It does waste time. It’s a hard habit to let go of.
  2. He recommends studying how much time is spent responding to emails, the phone and texting, etc. Oh yes, the hype about this technology disguises the fact it can be a terrific waste of time. He suggests ruthlessly answering all the emails, phone and texting at one time only, no exceptions. I have to do this, I am a chronic Internet junky.
  3. People need to constantly ask themselves if they are doing something productive or just being busy. Sounds like a day of work for me.
  4. He recommends eliminating mass media consumption. Well, I don’t have a TV. He means any kind of news consumption. I’m trying. I’m a news junkie. I agree with his premise. Thoughts that could be spent on working are wasted worrying and being concerned with situations in the news that are out of our control.
  5. He provides some insight into the type of businesses that allow someone to work small hours and profitably. The rest is up to the person to research it and reach their own conclusions.
  6. He mentions people “overwork” because they feel guilty, so they push 80 hours per week to feel productive. I agree that this is a horrid disease in corporate America. I used to want to ask these managers if because they do not have a life, must others join them in their misery?
  7. The key thing is that once the real work is done, a person will have time to devote themselves to what they love.

There is a new edition coming out. I will check this out once it is available at the library.

 
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Posted in business, technology, work

 

The Consulting Business: Web Programming & Design

13 Jan

The worst thing about this business for me is my shyness. It is truly an affliction. I’m an extreme introvert, and it’s like trying to function under a heavy itchy blanket. No fun this.

There are a million ways to drum up business, but I’d be happier if I didn’t have to sell (myself). I’m not an outgoing person, and everything in this society is geared towards the loud, outgoing extroverts who are incredibly unselfconscious.

I used to be like that, but I don’t know when and why I became this church mouse.

I would be happier simply doing the programming and consulting and leave the pushy salesperson persona to someone else. I don’t like answering the phone, or even answering technical questions.

It is not that I do not know the answer, it is that I like to gather my thoughts to give a simple non-technical (for the lay audience) and thorough answer. That wont work because people are so rude today. If one is not quick witted, and an extremely glib liar, then Gawd help you.

I am not one for excuses, so I will have to work with my condition, and find better ways of dealing with it.

 
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Posted in business, consulting, programming, web sites