Preface: Same person with a different question; same person with a different mindset; same person with a different and [now achieved] effective business meeting(s). Achieving Elite Entrepreneurial Business Meeting Traction (Segment III) “Elite” entrepreneurial business meetings are achievable not on the premise of the business worlds definition of a [business] groups superior [meeting] successes or abilities, but on the timeless principle that [you and] your business meetings are “elite” compared to one key standard — what your business meeting was yesterday. Yes, there is only one business you should want superior meetings to, and that is your own. Every minute you spend wishing you had someone else’s business meetings, is a minute spent entirely wasted towards developing and improving your own. Secondly, if you had that “other” [business] meeting, it would likely be like your own less superior meeting, because you’d be there with that mindset. So, does the mindset of business meeting participants determine the keystone effectiveness of the business meeting? Maybe? If say a coffee and donuts influence as well as green-visor the characteristics of a business meetings mindset, then the answer could be a resounding Yes. A large-scale study was conducted to investigate the mindsets of business leaders when they were at their most effective and delivering their best results. In-depth structured interviews were conducted with 667 executives over a ten-year period. Eight distinct mindset themes were identified, one of the most common being a “Purposeful” theme, exhibited by 82% of the leaders. A closer examination revealed two major subcategories of the Purposeful theme: Impact on the World God/Spirituality The Purposeful mindset theme points to a contextual frame that is important to leaders, and seems to imbue them with a level of personal power and sense of mission that translates into high levels of accomplishment. The link…

Preface: Every business meeting planned, should advisedly begin with these two questions. First, what does this group have to meet about? And, secondly, who are the right people for this meeting? Elite (Entrepreneurial) Business Meeting Traction (Segment II) Credit: Donald J. Sauder, CPA, CVA Patrick Lencioni, president of the Table Group has this to say about the great meetings. “Meetings are the “linchpin” of everything,” “If someone says you have an hour to investigate [research] a company, I wouldn’t look at the balance sheet. [or cash flow statements] I’d watch their executive team in a meeting for an hour. If they are clear and focused and have the board on the edge of their seats, I’d say this is a good company worth investing in.” Article: Meetings: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly from Knowledge @ Wharton. Interesting perspective, yes? Yet, very effective entrepreneur. If you want to hear the iTunes your business meetings broadcast, this is likely how you can determine quickly if your business meetings is achieving the ultimate purpose, with the listeners hearing and departing the meeting acting with increased strategic objectives, i.e. gaining traction. There are numerous types of business meetings: “retreat meetings,” “executive level meetings,” or say “weekly operational or company meetings.” Lencioni provides some key questions with regards to preparation for a [entrepreneurial] business meeting. First, what does this group have to meet about? And, secondly, who are the right people for this meeting? It helps to start with the Why? The objective of the meeting is a good starting point for who should be in the room. Why is this meeting necessary? Why does the group need to meet? Say, is the meeting to build teamwork cohesiveness, communicate information, develop strategic goals for the enterprise, train the team on new business processes…

Preface: If you had to identify, in one word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, and never will achieve, its full potential, that word would be ‘meetings.’ Quote: Dave Barry Achieving Elite (Entrepreneurial) Business Meeting Traction A great business meeting for countless entrepreneurs is too often considered worse than say a bad day biking. Why? In this blog series, we’ll discuss the problems of business meetings, and provide tools to solve effectively that problem with an understanding of the key objectives and purposes of business meetings. Many entrepreneurs are rarely overly experienced in business operations and therefore do not thoroughly understanding the purpose and effective structure of business meetings. This results in a typical unappreciated and misunderstood hour or two of the day that detracts from other business tasks they (or team members) excel in, e.g. fieldwork or sales. “Effective business meetings have 1) an objective; 2) they are an efficient and a wisely invested use of participant’s time; and 3) the participants agree that the meeting was sensible, and worthwhile.” “I just wasted an hour!” “What progress was gained?” We have entirely too many (meetings)!” “We always talk about the same problems!” “(s)he always dominates the conversation!” “Did you see him/her on his laptop answering emails?” Once the participant complaints start about business meetings, what is the (re)solution? Effective business meetings have 1) an objective; 2) they are an efficient and a wisely invested use of participant’s time; and 3) the participants agree that the meeting was sensible, and worthwhile. If the meeting objective is met with proper preparation and an efficient process, then the participants agree that it was worthwhile, e.g. your meeting was a success. They (meetings) should all be like that — right? A non-business example of a successful meeting: attending church every…

Preface: If the quote is true, “Behind every successful man is a women.” Then behind every successful business venture, is a champion team.” The “Michael Process” – Leading your Team to Greatness (Segment X) Winning business teams are akin to any winning sports team, you can’t win the championships playing all the positions solo. You need expert, experienced, capable, and diligent team work. Your team’s implementation of the ideas, strategies, plans, and vision from your business connections drive your business to greatness. Your businesses connection are the networks from your community, experiences, employees, partners, consultants, and advisors your business harnesses for the necessary resources to articulate and implement an effective “Michael Process.” As you and your team, concisely define, analyze and understand the problem(s), and then (re)solve those problem(s) effectively for thee marketplace, your business will gain the horsepower that creates, develops, and perpetuates an encouraging entrepreneurial endeavors vibrancy and success. Plainly, that is the simple, effective, and powerful “Michael Process” at work. The more vibrant a business successes, the more vibrant the businesses teamwork. Building the team, is building the business, and building the business, is building the team. Great businesses, always have room for more great people. “You team will need to work well together; they will need to keep their commitments to adhere to the business vision and values, and understand the exact role they play towards building the business’ success.” Exuberant business successes can be simplified to adherence with the three step “Michael Process.” A) passion for a marketplace, B) a concisely defined problem(s) the marketplace needs (re)solved, and C) providing an effective solution to the marketplace problem(s) defined in step B. Once your “Michael Process” is developed, an important secondary characteristic is your team’s developments that will implement the process. You team will need to…

Preface: “It has been my observation that the happiest of people, the vibrant doers of the world, are almost always those who are putting into play, calling upon, depending upon the greatest number of their God-given talents and capabilities.” See quotes from John Glenn. “Walking to the Fields” on The “Michael Process” (Segment IX) “You can learn wisdom (e.g. in this context the business tool of the Michael Process and its relevancy) by three methods. First, by reflections, which is noblest. Second, by imitation, which is the easiest; and third by being a doer; and in that school, it is either if-only or next time.” That is a paraphrase of sage words from Confucius. For those who choose to be a doer, it pays to prepare appropriately. Even though business problems don’t compare to a figurative “Biblical Moment”, more than one entrepreneur with lofty ambitions would have had a less costly education with a $250,000 MBA and five years of preparation. But quote “we don’t know what we don’t know.” And between what there is to know, and what we know, is a big divide, for the majority of individual entrepreneurs. That’s why partnerships, collaboration, alliances, advisors, coaches, and mentors, are vital for successful and developing businesses. “He continues on to say, “If you’re not guided by a clear sense of purpose, you’re likely to fritter away your time and energy on obtaining the most tangible, short-term signs of achievement, not what’s really important to you. And just as a focus on marginal costs can cause bad corporate decisions, it can lead people astray. The marginal cost of doing something wrong “just this once” always seems alluringly low. You don’t see the end result to which that path leads”. Clayton Christensen says God hires people who help others become better…

Preface: Mattel is a leading global children’s entertainment company that specializes in design and production of quality toys and consumer products. The company creates innovative products and experiences that inspire, entertain and develop children through play….. ………..Ruth loved work over playing from day one; and while in high school she worked two jobs. First as a part-time secretary for her brother Joe a lawyer in Denver, and then double shift at the Greenwald Soda Fountain in the big indoor market in downtown. The “Michael Process” with Fisher-Price (Segment VIII) The American toy company Mattel, officially began in 1945. Headquartered today in El Segundo, California, (El Segundo is an Aerospace town with approximately 16,000 citizens, near Manhattan Beach) Mattel has been a leader in American toys for decades. Mattel brands and products include Fisher-Price, Monster High, Barbie, Ever After High, Winx Club, Hot Wheels, Matchbox, Masters of the Universe, and American Girl. Today the company is international with a presence in 40 countries and selling products in 150 countries. Here’s what co-founder Ruth Handler says about the company’s beginning. “We didn’t know how to run a business, but we had dreams and talent.” Ruth loved work over playing from day one, and while in high school she worked two jobs. First as part-time secretary for her brother Joe a lawyer in Denver; and then double shift at the Greenwald Soda Fountain in the big indoor market in downtown. Cruising through downtown in her 1932 Ford coupe, 16 year old Ruth Mosko had to have a second look at her future husband, Elliot Handler. It took her two weeks to locate “Izzy”. Ruth was from the prosperous east side of town, and attended a top tier high school in the nation. Izzy was a member of the friendly gang called the Gigolos….

Preface: If you can improve [customers] peoples lives, you have a business. People think, ‘well everything’s been thought of,’ but actually, all of the time, there are gaps in the market here and gaps in the market there.” Richard Branson 30 Days of Genius. The “Michael Process” – Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (Segment VII) Perusing back through the business landscape to the early 1900s, major business trends or industries applicable to “Michael Process” entrepreneurs included the development of the engine, the tractor, the automobile, oil production, and generation of electricity. Along with these business development enterprising entrepreneurs started car dealerships, farm machinery dealerships, and gas stations. Corresponding new occupations developed e.g. mechanics and electricians. Organized in 1976 with a single mission to be the best electrical contractor in the Midwest, ProElectric in Kansas City, KS, has developed into a respected electrical contractor with annual sales volume surpassing $20 million. Employing up to 150 employees, the business provides outstanding electrical services to customers. Blossoming with an application of the “Michael Process” to a century stable industry, there’re an entrepreneurial business that is solving problems with a business purpose successfully for their community. Interestingly, the 110 story Sears Tower completed in 1974 is monument of the era. This landscape led to new occupational titles including machinist, truck driver, computer programmer, and shop foreman. During the 1960s the players on the business landscape comprised manufacturing, computers, telecommunications, automation and production customization, and more stores (and restaurants) to present all the products saturating the marketplace. Interestingly, the 110 story Sears Tower completed in 1974 is monument of the era. This landscape led to new occupational titles including machinist, truck driver, computer programmer, and shop foreman. “Then their own people don’t have to pay. But we don’t want to cause trouble. So go cast a…

Preface: “If you’re not passionate about what you do, it will reflect on your work and your performance, and eventually, stop you from achieving your full potential.” — Quote from Michael Dell of the “Michael Process” The “Michael Process” – A Case Study (Segment VI) His father was a stockbroker and an orthodontist; his mother was a money manager. The genius of the “Michael Process” yes, Michael Dell was ambitious from first grade. So where is the “Michael Process” right? At the early age of eight, Michael was already dreaming about his career in business. Attending Herod Elementary School in Houston, Texas, he made serious endeavors to earn his high school diploma by passing an equivalency exam from a testing company he persuaded to give him the opportunity. It was four years later until his business career began at the age of twelve, embarking on a mail order stamp and baseball cards trading business, he earned $2,000. Two year later, at fourteen, he obtained an Apple II and invested weeks learning how the computer worked. Following those early years, at the age of sixteen, Michael worked as a marketing executive for the Houston Post making cold calls. Creating a process of identifying top prospects who would purchase, he hired his high school buddies to leverage the department. That year he earned more than his school teacher with a taxable income of $18,000. “In the next seven years, Dells business venture climbed at a dizzying rocket pace to list his company among the Fortune 500. Dell was the youngest CEO every to achieve the accomplishment.“ After graduating from high school, at eighteen, Michael started his career in computers, working from his dorm room at University of Texas. Declaring he wanted to compete with IBM, his passion for business drove him to…

Preface: Alex soared to success, with a business built around solving iPhone problems quickly. His business promises and guarantees to fix customer iPhones in one hour. Just like “Big Brother”, his customers need their phones working too, and they’re willing to pay. The “Michael Process” – A Case Study (Segment V) Let’s consider for a moment the “Michael Process” on the last frontier of business in the world – Africa. Entrepreneurial endeavors and opportunity abound in Africa. Looking beyond the market shops and newsboys, the Africa of 2018 needs every industry as it develops, e.g. food, technology, apparel, etc. The next generation of business leaders on the continent will also adhere to the “Michael Process” just like their older siblings, and will have the opportunity to support a deeper purpose, as they continue to learn from them how to create vibrant entrepreneurial ventures. As the continent emerges from a “wild west” marketplace, it will present huge business opportunities for those entrepreneurs who have both the patience and perseverance. Here’s two African entrepreneurs who are following the “Michael Process” today, towards respectable and fantastic business success. “Working long hours from his dorm room, he has built his business into a chain of eight stores in South Africa, employing 85 people.” Alex Fourie is driven and ambitious. Having endeavored sincerely on several business ventures that never reached the runway as a college student, he is soaring with iFix. When he was told his trusty iPhone could not be repaired, his creative mind lead him to browse onto YouTube to discover a solution. After watching some helpful videos, followed up with his successful repair of his iPhone snafu, he quickly advertised his expertise in the local newspaper. “This level of problem solving and entrepreneurial ambition lead Alex to be featured in Forbes Magazine…