Dogfish Bewery-Lesson Learned

I just finish reading about Sam Calgione with Dogfish Brewery out of Inc. Magazine.

What I extracted out of this article is:


Owner: Sam Calgione
Business: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Vision: Exposing his customer's palate to something other that pale lagers made by Big industrial breweries.
Niche: Eccentric/different beer such as Aprihop (apricot tasting beer).
Date of startup: 1995
2008 Revenue: $28 million

1) How humble he is: He never sits at the head of the table at meetings due to respect/knowledgement that others are putting alot of hard work/time into making the business great. On the same note, his cubicle is same size as others. How humbling that is when the CEO is on same plane and cubicle as his employees. This demonstrates how accessible and down-to-earth he really is. Quite a leader to view his company as one body and or sum of parts that equal to a great team dynamic.
2) Practice what you preach: He leaves his computer inbox open so he demonstrates accessibility and openness.
3) Work motto: Make work fun and enjoyable. Also, he is not trying to run a company where people aren't working for me. . He states 'The people who do the best at our company are working for themselves'.
4) Use social media: Twitter, Facebook, and such to post his latest event/happenings as to stay in touch with his fans/clients, distributors,and patrons.
5) Invite people who can promote for you: At a promotional dinner which paired beer with each course of the meals, hard core beer 'geeks' whom were invited had posted their feedback on Ratebeer.com and Beeradvocate.com before the dessert came.
6) Make your wife/significant other a member of your team (if qualified/other factors): When you partner with your life partner in a stake in your business, the outcome should be positive (as long as your partner has the the same vision/goals as the CEO/founder). They have a better understanding of you and work you put in the business. His wife is the Vice President and head of marketing, she ensures that the pictures/events are updated on various social media.
7) Keep a notebook by your bedside: He jotts down inspirational ideals and reads magazines through prism of his company. This keeps new ideals flowing and giving birth to new and innovative ideals.

I really respect his humility, humbleness, and maintaining his sense of sanity with work/life balance. My hats off to you if you are reading this.

Toyoko Joe's

I like to read a millionaire's story about every day or every other day. One in particular that I enjoyed reading was Larry Leith, owner/founder of Toyko's Joe, in Denver, Co.

Stats:
Owner: Larry Leith
Resturant: Toyoko's Joe
Vision: Casual, affordable, and healthy Japanese food.
Niche: A twist to the Japanese cusine. The promise of an American take on Japanese food for the average Joe.
Inspiration: Cookbook named 'Toyoko Joe's'
Owner's back ground: No former training/knowledge; he took a non-paying, 3 month apprenticesip at a local Japanese restaurant.
2008 Revenue: $22 million
Date of start up: 1996

I extracted the following from reading this article in Inc. July/Aug 2009issue:

1) Invest the hours. Larry was at work at 5:00am and staying until 11:00pm. He was investing the time needed to get a business up and started.
2) Personal touch-owner personally greeted each customer by name or knew what they ordered.
3) Franchised if you are profitable and can take the risk.
4) Owner's email is printed on all cups. He responds personally to every comment, compliment, or complaint within 48 hours.
5) Owner pays his managers a high salary with benefits. He invites every one of them to spend a summer with his family in Maui. Sweet.
6) He was quoted as saying "Be extremely good to your employees, and they'll be a lot better to your customers".

And if Larry is reading this..Thumbs up to thinking big and taking the risks/guts to franchise in your first year out! Next time I'm in Denver, I will have to bowl of steak noodle bowl.

Family Dollar rules!

Earlier this month, I was shopping for white uniforms at the Goodwill. My goal was not to spend any money towards clothes. All my money is truly for paying bills and putting it towards business start up. It is a sacrifice that has not been too difficult considering I have all clothes I need. Last week, when I was dropping by Family Dollar store to pick up a toy for a child I take care of and lo and behold, I spied some nursing uniforms. I had no ideal Family Dollar carried uniforms. They may be second hand quality but at price range of $5.00-$7.50 for a uniform top and/ot bottom....well that is quite a steal. So of course I bought 3 tops and 1 pants for the price of $26.00. This was income-based shopping at it's finest...from a Target girl to Family dollar girl. Well thank goodness there are discount stores when you need them. I was so truly grateful to be able to afford several uniforms for good price. Earlier in the week, I was at a uniform shop near a Community Hospital, and the price of one top was between $22-24 dollars. Yes, indeed, Family Dollar store rules!

Method-Cleaning Products

Check this story out about 2 young guys who created "Method" which all natural (non-toxic cleaning solutions) carried by Target. See below link and very inspiring.

http://www.rd.com/your-america-inspiring-people-and-stories/messy-guys-make-millions-selling-green-cleaning-products/article163547.html

Resignation

Flashback to 12/16/2009:
I submitted my resignation into my company. I felt like a house fell on top of me. At first, I thought I would be happy to leave but it turns out I was so sad leaving some people behind especially my boss. I pray she does not have any resentment towards me. I really feel she and I were made from the same cloth. We have alot of same emotions towards others. I am floored by her kindness and how gracious she is when I told her I was leaving. She is always saying positive things about me. She gives me hope. When I doubted myself she "believed" in me. I will never forget her act of kindness. Now, I have that same "hope" to give to others. I hope for a better world, homeless will have a home, my pain will end, my husband will appear, my children will come. I hope to be part of unit/family someday. I have 'hope' that God will give me a beautiful life. One of amazement and strength.

I uttered these very powerful words "My God is my God, My Lord is my Lord, and where He goes I will follow". That gives me such immense strength.

I was thinking of how unstable the economy is and for one to leave your job. Voluntary leave the nest egg that I was living. I was quite sorrowful of how I was not appreciative of things that were given to me on daily basis. I am so sorrowful that I had not made a decent contribution to my team/company. It breaks my heart. This was life I have know for about 11 years of my life and here it is that the door is closed.

I realized yesterday that I am already 'rich'. Rich with family, friend, and home. Money is a funny beast. It moves and flows. It can spent, loss, made. So I know in my heart I can make over my previous base pay. That is my goal. Go business or go bust.

Count on me!

There is a community website called "Count me in" for women sponsored by Reader's Digest. See below link.

It is really good info for women in business re: support, resource, and feedback.

https://www.makemineamillion.org/community/register

There is video clips on various topics such as marketing, cashflow, leadership. I really enjoy ease and use of searching for materials on this website.

Thumbs up for Girl-powered websites!!!!!!!!