FRESHviews
WALLY AMOS: BE POSITIVE
For me, starting a new business is a spiritual
experience, and faith is the driver. There are just too A recipe for
many times when no answer is in sight, yet the right
answer always appears. There is a lot of truth in the success
phrase “We plan and God laughs.” While planning is AS HER EPONYMOUS tele-
very important, you must leave room for the every- vision program, The Appren-
day miracles. Faith keeps you from giving up. tice: Martha Stewart, strives
It’s important to realize your limitations. to show, Martha Stewart
No one can do everything, and is a savvy CEO with good
everyone needs somebody. The instincts. Now she is also
sharing her know-how
ego has short-circuited many a in her first-ever busi-
business. Your best asset is a ness book, The Martha
good TEAM: “Together Everyone Rules, 10 Essentials for
Achieves More.” Achieving Success as
AS I BEGAN developing my fifth business, the Chip I promise you, the only thing You Start, Build or
& Cookie retail store in Hawaii, I found myself think- you can do by yourself is to fail. To Manage a Business
(Rodale, 2005), avail-
ing about how difficult it actually is to start a busi- succeed at any undertaking, you able at most Costco
ness. I can see why more people aren’t starting new need at least one other person. warehouses.
businesses. There are many obstacles, and once A positive attitude is the foun- The book “is
you begin you really can’t turn back. dation for success. Obstacles are really a primer for
Let’s look at some of the ingredients you need to what you see when you take your people who have an idea and
open a new business. Notice that I did not say suc- eye off your goal. A positive attitude helps you might want to turn it into a
business, and a very good
ceed with your business. That’s another column. keep your eye on the goal. Be positive! refresher course for anyone
Some say “passion” is an overused word. Success expert Earl Nightingale had a great in business,” Stewart tells
However, it is critical in starting a new business. quote: “Keep your mind on the things you want and The Connection in a tele-
Passion—not money—is the fuel that keeps off the things you don’t want.” If your goal is suc- phone interview. “After
you going, the thing that pulls you out of bed each ceeding, then think only of success. Or, as a friend building a good company
morning. says, “Direct the traffic the way it’s going.” C for
15 years, I thought it
was time to put down my
ideas. Instead of recipes for
entertaining, this is recipes
for building a business.”
In The Martha Rules,
Applaud if you want an encore Stewart puts her own
unique spin on business
strategies. For example, in
HOW SHOULD YOU behave Enter departing employees’ work/study program if a letter the chapter “So the Pie Isn’t
when the employees you hired birthdates into a software pro- of reference from you would Perfect? Cut It into Wedges”
to help your business through gram that reminds you when it’s help. Find out how those who she imparts advice she her-
the holidays leave? If you want time to send a card. Check out expect to graduate in June plan self has followed when faced
your good seasonal employees e-card sites for free cards you to spend the summer. with a challenge: Evaluate
to come back and work for you can e-mail. After all, who would you the situation, gather the
next year, keep “applauding” all Touch base every couple of rather come back to work for— good things, abandon the
year long, suggests Costco mem- months, even if you just send an the employer who consistently bad, clear your mind and
ber Mel Kleiman, a consultant e-mail that says, “Hi, how’s it shows caring or the one who move on. Stewart sprinkles
on hiring and retaining the best going?” Company newsletter? Be just says, “Goodbye”? C each chapter with her own
hourly employees. sure you send them entrepreneurial experiences
Simply staying in touch is a copy. If these as well as those of friends
a form of applause, of saying, employees are stu- and associates.
“You did such a great job that dents, offer a small In “Make It Beautiful”
I’m still thinking about you.” scholarship as a she stresses the goal of mak-
At employees’ exit interviews, bonus for returning. ing your customers’ lives
be sure you update their contact Discounts on mer- easier, more meaningful and
information. In addition to col- chandise or free more beautiful. Any business
lege students’ local addresses, meals can keep can take this idea to heart—
phone numbers and e-mail them as a customer. whether an auto repair shop
addresses, get the same informa- Above all, ask or an accounting firm. And,
she adds, “It’s something we
tion for the time when they’re them about their take very, very seriously.”
at school. plans for the future. All in all, a good recipe
Then get creative about Ask the employee for any business venture. C
finding ways to stay in touch. who plans to enter a
Wally Amos is the
founder of Uncle
Wally’s Muffin
Company. You
can reach him at
www.wallyamos.com.
Best asset:
your team
