A story of a business that will die by practicing insanity
While working out front of the humble abode, I ran into some neighbors who own a food truck company (Click for Wikipedia definition). Unfortunately, it's hit hard times with, apparently, the economy to blame - or the McDonalds to blame - or something to blame - for the fact that it's in some deep trouble and quite a few less people are patronizing their mobile establishments.
I don't know the guy, but still tried to offer solutions - asked questions about his business, what his competition was, challenges of why he thinks there are less people utilizing them. However, it was quite apparent that although he said he was listening he really wasn't - all of the suggestions just bounced due to fear of change, fear of doing something even just a little different. After all, it's the economy - the fast food joint down the street - the somethings fault.
There was all kinds of "I'm always trying to think of ways to turn it around" but if you think of ways only within a construct of today or even worse within a construct of being a victim - then the revolution that needs to happen to change your business, even if it's a small revolution, will not occur, in my opinion.
If anything this life has taught me, it's that the only constant is... change. Scary, hairy, excited, beautiful, invigorating, opportunity-creating change.
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Goes to show that "Location, Location, Location" is true - and the only "location" that matters is the few square inches between our ears... What are you thinking today?
Great post, Jeremiah - and buy the way, you look great with a sledgehammer!
Wasn't it Rita Mae Brown who said "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results"?
I have said for years that if you take two business owners, starting their businesses on the same day, selling the same thing, in equal locations and come back in 5 years, one will be doing great and the other will be doing not so great (if he's even still in business). What was different? It wasn't the location. It wasn't the product. It wasn't the employees (assume the quality of employee was the same). It wasn't the economy. It was one thing - the owner's relationship to the circumstances - a/k/a "their reality". The few inches between your ears are what will determine your success or failure - AND THAT'S ALL.
It's not the economy. It's not the employees. It's not the marketing. It's not anything else. It's you and how you relate to things. Are you open to new ideas? To new ways of doing things? To someone else's expertise? To utilizing your resources in unforeseen ways? Are you coachable? To doing things differently?
If you are, you'll make it. If you aren't, you probably won't.
Are you one of the "open people"? If you are, see you on the playground!
(Ok, I'll get down off my soapbox now...)
Actually it was Albert Einstein who said "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results". But it has been borrowed by many; business owners, corporations, job seekers and hiring managers, writers, and motivational speakers...
The needed reality check goes back to the concept of root cause analysis using the 5 Whys method - (well known to all 2-years-old children)
1. Jeremiah: why is the food truck not doing well? Neighbor: because..... (A);
2. Jeremiah: why...(A)? Neighbor: because (B);
3. Jeremiah: why ...(B)? Neighbor: because (C);
4. Jeremiah: why (C)? Neighbor: because (D);
5. Jeremiah: why (D)? neighbor: because of ROOT CAUSE
Neighbor: Eureka! I can do something about this.
You know you reached a root cause when you can identify actionable correction tasks.
If after 5 Whys you can not reach a root cause, go back and try a different (A) or (B), etc.
In another post there is a discussion of turning failure into success. Perhaps you can try again, Jeremiah, by getting your neighbor to come up with the Why's or the answers to the Whys till he reaches an actionable root cause. Then you can both declare victory.
It could be a case of "teaching your neighbor how to fish instead of giving him fish"; (now, who originated this quote?)