GoHuman Blog

It seems like everyone has heard one of the most oft-quoted statistics on small business:  “80% of all small businesses fail within the first five years and, of the 20% that survive, 80% of the survivors fail within the next five years……..therefore,  96% of all small businesses fail within 10 years!”

For this reason alone, many people never start a business and many banks, angel investors, and venture capital firms decline to fund the vast majority of small business start-ups.  I want to dispel this myth because, in reality, nobody has statistics that clearly define what a “failure” means.

As a small business owner (or perhaps not-so-small), it is self-evident that technology provides endless methods for improving your business. That is, if it just wasn’t so difficult! 

Over the last couple of years, there’s been a lot of talk about greed being one of the main drivers of the global financial crisis. And that talk rings true. After all, greed is an inherently selfish motive that disregards the harm it causes to others or to ourselves. And as the crisis has illustrated, the more power and influence a person or organization has, the more damage their greed can cause. 

Peter Schweizer recently shined a spotlight on Congressional insider trading, corruption and graft, and we are now seeing the cockroaches scramble.  60 Minutes has further exposed what we knew all along:   the more power you have, the more opportunity you have to abuse it.  And unless we create and enforce regulation to stop this bad behavior, such widespread abuse will continue to take place.  It’s pervasive on both sides of the aisle, from John Boehner to Nancy Pelosi. 

It’s been a very tough year for many, including GoHuman.  We pre-launched in Beta two years ago, on Labor Day, with grand ideals around helping the “little guy” compete.  Over the past 12 months we’ve failed miserably in achieving our goal.  This was largely due to internal misalignment at the partner/owner level.  These issues were finally resolved last Friday, and GoHuman can now move forward, proudly, true to our vision and ideals.

We represent a new and different model than the failed systems and methods of the past.  Aggregation of wealth and power in the hands of big business place an unsustainable burden on humanity and the planet.  In the US our economic challenges have evolved into a type of class warfare.  A materialistic mindset had us all believing in a kind of Casino salvation – that if our system celebrates greed and excessive wealth, that’s OK, because maybe I’ll get a piece of that pie some day.  GoHuman’s internal struggles mirrored this tendency, but we have survived, and we have learned.

Bottom line, raw capitalism harnesses greed as an engine, which ultimately accomplishes more harm than good.  Here’s an article from way back in 2006 that serves as food for thought as we lean into our Thanksgiving meal this year.  It quotes Warren Buffet saying  “There’s class warfare, all right, but it’s my class, the rich class, that’s making war, and we’re winning.”

As we pause to celebrate Thanksgiving in the U.S., I’m thankful that we’ve made it through the past year, and that the coming year is poised to be better.  We look forward to a better year ahead, resolute that what we stand for will ultimately win out despite the challenges of getting a start-up off the ground, not to mention one that is radically different and perhaps still ahead of its time.

Please join us in our mission to Change the Way Your World Works.  Get involved in the GoHuman.com Marketplace – as a small business using our platform to market your services, or as a customer of small local businesses.  Let’s build a better marketplace together.

In today’s society, technology is a necessary component of business yet many businesses are hesitant to take on the additional expense.  As technology progresses, older systems need updating. Implementing new technology within a business, offers many great opportunities for your company to develop a distinct advantage in a highly competitive market. Many businesses have recognized this potential and are integrating the latest technologies into the workplace with a strategic mindset.

To utilize technology to its fullest potential, upgrading can be viewed as an excellent chance to increase your competitive advantage. Several of the more traditional business models are changing with the integration of technology and your company can creatively make use of upgrades, to achieve success from the benefits digital innovation offers.

Advantages New Technology Offers:

Waste Reduction-leads to lower costs and higher profitability.

Reduced Workforce- fewer positions may be required, when previous tasks performed by personnel become automated. If the existing number of employees is minimal already, attrition may be the next step.

Increased Profitability-due to increased efficiencies, which reduces expenditures, new technology allows jobs to be completed quicker and more accurately, to allow a steady cash flow.

Increased Productivity-among team members coupled with the introduction and implementation of new technology, creates additional efficiencies and overall production.

Higher Income-the greater the business profits, the greater opportunities there are for employees to increase their income, via bonuses or raises.

Improved Communications-allows information to be sent, received and responded to instantaneously, whether through e-mail, computer networks and cell phone use. Long distance communication of documents and information can be passed along much more rapidly. Remote based employees have immediate access to staff from cell phones, web cams, video conferencing and laptop use.

Competitive Advantage-allows a business to reduce product/service costs, while increasing profit levels, without compromising customer service.

Disadvantages of New Technology:

Management’s Decision-to upgrade with new technology can be extremely difficult. Do you buy now or wait for the next technological advance? The decision to do so can and usually is an expensive one. What’s more, the integration of and training required among the workforce, is a whole other task in its self.

Regular Maintenance-of new technology will be required to keep efficiencies flowing. More importantly, questions that must be answered in advance are, if the machinery on a production line breaks down, will this cease all production? What alternatives are available that can be immediately implemented, if this occurs?

Costs-will be reduced if integrated properly and therefore, the decision is whether or not the extra capital is available to purchase the new technology.

Additional Time-will be required for training and if you have to reorganize the workplace to accommodate the new technology. This is an important decision that must be taken into consideration, if your business works within tight deadlines. Furthermore, any IT issues that occur will need to be resolved quickly, to ensure the transition is as seamless as possible.

Abuse-of the technology made available to employees on their job can be excessive and very costly to a company, i.e. constant instant messaging, personal use of social media, non-work related emailing, inappropriate use of information on the web.

The key to deciding whether or not to upgrade your business with new technology lies in your ability to fully understand the culture of your workplace. This is an important aspect of managing any workplace. The culture of your organization is critical in hiring and retaining effective employees. Culture involves how workers feel about the organization and how they feel about their jobs. Create an environment that’s aligned with the company’s overall objectives and mission. A culture where employees not only trust their leaders, but are willing to follow them, even when they’re uncertain about change.

The dot.com meltdowns and unfortunate events that occurred in the early 2000’s created an amazing opportunity for businesses in Silicon Valley. It allowed them to regroup and build cultivating work environments. Given the complications our economy has endured over the past several years, people (most) are much more apt to be part of a team now more than ever. When people work collectively as teams rather than as individuals who are just there to collect a paycheck, productivity increases, morale is heightened and loyalty exists everywhere. All of which are among the top qualities necessary for boosting customer acquisition and retaining and growing the existing customer base.

People crave to be a part of something and want desperately to feel as though they’re contributing to the overall good of something; however, the fear factor is what permeates organizations, these days. That fear can be so overwhelming that it debilitates people’s willingness and ability to create and produce. Ironically, “people” are what keep a business, any business operating successfully. People are every organizations’ number one resource to achieving any goal, hitting a milestone or meeting any objective set. When companies provide ongoing opportunities for people to stretch their minds, enhance their skills towards their own aspirations, they’ll grow like a flower does with the sun and water. What’s more, they’ll end up creating huge competitive advantages for their company, every time.

Service minded individuals are always quick to recognize obstacles within an organization and are even quicker at wanting to remove those obstacles, to ensure they perform at the highest level of productivity as possible. Their intent is to make sure both internal and external customer satisfaction is met.

So exactly how do service oriented people identify and breakthrough the barriers that lie in the way of goal achievement? They build one-on-one relationships by connecting with others at a very basic level of communication and human interaction. They get to know people by asking a lot of questions and listening with intent. They ask others for their feedback on ideas. They ask for their involvement in identifying what’s working, what’s not working and most importantly, what they can do as a team, to improve matters that will allow them and the organization to continue moving forward. Through this type of ongoing communication; trust, respect and integrity are fostered.

Nobody trips over mountains. It is the small pebble that causes you to stumble. Pass all the pebbles in your path and you will find you have cross the mountain. The mind does not create what it perceives, anymore than the eye creates the rose.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

What would it would be like to try and build a house without a blueprint.

Put a few bricks over there.  And a window on that side.  No, maybe a door…

It would never work.  It’s certainly not a house you’d want to live in.  No proper structure.  No trustworthy foundation.

So, when it comes to your business’s foundation, why would you invest in marketing without a plan?  Without a marketing plan, you’re chances of realizing a strong ROI from your marketing investment decrease significantly while the likelihood of wasting valuable resources increases.  Here are 3 reasons why you’ll be more successful with a Marketing Plan.

Provides Focus
A Marketing Plan provides focus for your organization.   As a result, you are less likely to jump onto the latest trend just because “everyone’s doing it.”  If you develop a reasonable plan that aligns with your sales and budgetary objectives, you can keep your organization focused on the initiatives that will achieve these goals, as opposed to those that seem interesting, but don’t really relate to your business.

Provides a Checklist
A Marketing Plan provides a checklist you can use to ensure you’re executing all your planned initiatives.  Having that record allows you to plan and budget more effectively as well as ensures you have stayed the course per the Plan.

Saves Money
A Marketing Plan will save you money by ensuring you systematically try and evaluate your marketing initiatives.  Each investment in direct mail, email campaigns, public relations, etc., should come with an expected ROI.  Measuring that ROI will allow you to determine which campaigns are the most cost effective.   More importantly, an effective measurement structure (as part of your Plan) will allow you to eliminate those initiatives that do NOT meet your expectations.

The past few weeks I’ve been gearing up (myself and those interested in reading my posts) to begin a wellness program I recently enrolled in, through a local chiropractor. I know, who knew a chiropractic office offered wellness programs? I’ve chalked it up to a basic business philosophy that many entrepreneur’s/organizations tend to lose sight of which is that they clearly understand how important it is to the success of their business to continuously find ways to add value to those they serve.

Last week marked my first visit to the office, which was the initial consultation and program review. The Dr. was definitely on a fact-finding mission and asked a multitude of questions ranging from current fitness regimen and eating habits, to why I chose “now” to take action.

Some of you may be wondering what (if any) purpose does it serve others, for me to track such a journey, through weekly blogging. What’s more, how or does it even relate to coaching? The good news is that the two are very much in alignment with one another and “no,” I’m not self absorbedJ.

Coaching is about commitment, accountability, taking action for the results we want and doing whatever is necessary, in order to get those results. Coaching is a structured relationship designed to help the person being coached to move forward, to reach the goals that they have set, and to reach their potential.

Those who remain hesitant, may then be asking “Why would someone who’s built a career for themselves that’s designed to lead others to realizing the untapped potential they have within, seek their own assistance of an outside source to get more fit, become healthier by adapting new eating habits, to live a longer and healthier life?” My response is simple and nonetheless, truthful. I understand and know the value of having a support system who’s in my corner, rooting for me every step of the way. I know the value of having someone to help hold me accountable and offer a different perspective when it’s difficult to see the forest through the trees. I know the value of having someone on your side who isn’t there to criticize, but rather offer their encouragement to continue moving forward, after not having reached a weekly goal. I also know (all too well) that in order to change the things that aren’t working or are missing from my daily diet/fitness routine, means that “I” must make the commitment and “I” must take the action required, to affect the change “I” want.

When multiple award winning actress (and dubbed as America’s Sweetheart) Sandra Bullock landed the lead role in The Blind Side, in order to really get into her character as the headstrong football mom Leigh Ann Tuohy, one of the first moves Bullock made was to hire dialect coach, Francie Brown. Bullock hired Brown to help her refine her southern-style accent and incidentally, she won best actress for her role in the movie.

How about one of the best golfers of all time Tiger Woods who, regardless of the personal challenges he’s endured these past few years, also works with a coach. The coach may change from time to time but nonetheless, he always has one. Why does someone with his talent, his skills and his record have a coach? Because he takes constructive feedback from another golfer who he could undoubtedly beat with some regularity, if he were to compete against him. Just imagine what it’s like to not only be the very best in the world at what you do, but to be humble enough to admit than you can always get better and don’t know it all.

My commitment to all of you is to post weekly progress updates, as my journey continues.