Comments on: Why Your House and Your Business Need A Solid Foundation

By: Real Estate Foundation

Real Estate Foundation — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 18:14:02 +0000

Reminds of the scripture where Jesus says “The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”

By: Forumistan

Forumistan — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 12:47:21 +0000

Henry David Thoreau’s quote is great…

By: Computer Repair

Computer Repair — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 16:05:26 +0000

I’ve been helping a friend start and run a company for two years. Hes stubborn and won’t listen when I say he needs a business plan and he needs to stick with whats on paper. I mean this guy almost dumped his successful business to sell goji juice. Give me a break. Write down what you want and how your going to get it and why you think it will work then stick to it and STAY FOCUSED.

By: Eva White

Eva White — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 13:38:49 +0000

I agree with Jason completely. Many organizations have crashed just because they did not bother to have a strong foundation.

By: Eva White

Eva White — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 08:42:30 +0000

Very Very nice post………

By: Forumistan

Forumistan — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 23:22:33 +0000

The Henry D Thoreau quote is a gem. You’re right.

By: skip

skip — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 08:43:48 +0000

Yeah right. Good strategy is very important in doing business, that would determine one’s earning big or small.

By: Wooden Drink Coasters

Wooden Drink Coasters — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 04:52:36 +0000

Dawud Miracle has carried out the fact issue. I am completely agree with you.

Thanks for the nice piece

By: Electric guitars

Electric guitars — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 08:57:29 +0000

Well, you have a point. I know somebody with over 40 years in business that says he never gets to the next level until the current one is fully secured. Good strategy, I’d say!

By: Anonymous Surfer

Anonymous Surfer — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 19:01:01 +0000

Just to add to some of your great points, but automation has been a big key to my success. If a task can be automated, then do it. It will free up your time to focus on the more important issues that are affecting your particular endeavor.

By: Skip Anderson

Skip Anderson — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 15:12:51 +0000

You mention that many companies focus on “vision” and “branding” and “target audience” at the expense of building a foundation.

I agree. I also think that many companies don’t even spend sufficient time on those issues. They are instead chasing immediate revenue, thinking that “vision” and “branding” and determining a “target audience” is somehow a secondary requirement, they instead chase immediate sales revenue.

Now, as a business owner, I know revenue is the lifeblood of the organization, so I’m not naive. But in chasing immediate revenue all the time, companies ignore the opportunity to develop the foundation that you refer to.

I agree that this “foundation” goes well beyond vision and branding and determining a target market, but I think we are living in an age of short-term thinking in the business world, and a healthy dose of long-term planning (”foundation building,” if you will) would help build revenue exponentially, resulting in a better far better revenue position in the long run.

By: Web design

Web design — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 18:55:28 +0000

What you call foundations reminds me of the systems and procedures discussed in the book called E-myth…

Have you read that book?

By: Jason

Jason — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 17:57:46 +0000

I think businesses that first succeed mail also fail not because they don’t put in place the structure to support it, but because they forget how vital that structure is to their success… it’s like the IT or telecom department in a large business: you forget them and their importance until something breaks.

By: Paul

Paul — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 17:38:29 +0000

Great post. I have been running my business for about 8 months now and before that I was in school and working for someone else. I see now how and why procedures/policy’s are made. It keeps you organized and like you said builds a foundation to start from. If your home is strong you can always go back. If this makes any sense.

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 15:03:24 +0000

Good advise – especially about communication procdeures. I’ve lost count of the times now that we’ve picked up business simply becauase we were the only company who either picked up the phone or responded to email quickly.

By: Plumbing Course Andy

Plumbing Course Andy — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 05:56:25 +0000

A business with good foundation lasts long! You should implement best business strategies and you don’t be afraid to take the risk!

By: Charles Mont-Tremblant

Charles Mont-Tremblant — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 19:39:12 +0000

love the house vs business relation. solid foundation is indeed paramount. do you have any specific examples of businesses which managed to identify their weakness and strengthen it?

By: Bert Mahoney

Bert Mahoney — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:58:59 +0000

Hi Dawud,
To answer your question:
“I’m always intrigued by businesses that gain success and then loose it because they don’t put the proper pieces in place to sustain it. Why do you think this happens?”

I think it may result due to a few things.

1. Inexperience
They just plain don’t know what to plan for or expect combined with either a sense of overwhelm, or a lack of interest in researching new or known ways of doing things.
I think this falls into “things you don’t know that you don’t know” category.

2. Stubbornness
Thinking that they do know what it takes and that they have what they need to sustain their current model. They tend to shun advice or counsel of others.

3. Resource Poor
They may know that they need something, but do not have either the ability to find it (not knowing what to ask), know anyone who can be a physical presence and help, or have the financial resources to accomplish what they need.

4. Information Overload
I think we all experience this. When you do find information to address your need typically its too much. How do you evaluate it? What is good and tested? Which is speculative and unsure? If you don’t know, how do you figure it out. Meanwhile, you have a business to run.

Do you have any to add?

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 15:15:25 +0000

Building a good foundation for you business also gives you the ability to recover or start over much more easily, if you DO happen to encounter one of those challenges that exceeds your ability to keep the current one going.

PS – Thanks for the link

By: Dawud Miracle

Dawud Miracle — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 03:07:24 +0000

Home Recording,
Thanks. I’m a long-time Thoreau lover.

Bert,
Absolutely. I’m always intrigued by businesses that gain success and then loose it because they don’t put the proper pieces in place to sustain it. Why do you think this happens?

Andrew,
Well, at least you may overcome. Some challenges may shut a business down. But at least a strong foundation gives you a fighting chance.