Verifying Customers

Every week or so,
when I log into an often used site
from my usual home computer,
it asks me to verify
my identity.

Why?

I’m using the same device
at the same location
on the same network.

And the asking site
should be tracking
all that information.

That they are asking
for further verification
doesn’t make me feel
more secure.

It makes me feel
less secure.

Because the site,
if functioning properly,
should know it is me.

If you ask your customers
for more information
to verify their identity
than is needed,
that will erode trust.

It won’t strengthen it.

Consider dialing it back.

Charging For Extras

We’re working with
a subcontractor right now.
He charges
for every little bit extra.

We want to move an outlet an inch higher
than he suggests?
He charges extra for that.

We call him, asking him
if he plans to be on site
that day?
He charges extra for that call.

That’s fine.
It is his business model.
We either work with it
or we find someone else.

Except he complains
when WE reduce his fees
by any amount.

He didn’t use all the cable?
We either keep the leftover cable
or we reduce the amount
he has charged us for it.

His assistant didn’t show up
that day?
We reduce the cost
of his assistant
by a day.

If you charge
for every little thing,
expect clients
to reduce their bill
by every little thing.

Should You Keep Outdated Content?

Many of us
have been blogging
or creating other social media content
for a while.

That older content
stays in search engines.

But some of it
may no longer be
relevant or true.

Should we delete it?

I delete older content
that is no longer true
or safe to share.

I also delete older content
that creates a lot of work
but doesn’t increase sales.

That 10 plus year old
article
I wrote for funsies
on growing tomatoes?

A lot of people contact me
about it.

But none of those people
are interested in
buying my romance novels.

They’re only interested
in gardening advice.

And I’m not interested in giving
or am qualified to give
gardening advice.

I deleted the article.
My work and worry load
greatly decreased.

Delete older content
that no longer serves
you, your business
or your customers.

The Risks Of Using AI

Pink Floyd recently held
a contest
for the best animation video.

They awarded the top prize
to an AI-produced entry.

Which is their right
to do.

If they want to promote
AI-produced art,
they are welcome to do so.

But that means
they’ll lose all sympathy
from their fans
if or rather WHEN
THEIR art, THEIR music
is reproduced without authorization
by AI.

If you use AI,
don’t complain
when you’re replaced
by AI.

And every industry,
every business
is at risk of being
replaced by AI.

Know the risks
of using AI.

Store It Correctly

A buddy of mine
loaded up on printer paper
during a local business’s
liquidation sale.

She knew she’d use
that paper…eventually.

And it was a great deal.

She then stored this paper
in her basement.

Her damp in the Spring
basement.

Yep.
All of the paper
has been damaged so badly
it is unusable
in printers.

Invest in waterproof containers
and moisture absorbers
(oxygen absorbers
for things like food)
and other tools.

And place
your supplies and other items
in the best
storage location
possible.

Don’t destroy
your investment.

Store supplies
and other items correctly.

Adding Investments Gradually

I am gradually expanding
the vegetable garden
in my backyard.

Every year,
I add another perennial,
a plant that will return
every spring
and produce food for me.

Perennials tend
to be more expensive
to purchase.
I also have to learn
how to plant them
and how to best care for them.

They are an investment.

I only add one a year
to my ‘portfolio.’

This allows me
to focus on the new addition.

And that increases the odds
my investment
will pay off
…for the rest of my life.

This gradual and steady approach
can apply to ANY investment,
including investments
in our businesses.

Consider adding investments
slowly
and gradually.

That will increase the odds
they’ll provide the return
you need from them.

Reacting Emotionally

A subcontractor responded
extremely rudely
and over-the-top emotionally
to one of my questions.

My first reaction,
based purely on emotion,
was to tell him
to f*ck off.
I’d work
with someone else
to finish the job.

Except that
might have placed the project
in jeopardy.

It would have definitely
delayed the project’s completion.

So I sucked back
my anger
and I am continuing to work
with him.

For this project.

For future projects,
I’ll work with other people.

And he definitely won’t
be receiving any referrals
from me.

Don’t make decisions
or shift relationships
based on emotion.

Think before you react.

One More Use

I try to get
one more use
out of just about everything
– packaging,
clothing,
computers,
space in my home,
etc.

I use the empty potato chip bag
as a garbage bag.

I plant some radishes
in an unused corner of my yard.

I convert torn clothing
to cleaning rags.

On their own,
these one more uses
don’t save much money
or other resources.

Collectively,
however,
they have funded business start ups
in the past.

Try to get
one more use
out of everything around you.

Call To Confirm Attendance

A buddy of mine
is getting married this year.

She sent out the invitations.

Only 10% of the guests
RSVPed by the deadline.

That isn’t an unexpected result.

When I hosted events
before COVID,
I had to call
most of the invited guests
to confirm they were attending.

Now, we’re dealing
with people with COVID brain.
They can’t remember sh*t.

So not only do we have to
call to confirm they plan
to attend events
but we also have to
call to remind them
to attend them.

Factor that into
your planning.

Bird Flu And Running A Business

Bird flu is spreading
between cows, birds, cats, dogs.

It is only a matter of time
before it spreads
from human to human.

Business builders in
food, pet, medical
and other directly impacted industries
have a sh*tload of changes
to possibly implement.

The rest of us
should already be prepared.

As bird flu is airborne,
we simply continue to implement
the same strategy
we’re using with COVID
and the many other viruses circulating.

We supply masks and hand sanitizer
to employees
and perhaps to customers.

We ensure we have
online and other virtual options
available,
if at all possible.

We prepare to pivot
to working from home
and to working with fewer employees
if that is needed.

We are building businesses
in the age of pandemics
– multiple pandemics.

Dealing with situations
like the spread of bird flu
is part of our jobs now
as business builders.

It is time
to do that job.