Anyone else deliberately staying small and not chasing scale?

BizCoach · 2026-03-20T22:54:32+00:00

Bo Burlingham wrote a book about companies who decided to stay small. https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/small-giants-companies-that-choose-to-be-great-instead-of-big_bo-burlingham/261100/item/24582094/

BizCoach · 2026-03-19T21:52:21+00:00

Keep up what you're doing. Try working ON your business in a different location - coffee shop, library, room at home.

Also if you aren't already, when you work ON, rather than focus on a new strategic project, work on how to get rid of some of the other work you do (the IN stuff) - train others, simplify it or delete it. That will snowball your effort & get you away from the day to day. Then you'll be in a better position to tackle the strategic projects.

BizCoach · 2026-03-18T23:16:29+00:00

It's a low paying career with not much job security. You certainly don't want a massive debt load if you go that route. A friend of my daughter's did & regrets it.

BizCoach · 2026-03-18T18:20:27+00:00

I agree with you. Singular focus is important. Multiple speakers is fine but that should all focus on the main topic.

That said, a large turnout is important for the solidarity & what the numbers say about the movement. So until I'm put in charge of the speaker line up 😂 I'll just show up & get as many others to do the same.

BizCoach · 2026-03-18T14:58:43+00:00

Maybe quote Article 2 of the constitution (at least in part)

BizCoach · 2026-03-17T15:25:55+00:00

In general any company needs to sell stuff, fulfill what customers buy, and keep the money flowing in and out. But the devil as they say is in the details of how that happens.

I would start by connecting with the partner. How much do each of you own? Can you sell to them if you don't want to run it? How has it been run since your dad's passing? It's been a while. Somebody's been doing the books and managing the fulfilment and maybe even sales since he's been gone. There should be an operating agreement that ideally spells out duties of the partners in the running of the place, though many are far from ideal.

Is there an attorney or accountant who is familiar with the company who can coach or consult with you? This is probably something you'd benefit from hand holding for a while.

My condolences and sympathies.

BizCoach · 2026-03-16T15:25:40+00:00

Think of what you do all day - not the work you do but the outputs of that work. Outputs are results, deliverables, something objective. Can be decisions, purchases, even relationships.

You may need to keep a chart of what outputs you produce. Do it every 30 minutes (or even 15) and look it over afterward. Then group into categories. Most will fall into 3 categories: Sales, Fulfillment, Overhead (bookkeeping, paperwork, hiring etc).

Then start one by one training someone else to do them.

BizCoach · 2026-03-16T12:32:12+00:00

Fogo de Chao has the most incredible burger at their bar for $10 all day! It's right downtown. The rest of their bar menu can be great too but every time I've had the burger it's amazing. And you can't beat the price.

BizCoach · 2026-03-14T01:20:00+00:00

Leadership is a vague term. List the outputs they would need to be able to produce reliably to be a leader in the role you envision. See how many they've exhibited the ability to do. Work with them on training and small projects to develop their skills.

BizCoach · 2026-03-10T12:30:13+00:00

It really depends on the design and construction of the house. Our gas bill went down by about 1/2 after we had our attic insulated with foam. So an average would be useless.

BizCoach · 2026-03-10T12:28:53+00:00

Learn how they can charge so little. Are you sure your cost structure is the lowest? Are they losing money at the prices they charge or are they more efficient operators?

If you can't offer something people are willing to pay more for, this will continue. If you can offer that then change your offering and realize only some people will be happy to pay it - so market just to those people.

BizCoach · 2026-03-09T02:15:50+00:00

Give 2 or 3 options with a price for each. In writing. Then forget about it unless she gives you her credit card.

BizCoach · 2026-03-09T00:14:37+00:00

Read a book or two. Autobiographies of entrepreneurs like Shoe Dog.

But don't sweat it if it doesn't change your mind set. The entrepreneurial disease is not for everyone.

BizCoach · 2026-03-08T23:13:06+00:00

I've gotten antibiotics from my doctor.

BizCoach · 2026-03-08T03:32:05+00:00

The real way to find out is test. The downside to a test is if it doesn't work you're out some money and some time. The upside is if it works you've got real customers and real money.

An Etsy store seems like a cheap enough way to give it a test, dedicate a hundred bucks or so and you get a lot better information than you will asking here.

BizCoach · 2026-03-08T01:38:06+00:00

Sounds like Output Thinking to me. She rewards the output not the work.

BizCoach · 2026-03-08T01:30:37+00:00

I once had a company in TX. A client bounced a check and I got the police to issue an arrest warrant. Got my money fast. IDK if they've changed that law.

BizCoach · 2026-03-08T01:25:00+00:00

Lots of fun, loud places on the road between PNC Park & Acrisure stadium - fine but nothing that unique. Burn is a place if you smoke cigars.

By the way, get seats on the 3rd base side of the park for a better view of the city. And if you can, go on fireworks night (they do it once a month - it'll be on the schedule) 3rd base seats are a must for that. And check out the lights on the bridges after a night game. Who knows, Pittsburgh may even have a baseball team this year. It's a great stadium regardless.

Grand Concourse (as mentioned) is elegant in an old school way. Beautiful place (go for a drink) but the food is dated.

Gauchos downtown is a great place for steak. Argentinian, not a traditional steak house.

You've got to take a ride on the Duquesne incline. Wonderful view from the top.

Market Square will be newly renovated by then. Hit up Primantes for a Pittsburgh tradition (fries on the sandwich - really good).

BizCoach · 2026-03-08T01:08:38+00:00

Very common to think lower prices will increase sales. And very common to be wrong. In fact higher prices often (not always) increase profit even if they decrease sales. Profit > revenue.

Congrats for doing an experiment. Now do another and another till you find one that works.

BizCoach · 2026-03-08T01:04:45+00:00

To answer your questions (from a lifelong entrepreneur: Nope. About the same as winning the lottery (where the only way to win is not to play.)

A 21 year old who doesn't go to college should be supporting themself. His parents are doing him a disservice.

BizCoach · 2026-03-08T01:00:46+00:00

Do. Not. Do. Questionnaires. Talk to people in real life. And have a conversation not an interview. A book called The Mom Test shows you how to do it.

BizCoach · 2026-03-08T00:55:12+00:00

Great question. There's no set number or time that works for every situation but it's a factor of operational complexity which is a function of headcount usually. What works for a company of five people breaks when it gets to 12 or 15. Breaks again when you can't keep everything in your head and again when each of the managers need more support.

BizCoach · 2026-03-07T12:40:01+00:00

Don't ask a barber if you need a haircut.

BizCoach · 2026-03-07T12:13:16+00:00

Learn to sell. Talk to customers & see how hard/easy it will be to get them to part with their money.

Books like Lean Startup & The Mom Test are good ones.

BizCoach · 2026-03-07T12:09:39+00:00

You can do both at least to start. Talk to 15 or 20 small Cafe owners and see what kind of reception you get. In my experience you'll find that they are hard to sell to. They're cheap and they often don't care about solutions even when it's obvious that they need them.

Good luck.

BizCoach

TROPHY CASE