If You Play with Snakes, You Will Get Bitten!

Those aren't all participation ribbons chief!

If you have ever listened to Dave Ramsey’s advice on using credit cards, you will know that he often says, “When you play with snakes, you will get bitten.”  He means that getting cute with credit cards will end up with you paying finance charges and piling up debt. 

This can also be said of slithery people and businesses. 

For example:

Pediatric Dentist A

I have always selected the cheaper dental insurance because I can be penny wise and pound foolish sometimes.  I then selected the behemoth pediatric dental practice, despite less than stellar online reviews.  See where I’m headed?

Well, lo and behold, my 6 year old had a few small cavities.

Despite lackluster interactions up to this point, (always had different dentists, different opinions, and little follow up), this pediatric practice was suddenly in full blown communication mode.  They told us we needed to schedule an appointment right away and have all of her molars capped!  ASAP!

Despite our reservations, we moved forward.   They were supposed to only do half of the teeth with cavities and schedule the remaining later, but they managed to do way more than what a 6 year old should have to withstand in one sitting.  We felt like we had been bitten!

Pediatric Dentist B

Luckily, my wife had the common sense (not me) to call and get a second opinion, before we moved forward with the slithery plan. 

The second pediatric dentistry, Just 4 Kids Teeth, told us that they would recommend just a few fillings and that crowns were not necessary.  They also said this was probably caused by reflux, but not by a lack of flossing as we were told by Dentist A.

The Just 4 Kids Teeth staff was very friendly, immediately went out of their way to build rapport, and there was constant communication and they even asked us for our feedback! 

This was another lesson learned in parenting.  I played with snakes and my 6 year old was bitten. 

This also holds true when running a business. 

• Think twice before hiring who person that has a very spotty resume and has an excuse why the last place “didn’t work out”
• Do not use that marketing firm that makes sweeping promises with very general ideas and no specific plan
• Stay away from that consultant who doesn’t really have any referrals and guarantees dramatic increases in revenue.
•  And do not even consider buying that piece of equipment with bad reviews.

George Phillips an attorney from Bone McAllester Norton says this:

“A bad contract with good people, will in most cases, work itself out because everyone will do what they should to try to make it work. 

The opposite is also true.  No matter how good the contract, no matter how hard your attorney works on it, it is still only as good as the person or business it is with.”

Maybe I should talk to George before I pick the kid’s orthodontist.

 

September Seminars

Starting a Small Business workshop of Volunteer State Community College's Tennessee Small Business Development Center, 4-6 p.m. Tuesday,
September 1, 1480 Nashville Pike, Gallatin, TN in Building 300. Registration is required. Reserve online. www.tsbdc.org. Free.

Content Creation for Social Media, Made Easy workshop of Volunteer State Community College's Tennessee Small Business Development Center, 9-11 a.m. Wednesday, September 16, 1480 Nashville Pike, Gallatin, TN in Building 300. Registration is required. Reserve online. www.tsbdc.org. $30, payable at the workshop.

QuickBooks Introduction for Small Businesses workshop of Volunteer State Community College's Tennessee Small Business Development Center, 9-12 p.m. Friday, September 18, 1480 Nashville Pike, Gallatin, TN in Building 300. Registration is required. Reserve online. www.tsbdc.org. $45, payable at the workshop.

4 Things You Are Too Old to Do!

“You’re only as old as you feel.  False: You're as old as how many times the Earth has revolved around the sun since you were born”. – Dwight Schurte

One of the benefits of entrepreneurship is being able to do what you want, when you want, and of course, nobody can tell you “you are too old to do that.”  

However, I have discovered that there are a few things that we may be too old to do.

For me, I am too old to wear my hat backwards, too old to let a football game ruin my day, and too old to giggle every time someone says “they do do that.”  All of which I still occasionally do.

My kids are the same way.  

• Ava is 6 years old.  She is too old to sit on the couch and yell for something to drink.  She is tall enough to reach the plastic cups and get water from the fridge.

• Lilly is 4 years old.  She is too old to get out of bed three times every night.  There is no reason for her to tell me that she has to go potty, that it is dark outside, or tell me she likes mermaids.

• Lane is 2 years old.  Well, he’s 2 so he gets a pass.  For now.

There are several things a business may be too old to do:

1. 1 year old business – This is too old to have an informal bookkeeping system.  The “shoebox of hope” may get you by for a month or two, but it is time to use QuickBooks, Xero, or Freshbooks so you can clearly understand where your business stands.

2. 5 year old business - This is too old to forgo employee handbooks, job descriptions, and on-going training for staff.  Simply letting everyone do “their own thing” may work for a while, however, a goal and direction for your business is necessary or it will be rudderless.

3. 10 year business – This is too old to have a significant amount of debt and no management structure.  Unless you want a haircut like mine, you will want to increase your equity and lessen your responsibility.

4. 20 year business – This is too old to lack a succession plan.  Succession planning is a must if you plan on retiring.  

So unless you are Betty White, there may be some things you are too old to do.