We know, however, this saying isn’t true; Christmas is about much more than a tree. But when someone forgets to set up the tree, or its needles fall off prematurely, we’re tempted to buy another one before the relatives arrive. Christmas trees are important and today, during the holidays, there’s one for sale on every corner. But this wasn’t always true.
It all started when a businessman, Mark Carr, saw an opportunity to serve his community.
Before 1851 the United States was a rural society. Most Americans could easily cut down and carry home their own trees. But, for those who lived in New York City, it was nearly impossible to access trees of any kind. Carr realized this and travelled by sled to the Catskill Mountains nearby and collected several bunches of evergreens. He hauled them back into the city and sold every single tree from a vacant lot. The Christmas tree market was born. Today in the U.S. nearly 40 million are bought and sold each year.
During this holiday season remember, sometimes it only takes one creative idea to launch a new industry. Always be looking for new opportunities. There are people to serve, problems to solve, and profits to make.
Money really can grow on trees. Even on evergreens.
Written by Justin Stephens. Edited by Andrei Duta. This article first appeared in Andrei’s Newsletter.
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“It’s better to be wise than strong;intelligence outranks muscle any day.
Strategic planning is the key to warfare;
to win, you need a lot of good counsel.”
(PROVERBS 24:5, 6; the Message)
Strategy is the art and science of winning. Strategy means outsmarting the competition. Strategy pertains to macro level thinking and planning. How do you get effectively and efficiently from point A to point B?
Strategy comes from the Greek word “strategos” which describes the military strategist or general on the battle field. Strategy pertains to finding and employing necessary and available means towards accomplishing and reaching desired ends.
- Dwight Eisenhower once said: “Plans are useless. Planning is everything.” What is the meaning of this phrase in terms of strategy? Are plans static? Is planning fluid?
- Sun Tzu penned in the classic The Art of War: “Every battle is won before it is ever fought.” What is the meaning of this question in terms of wisdom and planning?
- Stephen Covey encouraged his readers to “begin with the end in mind.” What does it mean in terms of strategic planning?
“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” (Proverbs 15:22)
“Plans succeed through good counsel; don’t go to war without wise advice.” (Proverbs 20:18)
“The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.” (Proverbs 21:31)
]]>Sun Tzu once he said: “Every battle is won before it is ever fought.” What did he mean? Did the famous ancient Chinese strategic advisor refer to meticulous preparation before even engaging in a battle?
Stephen Covey encourages us to “begin with the end in mind.” How is this similar to Sun Tzu’s advice? What does it mean to visualize the end results, the goals, and the objectives? Why is this mental rehearsal of the future technique encouraged? How does it pertain to strategy?
]]>1. Due Diligence.
Research, research, research. Try and compile as much information as possible. Is there a need for this product or service? Do I have a defined demographic that I am trying to serve? Is there something else offered currently out there? Do I have any direct competitors? These questions among many others should be asked and answered.
Proverbs 14:15 reads: “A wise man looks well into a matter.”
2. Solve Masterfully a Specific Problem.
Trying to be good at a lot of things can be hurtful to your business. Being very good at one certain thing can be beneficial. Find a way to disrupt the current market or look for a void that you can exploit. What is one problem in the marketplace that only you can solve best among your competitors?
Proverbs 22:29 reads: “Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank.”
3. Test Your Market.
You never know if your offering will have a great impact on your target market unless you test it out. Before going all in, it is necessary to know if your product or service will sell. Try a small population sample first. Test the waters first.
I Thessalonians 5:21 (Amplified)
4. Put Together the Right Team.
This is simple to understand. You can rarely do it all alone. There are people out there who can help design or program your product, and they can do it faster and better than you. Enlist them on your team. Working together is vital for all the members. This is called synergy: the sum if the whole is greater than the sun if the parts.
Ecclesiastes 4:9 reads: “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.”
5. Find a Great Mentor.
Depending on the business you are hoping to start, a person with experience in a similar field could be an excellent resource. Go to networking events and meet people with similar passions. Surround yourself with several people wiser and more experienced. Find somebody or several people who are willing and able to teach and coach you. Glean from their wisdom.
Proverbs 24:6 reads: “Surely you need guidance to wage war, and victory is won through many advisers.” Proverbs 15:22 reads: “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”
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