It’s a funny way to begin a post about mentoring in a business context, but I’ve been a fan of science fiction movies from childhood.  My dad used to love to watch them with me, the old black and white movies.  One of my favorite was “The Day of the Triffids,” and those taller-than-people plants that moved were very scary.  This love of sci-fi has stayed with me and I’m an unashamed fan of several television sci-fi franchises including Stargate SG-1.  One of the characters of which I’m fond is that of Master Bra’tac, the mentor and lifelong teacher of one of the SG-1 team members, Teal’C.

To me the Master Bra’tac character was the perfect mentor; a mentor is a teacher or trusted counselor.  I believe it goes a bit deeper…I believe it also means that a mentor is someone who supports and comes alongside someone and passes along what he or she has learned – the successes and the mistakes.

George Washington University’s Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence has an initiative called “The Hot Mommas Project.” From the Project’s website:

• “…Hot Mommas^® Project Mission: To increase self-efficacy in women and girls by providing scalable, global, free access to role models online…Long Term Vision: To create the world’s largest free and online case study library combining the worlds of social media, curriculum and role models in a real-time, interactive learning community….”

Why this project done this way?  Again from the website:

• “…Role models are tied to success…[studies have shown] women are less likely to network and promote themselves than their male counterparts and that girls and women are more likely to limit their career aspirations due to lack of confidence in their abilities…Access to role models in the form of case studies is a known successful intervention or solution to this issue…”
• “…Work-life balance is a growing concern…The problems associated with work-life balance are well defined, however the solutions are not. In exploring our case library, readers can begin to play a role in their own work-life balance solutions….”
• “…It works…case approach increases retention of key concepts by 33% for an undergrad or MBA student based on preliminary pilot testing [emphasis theirs]….”
  

This past April The Washington Post ran a story featuring the project and its applicability:

• “…Frey then created an online case study database called the Hot Mommas Project that allows ordinary women to tell their stories and share insights on balancing work and personal life. The cases studies are based on a model developed at Harvard Business School, but they’re shorter and much more personal — and all have female protagonists. Some tell stories of corporate success, while others simply highlight a challenge and offer a starting point for discussion. All are valuable, Frey says, because research shows that seeing a woman play a central role in a case study makes other women more confident about what they can accomplish. [Kathy Korman Frey, a 37-year-old Harvard MBA who runs a strategic consulting firm in Washington]…”

To me this is a fantastic program…and an ancient idea: older women passing along what they know to younger women.  And I know from personal experience how challenging it is for younger women to try to find this balance between the desire for career and/or a business of their own and a family and personal life…I have two grown daughters and several grown nieces…they all ask these questions.  I was invited to add my own story to the database which I have done; it can be found here.  If anyone were to ask me if it is a valuable thing to seek a mentor I would answer: yes.  Most definitely.

I’m a veteran of the United States Navy.  I served during the tail-end years of the Vietnam War.  I worked as a journalist at the Fifth Naval District Headquarters which at that time was located in Norfolk, Virginia [USA].  Part of my work involved writing press releases that went out to community newspapers about ship arrivals and departures.  Part of my work involved covering posthumous awards ceremonies…these always tore at my heart.  A bright spot of my time then was an Easter Sunday morning when I was able to attend dawn services aboard an aircraft carrier.  A funny time was when I had to deliver a message to an officer aboard a destroyer and I was wearing dress heels trying to climb up and down those ladders!

I’m honored that my remembrances are being included in a new book, Heart of a Military Woman.  This book will be available beginning December 1 online at Amazon.com and through bookstores such as Borders.  In fact, if you are in the Chula Vista, CA area December 12, there will be a book signing event from 2-5 pm.  Borders-Chula Vista (Eastlake), 878 Eastlake Parkway, Ste. 210, Chula Vista, CA – San Diego County.  If you are interested in purchasing this book in advance you go to to this link.  

To me this is an innovative and interesting way to bring in business.  Truthfully, I wasn’t planning to shop at Kohl’s this month…have no particular item that needs to be purchased now; however, because I have a couple of these “rewards” coupons, I will be going to Kohl’s to purchase something that is on my would be nice soon list.  It is important to note that the promotion didn’t draw me into Safeway because I didn’t know about it; however, Safeway is the grocery chain I use so I’m there often.

In this kind of economy, interesting business-to-business promotions that work to bring in customers to both is creative problem-solving.

Here’s an old idea become new again, and one that many businesses, even home-based businesses can use: layaway.  In my newspaper’s business section today, there is a story about layaway that takes the whole front of the section.  The article written by Eve Mitchell [BayAreaNewsGroup] is titled, ” Layway unwrapped: Retailers revive alternative to credit.” According to the article:

• “…Layaway is here for the holidays as stores bring back the old-fashioned retail practice in response to consumers seeing reduced credit lines, rising unemployment and overall lean economic times…An alternative to using credit cards or cash to pay for merchandise, layaway requires shoppers to make a down payment followed by additional payments made in person, through the mail or electronically, until the item is paid for in full….Burlington Coat Factory, Kmart, Marshalls, Sears, T.J. Maxx and Toys “R” Us are among the retailers offering layaway programs. But not all shoppers are takers nor or all stores providers of layaway. Among retailers that don’t offer layaway are Kohl’s, JC Penney, Ross Stores, Target and Wal-Mart….”

There is a truism that if you wait long enough things come back into fashion and layaway is not different.  When my children were very young we went through some lean financial times and many of the stores I shopped offered layaway.  At that time in my life it was the only way I could shop for their birthdays and Christmas.  It allowed me to make sure I would get exactly the merchandise I wanted because I could walk in and pick it out.  Then I would go in periodically to make payments until I finally had it paid-in-full and could take it home.  It’s not an answer for everyone, but it is one way a business can help customers they might not otherwise have.  In my business I have used layaway.  I once had a customer who could not afford one of my pieces of art at the time of the show, but truly wanted it.  I offered to accept a “down payment,” then worked with the customer to set up a payment schedule.  I retained the work until he had paid it in full.

The news article also says:

• “…Although layaway currently represents a small segment of the brick-and-mortar retail world, it has found a growing online presence with the emergence of Web sites that see the practice as a growth opportunity….”

I did a Goggle search for “layaway online” and several sites came up [note: I did not explore these sites, I only list them as examples]:

• laymeaway.com
• elayaway.com
• ez-layaway.com
• and there are others

Holiday season 2009 may just be a challenge for those of us with small and home-based businesses; however with creative thinking, we just might make it.

• “…The enormously successful CARS program helped consumers who turned in gas guzzlers buy nearly 700,000 more fuel efficient vehicles in fewer than 30 days. By late September the U.S. Department of Transportation paid all eligible and complete dealer transactions. “There can be no doubt that this program drummed up more business, for more people, in more places at a time when our economy needed help the most,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood….”

Are you wishing this was last year or even the year before?

• “…Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away
  Now it looks as though they’re here to stay
  Oh, I believe in yesterday….” - opening lyrics for “Yesterday,” on the Beatles’ “Yesterday…and Today” album released 1966

Yet the business skies could be looking brighter.  Or maybe just less dark.  Denise O’Berry writes, “…the good news is that the talking heads are discussing a positive outlook on the horizon….” Denise, in her article, points to several surveys that reflect some hope for small business owners: “…the general consensus is that the economy is slightly better….” A great article for anyone looking for an upside for small business.

I would say that as a small or home-based business person you, like me [I am also a home-based business person] would judge a brighter horizon by these indicators:

• sales of your products/services are not falling
• sales of your products/services are increasing
• fewer to no returns of products or cancellations of services
• being able to pay your bills in full and on time
• having enough profit to purchase raw materials
• having enough profit for operation improvements [even if that is just some updated, new books for your business bookshelf]
• daring to dream that in 2010 you’ll be able to expand either your product line, your service offerings, your marketing outreach or other improvements to your business

Denise concludes her article with: “…You’ll have to continue to keep a sharp eye on expenses and pay close attention to collecting your receivables to stay afloat. Even in a flush economy that’s how small business should operate to stay on the positive side of cash flow. Today’s economy just makes the challenge a bit tougher. But I know you can do it….”

To this I add the advice to keep doing what works; keep your dreams alive and know that this too shall pass.  Or, in the words of the Beatles’ “All You Need Is Love” [Magical Mystery Tour album 1967]:

• “…There’s nothing you can do that can’t be done….”
• “…There’s nothing you can make that can’t be made….”
• “…Nowhere you can be that isn’t where you’re meant to be….”

Song lyrics are always a bit mysterious, but I take these phrases in a positive, hopeful way.

From time-to-time I write about what customers want. I’ve written about the 3 Key Things Customers Want and I’ve written about having enthusiasm for your own product – are you aware that there are small and home-based business owners out there trying to peddle products and/or services about which they are not excited nor passionate?  How can you give a personal testimony about something you don’t like or use yourself?  But I digress.

I’m a customer and today I’m writing about three new-to-me products that I find have – for me – quality, value and give me a reason to go back:

1.  Chevys Fresh Mex restaurant – a new salad, the “Grilled Wedge Salad.”  I couldn’t find a description on the website’s menu so I phoned my town’s location.  The price in my area is $8.99 and if you want chicken with it, it’s one dollar more.  A fellow named Bruce helped me and said this is a special that’s only been out a week or two.  We happened to stop in our Chevys this past Saturday and I was intrigued enough to try it…it was delicious!  I very seldom brag on the products of other businesses unless they happen to greatly impress me.  For whatever reason this salad did…so much so, I went back on Monday and had it again.  I didn’t have chicken with it; rather, I asked for a side of 4 ounces of grilled shrimp.  OMG – it was very good.  The idea seems to be to take two hearts of romaine and lay them on the grill then top them with various condiments and put the whole thing on a light pond of Ranch dressing.  That plus some chips, salsa and iced tea made for a great lunch.

For me this salad met my definition for quality – the salad ingredients were fresh and very tasty; value - what I received for the money I paid was reasonable; and as you can already see, I did return.

2.  Paula Deen 5 qt. Covered Saute – The story here is twofold: (1) I’m of an age that my kitchen cupboards are filled with an archeology lesson’s worth of old pots and pans; and (2) I’ve just re-discovered my love of cooking.  I’ve been cooking since age 8 when I began helping my mom in the kitchen and have gone through periods of both loving and loathing my kitchen.  There have been days when the very thought of having to think up one more menu was more than I could take and I phoned for pizza delivery.  However, something this past year has reawakened my culinary creativeness and I’ve been having rather a lot of fun trying new recipes.  But there is something sad about trying a new recipe using beat-up pitiful pots and pans.

I regularly used this old, dented quite large wok-type pan for just about everything.  But last week I took a good look at it and realized it was probably doing more harm than good to my cooking efforts so off to the store I went to find a replacement.  Because I was also in the market for a new slow cooker – mine went on the fritz and would only cook on high – I went to my local Walmart.  Found the slow cooker I wanted at a good price.  Then I began to peruse the cookware.  I haven’t purchased any new cookware in a great many years.  I may want to get a cast iron fry pan one of these days and Walmart had some already seasoned, but not this visit.  There were several brands of cookware and in prices ranging from the very economical to a range of $30 to $50 per piece.  And then I saw it: a large, covered pan in a really pretty blue color.  The brand was “Paula Deen,” one of the many famous cooks I’ve seen on cookbook covers at the bookstore.  I saw that Walmart offered a selection of single items as well as boxed sets of this brand.  My budget this week only allowed one item so I chose the 5 qt. covered saute in a pretty blue.  I’ve already used it three times since Saturday.  It meets my qualifications for quality and value and I will go back and get more Paula Deen-branded cookware.

I did do some research on the internet about this cookware and the only negative comment I found was someone’s displeasure that the cookware is made in Thailand.  And, yes, right on the cardboard sleeve for the piece I purchased it says: “Manufactured in Thailand for Meyer Corporation One Meyer Plaza, Vallejo, CA 94590.” [Meyer Corp. also manufactures the Rachael Ray brand cookware.] I’m all for things made in the USA, but I also believe we live in a global economy.  One of my next door neighbors was born and raised in Thailand.  She goes back every summer to visit her family and has told me wonderful stories about her country.  Her mother came out one year, she speaks only Thai, but she and I managed to connect over the fact that we’re both grandmothers.  So, I don’t have a problem with the fact that the Paula Deen cookware is manufactured in Thailand.

3.  Puritan brand solid twill shirt -  Coincidentally, my third product of mention that is new-to-me I also found at Walmart.  Funny, my dad used to say “We’re going to The Wahl Mart.”  For dad this was a trip right up there with visiting the tool section at Sears.  I have certain items I purchase at certain places and, like any other consumer, I comparison shop and I look for bargains.

On this particular day I was just wandering around in the store.  I’ve never previously visited the men’s clothing section of Walmart as I purchase my husband’s clothing at other retailers.  But this day I was drawn into the department because I caught a glimpse of a striking color shirt…a deep reddish burgundy.  I like to wear a man’s long-sleeve shirt as a light jacket or overshirt and thought this might be a great color for my own wardrobe if the quality was okay.  I’m not going to disparage Walmart and its brands here, but I don’t go into a discount store expecting high quality in clothing.  Having said that I was very surprised at the quality of this shirt.  The brand is Puritan, which I learned on Wikipedia, is one of the brands that Walmart carries.  The shirt is made of solid [cotton] twill – a heavy-duty fabric that holds up well to wear.  I liked the look of the shirt, it appeared to be well made and came in several colors.  I tried one on and the fit was good for my needs.  I bought two.  That evening I had my husband try on one and he liked it so I returned the next day and bought three more.  This item met my definitions of quality – in manufacture and materials; in value – the shirt was $9 – I almost ignored it because the price was so low; and I had a reason to return – to purchase more.  I’ve already washed these shirts and they came out just fine.

Their purchases notwithstanding, customers want for their money quality, value and a reason to return.  Give your customers those three things…as well as the added value of good customer service and your business will be ahead of the curve.