tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121584Fri, 17 Feb 2012 01:11:33 +0000muriinflection pointscontrolcash is kingmiddle agednewsnightmaresellcompellingright every timeplannedgrowthpreneuremotionsalesprofitable operationsbusiness strategysupplier factorsthird waybuyersTom Leefuturecompetencerighter next timebusinesseconomic factorsentrepreneurgrowth2capacitybig fastcustomer intimatemaybecompetitive advantagegovernmentlaws of businessself-sufficiencymanagecycles3 realitiesnext acthigh marginmonumental risksdaily LABSmotosustainable growthvalue propositionoperational factorsmudacollaborativeopportunitiesinfluencecustomer factorsvaluebenefitsyesfree marketscontractsretirementGDPdouble dipeuropacificchangebillion dollarscustomersriotsmovementreevaluatereinventionchanging the oddsachievementprocesses2012hockey stickvirtual newspaperkrauthammerinvigoratingdealssystemssteve jobsplanningproduct leadershipnews servicedeclineright first timegrowth stagesfirst to marketentrepreneursMLMfalse springleancompetitorsmurarecessionpartnershipalliancesmarket leadershipoperational efficiencycredit marketsresetsolopreneurmigrationentrepreneurshipbusiness modelsreinventnew normalgenerating revenuebookcommand economyself sufficiencyblogtalkradiogolivelost decadepassioneconomicslow costsellingsheeplelowest cost producerjapanchief growth officergrowth stagerevolutiondebtboomerorganic growthmarket dominanceentitlementbrandmanagement...from the French routier and Dutch ruiter, meaning "something that finds a way". A guide who leads the way through a difficult or unknown course; a pilot book or guide carried by navigators; a precursor to the modern navigation chart. A pilot is a master mariner with many years of experience guiding ships through the narrow, shallow, and dangerous coastal waters between a harbor and the open sea. The pilot is only an advisor, as the master remains in legal, overriding command of the vessel...http://williameastman.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (eastman)Blogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121584.post-8709762931309626809Mon, 02 Jan 2012 16:32:00 +00002012-01-02T16:32:26.166Z2012debtfalse springJust a few words about 2012 and the upcoming false spring. It appears consumer and business confidence is on the rise. Christmas was a good season for retailers - especially online. Just don't get lulled into any false security about the US economy. Election years traditionally are better because politicians pump $$ into the economy and run on those good deeds. This year is no different. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheRutter/~3/6rNlABlv0mk/new-year-new-game.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (eastman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheRutter/~4/6rNlABlv0mk" height="1" width="1"/>http://williameastman.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-year-new-game.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121584.post-186323634346325225Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:21:00 +00002011-10-06T17:21:22.902Zmotoentrepreneurshippassionsteve jobsbusinessEveryone in the blogosphere is writing about the passing of Steve Jobs at the young age of 56 - 2 years my junior. Never an owner of a single Apple product or part of the cult, the LABS are open source, I still understand the loss. Steve Jobs understood the essence of entrepreneurship is ultimately about passion. Is the dream worth the sacrifice and high probability of failure? Can you live http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheRutter/~3/6tpgSXIVzQU/steve-jobs-and-entrepreneurship.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (eastman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheRutter/~4/6tpgSXIVzQU" height="1" width="1"/>http://williameastman.blogspot.com/2011/10/steve-jobs-and-entrepreneurship.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121584.post-5132379801097194730Wed, 05 Oct 2011 16:39:00 +00002011-10-05T16:39:23.473Zright first timemudarighter next timeleanmuraright every timemuriThis thought came to me 2 weeks ago in the board room of a major Canadian Energy Company. While explaining our platform and how it supported their version of lean manufacturing, I had one of those moments when you can talk and think at the same time. Backtracking My first experience with lean concepts was in the late 1990's working with Delphi Automotive and General Motors, so addressing their http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheRutter/~3/jZawS5HvIvI/this-decades-economic-forecast-drives.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (eastman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheRutter/~4/jZawS5HvIvI" height="1" width="1"/>http://williameastman.blogspot.com/2011/10/this-decades-economic-forecast-drives.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121584.post-3874589546059677684Tue, 04 Oct 2011 16:19:00 +00002011-10-04T16:19:08.294Zentrepreneurshipyesleannew normalmaybesalesWe are about to start a new series on the Lean Mindset and Entrepreneurship when I read a press release announcing the book. I haven't read it and still intend to cover the lean concepts of Muri (Purpose), Mura (Process), and Muda (People). Sometimes using another language to build a narrative makes sense and in the case of Japanese, it fits. These are not traditional definitions, but when I gethttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheRutter/~3/KCCaXShI8H4/living-outside-of-maybe.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (eastman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheRutter/~4/KCCaXShI8H4" height="1" width="1"/>http://williameastman.blogspot.com/2011/10/living-outside-of-maybe.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121584.post-4540743731335633562Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:11:00 +00002011-08-23T11:11:45.369ZBuild A Better Rapport For Networking | Small business marketing blog | Bloggertonehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheRutter/~3/msAPknepkVA/build-better-rapport-for-networking.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (eastman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheRutter/~4/msAPknepkVA" height="1" width="1"/>http://williameastman.blogspot.com/2011/08/build-better-rapport-for-networking.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121584.post-8813229038096518502Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:10:00 +00002011-08-23T11:10:49.244ZHow to Join Mobil Marketing with Social Media | Shop Talk - Social Mediahttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheRutter/~3/5z1soDKaB2g/how-to-join-mobil-marketing-with-social.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (eastman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheRutter/~4/5z1soDKaB2g" height="1" width="1"/>http://williameastman.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-to-join-mobil-marketing-with-social.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121584.post-5790766698100467418Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:09:00 +00002011-08-23T11:09:48.194ZMy 10 Commandments of twitter | Bridie's Typing Serviceshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheRutter/~3/AUkb7mo6Hqg/my-10-commandments-of-twitter-bridies.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (eastman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheRutter/~4/AUkb7mo6Hqg" height="1" width="1"/>http://williameastman.blogspot.com/2011/08/my-10-commandments-of-twitter-bridies.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121584.post-54384249190052324Tue, 23 Aug 2011 10:51:00 +00002011-08-23T10:51:56.321ZThree Ways to Make Your Small Business "Bankable" - BusinessWeekhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheRutter/~3/28xyRRYbvW4/three-ways-to-make-your-small-business.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (eastman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheRutter/~4/28xyRRYbvW4" height="1" width="1"/>http://williameastman.blogspot.com/2011/08/three-ways-to-make-your-small-business.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121584.post-6513452012516389519Sat, 20 Aug 2011 17:56:00 +00002011-08-20T17:59:24.809Znews servicedaily LABSvirtual newspaperIf you haven't seen this new "News Paper" based on consolidating your twitter follows, I would recommend a look. We have the app in the right column under the Daily LABS. Using this service, who you follow is broadcasted to all visitors in the form of a virtual newspaper - interesting idea. Anyway, when I get a handle on it and figure out how to monetize it, you will be the first to know.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheRutter/~3/FlSGBIXEU8s/paperli.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (eastman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheRutter/~4/FlSGBIXEU8s" height="1" width="1"/>http://williameastman.blogspot.com/2011/08/paperli.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121584.post-4612162653493259402Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:50:00 +00002011-08-10T16:50:40.823ZBusiness as the Revolution. Interesting idea. Spent the evening NOT reading work related stuff, instead was skimming "ideas, a history of thought and invention, from fire to freud" by peter watson. The section on the growth of Florence and it's impact on the Renaissance was provocative. The rise of commerce predates the Renaissance and was its enabler. It broke humanity away from the absolutism http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheRutter/~3/KB4-yrm_v4A/biz-as-revolution.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (eastman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheRutter/~4/KB4-yrm_v4A" height="1" width="1"/>http://williameastman.blogspot.com/2011/08/biz-as-revolution.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121584.post-1423154450066529779Fri, 05 Aug 2011 17:14:00 +00002011-08-05T17:14:35.481ZClear Channel interview by Kat Simons of William Eastman, Founder Applied Knowledge Labs on 22 MAR 11 about the economy and small biz growth. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheRutter/~3/8tnaKSW13io/wrva-interview_05.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (eastman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheRutter/~4/8tnaKSW13io" height="1" width="1"/>http://williameastman.blogspot.com/2011/08/wrva-interview_05.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121584.post-6860336394585975802Thu, 04 Aug 2011 23:53:00 +00002011-08-04T23:53:33.466ZWRVA Radio Ad starting 12APR in the Greater Richmond Area for the AKLabs 2011RESET Event at University of Richmond, 26APR, 9:00 am. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheRutter/~3/yzO0N8xVbjg/wrva-reset-commercial.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (eastman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheRutter/~4/yzO0N8xVbjg" height="1" width="1"/>http://williameastman.blogspot.com/2011/08/wrva-reset-commercial.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121584.post-5139497876075489515Thu, 04 Aug 2011 23:39:00 +00002011-08-04T23:39:31.444ZSix of six - a superior business idea is a great thing but the inability to execute will ensure failure. How a company is managed through all the challenges of growth ultimately separates market leaders from could-have-beens. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheRutter/~3/B8X2D_09Ji0/out-manage-competition.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (eastman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheRutter/~4/B8X2D_09Ji0" height="1" width="1"/>http://williameastman.blogspot.com/2011/08/out-manage-competition.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121584.post-9196047036133286436Tue, 05 Jul 2011 17:19:00 +00002011-07-05T17:19:54.078Zretirementmiddle agedkrauthammerCharles Krauthammer. "The problem is at the consumer level, confidence is low and that is because, as you showed, showed we had underemployment with one out of every six Americans. The worst element of that is that among the unemployed, against the American history, more than approaching half, have [been] unemployed for over six months. That is historically unprecedented in the United States. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheRutter/~3/GDMx6giIbaQ/middle-aged-may-never-get-employed.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (eastman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheRutter/~4/GDMx6giIbaQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://williameastman.blogspot.com/2011/07/middle-aged-may-never-get-employed.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121584.post-4323792688158415808Tue, 05 Jul 2011 13:44:00 +00002011-07-05T13:44:16.769Zemotionmovementrevolutionnew normalbrandOr perhaps a revolution? Some notes on our new process for branding and reflecting on July 4th. "What is a business revolution really about - it is about extra-ordinariness; being it to create it, to restore it. There are no magic bullets, it is about the ongoing commitment to being, creating, restoring extraordinary as the norm - the new normal."  Given our theme last week on the New Normal and http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheRutter/~3/opjwCbqC-xA/is-your-business-business-or-movement.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (eastman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheRutter/~4/opjwCbqC-xA" height="1" width="1"/>http://williameastman.blogspot.com/2011/07/is-your-business-business-or-movement.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121584.post-5172619185797758728Mon, 27 Jun 2011 14:01:00 +00002011-06-27T14:01:46.853ZsheeplenewsNot a real magazine - yet! If you don't find an alternative information source, one vested in your success - this will be your future. Enjoy http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheRutter/~3/g0NeJ7YEwJk/what-if-you-only-got-your-news-from.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (eastman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheRutter/~4/g0NeJ7YEwJk" height="1" width="1"/>http://williameastman.blogspot.com/2011/06/what-if-you-only-got-your-news-from.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121584.post-7162791883433481235Sat, 25 Jun 2011 19:19:00 +00002011-06-25T19:19:18.439Zcredit marketsself sufficiencygovernmentYeah it is Saturday and unusual for a post. However after clearing our inbox of the weeks intel reports - this one cannot pass without comment. JED GRAHAM, INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY: As early as this quarter, government is likely to displace the private sector as the biggest source of outstanding home mortgages and consumer credit, Federal Reserve data show. That will complete a dramatic http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheRutter/~3/Z1kcO7cyMbQ/government-passing-private-firms-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (eastman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheRutter/~4/Z1kcO7cyMbQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://williameastman.blogspot.com/2011/06/government-passing-private-firms-in.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121584.post-456168209946719407Fri, 24 Jun 2011 14:22:00 +00002011-06-24T14:22:08.625ZentrepreneursretirementeuropacificSome concluding thoughts to the week. If you want or need to get under the hood for our economic ideas, premises, and conclusions, check out the rutter blog posts for the week. Friday's post is nothing new - it concludes the dialog. Retirement is dead as well know it. The images our parents and grandparents created on how they handled retirement are just that - images of the past. Michael Pentohttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheRutter/~3/nZpVRisoThk/death-of-retirement-birth-of.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (eastman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheRutter/~4/nZpVRisoThk" height="1" width="1"/>http://williameastman.blogspot.com/2011/06/death-of-retirement-birth-of.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121584.post-4447828949656215311Wed, 22 Jun 2011 15:58:00 +00002011-06-22T15:58:11.946ZI was watching Rick Santelli this morning (to develop some ideas for today's biz econ post) and he made the following statement "9.1% unemployment might be the new normal" for the US economy. Two things struck me - (1) what is happening to the economy that leads to this bleak forecast, and (2) what is the meaning of this over used term. Besides - I have used it so many times - it was time to http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheRutter/~3/xEUZ-9apPMA/what-is-new-normal.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (eastman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheRutter/~4/xEUZ-9apPMA" height="1" width="1"/>http://williameastman.blogspot.com/2011/06/what-is-new-normal.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121584.post-4231453849794187799Tue, 21 Jun 2011 11:16:00 +00002011-06-21T11:16:09.716Zcommand economydouble diprecessionOK, really bad title but this whole conversation reminded me of life with the grandparents. If there was anything I learned, it was about making sure the bowels worked and all of the poisons were eliminated daily. That thought popped (pooped) into my head when reviewing the morning's economic news. Do we need a double-dip recession to clean out the system? You can see the easy analogy. The http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheRutter/~3/sNQJ3_G6jM8/do-we-need-colon-cleanse.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (eastman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheRutter/~4/sNQJ3_G6jM8" height="1" width="1"/>http://williameastman.blogspot.com/2011/06/do-we-need-colon-cleanse.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121584.post-4039064105140091225Mon, 20 Jun 2011 11:37:00 +00002011-06-20T11:37:50.296ZGDPdebt3 realitiesIt seems like Monday is the econ doom & gloom lesson. If you are wondering why the economy hasn't turned around or why our (AKLabs) forecast is for a lost decade with under 3% growth (just enough to keep unemployment at current levels) - it is the destruction of personal wealth. Let's contrast two elements of the population - small business owners and everybody else. Small business owners (http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheRutter/~3/YuYsr1UTFiI/real-reason-destruction-of-personal.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (eastman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheRutter/~4/YuYsr1UTFiI" height="1" width="1"/>http://williameastman.blogspot.com/2011/06/real-reason-destruction-of-personal.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121584.post-423532902480066460Mon, 20 Jun 2011 10:58:00 +00002011-06-20T10:58:44.551Zcommand economythird wayriotscontractsfree marketsentitlementThe challenges of running a command economy. Although simplistic - what do you expect before 0700 am - there are only two options - a command economy centrally planned and run by politicians, or a market economy planned and run by nobody. The unrest we are seeing in Greece, Spain, Portugal, and Ireland is what happens when governments live on borrowed money. Everything is fine until you run out http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheRutter/~3/PEkK7EnfkbM/are-we-next.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (eastman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheRutter/~4/PEkK7EnfkbM" height="1" width="1"/>http://williameastman.blogspot.com/2011/06/are-we-next.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121584.post-7726406214280694175Mon, 20 Jun 2011 10:36:00 +00002011-06-20T10:36:45.325Zeconomicsrecessionlost decadejapanJust finished reading an article in the Financial Times concerning American's Lost Decade. Last week we conducted a session on the 3 Realities of Now to Low Growth Economies and arrived at the same conclusion. If you review our economic history over the last 100 years, there has been 4 major recessions with one leading to a depression. It is interesting to discover a set of matched pairs - 1920 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheRutter/~3/JzZtl-RNUtc/lost-decade.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (eastman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheRutter/~4/JzZtl-RNUtc" height="1" width="1"/>http://williameastman.blogspot.com/2011/06/lost-decade.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121584.post-4508998974515912285Wed, 27 Apr 2011 22:00:00 +00002011-04-27T22:00:50.335ZemotionsellingbuyersnightmareWanted to share an insight that came our way recently. Instead of focusing your marketing and sales efforts on selling, what if your focus was to find buyers? We are experimenting with a different sales model that has just 2 Rules: Rule #1 - Find Buyers, Don't Sell Rule #2 - Address the Emotion, then Solve the Problem Might not seem like much, but what it did was bring two powerful emotions back http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheRutter/~3/x88t2K47eR8/find-buyers-stop-selling.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (eastman)4<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheRutter/~4/x88t2K47eR8" height="1" width="1"/>http://williameastman.blogspot.com/2011/04/find-buyers-stop-selling.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6121584.post-5761858085231900997Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:28:00 +00002011-04-21T14:28:17.847ZAs we finish off preparations for our event in Richmond next week, I had an opportunity to talk with a prospective participant and the conversation headed here - the title of this article. I was inquiring about her RSVP and whether she had made the decision to attend. Her response was on the nature of our advertising - that we were selling from a position of fear, and that turned her off. I http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheRutter/~3/O5mjVtXW4JY/being-prudent-or-reacting-with-fear.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (eastman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheRutter/~4/O5mjVtXW4JY" height="1" width="1"/>http://williameastman.blogspot.com/2011/04/being-prudent-or-reacting-with-fear.html