Apparently Jenn's husband, Carlos, picks this book up whenever he sees it at secondhand bookstores and hands them out to friends. So, I received my copy from him maybe a month ago. It's a quick read; you can probably get through it in an evening. I think I put off reading it because I figured it was something aimed at those who work "regular" jobs with big companies that face downsizing. But the discussion section at the end of the book made me see how the lesson can actually be applied to many areas of life. I plan on reading this book out loud to my kids as part of their homeschooling.
The main story chronicles the lives of two mice and two little people who must navigate an enormous maze in order to find sustenance (cheese). At one point, they find what seems to be an unlimited supply of cheese and decide to get comfortable. Little do they realize that the cheese supply is dwindling, until one day it is all gone. The mice simply shrug and move on to find another source of cheese, but the little men struggle with whether they should risk the unknown to go out into the maze and find more cheese, or stay put and wait for someone to bring back their cheese.
I hear people say that the economy is failing and that we all should just tighten our belts and wait it out. But my sales have increased every year since I've been in business...and not just by a meager percentage. I'd like to think that I am this amazing business guru that always makes the right business moves, but I tend to think that my ADD keeps me from sitting still too long. I get bored doing the same thing every day and am always looking for new products and services. I've stepped out of my comfort zone of exhibiting at small face and body art conventions with 100-400 attendees to exhibit at huge hair and make-up shows with 10,000 - 50,000 attendees. Yes there's a greater financial risk, but the payoff has been huge.
But maybe you don't have the kind of funds available that would allow you to launch a costly advertising campaign or to buy all sorts of new equipment. What can you do that won't cost you a thing other than your time and brainpower? In this day and internet age, there are loads of free non-traditional advertising venues. And there are probably tons of markets that you haven't even tapped into because you've become comfortable with your own little market segment, whether it be in a salon or working private parties. When I start feeling like the business is getting stagnant and I need a creative boost, I like to pick up a motivational book (or six) and spend some time reading industry forums to see what everyone else is doing. If you've run out of ideas, keep in mind that you're never more than a few keystrokes away from someone else's great idea. A fellow colleague once said, "A good artist steals some things, a great artist steals everything."
