Randy Bennett
General Manager
ShuBee®
Have you ever noticed how some businesses just let things happen to them? Recently a local bank was sold to another bank under enforcement of the FDIC. I understand that some industries are suffering in these trying times, but I have to ask – why do businesses allow this to happen? The people running these operations should do something! At ShuBee we have always felt you control your own destiny.
Another thing that makes me question our economic environment is the fact that I have two colleagues; one who owns a custom cabinet business and another who owns a solid surface countertop business, and both of them are doing better than ever. Even ShuBee has been experiencing some of our greatest success. We are a preferred vendor for ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” We are expanding warehouse operations with two more locations in the U.S., developing strong partnerships with industry leaders and expanding our staff. And those are just a few of our latest accomplishments!. It has truly been amazing year. Why and how is this possible?
Do you remember when you first started out and you had a extreme hunger to succeed? I look at some of these companies and think, they are not really hungry; I mean really hungry! If the local bank had developed a sales force, focused on training that sales force or increased its marketing, would it be in the position it is in now? You have to maintain your hunger to succeed. Instead there is this attitude that a “bail out” is coming. There is no bail out. Have you ever seen a kid go off to college, sign up for one of those credit card deals, rack up a big balance and then have to call mom or dad to bail them out? How many of those kids actually learned something from that experience (other than, I know I can always depend on Mom and Dad)? Guess what…they got out of college and got another credit card and now have more debt. Now our government (mom and dad) is trying to give us a false sense of hope with a “bail out?!?” There is no bail out.
The national debt is getting bigger and bigger and bigger. Where are Mom and Dad now?
Did you notice that most of the companies (college students) that called on Mom and Dad (our government) still filed for bankruptcy, even after receiving their so-called “bail out?” There is no bail out.
It sure is funny how history repeats itself. I am pretty sure that most of the executives running the companies that received a bail out were more than likely the same college kid who signed up for one of those credit cards deals too.
The people who want a job (I mean really want a job) can find one. It may not be similar to the job they had or one they like, but if you are hungry you will do what you have to do to eat. There is no bail out. People who want to find business and I mean really want to find business will find it, just like my two colleagues who are in a market that is supposed to be in the toilet and are more successful than ever. They went out and found the business. They were not waiting for a bail out. We did the same thing at ShuBee. We increased our marketing budget, found ways to get our name out there more and found more business. Success is work; it does not come in the form of a bail out.
What is really funny about this story is it reminds me of a book titled “Who Moved My Cheese,” a funny little book with an incredible message. I do not normally read books, watch movies or do many things more than once. However, I have read this book several times. It is the perfect book to remind you of why you need to get up and go.
My two colleagues, our family at ShuBee and many of you are living business proof that if you stick to what you know works, you will succeed. So how do you know what works? All you have to do ask yourself what did I do when I first got started? Get back to basics. Be hungry. Be aggressive. Be creative. Be tenacious. Adopt the attitude that losing is not an option. Outwork everyone…and quit think that Mom and Dad are only a phone call away. Create your own destiny!
Oh! Another thing that my colleagues and I have in common – we do not watch the news.