Business Idea for Demopolis, Alabama

"There's nothing to do in this town..."

The most commonly spoken phrase when I was a teenager in Eureka Springs (AR) and Guntersville (AL), and something you hear in small town America every day.

Spending the holidays every year like I do, in Demopolis (AL), hanging out with family, is great. There are so few people around, the weather is mild, and there's no pressure to do anything at all. But that's also the problem: there's nothing to do. 

This got me thinking that Demopolis needs a new business, and since I'm not about to set down roots here (not that it isn't a lovely place, but it's just not for me), I figured I'd just throw this out there in case some entrepreneur, or band of them, wants to try something new here. 

This town needs a community gathering place that has all the entertainment under one roof, or in a small, easily walkable area. A small, but well-designed shopping complex to revitalize the "historic downtown" could work. Throw in a bowling alley, a bar, a cafe,  a fitness center, and arts and crafts shops, and people would spend their day (and their money) downtown. A good way to bring out-of-towers into the area might be to sell a really good coupon book that displays local businesses and offers huge discounts, just to get traffic rolling through. The local businesses really need to consider creative ways to draw crowds, and banding together is a smart strategy when you're competing with big businesses, like Walmart, for people's attention and money. 

I hear that 30% of Demopolites survive under the poverty line. That's a huge number and it definitely creates obstacles for the success of local businesses. That's why so many have failed over the years. Roller rink, movie theater, arcades - all have gone out of business, leaving locals with nothing to do outside of hunting, fishing, and (let's be honest) getting drunk. The alternatives are traveling to Meridian or Tuscaloosa - an hour's drive either way. That seems like a missed opportunity for Demopolis. 

This confluence of issues leads back to the conclusion that all-encompassing entertainment under one roof is badly needed here. If someone wanted to try a new business model out though, instead of asking people to pay for one time admission to a theater, roller rink, or arcade, they could ask people to pay a monthly subscription. In lieu of paying $30-50 for one day of fun, you could pay $100-150 for you and the whole family to go nuts at this mega-entertainment place all month. Attach a restaurant and bar, and you'll have plenty of income.

No one has done it, and the closest model I can think of is a fitness center, or maybe Chelsea Piers in NYC, but I've certainly never seen it in a rural area - which is arguably the best place for an idea like this. 

Perhaps some enterprising person or group will give it a try, but no matter the case, this town badly needs something to do and a trip to Walmart does not qualify. 

Holiday Island Chamber of Commerce Website Launch!

I am really happy to announce the launch of the first website I have designed as a freelancer! It is so incredible to have creative freedom and the support of project leaders who trust me. I think the final result is a great marketing tool and a major addition to my content writing and marketing portfolio.

I'd love to hear any comments!

www.HiChamber.com

Anthony Bourdain - A Hero

When it comes to heroes, Anthony Bourdain is an unlikely candidate. He doesn't do anything particularly heroic by eating, drinking, and running his mouth for a living. But, he does eat, drink and run his mouth for a living, which is, in my mind anyway, pretty enviable.

There are plenty of other TV hosts and celebrities who make a living doing things they love. Plenty of them are interesting and impassioned, but none compare with Bourdain when it comes down to honesty. He's a simple man who is respectful to his hosts, but is unapologetically open and honest about his beliefs and values, even on camera.

When he went to Colombia for Parts Unknown (his newish CNN series), he not only talked about his past drug addiction (which was no secret), but also showed a great deal of cultural relativity by publicly discussing how he understood why 15-year-olds became hard-core drug traffickers in Colombia. He seemed to criticize the Colombian governments current efforts at rebuilding after so many years of narco-wars, and he flat out told a mayor of a Colombian town that America would never legalize drugs (which puts a damper on anti-trafficking measures in Colombia, according to the mayor's point of view).

There are plenty of times when Bourdain is probably wrong. But, he's the kind of guy who would readily admit when he's made a mistake and move on. He's entertaining, self-assured, incredibly upbeat, and unafraid to delve into the unknown. In short, a hero of mine.

Dr. Dweck's "Growth Mindset"

A while back,  I read an excellent book titled "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success." This book not only makes a lot of great points about how to reshape your mind and facilitate "growth," but it also contextualizes the insights using a conversational and casual style.

Perfectionists, listen up.

Examples of a fixed mindset include labeling yourself as a 'failure' because you failed to complete a task or did not meet expectations. Contrary to popular belief, if you praise people for being smart, brilliant, talented, or otherwise naturally endowed with special ability, this praise can negatively influence them in the long run, because (for example) they start to believe the hype, and thus rest on their laurels instead of improving themselves. In other words, they start to become fixed in their belief that they are smart, brilliant, talented, or special, and they forget that effort and the process of learning are vital in order for creating change and self-fulfillment. People with a fixed mindset don't learn to enjoy learning, but instead prefer praise from others, and constant reminders of their brilliance by accomplishing easy goals.

Dweck believes firmly that people with fixed mindsets do not like to take on challenges, because these challenges might invalidate their status and jeopardize their self-confidence. The fixed mindset therefore causes a false sense of pride, and an unhealthy (and unsustainable) obsession with talent and results over hard work and determination.

Dr. Dweck illustrates, through numerous real-life examples and data-driven synopses, that people who embrace a fixed mindset, are not able to learn, accept challenges and grow as readily as those who have a growth mindset. If you believe that artistic talent is innate, and cannot be taught, then you fit into the fixed mindset model. If you think that test scores are a true measure of intelligence, then you probably suffer from a fixed mindset. You may even believe that through your superior talent and intelligence you will be able to achieve greater things than the rest of your peers.

The reality, she asserts, is that people with growth mindsets are more likely to achieve greatness. Hard work and determination create the opportunity for greatness, and behind every genius (e.g., Einstein, Edison, Steve Jobs, etc.), there is a considerable amount of painstaking work that goes into their accomplishments. It is an enormous relief to know that by striving and meeting challenges head on, one can improve throughout life. You can't know where that road will take you, but if you subscribe to a growth mindset, you know it will not be toward a dead end. You will continually learn, grow, and when the opportunities for greatness arise, you will be ready.

Leadership for Hot Tempers

A hot temper is not a virtue, and when confronted by co-workers who exhibit a temper, your response is key. Some people have a natural predilection toward pugnaciousness, but at work this might not be the best disposition. Conversely, the boss’s doormat is unlikely to ever win respect from her colleagues. 

I typically advocate for a middle way. But in the case of a boss or co-worker exploding, being overly dramatic, or otherwise acting irrationally, I say meet them head on. There is nothing to gain by being shy or passive. In fact, avoiding or shrugging off a fight can provoke bullies (because that’s what hot-heads really are). If all the world is a stage, and their part is that of the tyrant, then they will type-cast you as the oppressed. Do you want to be somebody’s bitch for those wages? I don’t. 

And it doesn’t have to be your boss. If anyone at your workplace (customer or co-worker) tries to walk all over you, you are obligated to respond to it head on. Call their attention to it, because they might not be aware that their behavior is damaging. While they are harming relationships, you are doing nothing to repair it if you simply let it go. 

How do you approach these folks? Temperamental people don’t respond to subtlety. Don’t be subtle. 

But responding in kind can be dangerous. Fire doesn’t put out fire, and you are the rational one in this situation, right? 

First of all, you should acknowledge the other person’s negative emotions. “I can see you are (angry/upset/bothered).” No apologies. No admission of guilt or mistakes. 

If the issue is solvable, the next step could be to offer the solution. “If we… then (problem) will resolve itself.” 

If that doesn’t work and the person is escalating or frenzied, then the best thing to do is offer your help and leave the situation. “Let me know if there is something I can do to help.” Then, promptly exit. You’ve already acknowledged their emotions once - no need to enable or encourage it.  

When the person has calmed down and is in the right frame of mind for a rational conversation, you can approach their unacceptable behavior (yes, even if it is a superior). “Our earlier interaction was a bit heated,” or “what you said earlier seemed personal.” And, “Is there a better way we can communicate to avoid those kinds of interactions?” 

When forced to rationalize the situation, most people (especially superiors) snap out of it and begin responding like the leaders they are supposed to be. No one likes to be one-upped by their subordinates, so being polite and humble during this exercise is recommended. But don’t hesitate to be forceful if they are still not getting the message: “You seem very annoyed. I would prefer we speak at another time.” 

If the person has a habit of blowing up, or worse - being abusive - then, it may be a good time to document the interactions and consult with HR or a trusted colleague (even your aggressor’s supervisor). If it reaches to the top, or you see no other recourse, it may be time to freshen up the resume.  

Once you have shown that you stand firm in the face of aggression, they’ll go elsewhere for skirmishes. Consciously or not, they are looking to blow off steam - to kick the metaphorical dog. While maintaining your professionalism, you have to show your teeth a bit, and let them know that trying to kick you is not okay. It’s going to hurt their foot more than it bothers you. 

 

Networking Events

I've sung the praises of attending Chamber of Commerce events before, but I want to reiterate that networking events carry a lot of value, and in ways that you might not expect. Tonight, I went to an event in the West Village. It was Manhattan Chamber of Commerce's Young Professional's series, so everyone was in their 20s or 30s, and the mood was uplifting. The point of these meetings is to listen to a presentation about some business related topic and then network with like-minded people.

So, in the first 10 minutes I met a guy who markets beer for a Peruvian beer company, and he invited me to attend some of their promotional parties. I met a lawyer and a marketing consultant for an international marketing research and strategy firm that helps European businesses penetrate US markets. I met an interesting banker who just moved from Los Angeles; another banker who told me about the history of Battery Park (which we could see from the rooftop we were standing on); and, finally, I met one of my old students!

The last meeting was the most important, because this student is in the Brazilian financial industry. Just today, my office got handed a project in which we'll work with groups of Brazilian business people, and we need a good speaker to talk to them about business success in the United States. Enter my ex-student who on the spot agreed to do a speaking engagement at our school!

I met a lot of other interesting people, had some great refreshments, and enjoyed the view from the rooftop overlooking lower Manhattan, Jersey and the Hudson River. All this is to say that if you're not out at these kinds of events, then you don't know what you're missing. I mean that literally - you really don't know what you might miss if you don't get out there.

Finally! Sensible East Coast Travel

In four years, I've taken every method of transportation possible to get up and down the East Coast. I've flown planes, riddent trains, taken buses, rented cars, ran, walked and maybe even crawled to get to my destination. Not one option is worth a damn. Not one.

Planes are too expensive, and getting to and from NYC airports can be a chore. La Guardia won't let your plan take off if there is a drop of rain or wind above 10 miles an hour. JFK is just far! Get to the airport, and take a shuttle for a half an hour? No, thanks. Newark.... Need I say more?

Trains - Well, if you have a few hundred dollars for a 2-3 hour ride, then go for it. Us normal folk don't carry that kind of pocket change. It's a damn shame we can't have an affordable railway in the US (said everyone who's been out of the country). Seriously, how much money does Amtrak lose by not operating at capacity every trip. I can't imagine that on Tuesday they are filling up seats with that $260 one-way ticket from DC to NYC.

Rental cars? A good option if you catch them in off-peak season (November - April), provided it's not a holiday (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, etc...). But, there's still the issue of getting to the car rental places. Every place in Manhattan charges a minimum of $125 per day (before taxes and fees). LGA is the best option, because it's "close" (45 minutes to an hour). It's hard to justify the trek from LGA to your apartment when you return the car after a 6-8 hour roadtrip. Plus, gas, insurance, tolls, and fees tack on an extra $100 bucks or more. It's a $200+ investment when it's all said and done. But, it's nice to have your own comfort and control.

The final realistic option is the bus. Now, buses in some countries are a great way to get around. But, taken out of NYC, you never know what you're gonna get. Chinatown buses - be prepared to run onto the bus while it's moving. Get ready for high-speed, rubbing is racing style driving in a metal death-box on wheels. The driver won't speak a word of English and the other customers are likely to murder you if the trip doesn't kill you first.

Greyhound express? They don't guarantee seats, and they're happy to give yours away for no good reason at all (long story).

Bolt Bus - The most uncomfortable seating ever known to man. Pleather is really slippery and would make an excellent slip and slide. Not good for a slightly inclined bus seat though. You'll spend the whole ride trying not to glide unto the floor.

Megabus- Rode it twice. Comfortable, except a crazy woman who threatened the bus driver and was kicked off before the bus left the terminal.

All these buses (except Greyhound) require you to wait outside to get on. A terribel proposition in the rain, cold, heat, or even a smoggy day. Prices for buses range from $10 - $30 each way, and it's a huge deal if you think about it.

But, the best way to travel up and down the East Coast (Washington to NYC, NYC to Delaware beaches) is called DC2NY (or "Best Bus"). I jsut found out about this company today, and I rode one of their buses from DC to New York this evening. A perfect ride that picks up at Dupont Circle and drops off at Times Square. The wireless not only worked, it was fast. The seats were comfortable. The cabin was quiet, except one lady talking to her friend via cell (seemingly in my ear).

I was charmed by the immaculateness and simple ways to please (like the complimentary water given). I was pleased by the pick-up and drop-off locations. And, I thought it was awesome that they have a route from NYC to Dewey Beach! I've been trying to find a route like that for four years!!!

I've already booked my Memorial Day tickets from NYC to the beaches of Delaware. With the higher cost ($30-45 each way), these buses are not cheap, but they do offer all the amenities and cleanliness that comes with that premium cost. And, they aren't as expensive as a car or train (shame on you, Amtrak). I figure I can't lose with these guys, but time will tell.

What are your travel horror stories? What was an easy trip for you recently?