DGrant Gibson

There’s a certain cadence that you can feel when you spend time hanging any well-run startup company. The management team has to have a bias toward making decisions. They know that a 70% accurate decision made quickly and based on sound principles is better than a 90% decision made after careful consideration.
The startup entrepreneur knows that they’re going to be wrong often. They’re flexible and willing to admit when they’re wrong. They don’t create a culture of punishment for mistakes. They live be the credo that if you’re never making mistakes you’re not trying hard enough’. This is an excerpt from a great article on TechCrunch…

I happened to be in North Vancouver on Monday morning. Following a cup of java I wandered into the library right next to the coffee shop. As I had about 2+ hours spare time, I decided to search out books relating to business success, motivation, marketing, etc. Two books caught my attention, so I lifted them from the shelf and proceeded to a cozy chair to indulge. The one book I read completely. It was under 100 pages in total. This book had testimonials from other experts on the book jacket with words like “profound”, “cutting edge”, “super salesman”, “guerrilla marketing tactics, etc.

How does the name Felicity Loudon, Cadbury Chocolate, and a £27m country estate all package together into a new chocolate bar? As a heiress to the Cadbury fortune, she and her husband have decided to sell the country estate to aid with capital to fund the launch of her new venture, a chocolate company. Why would a 61 year old women, together with her husband John, a 72 year old former merchant banker, choose this route at this time in their life? The answer? Perhaps a sweet mixture of revenge, drive, quality and patriotism. The recent sale of Cadbury Chocolates, founded in 1824 by her great-great-grandfather John Cadbury, is the motivation behind the heiresses plans. She said: ‘I can’t accept that Cadbury has gone to America. To a plastic cheese company. I won’t accept it. I want to start again. I want to make chocolate and I’m jolly well going to do it.’

Articles and web video’s on financial frugal management I seem to come across lately have a stream of commonalities. The economy and it’s inherent problems effecting each one of us draw to the surface how a certain sect of people are tackling their personal finances head on. Mark Cuban, billionaire and owner of the Dallas Mavericks recently wrote an article about his view on the smartest way to get rich in today’s world. His answer is to get rid of every expense you can by lowering every conceivable cost you can. Rip up your credit cards, manage every penny, etc.

Richard Branson of Virgin Group just did an interview with the Wall Street Journal which characterizes the success and failures of his ventures to date through five ‘secrets’. Five ‘secrets’ yet so obviously in plain view for all of us to use and utilize. The one he has stated over and over many times when asked similar questions about success ‘formulas’ is to love what you do, enjoy getting out of bed in the morning. How many of us love what we do each day and ‘jump’ out of bed early to get on with our day? As Richard so expressly explains you got a love what you do as it takes up 2/3’s of your time, every day! The interview is on Livemint.com HERE.

Charlie Munger, partner and confidant to Warren Buffett, of Berkshire Hathaway, recently spoke to an interviewer from the BBC about the markets and economic instability around the world. Over the years I have only heard him speak a few times to the media. The usual questions were asked of Mr. Munger about today’s serious economic situation. His answers were much more cohesive in thought, complete, with depth, and much to the point than most of us may find comfortable. But then again, comfort is not what a true man makes. He revealed what I believe to be the fault in the marketplace; greed and shortsightedness.

We are taught from an early age that we live in a world that is extremely competitive. If you don’t claw your way through life you will be left behind. In family, friends, sports, business, social environments, networks, alliances, everywhere. Keeping your eye out on guard and building a thick skin to stand your ground is what it will take to make it through life. Or is this the case? Is there a possibility, something different, a better answer to the so called dog eat dog world we are told we live in? Is there a case for the person who just wants to go forward in life desiring to do things creatively with no concern for competition?

When thinking on going forward with anything in life it is best to put the first foot forward with honor being the governing force of internal energy. Why would this be important? Honor speaks volumes about the person. It states the higher purpose of the individual in the pursuit of their desire and how it will influence and affect others. An honorable person is prepared to accept and acknowledge personal responsibility for one’s actions. As a matter of fact, that is one of the primary definitions of the word honor. A mighty high calling. Going forward with this respect for one’s self will reveal to others that you are someone to be respected back. And entrusted with higher important matters and things. How does this show itself to the world?

Business is business is business. Life is life is life. Ever the twain shall meet. Or do they? Is business acumen a learned process or is an entrepreneur just born? Is the true art of business just a matter of controlling what needs to be controlled to be successful or is the heart of the matter start in the heart? Is passion outside of you or inside? Is the ability to do business a method of circling from the outside to keep everything in correct order? Or could it be that the heart of your matter is right in your own heart?

Business and life can easily slip into the abyss of madness. In real life and business you can quickly spot the good and the bad, but one of the greatest challenges is to observe and deal what the ninja writings understood to be the art of shapeshifting of the madness, or in laymans language, craziness. If you are ethical, watch out. You will be challenged by the unethical behavior of the madness. If you try to do things right, watch out. Appearances make it seem right. If you try to reason, watch out.