to
make a positive
difference in the
lives I touch ...
my
clients, my
employees, my
vendors, my friends
and the communities
I live and work in.
My purpose:
is to
create and have fun.
My goal:
is to make
a profit every year
so that I can
continue my mission
and purpose.
What Others are Saying About This Book
“While you won’t actually find Pete’s Place, or Pete himself, anyplace in Detroit, that’s about the only fiction in this little gem because Jim Plouffe is the real deal. The stories and lessons-learned recounted in his conversations with the fictional Pete are the reality of an entrepreneur who has made his millions; more than once! It’s also the lessons of a life well lived from a guy who has learned that real success must include the happiness of working hard, playing hard, and sharing the benefits of that success with family, employees, and community. Forget the MBA, Jim’s rules cover what you really need to know and what you really need to focus on. Learn them and alter them to fit your business and your lifestyle and then tell everyone that you thought them up. Jim would like that…”
Paul McCollom, B.S.M.E., M.B.A.,
Licensing Executive Delphi Technologies, Inc.
World Headquarters & Customer Center
My Book Report
by Doug Eden
If I Was Going There, I Wouldn't Want to Start From Here by Jim Plouffe
Jim and his merry band of alter egos spin a carefree yet point-on yarn in this whimsical read which is a must for any small business owner or anyone contemplating such a start up.
The secrets to success in small business or any business for that matter, is best summed up by one of Jim's many characters, George. George states "You've got your business simplified down to just sixteen things. Ten rules, one mission statement, three questions and two egos."
As simple as Jim makes these rules / questions sound, if one follows them closely you cannot help but succeed in business.
Having worked for a family owned small business, for a number of years, I can attest to the importance of following Jim's Rules. The beauty of his story, after having read several other books for small business owners, is that these rules and questions have never been compiled in one place in such a straightforward manner. A must read.A must read for any graduate or undergraduate business school student.
“I’ve found Plouffe’s three questions an invaluable tool for managing people and making decisions. Not only do we get to the bottom line quicker, they keep people from wasting my time. They also assist in diffusing difficult situations and encourage employee growth and independence. When used in combination with his ten rules and three managers, WOW! what a powerful but simple to learn management system!”
Linda Nichols
Executive Editor and Small Business Owner
Interactive Media Publishing
If I was Going There ...
I Wouldn't Want to Start from Here
Street Smart Wisdom to Help Small Business Owners Survive
“I can tell that you’re having to much fun Jim” I wish I had counted the number of times I have heard that from one of our suppliers.
Our accountants were making similar comments, only their's were about our operating margins and our profitability.
"You're doing so much better than anyone else, what are you doing"?
I’d smile and say “just lucky I guess” or “it’s because your product is so good.”
I wasn’t about to disclose any of the unconventional but easy and simply things, I had discovered, that we were doing to any one outside of our organization.
For the last 10 years we had been on fire,increasing sales by 20 to 30% annually compounded and the money was coming in by the truck load.
Some days I felt like I could look down the street from my office and see the trucks lined up ready to back up to the dock and dump another pile of money in the warehouse.
We were doing twice the sales volume of our competitors with half the staff and almost 0 turnover.
It hadn’t always been that way there were many times in the prior 16 years when I had no idea where our next sale was coming from. There was disorder, confusion, piles of unfinished work, unsold inventory, and clutter everywhere. There were employee problems, legal problems, computer problems, partner problems and cash flow problems. It seemed so hopeless at times, and I came close to “throwing in the towel.”
As frustrated and unhappy as I was running and operating my small business, I kept searching for the right answers to solve or fix all of my problems.
Those answers seemed to elude me. Once in a while I’d get a glimpse of them and that would give me a little glimmer of hope. But I was so busy trying to succeed in my business that I couldn’t take the time to study those brief looks at the business working perfectly, there was to much to do. Those little glimmers of hope, they seemed to be so imperfect, how could they, be the perfect solutions and answers I was seeking.
Have you ever been 100% wrong?
Well I have
and I hate having to admit it.
Little by little, year after year I started to get it, and I started to document what I was getting. I had to write it down so that I wouldn’t forget what I was learning and what was working for us.
That‘s what my book “If I was going there … I wouldn’t want to start from here” is all about, the things I learned that worked.
The only reason that I wrote the book was to help you succeed. I already know this stuff. I’ve had years of hit and miss, perfecting through trail and error, the practice of what works.
Buy Jim's Book
Printed book ONLY $29.95
And when it was all put together it was a powerful, if not unstoppable system / machine that would work in any business.
Many times, in the past, we would find a process that would work better than anything we had tried before but instead of sticking with it, and in the process of trying to improve it, we would slowly revert back to our old familiar, less effective methods.
That’s what happens when you don’t document systems and processes.
We have to relearn or rediscover them again and again. Each new hire, in any part of the business, becomes a new experiment in confusion for them and you, like reinventing the combustion engine again and again. So many moving parts to assemble correctly in order for it to have power and work properly.
It took me years to find, understand and create the proper framework that anyone in any business can use to confidently build their business while making it fun.
My 10 rules of business are like the Constitution, general enough to work in any business, flexible and strong enough to handle any issue or situation that may arise.
And the rules are just the beginning of bring back the Fun to your business once you understand the 3 personalities of my management system the complications of managing your small business will be gone forever … there is nothing better than solving a problem permanently in business.
Solving a problem permanently is the same as saving time, time to be used in the future. And extra time frees you up to increase sales, build the business and increase profits. What could be more important than those 3 things for your small business?
Nothing I Hope
There’s no secret or magical formula to any of this, it just becomes magical and powerful when it is all put together. It’s like a puzzle that has been put together. The sum of the parts is so much more than a few of the individual pieces.
What's a puzzle worth that's was missing a few pieces?
Are any of the pieces of your business in the wrong place or missing?
How do you know?
What are you measuring?
Where does each piece fit in the framework of your business?
Well even though I had discovered, written down, and started using my 10 rules and management system daily there were still 3 pieces of my puzzle missing. I didn’t even notice or care that they were missing for a long time. Things were so improved and going so well for me and my business.
I may have never noticed that the 3 pieces were missing except that one day a friend pointed it out to me saying “it seems to me Jim there are a few pieces missing still.” I looked up and said “so what, who cares and why are you bothering me with that?” Look at how well things are going.
He said “just thought you should know it’s not perfect yet. Why don’t you finish it?” I didn’t have a good answer, but suddenly I had an epiphany. Soon after my friend left that day I added the last 3 pieces and finished the puzzle. Now I had the complete foundation and framework to run, operate, grow and build my business like never before. I had just design and discovered the right questions to ask to about every facet of my business.
Knowing the right questions to ask, having them at your disposal is powerful stuff ask any attorney. How important it is to know the right questions to ask.
Once the puzzle was complete, the fun started for real.
I sold that business for a small fortune a few years back. The new owner wasn’t interested in my rules, management system, questions or me.
So when I ... left my "26 years intellectual secrets" walk out the door with me.
I started up a couple of other businesses since then. One I closed there just wasn't enough Return On Investment (R.O.I.) for the amount of time and money invested in it.
The other one is going strong but ...It's doesn't need my attention daily. www.lighthousepte.com
So I was thinking what I should do next?
Why not help you and other small business owners make a difference in your business like I did in mine.
"there were thousands maybe hundreds of thousands of small business owners out there searching and struggling, just like I was for my first 16 years." Before I discovered and started using my simple systems that allowed the struggle to end and started those truck loads of money to start showing up.
Helping you ... is what prompted me to spend 18 months of my life writing:
“If I was going there … I wouldn’t want to start from here.”
Your life as a small business owner and entrepreneur will be easier, simpler,more fun and profitable … if you just buy, read and practice the information found in the pages of “If I was going there … I wouldn’t want to start from here.”
Order now and I’ll give you 110% money back guarantee, if you’re not completely happy with the information you learn. Just send the book back and I’ll sent you 110% of your purchase price. No questions ask and with no hard feelings.
But I have to warn you --- the contents of this book will open your business, and you, up to a whole new world of possibilities and success. I promise.
Purchase the book - If I Was Going There I Wouldn't Start From Here:
Discover
the 3 mistakes small business owners and entrepreneuers make that keeps them Poor, Bored and Working too Hard.
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