On Our Own
by Andy Birol, Owner, Birol Growth Consulting
from Cool Cleveland columnist Andy Birol http://www.AndyBirol.com
This is the first installment of Birol's Business, a Cleveland entrepreneur's monthly mix that examines the conflicting business attitudes, habits, and practices with examples of success and failure. He'll challenge and report on the results these combined factors have on companies and the business environment in Cleveland. Read the Cool Cleveland Interview with Andy Birol here.
In the movie, Poseidon Adventure, only a dozen passengers and crew ignore hundreds of others stampeding down to the bridge of their capsized ship. The survivors make it by climbing up to and breaking through the ship’s hull. As Northeast Ohio is similarly adrift, can there also be a morning after for the contrarians that are bucking conventional wisdom? Yes.
However you voted in this election, the nation’s spotlight focused on our struggling, poor, and conflicted region clearly on the wrong end of both red and blue politics. We seem to have the worst of both worlds: big government without conviction and big business without confidence. Despite this, many small businesses are doing just fine; succeeding much like cockroaches in a nuclear winter. Why is this, what does it mean and how can the status quo and majority learn from the rebels and minority? If the status quo still had power, captains of industry and stewards of government would have met at the Union Club and directed their minions to make it so. Except for their power in pushing United Way, they are largely impotent yet still influence too much. It is less about the “haves” versus the “have-nots” and more about the voyeurs versus the participants. Why is this?
Of Sheep and Lone Wolves
As much economic success as large corporations, associations, boards, and government once brought Northeast Ohio, now intermediaries and employees (not just leaders or entrepreneurs) run them. While most are well meaning, many more are just blocking the way. Just as Wal-Mart has obsoleted their vendors’ middlemen, we need to question why more of our “A” list is not out starting and growing new businesses instead of enabling, empowering, and embalming those of others. Meanwhile, Northeast Ohio's formal, centralized business culture will remain suffocating and obsolete. The constant recasting and redirecting of boards, groups, and committees has created a whole society of “usual suspects”. These “Cleveland Insiders” are too often "grin-faking" sycophants. Leaderless, but needing constant affirmation, established business in Cleveland has turned into an endless waltz of wannabees chasing should bees. Too many in Cleveland will agree to a meeting to talk about building relationships not outcomes. Craving loyalty and reciprocity, but terrified of meritocracy or results, they continually ask for another meeting, tell you to see someone else, or just wish you all the best. For those aspiring to be admitted to this club, I tell you it is a hollow pursuit. Very little is behind the closed door or above the glass ceiling.
Fortunately, many lone wolves are running free and feeding amply. After meeting over 3,000 Northeast Ohio business owners, I can tell you there are scores of successful small business success stories. From Guild International in Bedford Heights, selling welding machines to China, to Easy2 in Cleveland, selling product merchandizing portals to Loews, thousands of small business owners give us proof of, pride in, and hope that a bright future for Northeast Ohio is possible. With few exceptions, these business owners do not travel in packs. Instead, they are self-affirming, control-freaks. We just have to learn to love these guys and girls. They serve niches, exchange their value for money, and are driven to promote their business and take a stand with customers. From the arts to manufacturers, to architects and contractors, their success is blessedly under our noses. In the coming months I look forward to telling you their stories, namely the good, the bad and the ugly, most importantly what we can learn and apply in our business lives here in Northeast Ohio. To start here are five lessons we can learn from this month in Northeast Ohio and across the country.
On November 2nd much changed for the country but nothing much for us here in Northeast Ohio. We still have to start focusing on our individual success. We are all on our own.
from Cool Cleveland contributor Andy Birol abirol@andybirol.com
Read the Cool Cleveland Interview with Andy Birol here
Also read this column on the Birol Growth Consulting site here
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