Trailer park success …
and fly-by-night tenants
Fellow Business-Builder,
We are going to take a break from the Twitter talk for this week.
My experiment continues, and I am encouraged by what I have seen so far. I do not think it is for every business, but I do see the potential for many. I will continue to report in on this, but there ARE things other than social media in this world that impact your success.
Today, I want to share two dramatically different small business stories.
First, a local disaster.
There is a little strip mall by my house. On the end of the mall is a small bay that continues to struggle.
The last attempt is “Food23” which you can see here …
They spent $15,000 on the renovations of the inside and kitchen. They were excited about opening day.
And they were destined to fail.
Opening day came, and went. And they closed their doors for good. These morons thought they would make enough money day one to float them through their big grand opening.
- They had no marketing in place.
- The name of their restaurant … sucked.
- They had no differentiation (crappy deep-fried foods is all they offered)
- And they did NOTHING to get people in the door. (In their business, all they had to do was create a powerful offer for the local neighborhood. That would have given them a decent start on day one … they didn’t even do that.)
- They honestly thought that by opening their doors they would be swamped with people, cash in hand.
- To top it off … they blew all their money on renovations, saving nothing for getting people in the door.
When they didn’t make their millions day-one, they had no choice but to pull a midnight-move and disappear.
It reminds me a LOT of people online these days.
They think they need a fancy flash website. So they spend $10,000 with some “creative design team” and get a wiz bang site that says nothing useful.
They get all the nice business cards and letterhead.
They hire a copywriter, thinking that a great sales letter is all they need.
Then they are shocked to learn that a website does not magically draw people to the site. They can’t understand why they aren’t making a mint with their creative Web design.
They blame the economy.
They blame the competition.
Never once do they blame themselves for not having a plan of attack on HOW they will get actual prospects to their site to buy.
In contrast to the morons with Food23 (what a great name … hey?), here is a story I am very familiar with. One that WAS thought through properly.
This is the start of a long weekend here, and I am heading out of town with the kids to a secret location 90 minutes northeast of where I live.
Ok, it ain’t that much of a secret … I am heading to the campground that I grew up in.
You could kinda say …
“My name is Troy, and I grew up in a trailer park” …
… And it would be factually accurate.
When I was 8-years-old, my folks, along with two other couples, bought 60 acres of land in Sundre, Alberta. Their plan was to build a quality campground with 400+ sites in an area that did not have campgrounds like this. There were a couple run-down “shanty town” types of parks … but nothing that anyone was really proud to call their “home-away-from-home.”
Every single chance we had, we were up in Sundre working on the campground, which was named “Tall Timber Leisure Park.”
Weekends during school.
Entire summers during time off. Every chance we had, we were out there working on building that park up the way it was envisioned.
They made me do every grunt job possible out there …
… Mowing miles and miles of grass every time I was there
… Picking up rocks and clearing trees for new campsites
… Building picnic tables
… Climbing in sewer tanks (I still have nightmares about that one)
… Installing power lines, sewer lines and water
… Picking up garbage
… Painting
… Building playgrounds
… And so on.
A great place to learn the value of hard work, as I saw that place come together bit by bit and morph itself into the premier “leisure park.”
With over 385 permanent sites (rented by the year) and another 100+ overnight sites, it quickly became “the place” for bringing your family and having a good time.
It ran successfully for 25 years that way, then in 1999 or so, they sold individual lots off as private parcels.
They are out of it now, and have a condo board that runs everything. They kept their 60-foot mobile home out there, and me and the kids love going out there for the weekends. Hang out at the river. Go swimming (it has an indoor swimming pool and hot tub). Sometimes I sneak off for a round of golf. Sometimes when I am on a serious deadline, I will pack up the laptop and head out to the trailer for some serious focus time.
The reason I bring this up?
Because they invested a small fortune building that place from the ground up.
They had a vision in mind on what type of campground it would be. They knew it was targeted at families, not baseball teams and young teenagers on a mission to get as drunk as possible.
They had lots of rules in place on how you had to act in the campground, if you wanted to stay.
They were priced at a premium. And they hired tyrants as managers for the place, to keep everyone in line.
They worked their asses off for decades … and it paid off in the end.
They didn’t build it, and expect people to come.
They built it, and worked their tails off getting people out there to try it out. Then they worked hard to get those visitors to commit for a year – knowing full well that one year would mean the next year, the next, and so on. Many seasonal campers stayed there for 25 years and ended up buying the lots once they privatized it.
The Food23 business built it and expected a flood of traffic the first day. My folks knew better. They knew they were in it for the long haul and had to actually work to build it. They did. They cashed out. Food23 owners are on the run with a multi-year lease in place and lawyers on their tail.
Do not fall for the get-rich-overnight crap out there.
It takes a lot of work, persistence, investment and tears to start and build a successful business.
But, the fact remains … ANYONE can do it if they set their mind to it.
As long as they are willing to hang in there through thick and through thin.
The economy is in the toilet now … and some people are struggling. Some people are thriving too.
Those in a tough spot now need remember the Tall Timber story – 30 years of days, nights and weekends. And they cashed out to enjoy what most entrepreneurs dream of … financial independence and retirement on your own terms.
No reliance on the government, or some pension plan.
But with your own money that you earned in your own business. And THAT does not happen overnight with little thought to the future.
Think it through, have a big vision of where you are going with it, and be prepared to stick to it until you get there. It won’t go perfectly smooth. You will have awful weeks, months, even years.
But it will pay off if you persist.
If you don’t have a marketing plan of attack in place
– NOW is the time to do it.
2009 is almost HALF OVER … are you half way to your goals for the year?
If not, get a plan of attach in place and GET BUSY.
It won’t be magically drawn to you while you sit on your couch meditating. YOU have to go out and MAKE IT HAPPEN.
That is the only way you can guarantee your success.
Have a great week.
To your success,
Troy White
Editor, Small Business Mastery
Supplement to THE TOTAL PACKAGE
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A Final Note:
If you have specific subjects you would like addressed, or have any comments on what you have seen here, please submit a comment below and I will see how I can help.
"Don’t wait. The time will never be just right.”
–Napoleon Hill
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14 Comments »
Join the Discussion!
Let us know what you think. Or ask us anything. Or offer your own sage advice.
The only rule: RESPECT THIS HOUSE! Postings that contain abusive language and/or personal attacks will be cheerfully VAPORIZED. One cross word and – POOF! – your well-thought-out post will be gone in a puff of smoke.
– Clayton
Comment by David Sykes — May 15, 2009 @ 10:47 am
Is there a way to set up and run an affiliate marketting system for a small hotel located in the Caribbean and largely dependent on guests from North America?
Your comments and other readers’ comments welcome.
Comment by lawton chiles — May 15, 2009 @ 10:48 am
Troy, man, did you hit the nail on the head. Get Rick Quick schemes rarely, if ever, work. If it sounds too good to be true, it IS too good to be true. Too often, we are not willing to be patient enough. Thanks for the timely reminder.
Comment by Manju Thirani — May 15, 2009 @ 11:03 am
This is interesting and a comparison between the 2 sites clearly shows how the camp/park guys worked at it while the Food23 guys just dreamt of getting hordes of customers.
Yet there are times when 2 businesses put in almost the same amount of work and one of them is way more successful than the other.
Places,be they homes,offices or anyother,often have an orientation towards success or failure!This science of placement is called Vaastu Shastra in India and Fengshui in China.Both are ages old.
Businesses can be affected not only by the economic slack but also by the wrong placements of certain objects or wrong usage of some areas in the premise.
Both Vaastu and fengshui attempt to minimise flaws arising outa these incorrect usages.
And sure enough,the business of people offering these services,is booming,despite the general downturn!!
Comment by mark — May 15, 2009 @ 2:59 pm
Loved your story about food23…true so true.
Comment by dpage — May 16, 2009 @ 11:31 am
Troy,
I enjoy reading your posts, and you’re an astute businessperson. Your perspective on the (former) owners of Food 23 seem accurate to any of us that think long and hard about our businesses, then methodically take action on our well-laid plans.
You’re fortunate to have grown up with thoughtful, supportive parents that guided you by example and taught you important life lessons.
BUT…
How do you think the owners of Food 23 thought about being called Morons and the rest of the hurtful spew that you threw at them? Another, kinder approach might have been to stop by to offer a few friendly nuggets of your wisdom instead.
You’re clearly an experienced businessperson. How about combining it with some heart next time? Perhaps these people, misguided as they are in their business pursuits, didn’t have the benefit of your experience and insights. You could have shared or helped. But you didn’t. You chose to sling insults.
Perhaps next time around you’ll take the higher road?
Comment by Neil — May 16, 2009 @ 6:05 pm
I’m moved to write this after reading dpage’s comments.
Throughout Troy’s post I was nodding my head with the same sage 20/20 hindsight that Troy enjoyed, but finished the post
with an uneasy feeling that i had just learned more about the real Troy White than I had about business.
These ‘morons’ are PEOPLE with shortcomings and FEELINGS. No, they aren’t blessed with your success Troy (yet?), but they’re on their learning curve as we all are, even you.
Although perhaps unlikely to ever read your post, is would be wise to write as if one day they indeed WOULD read it. Had you feigned a generous spirit, possessed of more humanity, they may even have contacted you with a view to becoming clients for a future project…
Comment by Karen — May 17, 2009 @ 12:38 am
“Me and the kids…” Perfect! That there’s one grammar rule I love to break, because it’s so … homey. (And, it makes my school-teacher mom a little crazy, heheh.)
Comment by Jan — May 17, 2009 @ 6:03 am
First things first - Troy - the post was absolutely great and to the point. As a Network Marketer I see the disgraceful attempts to separate “get rich quick dreamers” from their money (hard-earned or not.) Imposable to get “there” from “here” without sweat and tears -= and lots of both. Hopefully no blood.
Second: (or is that second-ly?) “Neil - get a life!” Troy was making a point! Must we walk on eggs at all times lest we deign to say something that may remotely be considered not “politically correct?”
Heaven help us.
PS Troy - love your writing and am filled with “jealousy” that you can and I can’t. Alas, we can’t all be good at everything.
Comment by Neil — May 17, 2009 @ 3:39 pm
Jan, you’re ‘imposable’. I’ll ‘walk on eggs’ myself next time, just for you!
Comment by Susan Connors — May 17, 2009 @ 10:52 pm
Hi there Troy
People want to make money and often they just don’t get the help they need.
Or perhaps the help is offered and they don’t think it important.
It is a persons choice to think what action they will do.
No one here knows the full story behind the crash of Food 23. It is sad that they had to leave - the business new and un-used. There are always two sides to a story and who knows what happened.
What you suggest about having a business plan - a distinct goal in mind is so needed. It’s not about having a want - it’s a need.
I have been in a business that went belly up through the stupidity of my business partner. It was no fun I can assure holding the end down and finalizing everything.
I didn’t run - I stayed and did everything I could to salvage my business. You see the mistake I made, was not of my doing. No-one in that time wanted to take on a female plumber apprentice - despite the work I would already have with me. So due to ignorance and bad attitudes, I lost the lot.
I made sure our clients got reputable contractors so they would not suffer. Made arrangements to finalize what I could for our creditors and went bankrupt for a whole $5000.
The finance company would not accept my offer of a monthly amount to pay out the car - so bankruptcy was the only option. This was 15 years ago so I learnt the value of being prepared.
So in my business today - I have a way different approach. I am not so innocent and ignorant in business. My business is growing and thriving - bit like a jigsaw puzzle bit by bit and piece by piece. Like the vision your parents and family had.
To stay and see your dreams through - to stay with it through no matter what comes your way, is so important. I don’t regret what happened back then as there is no room for regret. It happened for a reason and I learnt from it. I have been able to help other people not make the same mistakes I made - to find other ways out of going bankrupt.
Companies are much easier to talk to now than the ones I dealt with back then. Which is a good thing.
So in a nutshell - you are right. There are some morons around who you couldn’t help even if you tried. On the other hand, there are others who want to grow and do so.
In every part of our lives there are stories that have the good, the bad, the goofy and every aspect of human nature inbetween.
I am enjoying reading your posts and thank you for sharing some of your life with us.
Enough of my ramblings -
Anything is possible if you stick with it through thick and thin (even when the super glue and buttons are coming unstuck).
All the best
Susan Connors
Australia
Comment by Stacy Karacostas — May 18, 2009 @ 1:38 pm
Hi Troy,
Another terrific post, as always! I’ve dubbed the major error of not marketing the Food23 business as “Field of Dreams Syndrome”. Because whether online or off, the idea of “if you build it they will come” rarely works like it does in the movies.
I’m always sadly amused by the people who come to me and say “no one is reading the content on our site so we want to rewrite it” when really the content isn’t the problem. They simply aren’t marketing the site. So the reason no one is reading it is that no one is going there period.
Websites are especially interesting because, in most instances, they are both a part of your marketing plan and something requiring a marketing plan.
Anyhoo, thanks for sharing. Hope you had a wonderful weekend with the girls!
Warmest,
Stacy
Stacy Karacostas
Practical Marketing Expert
http://www.success-stream.com
Comment by Troy White — May 18, 2009 @ 4:11 pm
Thanks everyone. We returned from Tall Timber, everyone successfully exhausted.
The story behind the scenes was that, in Canada, this is a long weekend. And on the May long weekend, a bunch of girls (our wives) get together and go to Banff for a girls weekend. So the guys all pack up the kids and take them out of town to Tall Timber.
This year there were 3 dads, 5 kids, and a dog. We did everything to tire the kids out and let them have fun, get dirty in the much, and do all the things moms don’t usually let them do. And that they did. They played in the park. Rode their bikes everywhere. Went swimming. Went in the hot tub. Spent a full day down at the river building sand castles, digging holes, throwing rocks in the river. They ate. And they SLEPT. One of th kids slept till 11am the first morning… the first sign we tired them out.
Anyhow, fun was definitely had by all.
Now, to the comments:
1) David Sykes. There is absolutely no reason you cannot set up an affiliate program and have North Americans promote you here. Or you can promote here on your own. Or you can use North American travel agents. Better yet, create some very unique travel bundles to Jamaica and other islands you promote.
If you get in touch with me directly, I can point you to a person where I live that specializes in trips to your tropical paradise.
2) dpage and Neil. First thing I need to say… they lasted ONE DAY in business. That is absolute stupidity at the controls.
They had so little thought to realistic success in a restaurant… they lasted one single day. Nothing could have saved them at that point.
It is fairly common knowledge that restaurants have one of the highest failure rates of all. If that were YOU going into a business with such a high failure rate, wouldn’t you at least invest a little bit of time finding out HOW to success in business?
Seems like common sense to me.
Oh… I could write an article that would help them… why would I bother? If they only lasted a day in business, I can bet they never read anything on small business success. On marketing. On how to succeed in restaurants.
Look at this blog alone. The Makepeace Total Package blog delivers solid content day after day. Content most people pay for.
Those of you that read the articles and post your comments are the rare few who actually take the initiative to learn about success in business.
The failure rate in business would be much lower if they made it mandatory for anyone starting a business to take at least some decent courses on financing, operation, and (most importantly) marketing and sales. That 85% failure rate we see so often would certainly drop.
All it takes is some initiative to understand marketing and sales, added to your knowledge of your specific niche or hobby, and you can easily survive far longer than a day in business. I am not going to apologize for calling them morons.
What they did IS moronic.
To spend crazy money like that with absolutely no thought or plan on how to actually survive the first few months in business is not intelligent at all. That’s what most people do.
Those who read this know much better.
Those who actually look for advice from people who have succeeded in their chosen business are the wise ones.
Anyhow, have a great week everyone. Troy
Comment by Neil — May 18, 2009 @ 4:56 pm
Troy
Well, if you put it like that… At first read I just thought you went a bit over the top, thought it uncharacteristically unprofessional and had to open my big mouth. That said; I’ve been wrong before…
Thanks for addressing our posts in such an educated manner. I’m off my high horse and back on the ground now and ready to concentrate on the important stuff, which as you rightfully reminded us, is the cracking content this site delivers, free, to those lucky enough to come across it.
Now I’ll slink off into the shadows and get that life Jan thoughtfully recommended!
Regards
Neil
Comment by Martin — May 19, 2009 @ 12:24 pm
Good stuff Troy. When you write it feels like I’m on an adventure with you.
You’ve got a great gift. How can I work with you?
Martin