Business Fellowship

Next Meeting:

Wed., Nov 1, 2017. Mixer starts at 4:00. Meeting starts at 4:30 - ends at 6:00. Venue: TBD (usually Mt. Vernon or Burlington.) To attend, please read the below and then contact me.

Presenter: Tim K. Garrison. Over the next few months we'll discuss the topics below in small, bite-sized pieces. Round-table discussion can follow these or be any other topic of concern / interest to attendees. 

Presentation: Maximum PIE: Maximizing Profit in a Small / Medium Sized Business:

- Profit: What, why, how much?

- Why should employees care about the boss' profit?

- Maximizing income: Price point; getting paid.

- Minimizing expense: Opportunity cost; maximize quality (Deming)

- Cost of a mistake.

- Probability theory - what are the odds your team will get it right the first time?

- The root of the problem: Management's ugly baby.

- The org chart (Gerber) - step 1.

- The right people on the bus and the wrong ones off (Collins) - step 2.

- Management's main job: training (Sinegal.)

- 1000 little cracks vs. one big gaping hole.

- Consistency - a key to greatness.

- Know your systems to know when you've got a problem (Deming.)

- Culture - foundation to winning in business: TQI = Team, Quality, Integrity

- Team - First priority in building culture. Team first, period (Carroll.)

- Quality - Get lean.

- Integrity - Your reputation and thus longevity depends on this.

- Marketing - Should be half of everything you do.

- Brand - What, why, and how?

What is The Business Fellowship?

The Business Fellowship was born of my passion for business and success. Small business has been good to me, this is an opportunity to give back.

My vision was to create a group of local businesspeople who gather regularly to exchange ideas, have questions answered, and provide input to others. Young people, newbies, and those with questions / issues are especially encouraged to participate. I wish something like this was available to me while I struggled my way through the ranks.

With social media constantly in our faces we've become disconnected. So much of what we do daily happens electronically that we're losing touch as humans. I don't aim to cure that but this Fellowship is a step in the right direction. We'll meet, actually physically around a table, with good food and beverage, and chew the business fat. I think this satisfies a deep human need.

* MISSION:

1) Exchange business ideas.

2) Create and enhance relationships.

3) Teach.

4) Learn.

5) Have fun!

* WHO: Anyone of any age interested in succeeding in business.

* COST: No cost other than your own food and beverage at meetings.

* MEMBERSHIP: To be an Official Business Fellowship Member, you must:

1) Be interested in success via business.

2) Be a person of integrity. Integrity is the foundation of all relationships and lasting businesses.

3) Not be a bozo.

4) Be on my email list.

To request Membership please contact me with: your name; email address; occupation. If you meet the above criteria I will add you to my list. 

I reserve the right to add or remove names from the list as I see fit and in the best interest of the group.

I keep the list absolutely private, will never share it or sell it, etc. All group correspondence is via email BCC.

Any time you wish to be removed from the list, just contact me so stating and I will quickly take care of it – no harm, no foul.

* VENUE: Varies - is announced on this website and via email to Members prior to meetings.

* DAY / DATE: Once a month, usually a Wednesday. Exact dates will be posted on this website when meetings are set.

* TIME: Meeting starts at 4:30 p.m. You can arrive up to 30 minutes early for a beverage and mixing. Meeting ends at 6:00 p.m.

* MEETING AGENDA:

1) Each meeting kicks off with a 15-20 minute presentation on a relevant business topic presented by a Member or guest. I pre-approve these. If you want to be a presenter please contact me with your name, email address, topic, and topic description.

2) Then we “Go around the table”, meaning each person at their table has an opportunity to present an issue, any issue, whether relevant to presenter’s topic or not, then receives feedback from tablemates. Guidelines:

- Each table should have ten or so people. A mix of seasoned veterans and younger people is desirable.

- Keep in mind that Success Lives Outside Your Comfort Zone. You’ll likely get your best feedback at a table where you don’t know everyone.

- Examples of issues: start up; career move; employee / employment issues; new product / service; scale up / down; selling / buying a business; marketing; social media; finding good employees; motivating employees; leadership; organizational structure; quality control; lean; employee benefits; business location – buy / rent / lease; acquiring funding; setting price point; etc.

- If a person has no issue to present, that’s okay, they can still provide feedback.

- Feedback, to be meaningful, must be honest. Tactful always, but 100% honest. Everyone is qualified to provide feedback. You never know who your next customer will be and how they’re influenced.

- Each person will have about 10 - 15 minutes to present their issue and receive feedback, depending on the number of tablemates.

- We all need to be great listeners.

- Speaking should be concise and to the point.

* HOW TO ATTEND:

1) Members: I send out a group email at least a week prior to the meeting with date, venue and presenter’s topic. To attend you must RSVP with an accurate number of attendees you’re bringing. The venue may place a limit on how many they can accommodate, so those who reply first get priority.

2) Non-Members. If you’re a guest of a Member the Member must RSVP with you as an invited guest. All other non-Members must contact me and request attendance. If there’s space, you’re in – I’ll reply letting you know.

Thank you for your interest.