James Houser
This book and the breakthrough that I will be describing, is going to examine the relationship between a child, a dog, and his parents and the issues that all parties go through when making the decision to get a child’s first dog. I will then relate that to you, your business, and the other parties involved that are needed to get your company funded and in turn a success. While you are reading this book I want you to think of Bobby as yourself or the entrepreneur; the dog as the business that you are going to start; the parents of Bobby as the bank or investor; and the pitch that Bobby will make to his parents in order to bring the dog home as the business plan itself.
By reading this book with that paradigm in mind, you will begin to understand the breakthrough in business plan development that I am aiming for and it will change the way you go into the business planning process. You will no longer need to procrastinate because the process won’t be as daunting of a process as before. Instead you will understand the mindset that goes into writing one and you will be able to begin developing yours much faster and with greater focus.
James Houser, founder of Know it All Consulting LLC, has been developing business plans for aspiring & experienced entrepreneurs since 2006 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Over that time, James has helped raise over $1 million dollars in capital for his clients of whom range from small mom and pop restaurants to large entertainment companies.
James graduated from Hawaii Pacific University with degrees in Marketing, Corporate Communications, and Political Science; was a member of the HPU International Speaking Team; Associated Students of Hawaii Pacific University (ASHPU); and long time member of the HPU Presidents Host. James is also a member of the Hawaii Venture Capital Association, and a member of the board of directors for FAMES (Filipino American Multi-Ethnic Society), a non-profit organization focusing on mentoring and coaching Hawaii's small business leaders.
James has acted as a judge with the Shidler Business schools’ business plan competition over at the Univeristy of Hawaii at Manoa for the past two years, and was recently a judge for Hawaii Pacific Universities first inaugural new venture challenge. He currently lives in Waikiki with his beautiful wife Miranti.
Bobby, however, runs past both cages to the third and final cage where nobody is paying any attention too. Inside is a black and white Old English Sheepdog puppy. He is just sitting there looking up at Bobby, although with all of the hair covering his eyes it’s hard for Bobby to truly know where the puppy is looking, however Bobby knows it’s him.
Ignoring the sign and his mom’s insistence to not put his fingers through the cage, he goes ahead and tries to get the attention of this lone puppy with his fingers. Instantly the puppy hops up and pounces over to the bars, his butt wiggling from side to side and begins to lick Bobby's fingers.
At that moment, the connection between a boy and his dog was made. They both knew they were meant to grow up together and if things hadn’t happened the way they did they might not have met each other. After all if Bobby weren’t grounded he probably would be riding his bike with his friends over at the sand dunes behind the neighborhood grocery store. But that’s all in the past now and Bobby has a new mission in life which is to find away to convince his parents to let him take home his dog.
“Ah mom, isn’t he just the cutest dog? I mean look at him, he looks like a walking rug with eyes.”
“Can I have him Ma?”
…
“Please?”
…
“Look mom, he is so lonely sitting there, he has nobody to play with and nobody is even paying attention to him.”
…
“Come ooonnnnnnnn…….”
“Bobby you know what your Dad would say if we brought home a dog?”
“You're supposed to be grounded, not get rewarded with a dog for heaven’s sake.’
“But mom look at him, how can you say you wouldn’t like him, he’s perfect mom.”
“And plus he would keep me out of trouble, I would have to take care of him and train him. He would be my new best friend!!!”
“Ok, Bobby here is the deal. If you can somehow convince your father to let you get this dog then we can come back here this weekend and pick him up.”
“But mom what if someone else takes him by then?”
“Let me go ask the manager if we can have him set aside for a day or two, okay?”
Bobby runs over to his mom and gives her a huge hug.
“Thanks mom, I’m really sorry for being such a pain all the time, but you know I am just a kid.”
As Carol walks over and begins talking to the manager, Bobby begins to think about what it’s going to take to convince his father, Luke.
“I know I just need to make him want you as much as I do.” Bobby says to the puppy, which begins to tilt its head to the side as if truly understanding Bobby.
“I just need to prove to him that I can raise you right and that you will be great for just not me but for the entire family. We are going to be great together,” Bobby says quickly as his mom returns from speaking to the manager.
“So mom, will they let us pick him up this weekend?”
“It's all settled Bobby, you just need to convince your father now and then if you can get that done by Saturday we can come by and pick him up then.”
“YAAAAHOOOOOO”
“I will see you in a few days boy!” Bobby says to the puppy as they begin to walk away and head home.
Okay, now looking back at this little scene of Bobby meeting his dog and having to convince his father in order to be able to take it home let’s examine what we can take from this regarding our business plan writing. Bobby is like any entrepreneur out there, just like yourself where there has been a set of circumstances that has happened to you in life which has led you to this point of (a) a desire to own your business, and (b) the opportunity to do so.
In Bobby's case, the business is the dog in the third cage. You see Bobby distinctly fell in love with the dog in the final cage after passing on the first two cages. Just like any of us who decide to go the retail route, or the consulting route like myself. Each choice is going to have some benefits and some obstacles but in the end you have probably already decided on your cage or your “doggy in the window.” On another level you can see how the lone sheepdog is analogous to a unique business. Whereas the other cages have the most attention and seeming quite content in doing so, our lonely sheepdog is just waiting to get some well-deserved attention.
The problem that occurs for Bobby is that he must try and convince his father to let him bring the dog home on Saturday. By looking at it this way, you can use Luke, Bobby’s father, to signify the lofty banker or venture capitalist for whom you will need to convince in order to gain the funding you so desire.
In the end of this scene Bobby, begins to ponder what it will take to convince his father into letting him take home this puppy. Bobby, already after just a matter of seconds has hit two crucial decision making points that will need to be answered by both Bobby and you as an entrepreneur. That is, you need to convey your own capabilities to run your business and that this venture will be beneficial for all parties involved.
So now that you have a firm understanding of the foundation that needs to go into place when taking on your business plan, let’s begin to dig a little deeper.
