Like process you used for winners, pick your top three customer losers and plan to eliminate or reduce these losers in 2005. Create a simple plan. The plan should include what you are going to do, how you are going to do it and when are you going to do it. Write it down and post it where you can see it every day. Step Three--One Customer Innovation

Small businesses face danger of doing just what you did last year or doing what all other businesses in your industry are doing. This is a form of incest. Over time, this weakens your “business stock” and hurts your growth.

Just as you need to stretch your physical muscles, (you know resolution you made about going to gym three times a week), you need to stretch your business muscles if you want to grow and develop.

Pick one area that will stretch your business. This could be a financial stretch, a time or energy stretch. You could create a new product, improve a product or service, or provide new operating procedures that make it easier for customers to buy.

If you are having a difficult time deciding what to do, take your clue from your customers. What innovation addresses a customer’s benefit? By using customer benefits as your criteria for an innovation, you will grow your business in right direction.

Now create a plan. What you are going to innovative, how you are going to get this accomplished, and when will you do it? Write it down and post it where you can see it every day.

Conclusion Looking at last year’s business winners and losers from a customer’s perspective will give you more sticking power with your 2005 resolutions. You begin to realize these resolutions are not some internal agreement you made in your head--with yourself. The resolutions become a commitment to your customers. Everyday you must respond to your customer commitments. Complete this exercise and find how your business resolutions stick long after January and how they grow your business! Free Help to Grow Your Business Interested in getting off of small business merry-go-round that is leading no where? Call my toll free number 1-877-714-5500 and listen to a pre-recorded message about a free report that will push your business to next level. It’s a free call, a free report, no sales pitch, so call any time. 1-877-714-5500.

Copyright Al Hanzal, 2004. All Rights Reserved

Hanzal Enterprises, Inc. 4191 Granite Court Eagan, Minnesota 55123 651-485-3340

Mistake Three: Believes that there is a simple and easy answer Because beginner inventor believes “Get Rich Quick” furor and is unaware of risk, effort, money and resources required to bring a product to market, beginner inventors also believes that there is a simple and easy answer to this end. However, again multi-billion manufacturing sector of economy would employ those simple and easy answers. But they know all too well of risk, effort, money and resources required to bring a product to market. Even as part of their grand effort that they employ, they are also endlessly trying to simplify and make easier these costly processes because of need to maximize profits. It is expense and hard work to bring new products to market and there are no simple and easy answers. Someone has to take risk for new product, execute work and pay for all resources and this is neither simple nor easy.

Mistake Four: “Hearing what we want to Hear” Beginner inventors are especially vulnerable to typical human trait fault of “Hearing what we want to Hear”. This vulnerability is driven by belief in “Get Rich Quick” furor and as beginner inventors slowly becomes aware of risk, effort, money and resources required and learns that there maybe are no simple and easy answers, they fall victim of “Hearing what we want to Hear”. It is only when beginner inventor fully accepts that there is no “Get Rich Quick” solution and it requires a grand amount of risk, effort, money, and there is no simple and easy answers, will beginner inventor stop being vulnerable to “Hearing what we want to Hear”.

These four mistakes made by beginner inventors are a recipe for disaster. These four mistakes can cause for beginner inventors to loose money (big money) and never get their patented new product manufactured or placed into market place. Beginner inventors should not fall prey to to typical human trait fault of “Hearing what we want to Hear”. Beginner inventors should understand that there no simple and easy answers to bring a new product to market. Beginner inventors should understand that multi-billion manufacturing sector of economy employs many professionals that work hundreds hours and spend many hundreds of thousands of dollars per each new product launched. Most important of all, beginner inventors should not believe Get Rich Quick” furor. So, what should beginner inventors do, at very least they should not make these four mistakes.

(c) Copyright 2005, M. R. Benson. All rights reserved.