For some reason people think that having an herb business is different than being in any other business. Perhaps that’s why normal business dealings are often ignored. Yes, you have to know about the industry. But when you have a welding business, for example, you usually know more about welding than the person on the street.
But it seems people with herb businesses don’t think the rules of business don’t apply to them. And that could be why most herb businesses fail. The ones that succeed….they’re the ones that act as any other business does. They plan, they look at lots of ways to promote their sales and not just the usual “herby” ones. One of the more successful herbal businesses I knew swore that “The E Myth” was their bible. And they didn’t get into it for the usual “herby” reasons…..they wanted a successful business that they could retire on….they did.
On one of the lists I’m on, someone asked whether social media is taking people away from the group. Honestly, I think life takes people away. When you first start a small business, you’re looking for people to share information with. Or a group that gives you moral support. Unfortunately, the people that talk the most on lists are ones that have a lot of free time.
I don’t expect to see my favorite successful authors or business folks answering questions on forums. They’ve got more important things to do. Or they use their “free” time to have a life, not sit around and “twitter”. I’m amazed when they do find the time to answer and they contribute some really awesome items.
For some reason, we now think people should answer our emails when we never would even have approached these same people with a phone call not too many years ago. I had someone recently complain bitterly that no one would answer her questions, when she asked. I asked her what the question was, and it was the non-ending question: Tell me everything I need to know to start an herb business.
Everybody wants to get in social media lately. I’ve joined them all and what do I do now? I have a life. If I had time to sit and twitter, that means I have no work to do. Or sales made. Or a life to live. Or countries to visit.
Can you imagine going to a place like China or India and spending time on the computer chatting when you could be seeing the Great Wall? Or in NOT going to an exciting live event because you have to report on what you’ve been doing to your online community?
I think technology is wonderful. The amount of information we have available is awesome. But when twittering and spilling your life story on facebook takes the place of having a life….it makes me glad I lived through the seventies and eighties.