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The Case Study Guide
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Others will brag on your business
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Overview Transcript Case Study Video
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Win An Award

Whenever there is an opportunity, submit your work for peer review within your national trade association.

Mike built his dream home for himself utilizing all the techniques he had tried to get others to buy from him. He included character logs, which are logs that on the surface seem damaged but when finished out can be works of art in and of themselves. He included carvings, logs with the root base still attached, river rock at the foundation, and a suspended staircase.

The people who saw the home were so impressed that he decided to enter this home in the National Homebuilders annual contest. To Mike's surprise, it won the "Best In American Living Award."

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Key Ideas of this episode Small Business School
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1. Be Bold
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2. Make It Perfect
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3. Listen To Customers
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4. Budget For Marketing
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5. Be Visible
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6. Think Like A Customer
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7. Win An Award
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8. Say Yes
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9. Let Others Take Over
10. Teach What Repeats
11. Automate Art
12. Sell A Dream

The prize was given to him at a huge convention in Las Vegas and pictures of the home appeared in a number of construction publications. After the award, hundreds of inquiries flooded into his office including a request for proposal from the Disney Corporation.

Topic for Discussion: Should your small business, like Oregon Log Homes, seek recognition for excellence from its trade association?

Answer: There are lots of benefits to trade association membership. The opportunity to network with other entrepreneurs in the same business but different markets, market research, trade publications and conventions, and quick and easy access to the latest trends in product development and innovation in your industry.

You’ve heard us recommend trade association many times for all of these reasons. The opportunity to compete for local, regional, and national recognition is one of the biggest benefits. If you are not a member in any trade association, find one and become a member. If they do not have an awards program, recommend it and offer to coordinate it.

You think about it: How would your customers, your employees and your vendors react if you were recognized as an industry leader? Do you think going after that recognition is worth the effort it would take to get it?

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