The Executive Summary / Overview / Profile. As seen on Small Business School on PBS-member stations in the USA and the Voice of America around the world. The best little show on television about the American spirit.

What do some businesses succeed?

last update: June 2007

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It's all about STAYING POWER.

Hattie encourages us all to follow our dreams by following our numbers.

From the opening to the closing, it takes courage.

DYNAMICS OF SUSTAINABILITY. How does a business make it beyond the first year? ...third year? and fifth year? These are benchmarks. Milestones. Most startups do not get past them. So, when these veteran entrepreneurs answer the question, "How did you do it?," there is a lot to learn.

STAYING POWER: The Transcript. Read the transcript and dig into the study guide. Then there are all the transcripts and study guides for particular episodes for all 21 people you see in this episode (links below).

So, what is it? What does it take? What is that tenacity that takes these people through the difficult times and over the impossible hurdles?

STAYING POWER: Your roadmap. If you would like to interactively build your own business case online, a roadmap for your future, register here and make it a collaborative project with your employees.

If you are one of the 17 million sole proprietors, make it a collaborative project with your CPA, bankers, advisors, suppliers, and contractors. Everybody will love it, you'll build your business, and you may discover you have something to pass on to the next generation. Also, review the episode entitled, People Power.

WATCH TELEVISION THAT TEACHES

Key Ideas of this episode

1.	Communicate Your Vision
2.	Define Your Business Model
3.	Understand Your Numbers
4.	Form A Board of Advisors
5.	Commit To Quality
6.	Use Technology Aggressively
7.	Be THE Place To Work
8.	Sell, Sell, Sell
9.	Be Willing To Evolve

""The only thing that keeps us going is energy. And what is energy but liking life?
- Louis Auchincloss

They conquer who believe they can. He has not learned the first lesson of life who does not every day surmount a fear. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

WORK THROUGH STEP 7: Sustainability. Be sure to review the special episodes, one on people power and the other about exit strategies.

FAMILY BUSINESS: How is your family known? What kind of identity do you have? Study some of the other family businesses.

UNDERSTANDING WEALTH: Don't be afraid of it; you can handle it.

JOIN, JOIN, JOIN: Your professional associations in your industry are your key to continuing education, market research, collaborations, strategic partnerships, capital and so much more ... often you'll find that you enjoy like-minded people and many will become friends for life.

THERE IS ALWAYS MORE. Each of these small business owners in this episode has their own overview page (like this one) AND their own study guide and transcript.

In order of appearance:

	Overview:	Study Guide:	Transcript:	Home:
1.	Jim Schell	Opportunity Knocks	Bend, OR	Yes
2.	John Hawkins	Cloud 9 Shuttle	San Diego, CA	Yes
3a.	Robert Orenstein	Intl' Wine Accessories	Dallas, TX	Not available
3b.	Janet & David Milley	Theatrical Lighting Co.	Huntsville, AL	Yes
4.	Albert Black	On Target	Dallas, TX	Yes
5.	Dale Crownover	Texas Nameplate	Dallas, TX	Yes
6.	Neil Clark Warren	e Harmony	Pasadena, CA	Yes
7.	Tom Gegax	Tires Plus	Minneapolis, NM	Yes
8.	Reed Pigman	Texas Jet	Fort Worth, TX	Yes
9.	Steve Hoffman	Modern Postcard	Carlsbad, CA	Yes

CONTACT:
Small Business School

COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS. We invite your comments and questions. Was the show inspirational and/or educational? We hope this show is both!

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