School for Startups Minutes

This week, we are talking about some of the businesses that you know and love and the crazy twists and turns that got them to today. Today, I want to talk about McDonald's. The McDonald's brothers were restaurateurs. They believed in fast service, a simple menu, and tight operations, but they had no desire to grow or scale. They were happy with their one local business. I'll tell you what happened...

This week, we are talking about the crazy things that businesses did to stay alive. In the very beginning, Airbnb was failing. Investors passed, users were scarce, and they were running out of cash. They came up with a crazy idea to save the business. I'll tell you what it was right after this. It was an election year, and one of the founders noticed that themed cereal boxes sold really well. So t...

When Howard Schultz, the founder of Starbucks, visited Italy, he noticed something very different about their coffee shops. They weren't just places to buy drinks. They were gathering spots, social centers, parts of people's daily ritual. When he returned to the United States, people told him Americans would never act that way, especially about their coffee. Well, he showed them. We all know how i...

This week, we are talking about crazy but true stories of American businesses. Today, we want to talk about Netflix. We all remember the old Netflix, mailing the DVDs in the red envelopes. They didn't do streaming. They had no algorithm. They had no content. It was just DVDs and postage, and it worked. But of course, streaming came along and disrupted it. I'll tell you what happened right after th...

This week, I'm going to tell you stories about 5 businesses that you know and the incredible things that they overcame. I'm going to start with FedEx. Unbelievably. One Friday, they realized they didn't have enough gas for Monday. They couldn't afford to fly over the weekend and pay all of the gas bills on Monday. So, guess what the owner did? I'll tell you right after this. Well, I'm certainly no...

We've been talking about pets all week, and I have been trying to make the argument that everyone needs at least one pet in their life. I will also tell you this. This is true. My pets have been named by PETA as the best-named pets in America. My last name is Beach, and so a lot of things go with that. You know, Sunny, Rocky, Sandy, Wavy, Clothing Optional, Black Sand, and of course, with Black Sa...

This week, I am talking about our beloved pets, our cats and dogs, and I am arguing that everyone should have some sort of pet in their life. Today, I'm going to argue, in particular, that every child needs a pet. I'll explain why right after this. Our pets need us for so much. They need us for water, food, exercise, love, affection, and a safe place to cuddle up. It's almost the exact same as lif...

This week, we are talking about pets, our beloved furry friends, and how they make us better. And I'm arguing, with 5 reasons, that everyone should have a pet. I've already talked about how they make you healthier and happier. I'll throw another reason we should all have a pet into the mix right after this. Imagine you're in an elevator with 2 or 3 people. No one says anything, but put a dog in th...

It took me decades to become a pet lover. As a child, I did not enjoy pets. I had a bad experience, but when I got married, my new wife sent a puppy, a Dalmatian, that was moving in before she did. And it was absolutely a joy. I loved that dog, maybe more than the marriage. But anyway, this week, we're talking about how pets can make you better and how we should all have a pet. They certainly make...

This week, we're going to take a break from business and entrepreneurship and talk about pets instead. I want you to know that I had a horrible, in fact, the worst story ever, a horrible pet incident as a child. I am not going to tell that story to you, I promise. But it made me swear off dogs and pets for a long, long time, decades. But now I realize that having a pet is one of the best things yo...

I believe very strongly that we make our own luck Sure, some people win the lottery, and there's nothing we can do to increase our chances of that happening legally. We can, though, increase our luck in business and in life and in love. And I've been talking about it this weekend. I hope you've enjoyed some of the advice. I have one more piece to share with you right after this. I believe that by...

One time, one of my friends said I was so lucky to have been successful in my first business. I was so upset with my friend. It had nothing to do with luck, my friend. It had everything to do with hard work. Can we change our luck? Yes, we can, and I'm going to tell a little story right after this. Imagine staring down a long hallway and looking to the right and left and seeing locked doors. You d...

Oh, to be lucky. Are you lucky? I certainly am jealous of those who are. Maybe it's a skill that you can learn, and that would be a great thing for the lottery. I don't think that's true, but you can learn luck in life and luck in business. You remember the picture of the duck, very calm on top and paddling very hard underwater. That duck has a lot of luck. I'll share another way we humans can hav...

Can you make your own luck? I believe you can. And that's what we're talking about this week. I've already suggested talking to strangers as a way to change your luck, and I'll have another suggestion right after this. I meet people all of the time who are working on businesses but won't tell anyone what they are. I think this is a big mistake. If you want to change your luck, tell people what you...

This week, we're going to talk about luck. You know, 5 ways you can make your own luck. Can you make your own luck? Do you need a leprechaun? We're going to talk about it this week. Right after this, I'll give you my first thought on ways to make your own luck. One of the best ways to make your own luck is to talk to strangers. I know your mama wouldn't like it, but that is a great way to meet new...

This week, we have been talking about depression and how to get better if you are suffering from depression. If you are having depression problems, please call someone who can help. Maybe you go to the bar and have a Coke and talk to the bartender. Maybe you go and get counseling at the church. Maybe you get medical counseling. Just do something. Do not let it fester and get worse and worse and wo...

Many Americans are depressed, and it's a very sad statistic. I admit that I have had extended periods of my life where I was not very happy, and I have had to reach out to get help from others. It's important that you reach out, accept help from others, and go find other new people if the current group of friends or counselors aren't helping you. I'd like to suggest one more thing you need to do t...

Sadly, so many Americans are depressed, maybe 15%. And that makes me very unhappy because there are things that we can do to get better and to be less depressed. I've already mentioned that you could stop waiting. You must be proactive. You must stand up and say, "I am depressed, and I'm going to do something about it." That is the only way. You can't be depressed and hope that it will go away. Yo...

This week, we are talking about depression and how to do things that make you feel better. I've been honest that I've had periods where I was very unhappy, and I'm trying to share some of the things that make me feel better. The number one thing is to do some work. Get out there and be productive. Maybe it just means mowing the lawn and getting your shirt really sweaty. Or maybe it means doing som...

Unfortunately, almost 14% to 15% of Americans say that they are depressed. 24% say that they have some sort of mental issue. These numbers make me so sad, and I want to admit that I have been depressed. I've had years where I was incredibly unhappy for a long period of time.nAnd I want to talk this week about how to get better, how to be less depressed, and how to regain your happiness. If you are...

I hope you have seen the lesson from this week that you and your customers think about different things. You're excited about the new colors that you're offering, the new horsepower improvement, and the new gauge that you've introduced into the system, and the customer is excited because it fits into the slot right. You and your customer are not on the same wavelength, and your job is to get on th...

Welcome to the School for Startups Minute with Jim Beach. Five things your customer doesn't care about has been the topic this week, and I think we've been having some fun pointing out some of the silly things that customers really don't care about. And number one, really, on the list is your technology. No one cares how many horsepower you have. They just want to know if the car looks good and if...

This week, we are having fun talking about things that your customer just doesn't care about. We've already talked about your logo and your slogan and your company colors, and we've talked about how hard you work. Do the customers care about any of that stuff? It's just not something that they buy based upon. I'll share another one of those things with you right after this. Your customer doesn't c...

When you're starting a business, there are things that you're just so proud of. You spent so much time on it, and then all of a sudden, you had a light bulb moment in the middle of the night and wrote it down, and it's been working ever since, and you're so proud of it. Well, your customer doesn't care. And as a matter of fact, your love of it may actually scare some of them away. This week, we we...

This week, I want to talk about a topic that's a little bit different. Things that your customer doesn't care about. That's right. You may care a lot about them, and they may be really important to you, the entrepreneur, and you may have spent hours on them. But unfortunately, your customer just doesn't care. I'll be back with the 1st thing right after this. One thing that your customer doesn't ca...