I want you to take a moment and remember what you were doing 12 years ago today. What is your story? How did your story change that day?
Every year, with the exception of today, I showed the HBO documentary "In Memoriam" to my students. Every year each group of students were younger when they remembered the day. "I was in 3rd grade," "I was in 2nd grade" and so on. Most were too young to understand what happened. What am I saying? As if I understood? I still don't. There were a few things I remember clearly about doing that. One was that they appreciated that I showed them the film and most shared it with their parents. I remember I would cry every time I watched it and each year I would cry less and less. I also remember asking if they did anything in their other classes related to 9/11. Most of the answers were "no" or "they didn't even mention it." I was different. I believed it shouldn't be ignored or forgotten.
I am learning and changing daily. Sometimes it happens many times a day. The environment here is so alive and active. It is like a daycare. The energy is everywhere. I have been working with many different people to solve problems that this environment creates. I have decided I need to work on my own, on one thing and have a business partner who has the same goals. There are many simple ideas that just need action to be successful. Well, not only action. Money and action. I hear stories everyday in North Dakota about entrepreneurs who started with almost nothing and have built their business to a point of financial freedom. Again, these are simple ideas. I am going to share two business startups in Williston owned by women.
I met John today at the restaurant. He is a chef from Alaska. When I was paying for my kick ass salad he asked about me and what I was doing in North Dakota. When I mentioned I was heading to Williston, he said, "Really?" I said, "Why? You need a ride?" He replied, "Yeah. I'm outta here." I assumed it was the end of his shift. Apparently he quit. On the spot. That is what it's like here.
On our way to Williston, he told me he had another job as a taxi driver. He said the woman who he works for started a year ago with one car. Now she has grown to seven cars and a 14 passenger shuttle bus. She created a system, marketed it, and duplicated it. This is what every successful business does. Warren Buffet first did it with pinball machines. He bought a pinball machine for $25. When he made enough money, he invested in a second. Then a third until he had several streams of cash flow into his business. The owner of Mr. Kab in Williston did the same.
Next up is Nyssa Grey, owner of Boomtown Babes Espresso. Here is an article from the Williston Herald. I know this chain is going to expand and be successful. If the owner chooses good locations, this will be a gold mine in oil country. I met the owner briefly on a visit and plan to pick her brain on details of her failures and success. She loves what she is doing and it shows.
After being out here, I also discovered a simple need that will help people who are living in RV campers. In the winter, it can get as low as -50F with the wind chill. The space under an RV or 5th wheel, needs to be protected or "skirted" to keep the pipes from freezing and help keep the camper warm. When Kelly and I built our house back in 2001, we used structural insulated panels or "SIPs." I thought that the panels can be used to skirt the thousands of campers out here that use very inefficient skirting techniques. It will be more efficient, more durable, and easy to install and maintain. I made a video and a Craigslist ad to have a web presence, help with SEO, and start to generate leads. I am sort of selling it before it exists. The product just needs to be fabricated. If you read the Tim Ferriss book "The 4 Hour Work Week," you understand this technique. If you have any interest in learning about starting a business in this connected society, read this book.
Keep it simple, silly.
Until next time,
Ken
