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Top of Mind: September 12, 2013
September 12th, 2013
by Bill Boyajian

Research and Innovation

I’m not against research, but I’m perplexed by the often-quoted, late Steve Jobs. When asked how much research was done to guide Apple on the introduction of the iPad, he famously quipped, “None. It isn’t the consumers job to know what they want. It’s hard for [consumers] to tell you what they want when they’ve never seen anything remotely like it.”

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There are many other examples of wildly successful innovations: Federal Express by Fred Smith, Amazon.com by Jeff Bezos, and Starbucks by Howard Schultz, to name just a few. Doubters abounded in each case. While some might question the value of pure research, none would question the value of doing your homework, developing a strong business plan, and considering a multiple of scenarios – both good and bad – for any new innovative business.

It’s one thing to think up a new, creative business strategy. It’s quite another to execute on it with the success of a Jobs, Smith, Bezos, or Schultz. Even though the jewelry industry so often seems behind the times, the next great innovation may be just around the corner. Look carefully; it may already exist.

Facing a Difficult Decision or Even a Crisis?

Sometimes we try to over-analyze things, but more often we come up short on having the necessary information to make a good decision. What happens then…? [click to read]

 

Here are a few Business and Life tips to think about….

Business Tips:

  • Be courageous enough to challenge the status quo without digging a hole so deep that you can’t get out of it.
  • If you facilitate a small group, encourage discussion, get everyone involved, keep people on track, and control a dominator.
  • Seize opportunities that come to you if they are in line with your objectives and goals. Opportunities accelerate everything you do.

Life Tips:

  • Dwelling on negative circumstances is a drain, and an impediment, to your success. Stay positive and appreciate life.
  • The benefit of being true to yourself is that you never have to wonder what you said or did to anyone or anything.
  • Every major success starts with a vision of what is to be accomplished and is then followed by a big step of faith.


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“I needed help orchestrating a succession plan for our business. I had heard that Bill Boyajian specialized in assisting owners to transition their business to the next generation. He knows how to bridge the generation gap and deliver what each needs to hear. I would recommend Bill to any business owner who needs advice on succession planning from a trusted outside professional.”

–Charles Denaburg,
Managing Partner,
Levy’s Fine Jewelry
Birmingham, AL

"Our family needed some guidance on business transition and succession planning. We asked Bill Boyajian to help us because we knew we could trust him to tell us what we needed to hear. Bill became a valuable resource for our company and our entire family. He has the ability to meet each of us where we’re at and it has served us very well."

–Ceylon Leitzel
Leitzel Fine Jewelry
Hershey & Myerstown, PA

“We needed a plan to transition our business to a non-family member and we asked Bill Boyajian to help us. His experience in the area has really paid off, but we didn’t expect the added value of putting us together with a financial planner who helped organize our retirement needs. We now have the fundamentals to transition our business successfully, and we have Bill to thank for it.”

–Ernie & Debbie Cummings
Kizer-Cummings Jewelers
Lawrence, KS