GUNS & BOOZE, MONTANA . . . "HITTING YOUR STRIDE" FOUR-O-SIX, BRAND PROMOTING THE MONTANA LIFESTYLE . . . MONTANA IS #1 IN THE NATION FOR SMALL BUSINESS START-UPS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP! FROM HURRAW LIP BALM, BEQUET CONFECTIONS, TO VINTAGE SIGNS, U.S. SENATOR, JON TESTER, PUT ON THE "SMALL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY WORKSHOP" AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA, UNIVERSITY THEATER, HOOKING WANNA BE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, CURRENT SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, AND VERY SUCCESSFUL SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, THE BACKBONE OF THE AMERICAN ECONOMY, WITH PRIVATE, PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT WILL HELP CREATE, PROMOTE, MARKET, GROW, ANALYZE, COLLECT DATA, HELP WITH BUSINESS PLANS, SOCIAL AND DIGITAL MEDIA MARKETS, INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND MARKETS, EXPORTING, AND CONNECTING MONTANA TO THE U.S. FEDERAL AGENCIES, AND THE WORLD MARKET! I AM A GREAT ATTORNEY, BUT A TERRIBLE BUSINESS WOMAN! SO, I AM UP FOR A NEW CHALLENGE, AFTER CONQUERING THE LEGAL ARENA, GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE U.S. SUUPREME COURT, LIKE CLIMBING MOUNT EVEREST, WITH NOWHERE ELSE TO GO BUT DOWNHILL . . . SO, I AM GOING TO MAKE MY STUMBLING BLOCKS, STEPPING STONES, AND VENTURE INTO THE WORLD OF BUSINESS! DURING THE CONFERENCE, I ASKED TWO QUESTIONS: (1) HOW DO YOU PROTECT YOUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, IDEAS, BUSINESS SECRETS, CREATIVE NOTIONS, BRAINSTORMING WITH POTENTIAL ENTITIES WHO CAN HELP, WITHOUT FEARING THEY WILL STEAL YOUR IDEAS, AND TRANSLATE YOUR BUSIESS MODEL, PLAN, CUSTOMER BASE, MARKETING TOOLS, AND EDUCATIONAL COMPONENTS AND STRATEGIES, WITHOUT GETTING THEM HI-JACKED AND PIRATED BY YOUR COMPETITORS; AND (2) IN BUILDING LOYALTY WITH CUSTOMERS, WHO ARE BASICALLY THE SAME AS CLIENTS IN A LAW PRACTICE, WHICH IS, REALLY A BUSINESS, AND YOUR ARE A VERY STRONG "TYPE A PERSONALITY", YOU CAN PROMISE THAT YOU WILL WIN EVERY CASE, IF THE JUDICIARY FOLLOWS THE LAW, ACTUALLY, NOVEL THROUGHT, BUT IN THE END, ALL YOUR CLIENTS HATE YOU! SARCASTIC ANSWER . . . HIRE SOMEONE THE CUSTOMER LIKES BETTER! THE GOVERNMENT DID THAT, BROUGHT IN 6 FRAUD BROADS TO TAKE MY PLACE, MY NAME, MY PRACTICE, MY CASES, CLAIM AUTHORSHIP OF THIS BLOG . . . DID THEY ATTEND THIS SEMINAR, SAY, SIX YEARS AGO? LOL! NICE ANSWER, HOWEVER! WARNING: I AM GOING TO RECYCLE MY NOTES, SLAUGHTERING NAMES, SPELLING--NSA HATES ME TOO, TURNS OFF SPELL CHECK--BUT I WILL TRY TO GIVE YOU THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF OWNING A SMALL BUSINESS, STARTING ONE, MAINTAINING ONE, AND MAKING IT THROUGH THE FIRST YEAR OF BUSINESS, THE 5TH YEAR, TO THE 10TH YEAR OF BUSINESS, AND CREATING A WONDERFUL ECONOMY, THAT WILL BRING A MORE PERFECT STATE, UNION, NATION AND WORLD, GIVING PROSPERITY TO YOU AND YOUR POSTERITY! AS SENATOR TESTOR SAID: "WE LIVE IN THE BEST STATE, IN THE BEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD!" LET'S MARKET THE MONTANA LIFESTYLE, SO EVERYONE CAN EXPERIENCE LIVING IN MONTANA, WITHOUT MOVING HERE! LOCALS ONLY, NOW THAT I AM HERE! LOL! SOME LOCAL ANNOUNCEMENTS AND PUBLIC SERVICE PROMOTING THE MONTANA LIFESTYLE, WHICH ENCAPSULATES THE WORLD: (1) THE GREEK FESTIVAL IS GOING ON TONIGHT, THROUGH TOMORROW, I BELIEVE AT THE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH--GREEK COSTUMES, DANCING, FOOD--YUM--GYROS, BAKLAVA, SOUVLOKI, GRAPE LEAVES!; (2) JUL19TH, STREET SUNDAY IS GOING ON--LARGE SECTIONS OF DOWNTOWN MISSOULA, BLOCKED OFF TO TRAFFIC, SO DON'T GET PISSED IF YOU CAN'T PARK CLOSE, TOWED VEHICLES WILL BE WITHOUT FINES, BUT JUST AVOID THAT ISSUE--STREET VENDORS, MUSIC, FOOD, LAPALALOOZA BIKE RACE (?), PROMOTING BIKE FRIENDLY MISSOULA, BUT THE WHOLE FAMILY CAN PARTICIPATE--WALK, BIKE, WHEELCHAIR, SKATEBOARD, SURF ON THE RIVER, REALLY GET AROUND THE COURSE ON ANYTHING YOU WANT, 8,500 PARTICIPANTS AND FUN GOERS LAST YEAR, SHOOTING FOR BREAKING THE RECORD FOR "STREET SUNDAY" THIS YEAR--COME ON OUT, JOIN THE FUN!; AND (3) CELTIC FESTIVAL NEXT WEEKEND, JULY, I AM SAYING 24TH, 25TH, OR 25TH AND 26TH--GUYS WEARING KILTS, BLOWING BAGPIPES, CELEBRATING A FUN CULTURE TOO . . . SHEPARD'S PIE, DUMPLINGS, PASTIES . . . NOT ON POLE DANCERS, SILLY, BUT A FOOD THAT GOES WITH IRISH/CELTIC FESTIVALS, GONNA TRY THEM! I AM JUST GUESSING ON THE FOOD, EVEN THOUGH MY SON-IN-LAW IS OF CELTIC ORIGIN, HE DOESN'T COOK MUCH, SO GOOD OLD MEAT AND POTATO AMERICAN FOOD IS WHAT HE LIKES, BUT HE LOVES HIS ROOTS! GOOD FOOD, GOOD DANCING, GOOD PEOPLE, GOOD TIMES! LIVING THAT MONTANA LIFESTYLE . . . MY SON, CHRIS, THINKS I OUGHT TO BE A TOUR GUIDE, PROMOTING MONTANA, THE LAST BEST PLACE . . . DAMN RIGHT! OH, THE ANSWER TO PROTECTING YOUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, ALL THE COMPETITION CAN DO IS COPY, IMIMITATE . . . WHICH IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF FALTERY, BUT DOESN'T DO MUCH FOR THE POCKET BOOK . . . RECREATE YOURSELF, LAUGH ABOUT IT, AH, ADVICE TO THE LAWYER IN THE ROOM--TRADEMARK, COPYRIGHT, PATENT, REGISTER WITH THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS . . . GREAT SMALL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY WORKSHOP; I WAS SHOCKED BY THE AMOUNT OF AMAZING INFORMATION, THE AMOUNT OF HELP AVAILABLE, BOTH ON A LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL, TO HELP YOU EVEN MARKET AROUND THE WORLD . . . WITH ONLY A MILLION PEOPLE IN MONTANA, YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW TO JUMP BOUNDARIES, STATES, CROSS THE POND ON BOTH SIDE, AND GO INTERNATIONAL . . . ONLY 5% OF THE MARKET IS IN THE UNITED STATES, WITH 95% WORLDWIDE . . . MANY OF THESE SERVICES ARE FREE, THERE ARE GRANTS, SMALL BUSINESS LOANS, TRAVEL MONEY, GOLD KEY MATCH MAKING WITH POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS, MARKETS, AND PARTNERS OVERSEAS! WONDERFUL INFO . . .

GREAT ATTORNEY, TERRIBLE BUSINESS WOMAN . . . LET THE EXPERTS HELP!

"The definition of insanity . . . is to do the same thing over and over again, and expect to get different results!"  Einstein

Yesterday on my three Diet Coke cans, that have names of things and people you should share a Coke with, I got the names or words, Trendsetter, Showstopper, and Super Star . . . I love this marketing idea, because, while I will never share a Diet Coke with anyone, I want them all to myself, and have been trying to quit, while I still have teeth and don't actually gain weight while I am trying to lose weight, shows you how good the product and marketing is . . . but I dig being surprised at the names I get, with symbolic meaning, generally, or I take them as encouragement, and positive signs, for what, who, the Universe thinks I am, or might be.  So, I was totally excited when I pulled these three cans with messages to me on them . . . one at St. Patrick's Medical Hospital, during lunch, and the last two, last night, outside the Missoula Aquatic Center, Currents, where I have a 3 month pass, and found tables, chairs, pizza, Diet Coke, and a party atmosphere, so I joined, finding out that the pizza party and soda bash, was to get recruits and people to volunteer for the Street Sunday Party, adding cool light blue t-shirts, colorful Street Sunday logo, as an incentive to help direct the rowdy party goers, on Sunday, while we all keep the Sabbath Holy . . . dig what Christ did!  LOL!

However, when I started out to the Small Business Opportunity Workshop, and stopped at none other than, Einstein's Bagel Shop, on the corner of Broadway and Ryman Streets, I got a bottle of Diet Coke, that had the disappointing and very symbolic name of Diego, leading my brain back to the words on the cans yesterday, but taking me forward or to the present, to San Diego, where one of my government doubles, former friend, and attorney colleague, Kay Burningham, aka, JoAnn S. Secrist, married as a spiritual polygamist wife, to my former husband, who would not divorce my name, my law practice, my kids, my son's music, my blog, my cases, blah, blah, blah, fodder for the question about protecting my intellectual property!  Sometimes I want to fire my Intel guy, God, for being so damned brutal, making me think that I actually might get credit for once, say, for attending this workshop, taking notes, and taking the time to share the knowledge I gained with over a billion people a day, on my blog . . . that I have, after the seminar, hearing Jake, small business owner of Tadpole Digital, that I am going to . . . don't want to spread the secret sauce of my business plans, but take back what is mine; however, feeling much better, hearing other small business owners, state that all the other competitors, can do is copy; however, my story, goes far beyond mere copyright infringement, to actual identity theft and beyond, but the owner of Vintage Signs of BigFork, made me feel better when she said that there were actually 5 other sign companies, who she said, she might as well, send them out a press release, telling them exactly what their new business plans are, because, inevitably, they will copy everything they do!  But, that is as far as they go, they are not creators, inventors, originals . . . therefore, she has learned to laugh at them, as I have at times!  LOL!

Apple vs. Samsung . . . Not Cool Enough . . . Judge Drops Lawsuit!  LOL!

Case in point: less than a year ago, in a ruling on a case, involving a patent infringement, or rather a copycat of an Apple product and technology, by Samsung, either a Japanese or Chinese company, and I apologize the the country that didn't do it, but the judge, dismissed a lawsuit by Apple, stating in his ruling, that the copy product, was not cool enough, to be considered competition for the technology giant; therefore, I believe he dismissed the case against the imitators!  LOL!  We learned in the workshop, that a brand name is more than your product, more than the name, the colors, your marketing, more than the individual parts of your company, it is the sum total of everything that makes your product, business what it is!  If you have a great brand, loyal customer base . . . your copycats, can't do much to you!  Quality products are just that . . . I love the motto for, the construction company, building the new campus building on the U of M campus, near, Author and Eddy Streets, and in front of the business school, with an appropriate name, Quality Construction . . . Doing it Right from the Start!  There is always room at the top, and business begets business, so let's get started, while I recycle the notes . . . consider the source, terrible business woman, but at least you can get some of the resources, ideas, lists, that may help you either know these entities and agencies exist, or you will now there names, and you can go to their websites!

First Panel . . . Three Very Successful Montana Small Business Owners

• Vintage Signs: Big Fork, MT.; wife part of the business, started by understanding that many people love, Big Mountain . . . Ski Resort?  I am connecting the dots, but this woman, wanted to make something to commemorate or mark that fact, and possibly market it, so her husband was a horder and a graphic artist, and he loved collecting art, sign, and emblems from the 40's.  So, the husband and wife team, designed a Big Mountain sign or poster, and sold 74 of them right off the bat.  Now, that have clients, like Harley Davidson, Disney, and others, coming to them to make business signs, and such, using the 40's style art, and the company of 2, operating out of a basement in Big Fork, has grown to 47 employees and a 40,000 sq. ft., building!  They said, they have a problem with China, but she turned that problem over to the Elk Association . . . she did a sign for that association, and it said, something like, Don't Bugle After Dark . . . the Chinese, just going to guess that it is them, since America is always worrying about them stealing our tech secrets, but there version was, Don't Buggle After Dark!  LOL!  The company didn't have to do anything, but the Elk Association did!  Loyal customers can fight your battles for you!
• a really great point owner made, was that the American consumer, is putting pressure on large companies to purchase and buy Made in the U.S.A. Products . . . so Thank You!
• owner mentioned that her breakthrough moment for their business came when they set up a show room to display their products . . . now they have several displays in a few states! 
• these owners, I believe formed a good relationship with a local bank, Flathead Bank, took out loans, always paid them back on time, built a lasting friendship and relationship, and they have a line of credit or ability, based on a history of trust, and can take out loans, literally on the spur of the moment!  Trust is key to any business success! 
• Hurraw Lip Balm: Whitefish, MT; a New York couple, working killer hours, came to Montana, and once they experienced the lifestyle, the beauty of the state, the laid back atmosphere, compared to where they were living and what they were doing, started a side business, with the wife making lip balm at home, while husband kept his day job.  Eventually, their Hurraw Lip Balm took off, and it is selling around the globe, tiny product, easy to ship around the world, selling, and I hope I am getting this right, 12,000 per year. Hurraw Lip Balm, also had Chinese imitations, called, Hurrah, with identical containers and marketing colors!  Just part of the territory!  Relax. He said, the way you start your own business is, work your day job, 40 hours a week, and work your business 50 hours per week, see your kids in the spar time, mortgage your home to fund it, and go for it.  He made two points about running your own business: 
• brand . . . is everything you think and feel about your company!
• demographics are not magic, make the best product you can, and it will sell
• Bequet Confections: Bozeman, MT., this owner was laid off at a high tech company, and one of her co-workers who wasn't, actually, closed the door, and said she had always enjoyed working with this woman, and she wanted to start a business with her, and start their own company.  The presenter and owner, made caramel candy, that many co-workers and family loved, a big hit during the holidays, so they made some samples, did a challenge or taste test with other brands of caramels, and 17 out of 18 tasters, chose Bequet's Caramels . . . game on!  The owner said that her big break came, when she walked in a Natural Food and Grocery Store, her biggest market share, and now, her candy is selling and marketed in 700 stores!  Her goal was to make the best caramel anyone has ever had!  I am a person, who likes to buy three caramels at a check out stand in a gas station or truck stop, so I like her marketing model, of selling small pieces . . . I will eat whatever is in my hand, so I know, that if I buy a whole bag of caramels, I will eat the whole damned bag!  Here is her Business Model:
• high end gourmet confections
• small pieces
• gift bags
• larger packages with corporate clients in mind . . . Christmas gifts to clients!
• big break came when Fancy Food Show picked them up . . . Free PR
• what business should I start: (1) find an unserved or underserved niche; and (2) do what I can do better than anyone else in my field or service industry
• look at who is re-ordering your client, and why . . . serve to them
• she now has 27 employees, and 20 holiday seasonal employees!  
• someone said, that is smart to have 20 seasonal workers, so you can see who the best ones are, then hire the full time!  Good idea!
• focus on keeping great employee . . . now give insurance and 401(k) plans!  Nice . . .

Developing New Businesses . . . Jane, Fortune 500 Company, Business to Business Consumer Products

• know your customers . . . envision your customers . . . more important than your brand, logo, colors, etc., they PAY your bills!  Take care of them!  Value them!  Love them . . . Mine!
• how do you know who your customers are?  why do customers want to purchase your products?
• ask & listen
• market research
• demographics
• voice of the customer
• interview, lead users, early users, adopters, focus groups, online survey, survey monkey
• analyze data
• who are they, what do they want, how do they buy today
• how are they similar . . . how are they different?
• how many of them are there?
• know: Why would I want to know your product or service?  Tell them in 50 words or less!
• loyalty: make hard to get customers . . . the ones who would never think of buying competitor's products, remember your customers, measure it . . .
• compelling value proposition . . . give them the BEST!
• The best way to predict the future, is to plan it!
• focus on a world business . . . Montana to the world . . . make sure you have the infrastructure to handle the growth and market first; determine where you are on that growth structure, and can you meet that demand?
• balancing business ownership with family: stories from the panel above; no perfect time to start a business; know how much work it can take; it is a very rewarding way to make a living! plan it out, how much time to launch?

Jake Cook, Professor of Digital Marketing, Owner of Tadpole Digital Marketing

• learned a valuable lesson when young, that applies to owning your own business: once he found a really cool rock, and his friend liked it and wanted to buy it . . . the kid has just been given $5 from his parents, so he offered to buy the rock from Jake for $5.  The kid took the rock home, but the parent, learning of the exchange and sell, came over a got the money back . . . Jake, however, never got the rock back!
• he learned that if you have something of value . . . people will determine the value of the product themselves, but make sure that the person with the final say, also sees the value in what you have to offer . . . value is in the eyes of the beholder!
• big break came when he and his wife, started a 3D map making job, made to scale, using Google maps, and posted picture of the map on their blog
• Google is always interested when their name is sited and what for
• Jake and wife got a call from Google, and they thought they were getting sued
• Google liked what they did and hired them to work for them!  NICE#
• using the web to get leverage, like from Google . . . best advertising in Montana, is still social media . . . facebook, instagram, twitter . . . they reinvented themselves through Tadpole Digital!
• bootstrapping it: get a plan together, get on an airplane, knock on doors . . . out educate, not out spending your competitors
• show up with the value and the education!
• use search engines, WORDPRESS on digital marketing
• vault forward: share knowledge online; website; resume website; quick resume on Wordpress, website or apps--hosting it as well, Quickbooks--simplify, outsource
• get 3X5 cards, ask yourself 10 times: (1) why buy? (2) who will buy? (3) have conversations, what do they want, what digital experience?
• market with weird key words, nobody else wants, is bidding on, using, or competing with
• get an online presence . . . write an article on the subject; sharing secret sauces; look for Google alerts; photos, videos, resume, websites, reserve domain.com
• sometimes you can get more from a 14 year old girl on instagram, than being mentioned in a trade magazine!
• maintain your own property, control self, value what you are trying to do
• Wordpress Consulting: educational component, large government clients, don't market bad products!
• NOTE: one of the reasons I never used Adsense to get money for my blog, is there was no way to control the quality of the products advertised, people seen as lacking credibility, not knowing the law, or the Constitution, selling flags, calendars, less than worthy books and products, didn't want my name associated with radical groups, extremists, on either side of the political spectrum, trash anyone who tried to hook up with me!  
• Made in the U.S.A., is always a big seller!  

TRANSPORTING YOUR PRODUCTS

• SBA, Small Business Administration: grant money to help with all kinds of expenses, setting up businesses
• UPS Shipping: they have everything from advice on packaging and mailing, delivery, to knowing if your product handler needs a limited power of attorney, legal documentation to send your products
• BNFS, Best Northern Freight Systems: tons of reasons why to ship products by train, rather than truck . . . number one, is it is cheaper!  I can see it being faster and safer, also.
• U.S. Postal Service--THE POWER OF MAIL!  Surprise to me . . . help marketing and building your small business, and best of all, it is FREE! Sometimes there are actually times when the best way is, government entities, this appears to be one . . . regional team centers to help grow small businesses!
• help with digital, marketing, test--music world, 158,000 hits; listen to business owners, implicit and explicit expressions, goals, and desires
• Souix Falls: Sturgis Logo on all boxes, expecting 1.2 million Harley Davidson motorcycle riders showing up at Sturgis, South Dakota, Hog Rally this year!  Help build business!   
• to help you grow business: (1) start digital; (2) go to mail; (3) marketing mix
• understand the value of direct marketing mail . . . instead of people putting fliers in mail boxes and under door mats, U.S. Postal Service can sent ever door, direct mail, fliers, nicely designed and professional, and legal!  LOL!
• Simple Ideas, Big Marketing!  South Dakota Marketing Team . . . 151 college courses between the team in S.D., regional center for marketing ideas!
• hire good people--that is what makes a good business!
• creativity, so BIG!
• RFM analysis
• Maintaining customer relations: test, measure, review, make decisions!

List of Resources, Government Public/Private Partnerships!

• I am getting sick of writing, so look up their websites and home pages for entire list of their services . . . AMAZING, especially, the overseas, trade, export, international help!
• local, state and federal collaborations to help you get your business up and running!
• Montana Governor's Office of ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
• VOICES OF MONTANA TOURISM: Jobs, Community, Economy
• Montana Manufacturing Extension Center: growth, innovation, efficiency, compliance, managment
• GUNS & BOOZE, MONTANA  . . . RENAME THE STATE!  LOL!
• 4 WAYS TO GROW:
• (1) change message; (2) count cost; (3) find new markets; (4) develop new products . . . reinvent your business, don't be afraid to change directions, count successes and failures!
• Montana Department of Commerce . . . the The White Hat Department!  People actually like them . . . in Utah, on the Brock et al, v. Herbert et al, civil rights case, the Department of Commerce, did regulatory inspections, compliance, rule making, etc., and took 110 financial planners securities licenses away, without providing proper due process, equal protection, and Constitutional standards, rights and protections!  So it is nice that Montana took those regulatory activities out of the department, and just focus on developing commerce, business growth, and helping connect you to other government agencies!
• SBA/SBDC: U.S. Small Business Administration, Helena, focusing on the 3C's: Capital, Counseling--Women Business Owners, SCORE, and Contracting!
• private lending, guarantees loans, insured policy for lenders: help start up companies . . . 1 in 2 fail in the first year, 1 in 5 barely survive, and 1 in 10 make it to the ten year mark, so lenders get a guarantee loan pay off . . . very NICE!    
• regional Veterans Business Center, 6 states in Helena!
• SCORE: 12,000 counselors, business owners, administrators offer their services and advice for FREE!
• SBDC: where local business meets economic development!
• ASK, ASK, ASK for help!
• Montana World Trade Center: 320 around the world, build out or customize international trade,extension of sales, marketing, research teams, export strategies, trade education, long term trade education
• U.S. Export Assistance Center: global networking, trade consulting, manage risk of trade, interpreting marketing reports abroad, business matching, commercial diplomacy, U.S. Ambassadors help, match making with products, international partner search, new markets
• Economic Development Administration, EDA: grants based, unemployment, based on per capita of community under income levels in community, 80% below
• funding based on population, public works, economic development . . . building a new business, need water, roads, sewers to service your business building!
• applicant match
• economic adjustments and funding: (1) collaborate; (2) public/private partnership; (3) national strategies priority; (4) globally competitive; and (5) environmentally sustainable developments

Keynote Speaker: Alex Papu--fourOsix brand!  Helena . . . Promoting Montana Lifestyle!

More Resources: Montana Women Business Center; Prospera Business Network; Rural Development Contracting Opportunities; The Business Development Center; Mission Mountain Food Enterprise Center; Montana Procurement Technical Assistance Center; Ravalli County Enterprise and Opportunity; USDA Rural Development; the State of Montana Manufacturing