Who is the Customer?

A few weeks ago the Wall Street Journal ran an article that announced that General Motors was talking to a number of electric utilities in anticipation of the introduction of the Chevy Volt in 2 years.

Wait a second!  GM is talking to Electric Companies!?!?!?  Why?  Aren't we taught that the only thing that we need to focus on and think about is the customer?  

The fact is today good entrepreneur's treat everyone as a customer.   As mentioned in the article "Automakers need the cooperation of utilities since they control the new technology's primary fuel -- electricity -- and must make sure that the vehicle's recharging process mesh with the electricity grid and don't inadvertently undermine grid reliability"  

The bottom line is many people can and do contribute to your success... consumers, vendors, partners... people all around you.  If you treat everyone like a customer and have them help you think through your issues you are bound to be more successful.

Search Fund Information

Search funds are a new and interesting way to find a new business. Basically a group of investors will sponsor an entrepreneur as they go and look for a new opportunity. When the opportunity is found the investors own a piece of it and have the right to invest in future fundings.

For more information try Stanford:

http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/ces/resources/search_funds.html

or Knowledge @ Wharton:

http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu

Business in America

Sitting by a like in New Hampshire on the Fourth of July weekend I have the opportunity to reflect on the influence of business on the founding of the United States.  

I am doing this because I am also in the midst of teaching a seminar called "Entrepreneurism: The Engine of American Business".  The students are business majors from around the world.   The basic question asked during the seminar is why is the US different from other countries.  We have talked about the legal system and it's influence.  How the idea of a melting pot effects entrepreneurial activity and how the concept of creative destruction influences new business development.

But reading "American Creation" by Joseph J. Ellis has me thinking about how the American Revolution was different.  The founding fathers were not interested in power, they were interested in freedom.  Freedom to run their business the way that they wanted to, to trade with whoever they wanted and to not have the king telling them what to do.  They sound like entrepreneurs to me.  

The parallels extend to the troops.  John Adams talked about how the American troops were fighting for life, liberty and freedom while the British troops were fighting for 3 pence a day.  It was a mission for the Americans while it was a job for the British.  How many stories of the entrepreneur vs the big company sound similar.

Just a few thought about this country I live in.