Starting a small business: The Wheat Thins for lunch strategy
Life is full of give & take choices. Finding that balance that works for your own life plan is one of the essential keys to success. For entrepreneurs in the early startup phase, it’s often the simplest of things that get compromised in order to build toward the independent dream life that owning your own business can provide.
OK folks, we’ve all been there. Cash flow is a little tight. We’re checking the mailbox for that promised check to arrive. But we gotta eat.
What has been your belt-tightening lunch (or dinner) of choice. That magic food that fills your belly just enough to keep you going and costs only pennies. Hey, that’s the short term strategy that every successful entrepreneur can tell personal stories about.
Kim shared in a blog comment that hers has been Wheat Thins. Mine was Lucky Charms for an elegant 7pm dinner – then it’s back to hacking at the computer.
So here it is, the essential StartupNation community strategy of creative entrepreneurial brown bagging.
Tell your story. Ah, go ahead … There’s comfort in sharing your comfort food. I promise.
Many thanks to Kim for the inspiration!!
March 14th, 2006 at 3:57 pm
Ben and Jerry’s does not count…unless you’ve figured out a way to pair it with leftover olives. lol
March 14th, 2006 at 4:51 pm
I’m currently in Spring Training and have little time when I get home to organize my time between the four books I’m reading to further my knowledge in marketing, leadership and my faith…and finding time to finalize the business plan by tying up loose ends. What I’m getting at is my [b]PB&J4DAYS[/b] nightly eating structure(I just came up with that terminology…watcha think??). During my early years as a lower level minor leaguer there were long, ten hour busrides in the middle of the night and clubhouses with little or nothing to eat. I guess the [b][/b]PB&J4DAYS[b][/b]‘don’t forget where you came from’ approach is essentially going back to the basics. The beauty of it all is that some of my fondest memories are of my scraping to get by in those early years…which I’m sure is reflected in every striving entrepreneur’s initial climb.
Worked for me, and still does…ten Spring Trainings later!!
March 14th, 2006 at 4:59 pm
Ok…so far PB&J4Days, Lucky Charms and Wheat Thins
There’s got to be some really crazy ones out there…like pretzles dipped in French’s yellow mustard? Or Twizzlers cut into 6 pieces to make them last?
March 14th, 2006 at 7:23 pm
For fine dining may I recommend Mac and cheese?
And for dessert… Le Fig Newton.
March 15th, 2006 at 2:45 am
I’m a mac and cheese guy myself, but I like to mix in two or three scrambled eggs. The textures mix surprisingly well. I also can’t remember the last time I ordered anothing other than water at a restaurant.
March 15th, 2006 at 9:56 am
Matt H! Eggs in Mac and Cheese? An entrereneur after my own heart. yuk. lol
All of this talk about restraint actually helped me say ‘no thanks’ to an advertising possibility yesterday…it didn’t fit with the budget, the brand or the philosophy.
So, may the macncheesneggs roll! And don’t forget the Yoo-hoo.
March 16th, 2006 at 8:46 am
Since we’re developing products for a gluten free bakery, our supper last night was sandwiches on the best gluten free bagels we’ve ever tasted. My bedtime snack was chocolate chip cookies so good you’d never know they were made without wheat.
March 16th, 2006 at 9:21 am
My friend’s daughter is alergic to gluten.
I think your product finds a market with amazing timing!
March 16th, 2006 at 9:46 am
In the US it takes an average of 11 years from onset of symptoms to diagnose a person with celiac disease. For my wife it took 30 years and 8 doctors. She’s an RN. She knew the best doctors to go to and still it took that long!
I’ve heard it said that the lack of awareness in America is because the treatment does not involve an expensive pharmaceutical; just modifying the diet to avoid wheat, barley, oats and rye. I hope that’s not the case but you have to wonder. You’ll probably never see an ad on prime time TV pitching gluten free cookies.
March 17th, 2006 at 4:08 pm
Since Iopened my own business, I’ve lost at least 10 pounds. My family and friends hate that! I look much better being poor. If you flaunt your new-found wasteline, they starting bringing you lunch. Yes, I get at least three lunches a week and many dinner invitations just on the off-chance that I might gain the weight back and not look better than them. The secret to this working is to not buy new clothes (who can afford it anyway?) - the baggy look will drive them nuts and you’ll eat more.