My whacked out theory about business

When I started out I couldn't spell bisunesman, now I are one...

[ronin]

I only became a businessman when I started my own company four years ago. I don't come from a business background, I never studied any business courses at college, I freely admit I haven't read too many books about operations management and it's entirely possible that I am running my business in the most incompetent, cack-handed way imaginable.

However, I'm curious to see just how dysfunctional my basic business philosophy is.

Proposition A: The primary purpose of a business is to make money. Providing a service or product is the means to this end.

Proposition B: The primary purpose of a business is to provide a service or product. Generating a profit is the means to continue doing so.

Discuss.

[weeks]

I once had a printer who was having a hard time getting enough clients to keep their new presses busy, so --taking an "A" approach (it's all about money) he started some publications, started selling ads and today he's...

...not in that business anymore. He quickly learned that printing and publishing are two different things.

Grayhound ran buses all over the nation, but that biz ran into problems so they started investing in other businesses. Later, they sold the bus line. So, (until later when they changed their name), if you invested in Grayhound, you were not doing business with who you thought you were unless you were careful.

Investing and running a business are two different things. You can get new and unique insights into new businesses while running one business, but on the whole, you had better watch what you are doing with your employees, vendors and customers, making them happy if you want to stay in business.

If you want to simply look around for new trends to get involved in, it would be wiser to work simply as an investor.

I have a webmaster friend right now who is struggling with this. It's not easy. As a business person what you really are weighing in this type of discussion is how to reduce risk as much as you are in how to increase profits. Make certain you are asking the right questions. Not that it will be any easier to come up with the right answers.

[centime]

I think that people go into business for different reasons, and relative to their values an expectations, their reasons are often valid.

However, a business should always aim to generate a reasonable surplus, thats a profit for its owners, furthermore, where the business has creditors, shareholders, employees, and other stakeholders, tis generally accepted that the controllers of the business have a responsibility to direct the business to profit.

nevertheless, its also generally accepted that businesses should deliver the best quality output that they can while operating profitably, where they do not, and are percieved to be short changing their clientele,,,

well the state has been known to intervene on behalf of its citizens

cheers

[adamnichols45]

Businees >>>

Product or Service? >>>

How can you be better than the rest or cheaper offer a better service etc? >>>

Untill your earning good money I would say that you have to work very long hours and at the start you may not even be getting a wage but focus on the long term.

Business = Money = Living = Happy wife

[rocker]

I never studied any business courses at college..

They're not all what they're cracked up to be. Just ask Thornton Melon (Rodney Dangerfield) from "Back To School" :)

His verbal exchange with the business Professor had to be one of the funniest conversations I've seen in a movie.

/edit/

conversations I've seen

Yikes!, maybe I need to go back to skool