Project: The Walgreen’s Way: Prompt and Proactive

The enterprise started like any other. Named after the surname of a brilliant man.

This business was born of a necessity and based on education and experience. As a pharmacist, he interwove medicine and the mediocre.

A man, sick himself, found his vocation and that man was Charles Rudolph Walgreen.

He becomes the drug store and a retail location providing knick-knacks, non-pharmaceuticals and soon would food and beverages that sold just as well as his original concept.

When things were going good, things were good. But when things were slow, Walgreen did not allow the business to stop. In less than 40 years he opened 110 stores. How?

Because when things got slow, he decided to not do the norm and accept the fact that his fiscal year was safe. He questioned how could he beat the competition but also satisfy his clients and keep them happy? He questioned how could he make things better? 

Thus he created the 2-minute drill.

The drive-thru, delivery service and microwave dinners seem impressive now, but Walgreen set a standard that created word of mouth advertisement so positively it could possibly be why Walgreens is the largest drug retailing chain in United States.

So what was this drill that deserves such laud and honor?

It’s 1893 and you live close to Walgreen’s south side Chicago location and called them in for non-prescription items, Walgreen would answer the phone and repeat the items enunciating the name of the caller, their address and their desired products. Loud and clear. In doing this, Walgreen’s assistant could accurately collect all the items while Walgreen continued to keep the caller on the phone discussing weather and whatever else might be happening on the social calendar. 

All items collected, the assistant Caleb Danner, set out to make the delivery as Walgreen was still talking to the client. And then the doorbell rings. The client excuses himself or herself from Walgreen’s conversation and finds their order at the door. Astonished at the speed of delivery, Walgreen set the standard for customer service and all through his Two-Minute Drill.

So what’s your 2-minute drill? How will you set your company apart from others or improve your morale? How will you redefine customer service?

-The Green Couch

Project: The Importance of Being Earnest

Yes, you are in the right place. We are still all about entrepreneurs spilling their risk taking gutsy, inspiring others to speak, follow and fulfill their dream.

(Meaning no, this is not IMDb. It is not a summary of Colin Firth’s 2002 RomCom 1890 period drama with the same title, The Important of Being Earnest.)

Today we are going to talk about being an earnest entrepreneur. What exactly is that - who is that- according to Webster's definition?

Here are three characteristics of an earnest person and the importance of them:

1.    Passionate: Recently we encountered young sibling entrepreneurs who shared this beyond their age advice, “Just realize it’s going to take longer than a day or week or a month to reach your goal.”

The Importance of Being Passionately Earnest: If it is your passion, does it matter how long it takes to pursue it [your goal]. Passion overrules impatience and nurtures a patient spirit.

2.    Diligent: Last week we spoke about dreams becoming reality when you turned your Saturdays into a work opportunity from home and explored the concept of, “What if your second job could be your passion and turn into a primary focus?”

The Importance of Being Diligently Earnest: One small startup step at a time until you are an entrepreneur puts everything into perspective. Diligence is the difference of between whether we are going to have three wheels or two.

3.    Purposeful: I heard a kind man with a loud voice once say (and then I repeatedly hit play), “Your why is what matters. Your why is what gets you up, gets you going. Your why.”

The Importance of Being Purposely Earnest: If it changes, when it changes, the WHY it changes, the reason behind your passion and your diligence determines your success and the road to success. Purpose is the language when your heart, soul and mind get gutsy and get things done. Nike gets it, do you? Just do it, right? Right!

So dear entrepreneur,

Be earnestly passionate.

Be earnestly diligent.

Be earnestly purposeful.

Because the importance of being earnest will overrule the impatience, helping you see the power of your dream, and it will put everything into perspective - it will always remind you of your why.

Now, why wouldn’t you want to be earnest?

-The Green Couch