The Craft and Art of Running A Business

Rhonda Abrams is the author of "The Owner's Manual for Small Business," and published a great article on "Put passion, soul in business in order to excel."

In it, she talks about the CRAFT of business:

• To run a good company, you need to know the "craft" of business.
• The skills you need to know to run and grow a business -- how to improve your marketing, hire employees, use technology -- are basic to running your company every day; they're the "craft" of business.
• of what we do on a day-to-day basis is craft -- the workmanship of running a company.
• The "craft" of business enables you to survive.

And...the ART of business:

• To run a great company, you also need to practice the "art" of business.
• The "art" of business propels you to succeed.
• Exceptional companies infuse their workmanship with extra care. They put their heart into the process. They pay attention to the little things.
• When you put yourself -- your unique vision, your talents, your creativity, your passion -- into your business, you can create something exceptional.

BOTTOMLINE: "Make no mistake, learning the craft of business is essential. Many decent businesses survive on craft alone by consistently doing the basic day-to-day tasks well. None survives on art alone. It's the difference between concept and execution, inspiration and perspiration. Even the most inspired business concept goes nowhere without hard-working execution.

But if you want an exceptional business, one that not only survives but excels, a business that provides you with exceptional rewards in both personal satisfaction as well as financial gains, that's where the art of business takes over. When you put your passion and soul into your day-to-day operations, then you've become an artist as well as an entrepreneur."

(Tip of the hat to Dane Carlson at Business Opportunities Weblog for the link!)