My Featured Journal Entries
On Wednesday, we met Josh Ditto, owner of Tech Guy Consulting. He started just fixing small problems from the back of his band's van. What does his business actually do, you ask? Well, they do a variety of things, like set up in-building wiring for your business’s internet network. Monitoring your systems and servers is another key feature. They can cover all of your needs as if they're your personal IT guy. Later that day he also took professional photos for our class through the Dittos’ second business, Angelic Images.
01/11/2017
Congressman Bost is passionate about changing the government and about his religion. He feels that the government should not have the power is does over things like education and taxes, that the state governments should ultimately have more power over themselves rather than the federal government. I enjoyed listening to him speak about his position and how he was a firefighter for so many years.
12/15/2016
Michelle Sirles spoke to us about many topics. One was how having the ability to accept credit card had proven very successful. She said that about 50% of people who buy from their retail store use a credit card. Mrs. Sirles also mentioned the percentage of successful generational businesses. The second generation has a 75% chance of being successful, the third has a 50% chance, fourth, a 25% chance, and fifth has a 1.25% chance of staying in business. On another topic, she talked about their expenses, of about $470,000 before they start selling anything.
11/17/2016
Tuesday, we explored the wonders of the Union County Courthouse. Mr. Darren Bailey, our county’s Treasurer, spoke to us about how the county receives revenue from sales tax.
Sales Tax:7.5% (On Every Good, not services)
5%-to State
1%-to Local Municipality
1%t-to Union County for Public Facilities (for courthouse, a sunset tax)
.25%-to Union County for Public Safety (partially funds sheriff's dept.)
.25%-to Union County general fund
He also talked to us about sunset taxes. Sunset taxes are a temporary tax that goes away once the debt the tax was for is paid, just like how the sun sets. Mr. Bailey also mentioned property taxes pay for schools
11/07/2016
On Friday, we met Andy Sisulak. Mr. Sisulak has been involved with many professions where his proficiency seems to be in marketing. Something that surprised me was that he has run a racecourse for airplanes.
11/04/2016
Beck Simonds spoke to us about how he runs his business. The most interesting thing he said was that he has a team of civil engineers that work for years to get a job up and running, and that made me think of how we are as CEO students. We’re always coming up with new ideas and different ways of doing projects. The very next day we went to the Anna Quarry and spoke with Beck Simonds’ cousin, Mr.Will Pyatt. He showed us around the quarry and taught us a few things about blast mining and their future plans. The quarry was interesting and beautiful. Their fresh water source is the old mining pit. The water in it appears blue because of the limestone. It’s simply a breathtaking view.
10/27/2016
When we met Mr. Rusty Flamm at his hardware store and lumber yard, we talked about how he changed from the orchard and truck farming business and into the business of selling lumber and hardware. He told us about growing a business. Another thing he said was that customer service is KEY to running a business.
10/19/2016
At the flower shop, From The Heart, we spoke with the owner, Janice Newton. She told us about her experience when fire burned the building next door and soot was all over her merchandise. The fire department came and put the out the fire, but it flooded her basement. The basement was her storage room for all of the products that were not on the shelves. She had to throw most of it away; other things she could wash. Overall, she lost $49,000 in products. She overcame all this and is now back on her feet and making money. Ms. Newton persevered over this business-crippling obstacle.
10/12/2016
Karen Cupp talked to us about how she had traveled the world with only $32 a day for food and accommodations. She coached us on saving our money. She told us that putting 20% of our paycheck away and completely spending the other 80% is a great way to save money for emergencies or college. I personally thought having that extra passive income would be great.
09/21/2016
Thursday, we went to the Southern Real Estate Group conference room in Anna and listened to Bill Ecker talk about professionalism and body language. We learned that speaking more than one language is a great way to earn and maintain a job that involves multiple ethnicities. Mr. Ecker encouraged us to read the books “Not Everybody Gets a Trophy” and “What Every BODY is Saying”. While talking about the contents of the books, he mentioned that failure is a needed part of success. Teaching us, Mr.Ecker said many important things about meeting new people and being out of the ordinary.
09/01/2016
Lyn Crabtree was a very inspirational speaker at the Union County Legislative Luncheon, showing everyone that we can start from almost nothing and make a successful business. Also, I enjoyed everyone’s speeches and mingling with other business people.
08/26/2016