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People Before Profit--Laurie Cruea-Blosser (July, 2005)

There was an article recently in the Sturgis Journal by a syndicated columnist and motivational speaker, Jim Davidson, so it's possible that you even saw this article in your own hometown newspaper. For proper crediting purposes, this article was titled, "The people before profits recipe", and appeared on page A4, Saturday, July 24, 2005.

I've taken quite a liking to Jim's columns. They are sometimes helpful (one not long ago detailed 17 uses for dryer sheets, other than softening and removing static from clothing) and sometimes insightful ("Have you lost your marbles?" was a great one, too. I might have to add that another day), but most of all, the column tends to make you think deeper thoughts than you really want to think, especially on a Saturday after a long week at the job.

This particular column spoke to me on a very personal level. See, in a different position I held before AIB came to fruition, I was put in what I consider a horrible situation. I had approximately 120 people who contracted to work for my department, ages varying from 10 to over 75. Even though you wouldn't think so, every last one of those contractors became part of a large family. I knew them all by name and face, carried their home numbers in my head, gave them mine, and would go out of my way to help them because I knew, in turn, that if needed, they would do the same for me.

Then it happened. The corporate bean-counters (we just love that term, don't we?) decided to cut expenses. Every department was trimmed until we were all working twice as hard for the same money and barely keeping up with demands. It's part and parcel of the economy in this segment of the country since NAFTA opened the borders. (I'm not going into a political tyrade, merely stating an actual fact.) In Sturgis alone, several thousand workers found themselves without work because their own corporate bean-counters decided that labor was cheaper in Mexico. Facts are facts. Of course it would be. That doesn't change the fact that there were now thousands with no means of supporting their families.

Back to the corporate bean-counters. For three years, these bean-counters were telling me that we could cut our contractor expense in half by changing methods. However, this method meant having to put 120 people out of work, and cutting out the only means of income for children under the age of 16. Beyond the whole customer contact issue, these people were my family. I fought and fought against the bean-counters, but in the end, I lost. 120 people were put out of work. With my boss leading the show, I had to inform these 120 people that they were out of work.

I'll gloss over the death threats, slashed tires, and broken glass, not to mention nearly having to hire a guard to keep my children safe. Heh. Every family has a few bad apples, right? Either way, they were still family.

From that day forward, I lost all interest in my job. It really dug deep how expendable every person was to a large corporation, including myself.

Now, back to talking about Jim's column. On Saturday, 23 July, Jim talked about Truett Cathy, founder of Chick-fil-A. This company has experienced growth for 34 consecutive years, something that is nearly unheard of anymore. The unique part of this is that Cathy is a committed Christian and has taught a 13-year-old boys Sunday school class in Jonesboro, GA, for over 50 years. His stores are not open on Sundays, one of the biggest sales days for restaurants. I'm going to gloss over a lot of the story, it's available through the Chick-fil-A website, or his own site. With as successful as this company is, it has never gone public.

When asked why, Cathy's answer was simple. Too often, Wall Street analysts are more interested in profits than they are in principles and people. "If I had a widow invest her savings in Chick-fil-A and the company didn't pay the return she expected, I would feel obligated to make up the difference to her. Feeling that way about it, I might as well sign the bank note and be personally responsible rather than take other people's money." He also believes that the reason many companies fail is by trying to grow too fast. Then, when there is a downturn and business slows down, they have to lay people off. "You don't build a good reputation by discharging people, but rather by developing people." Cathy has included these, and other life lessons for business, family and faith, encouraging readers to open themselves to unexpected opportunities to make a difference in someone else's life. Eat More Chikin: Inspire More People is available in bookstores and most online book retailers.

I don't make any money for plugging Mr. Cathy's book. I feel that if you believe in something, you should help it along, even if there is no physical "reward" for your efforts.

You see, in the end, you really cannot take it with you. So, what's more important in life? The people you meet and befriend along the journey of life, or the amount of money you leave behind at the end?

People before Profits, folks. The people will make more of a difference in your life than any amount of money ever could.

Proverbs 22:1 "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches,
and loving favor rather than silver and gold."

The Non-Traditional Approach -- Laurie Cruea-Blosser (August, 2005)

PHASE ONE: On all of the writer websites, there is great discussion about the "traditional" publishing houses versus "POD", "new" and "small" publishers. For the last three years, I have been swimming upstream, struggling to earn my place in the pond with the big fish as a "traditional" publisher. I've spent hours on the phone calling bookstores who don't care about whether or not you can return the book if it is being printed by print-on-demand methods.

First, I am going to address that issue. I had never intended to use p-o-d technology when I first 'set up shop'. I'd been around enough of the boards to see the struggles faced by authors whose companies used such methods. Granted, many of them did not allow returns, but that does not belong in this part of the theory. I had all of the quotes for traditional web offset printing, and having worked in the production side, I knew how all of that worked, so I had an easier time than others might. I reached the first press run, Gloria Davidson Marlow's The Butterfly Game. I had (and still have) so much faith in Gloria's storytelling ability that I was more than happy to invest the sizable chunk in her.

Finally, the first shipment arrived. We were both so excited, we could hardly contain ourselves. I shipped out customer orders. We both shipped out review copies. I'm sure that most of you can imagine our shock and dismay when we started receiving reports of peeling covers, pages missing, pages out of order, typos... Being the emotional woman I can sometimes be, I am not ashamed to tell you I cried. Then my children, husband and I sat down with all of the boxes of books and started going through to see if any of them were salvageable. It was a very hard weekend, and most of the copies ended up with sticky notes marking problems.

When I regained my senses and the ability to form coherent sentences again, I contacted the printer. They agreed to fix the mistakes. So, I shipped all of the copies back. They came back about two weeks later, and it didn't take long at all for the covers to start peeling again.

Needless to say, I was not a happy camper. That printer was fired, and I have not contacted them since.

What made everything worse was that now, I had a title listed for sale, an author who had already waited a year, and customers who were really not happy. All of my working capital had been invested in that run, so I found myself with next to nothing available in order to start over. So, I gritted my teeth, went through the file with a fine-toothed comb (along with Gloria), and set up my account with Lightning Source. It took a couple of months, but the copies were replaced. (If there is anyone who has not had their copies replaced, please email me immediately to have the issue resolved. sales@authorsinkbooks.com )

Print-On-Demand may be looked down upon in the book industry, but I will vouch endlessly for the quality product this company aids me in producing. I have not had any of the issues I had with the previous company, and the representatives to which I have spoken have all been pleasant individuals.

Will I continue using p-o-d technology? For the time being. I have some major coffers to refill before I can resume the web offset path. In the meantime, I will enjoy knowing that I have a reliable printer who makes certain their press operators are properly trained for the job.

PHASE TWO: Then we started talking to bookstores. My goodness, I was not fully prepared for the stonewall they have around their policies. In the matter of contacting twenty stores, I was lucky if I could even get one to agree to order copies, either from AIB direct or through Ingrams. This pitch included AIB paying for advertising in their area listing them as the store of availability. *sigh* It was time to regroup again.

I have a good friend who keeps asking me how I can handle regrouping all the time. That answer is simple. The only thing constant is change. Join that with the fact that my passion for life has revolved around books for "and holding" years (you didn't actually think I was going to tell you my age, did you?). This leaves you with me. Hyperactive, mind that goes a million miles a minute, can't stand when things get dormant, loves a challenge, and attacks with a vengeance when I believe it is worth it.

Well, my friends, AIB is worth it, my authors are worth it, and my peace of mind in enjoying a job where people count is worth it. I have regrouped again. This weekend, I will be driving 4 hours straight north to Buckley, Michigan, to 'get my fins wet' for that upstream swim again. Because of certain restrictions, I will only be able to distribute flyers this weekend. However, AIB is taking another non-traditional approach.

We are following in similar footsteps as Tupperware, Avon, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Petra Fashions, Discovery Toys and more. Similar, but not the same. I am not going to have individuals who have to invest money in start-up kits, catalogs, etc. I don't expect anyone outside of the AIB payroll to take part, at which point the company provides all the necessary items. If the authors choose to follow our model, they are welcome to do so, and AIB will be happy to provide them with catalogs and order forms (no expectation to order stock of anything). That is a choice item, and is by no means expected. Why? If you read the "People Before Profit" segment above, you would know that I have strong moral convictions. If I contracted someone to sell for me, and they were unable to distribute their stock, I would feel obligated to purchase said stock back from them. I don't want other people taking the risk of losing money on account of my business.

I've told you what I won't be doing, so perhaps I should tell you what I will be doing. After I get my experience this weekend, AIB is hitting the road every chance we get. I took some time today and picked up a few of the needed supplies, and I've been working on my long-term goals for several weeks now (designing special-built display cases, etc). From my newspaper experience, especially with the Sturgis Journal/Gateway Shopper/Commercial Express sponsored Home & Garden Expo at the St. Joseph County Fairgrounds every April, I know that these little booths can net a lot.

Why would I want to take my time on weekends, when I could be fishing (slimy little buggers), camping, hiking, writing, gardening, etc., and use that time to devote to driving long distances, sleeping in strange places, and dealing with potentially grumpy consumers? Because not all of those consumers will be grumpy. Many of them will be downright pleasant, love to talk, and even if they don't buy anything, I've had fun dedicating time to my life's passion--books.

Amazing books written by awesome people, many of whom share my beliefs.

PHASE THREE: Phase Three of the Non-Traditional Approach actually came first. I wanted it down here, though. This approach involves having all print editions through AIB being in large print. While I've had people tell me they thought I was foolish for spending the money it takes for those extra pages to be printed. More often, though, I get letters, emails, and calls of thanks because no one has to strain to read the words.

I have family members who have lost their sight, or whose sight has debilitated enough that they have given up the hopes of being able to enjoy books anymore. By keeping the print large, no one has to give up the love of reading. I also take pride in the fact that many members of both my and my husband's family are over-the-road truck drivers. If you've ever traveled a long distance, listening to the hum of the wheels, the static on the CB radio, or the constantly changing stations as you cross the state lines, you know that it can get extremely tiring and boring. That particular issue, with the family who can no longer see, are the reasoning behind Scoriae Audio.

AIB is still working on this branch of the company. Being in the rural area that we are, it is difficult to acquire studio time. However, we do very much look forward to the first release from Scoriae Audio. That will open the doors for all those busy people who just don't have time to read as well as the sight-impaired.

(Yes, Aunt Judy, a.k.a. The Other Mom, you'll be able to rest your voice 'cause Brent will be able to pop a tape or CD into the player. You can stop jumping for joy any day now. And yes, Dad, you won't have to worry about whether Mom has enough light in the truck to read you my latest drivel...I mean, masterpiece. Yeah, that's what I meant. Withdraw the claws.)

PHASE FOUR: I don't actually have anything for Phase Four of the Non-Traditional Approach yet. I'm leaving the window open, though. You never know when an awesome idea is going to fall into your lap.

When I know, you'll know.

Blessings to all. Laurie Cruea-Blosser

lcruea@authorsinkbooks.com

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