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69
15. Japanese officials often say one reason why many American
companies do poorly in Japan is because people can’t believe they will
give good service. Even if an American machine tope a Japanese one in
price and quality, the buyer will be suspicious. Will I have to phone
Houston every time something goes wrong? He may wonder.
16. Service is plugged as being “free”, but of course, is not. Each
woman who wraps and each man who lugs groceries is part of why
prices are so high in Japan. They are also part of why unemployment is
so law. Some economists, in fact view some of these jobs as disguised
welfare programs, financed through high prices rather than taxes.
17. Invariably, as Japan internationalizes, some firms are opting
to follow the foreign pattern and cut service to lower prices. Supermar-
kets and chain stores have gained ground. Department stores have done
away with the woman who once bowed to every customer who stepped
onto an escalator. Some shops now have a tape machine, not a person,
saying “irashaimase” or welcome, at the door.
18. Proliferation of American fast-food is another sign of these
times. mcDonald’s now has 173 outlets in Japan. But characteristically,
cleanliness and employee courtesy seem to be generally higher than in
the United States.
19. The Japanese over the years have borrowed heavily in com-
mercial ideas from the United States but generally look elsewhere con-
cerning service. There are exceptions, however, such as American-style
home-delivery pizza. In the last two years, motorbikes darting around
with pizza have been growing in numbers on Tokyo streets. Delivery in
30 minutes is guaranteed. Or the customer gets about $5 back.
TEXT 7
Should You Be in Business for Yourself?
If you keep asking that question then try this quiz feature – to
help you arrive at the answer.
By Peter Lohr
When financial problems plagued the family farm in Loomis,
Neb., Betty Isaacson faced two options: either augment the family’s in-
come with an outside job or try to sell the wood-and-fabric decorations
she often made at home for friends. Without hesitating, she chose the
70
latter. In four years, her one-women operation has grown into a booming
business called Betsy’s Bobbins Inc., which employs 25 people.
Although it meant giving up a weekly paycheck and regular
hours, Bob Satter quit as manager of a Connecticut retail store to turn
his photography hobby into a business. “Because I had a wife and two
young children to support,” he says, “most people thought I was crazy.”
But 12-hour days and seven-day weeks paid off. Twenty years later,
he’s far ahead of where he would have been as a hired hand: he shares a
large, modern studio with another photographer; he’s put both sons
through first-rate colleges; he owns a 30-foot sailboat; he’s saved
enough for a comfortable future – and he enjoys his work.
What ties these two examples together is more than luck, persis-
tence and staggeringly hard work. Both Satter and Isaacson share quali-
ties and backgrounds that, experts tell us, characterize most successful
entrepreneurs. “While you can learn entrepreneurial skills,” says John
R. Braun, psychology professor and testing expert at the University of
Bridgeport in Connecticut, “people who start out with special attributes
have an advantage.”
Today, increasing numbers of Americans are opening their own
businesses. Last year more than 230,000 new companies were launched.
But the risks are great. In 1988 half of all the companies that failed in
the United States were five years old or less.
Could you make it as an entrepreneur? There is no sure way of
predicting – no matter what traits you possess. Nevertheless, a test de-
signed by the Milwaukee-based Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance
Co., working with Braun, can provide important indicators.
“We’re interested in identifying potential entrepreneurs because
all the agents who sell our insurance are self-employed,” explains Don-
ald J. Schuenke, the company’s chief executive officer.
The Northwestern Mutual test is based on 60 questions that were
asked of 30 successful entrepreneurs and an equal number of successful
executives who work as employees. The entrepreneurs included men
and women who’d started unique franchising operations, retail chains
and manufacturing companies. The employees ranged from bank-
branch managers to chief officers of multinational corporations.
“What we were looking for,” says Braun, “were significant dif-
ferences between the two groups.” And while the answers to many
15. Japanese officials often say one reason why many American latter. In four years, her one-women operation has grown into a booming companies do poorly in Japan is because people can’t believe they will business called Betsy’s Bobbins Inc., which employs 25 people. give good service. Even if an American machine tope a Japanese one in Although it meant giving up a weekly paycheck and regular price and quality, the buyer will be suspicious. Will I have to phone hours, Bob Satter quit as manager of a Connecticut retail store to turn Houston every time something goes wrong? He may wonder. his photography hobby into a business. “Because I had a wife and two 16. Service is plugged as being “free”, but of course, is not. Each young children to support,” he says, “most people thought I was crazy.” woman who wraps and each man who lugs groceries is part of why But 12-hour days and seven-day weeks paid off. Twenty years later, prices are so high in Japan. They are also part of why unemployment is he’s far ahead of where he would have been as a hired hand: he shares a so law. Some economists, in fact view some of these jobs as disguised large, modern studio with another photographer; he’s put both sons welfare programs, financed through high prices rather than taxes. through first-rate colleges; he owns a 30-foot sailboat; he’s saved 17. Invariably, as Japan internationalizes, some firms are opting enough for a comfortable future – and he enjoys his work. to follow the foreign pattern and cut service to lower prices. Supermar- What ties these two examples together is more than luck, persis- kets and chain stores have gained ground. Department stores have done tence and staggeringly hard work. Both Satter and Isaacson share quali- away with the woman who once bowed to every customer who stepped ties and backgrounds that, experts tell us, characterize most successful onto an escalator. Some shops now have a tape machine, not a person, entrepreneurs. “While you can learn entrepreneurial skills,” says John saying “irashaimase” or welcome, at the door. R. Braun, psychology professor and testing expert at the University of 18. Proliferation of American fast-food is another sign of these Bridgeport in Connecticut, “people who start out with special attributes times. mcDonald’s now has 173 outlets in Japan. But characteristically, have an advantage.” cleanliness and employee courtesy seem to be generally higher than in Today, increasing numbers of Americans are opening their own the United States. businesses. Last year more than 230,000 new companies were launched. 19. The Japanese over the years have borrowed heavily in com- But the risks are great. In 1988 half of all the companies that failed in mercial ideas from the United States but generally look elsewhere con- the United States were five years old or less. cerning service. There are exceptions, however, such as American-style Could you make it as an entrepreneur? There is no sure way of home-delivery pizza. In the last two years, motorbikes darting around predicting – no matter what traits you possess. Nevertheless, a test de- with pizza have been growing in numbers on Tokyo streets. Delivery in signed by the Milwaukee-based Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance 30 minutes is guaranteed. Or the customer gets about $5 back. Co., working with Braun, can provide important indicators. “We’re interested in identifying potential entrepreneurs because TEXT 7 all the agents who sell our insurance are self-employed,” explains Don- Should You Be in Business for Yourself? ald J. Schuenke, the company’s chief executive officer. The Northwestern Mutual test is based on 60 questions that were If you keep asking that question then try this quiz feature – to asked of 30 successful entrepreneurs and an equal number of successful help you arrive at the answer. executives who work as employees. The entrepreneurs included men By Peter Lohr and women who’d started unique franchising operations, retail chains and manufacturing companies. The employees ranged from bank- When financial problems plagued the family farm in Loomis, branch managers to chief officers of multinational corporations. Neb., Betty Isaacson faced two options: either augment the family’s in- “What we were looking for,” says Braun, “were significant dif- come with an outside job or try to sell the wood-and-fabric decorations ferences between the two groups.” And while the answers to many she often made at home for friends. Without hesitating, she chose the 69 70
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