December 18: Leave The Binder In The Car
The Update
Hey! So, things are going better… Rachelle was at the kiosk this afternoon, and I vegged a bit & took care of small fires that have been adding up into big blazes. And I even managed to get a short nap. 
The Biggest Problem… The One You’re Letting Slide
Isn’t it amazing how quickly things go from just being small inconveniences to major problems when not attended to!
I think what I can most take from this is to not minimize any challenge and think that it’s “not a big deal”, even when it obviously is a big deal! If the same problems crop up day after day and just get pushed to the back burner… they just compound.
Yes, that’s common sense, but on the other hand, it’s the most dangerous kind of challenge to have– the one that’s being ignored. Even though it was just “small things” that got done today, getting them done feels gooooood.
The Understaffing Update
I’m appreciative of the encouraging comments, and have been working on getting the understaffing challenge eased.
Some friends passed around a volunteer signup sheet, so we do have a couple people coming in this week to help. Next week is looking a little scary with Rachelle heading home for Christmas, but you can bet I’m going to be working on solving that this week instead of waiting until we’re right in the middle of it.
Leave The Binder In The Car
I had a couple of social work jobs right after I graduated from college, and in that intense working environment, I learned that I had to keep things separate from being at work and going home.
We had a binder with the information we were planning for our clients, workshops, their needs, and how we could help them. Sometimes I had appointments with clients after our office was already closed, so I still had my binder with me when I went home.
It was kind of silly, but I always made sure I left the binder in my car, instead of bringing it inside with me– in social work, it is too easy to be concerned for your clients all the time…
So anyway, that’s something that I’ve been forgetting to do throughout this project– to have some time that is not being consumed by work. One of the guest lecturers in my entrepreneurship class at BYU said that a new business will take everything you can give it… and more. We are finding that to be completely accurate!
It looks like we’ve been bombing Principle 6–”Keep It Balanced”, but we’ve got about 12 days left, so I’m guessing that if we can start finding ways to apply that concept, things will finish off well. 
The Hundred Dollar Business Video!
A big thanks to our friends Cammon & Lorri Randle at CopperRain.com! They did an excellent job interviewing & filming us, and have really provided a great way for us to share how The Hundred Dollar Business got started.
Cammon & Lorri found us through our friend Janet’s blog site, Newspapergrl, and offered to do a video for our project– which we really appreciate! And, that’s another evidence of how blogging & being connected to your network can bring wonderful opportunities.
We decided to put the video up on Revver, so it is available on the right side of our site, on every page, and also can be e-mailed with this link:
http://one.revver.com/watch/123564/flv/affiliate/49468
or shared via blog by going to that link and clicking “Grab code” under “Share this video with others”.
If you like the Hundred Dollar Business, and you want to let people know about our project through the video… well, we’re definitely not going to stop you!
December 24: Larry King Stops By, Mall Friends, & A Day Off!
Hey, Happy Christmas Eve, everyone.
Larry King Visits The Hundred Dollar Business
Well, not exactly. Though, yesterday Larry King was at Provo Towne Centre. I’d like to think he was coming by to check out The Hundred Dollar Business, but rumor is, he has family in town and was just shopping.
And, he didn’t really stop by the kiosk… He did walk past, however. I was wearing one of our tiaras (cringe), and he gave me kind of an awkward look, and then commented to the people he was with, “What exactly does Aeropostale mean?”
(We’ve been wondering that, too. At least, what the right pronounciation is. Since they’re the store right in front of us, we should at least know how to say their name. “Air-o-paw-stul?” “Air-o-po-stall?”
We could go ask them, but when you’re pulling a long shift, you need some brainteasers. Here’s some official info on the matter, in case anyone’s interested.)
Friends At The Mall
We have met some really nice people this month! There are too many to write about, but
here are some of the wonderful people here at Provo Towne Centre. (Apology: I don’t know their last names, but I do know their kiosk.)
Marcie, mall management office
Marcie has been SO great to work with. She was our primary contact for getting our lease set up, has sharp business sense, and is just plain nice to boot. Being able to work with Marcie is one of the persuading factors that might convince us to stay.
(Side note: all of the mall management has been great to work with as well! They really run a tight ship here– can you imagine what a project it must be to manage a mall? We’re doing good just to get our kiosk going.)
Tasha & Kay, sunglasses kiosk
The sunglasses kiosk is our left next door neighbor, and they are awesome. Tasha is the manager, and she has given a lot of tips as we’ve been figuring out this kiosk thing. Kay is from Mongolia, and I get a chance to practice my Russian every once in a while!
The Tmobile Guys
Not only have they given us quite a few sales tricks, but they also me use their phones during the no-phone fiasco. Plus, they’re just fun guys.
Greg, gift-wrapping kiosk
One of our original ideas for the Hundred Dollar Business was to provide a gift-wrapping service to mall shoppers… So when I went to the other mall to inquire about a lease, and ran into Greg’s kiosk– it was pretty isappointing to realize one of our ideas had already been started.
Greg also has a kiosk at our mall, and it’s been fun to chat business with him every once in a while. He’s been doing gift-wrapping for over 30 years now!
The Security Guards
The day after the Treo was stolen, the security guards faked me out that the keys to our cash register had been stolen. (They hadn’t heard about the phone yet). Since there were several hundred dollars in the register, it was definitely a moment of panic.
Needless to say, we’ve been more careful since then. Not just with the keys, but also to not believe the security staff.
A Day Off
The mall closes at 6 pm on Christmas Eve, is closed on Christmas, and re-opens Tuesday morning at 7 am. That’s 37 delightful hours of “a day off”! I am so excited– I am never going to take weekends or normal working hours for granted, ever!
After Monday, we only have six days left, and then it’s vacation time. Have a good time, wherever you’re at & whatever you’re doing– I’ll be with some good friends for Christmas, and will be seeing family in January.
Happy Christmas Eve!
December 26: Narrowly Escaping Death, Goodbye Christmas Music, & Misc. Thoughts
Narrowly Escaping Death
Ordinarily, “death by kiosk” isn’t high on the list of OSHA’s occupational hazard concerns. Ordinarily.
However, this evening, one of the mall’s 25′ x 1′ holiday garlands, replete with large glass Christmas ornaments, and a 4 foot plastic bell, crashed down right beside our kiosk. Missing us by inches, possibly centimeters. (No exaggeration).
I’m glad there weren’t any customers looking at the princess items on that side of the
kiosk. Further, I’m glad I wasn’t looking at those items, either.
But, it was awesome! We called security & everything. When you’re at a mall for 14 hours straight, any small chunk of entertainment really helps, even if it’s somewhat life-threatening.
Goodbye Christmas Music
Something was different today– the mall was kind of eery. It was definitely the lack of Christmas music.
This month, I have heard an unhealthy amount of versions of “Frosted windowpanes… la la la la la…. and this song of mine, in three quarter time…” and other Christmas classics.
I’d started subconsciously planning my day around which songs were playing. “I like this one, and it won’t be on for 3.27 more hours. I can’t take my break yet.”
I’m not sure how I’ll adjust to life without Christmas songs, but it will probably be a short & welcome recovery.
Miscellaneous Thoughts
At any rate, that the Christmas music has finished is a reminder that the month is almost over. I’ve had a lot of thoughts about that, and most of them center around being grateful to go on vacation.
I know it’s almost over, but it is still really difficult to stay motivated. Twice, I have seriously considered closing the kiosk early– the first was a few weekends ago, during the “mall marathon”, and the second was this morning.
I guess having the day off yesterday reminded me of how extremely tired I am! I crunched the numbers this morning, and I’ve been putting in an average of 115 hours a week, for 4.5 weeks straight.
Except for yesterday, I’ve had only two blocks of time really “away” from the project– a couple hours on a Friday evening early in the month, and then last Wednesday morning.
And even then, it was tough really being away, although I wasn’t at the mall.
If we continue the concept of “The Hundred Dollar Business”, we will seriously re-evaluate what is a healthy & reasonable amount of time to devote to the project. I’ve definitely made errors in my decisions in that area, and when we are done, I’ll be rethinking my approach & making changes.
If I were the only one to be affected, I definitely would have packed up by now. This month has been more intense than is advisable. However, there are things to honor, which would not be helped by leaving early.
This includes the people who have been generous to the project, our responsibility to the mall (not just for the lease, but also in terms of building a good business relationship), my overall commitment to the project, and ultimately, my belief that difficult things should not be walked away from.
It is currently pretty hazy whether or not we will actually be “successful” in the outcome of The Hundred Dollar Business, in terms of our goals to:
-Make a lot of money.
-Have a successfully operating business.
-Spread the concept of The Hundred Dollar Business so others can learn to start businesses more quickly than they would have otherwise.
-Make a profit of at least $100.
In fact, we may end up with a loss, which is discouraging. However, if we can stick it out until we’re done, and do the best we can to face challenges responsibly, I think we can feel content with the experience.
And hey, if does turn out to be a complete bomb, at least it was only 30 days and $100!
December 27: News Flash & Hanging In There!
News Flash!
“Carolynn Duncan gets 11 hours of sleep…read all about it!”
The mall is back down to regular hours (10 a.m. to 9 p.m. instead of 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.), and thanks to Kelly Anderson coming in for today’s morning shift, I actually got some decent sleep last night.
About 60 more hours of sleep, and I think I’ll be back to my usual peppy self.
Hanging In There
So, what do we actually do all day at the kiosk? That’s a great question. When you’ve got a long day & not quite enough energy, life gets tricky. So here are some of our secret tips for maintaining sanity all day long at the kiosk.
1. Do Paperwork!
This includes the daily accounting and inventory/sales reconciling. If we’re selling a couple thousand dollars of merchandise each week, and the average price of an item is $10 or less, you can imagine that’s a lot of items to track. Especially across 6 different vendor-suppliers. Egads!
2. Rearrange the Displays
It’s amazing how the products do not stay put on the kiosk. It’s probably the several hundred children per week that pick up the dolls, books, puzzles, etc. An organized display sells better, too.
3. Sell Stuff!
When all else fails, talk to the customers and make sales. That’s what we’re/they’re here for, right?
4. Blog/Write
At some point, it made more sense to use some of the down time during the day to write about our adventures than the post-mall hours when sleep is a better option. Go figure.
5. Problem Solve.
There’s always something to figure out. Why are sales better/worse than the day before? How can we maintain or change that? What are the trends? What are the current challenges? How can we maximize the time & resources that we have?
6. Take “Mall Field Trips”
This is by far the most fun thing to do at the kiosk during a long shift. It’s something we learned from one of our mall friends– when all else fails to entertain, take advantage of the quirky things in the mall. Some of the favorites include:
The Dance Dance Revolution machine inside the arcade…
Free samples at the makeup counters & Bath & Body.
A jaunt up the escalators and a loop around the mall.
Taking a no-purpose 5 minute break.
Stopping by the food court.
It’s not that working at a kiosk is the most demanding occupation (although there are a lot more details to manage than you’d think on first glance). Rather, it’s the 7 days a week/most waking hours of the day nature of the holiday season/this experiment that is tough.
But sometimes you just have to hang in there! Thanks for your positive comments. It’s really helpful and reminds us what we’re all about anyway.
We’ve got about 4 days left, and I realized today, that means we still have 4 days to “make something happen.” So, what are we going to do with that?
