Business Times, October 2014 by Business Times of Edmond

ED M O N D, O K LAH O MA

OCTOBER 2014

VOL. 6 | NO. 10

INSIDE

2014

PUBLISHER Karan Ediger 405-341-2121

LEVELOPS OPTS FOR RAPID GROWTH

kediger@edmondsun.com MANAGING Lisa Shearer EDITOR 405-341-2121 lshearer@edmondsun.com

SALES TEAM Terri Bohanan Kaycee Wagner

ENERGY COMPANY TAKES TO THE SKIES FOR CUSTOMERS

CONTRIBUTING Mike Crandall WRITERS Jim Denton Cyndy Hoenig Nick Massey

Patty Miller Van Mitchell Tim Priebe

James Coburn

Gateway Full Circle Energy Services broke into the energy industry as a pipeline construction company in 1997. From that point, it has continued to expand its business offerings to increase service options for its clients. And, in the last year the company added LiDAR technology, which is the latest tool in land surveying done through the air. NEW GRANT AIMS TO GROW FOREIGN EXPORTS FOR OKLAHOMA BUSINESSES

Terri Schlichenmeyer Mark Schlachtenhaufen

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Sid Helms along with friends Caleb Eastman and Jason Wells were all at a point in their careers where they wanted to do something different, challenging and innovative. So the trio who all had experience working in the oil and gas sector came together to form LevelOps Energy, which provides comprehensive solutions.

The Oklahoma Department of Commerce recently received a $600,000 grant from the U.S Commerce Department’s EDA to support implementation of the Global Oklahoma program, a state-led initiative to encourage greater foreign direct investment, particularly in the aerospace and energy clusters, and increase exports for small- and medium-sized businesses. OFFICIALS URGE BUSINESSES TO BE READY TO DROP, COVER AND HOLD ON

Earthquake Safety

Earthquakes have been on the rise in Oklahoma, surpassing California with the number of quakes recorded this year. As a result, homeowners and business owners are looking at ways to protect their property from potential damage.

COVER PHOTO BY KAREN MOORE | SPECIAL TO THE BUSINESS TIMES October 2014 | The Business Times

from our Publisher

Local author’s book provides business answers, too

have a good friend, Anita Kelley, owner of Anita Kelley Consulting. I’ve known her for quite a while as we sit on the Edmond Chamber’s Women’s Network board. What I didn’t realize is how spiritual and knowledgeable she is about life until we had coffee recently. She’s written two books one of which I’m reading now: “Don’t Give Up! Help for Beginning Again.” I decided to read it as my husband and I are experiencing empty nest syndrome since my daughter left for college. While reading it, however, I found that there are a lot of good business principles within its pages. Step 1: Surrender it all to God — turn to Him. Normally I stay away from talking about God in these letters, however, He is who I turn to when facing a tough business challenge. And it makes sense! There are NO problems too big for Him. Step 2: Surround yourself with the right people. I posted a motivational quote last night on Facebook. One of my mentors replied back: Hire good people and get out of the way! This is so true both in your business and personal life. You become whom you surround yourself with. Step 3: Arm yourself with good knowledge. Read everything you can about your industry, your competitor, your market, etc. Knowledge is power! Without it you are in the dark. Step 4: Envision it! Imagine it possible. Project your mind into the future. What do you want to happen? You must believe that what you envision is possible for you. Set up the necessary steps and make it happen!

October 2014 | The Business Times

Anita also has written another book: “Never Squander Marketing Dollars Again”. I’m pretty sure she’s going to instruct everyone to market smartly and allow some budget to advertise. We’ll find out!

KARAN EDIGER is publisher of The Business Times of Edmond, The Edmond Sun and Community Connection.

LevelOps Opts for Rapid Growth By Van Mitchell | Special to The Business Times

id Helms along with friends Caleb Eastman and Jason Wells were all at a point in their careers where they wanted to do something different, challenging and innovative. So the trio, who all had experience working in the oil and gas sector, came together to form LevelOps Energy, which provides comprehensive solutions from servers and switches to towers, tank batteries and wellheads to energy-sector companies and other entities. The company, which was started in December, is headquartered at The Launch Pad FT business incubator at Francis Tuttle Technology Center, 2824 Progressive Drive in Edmond. LevelOps recently opened a satellite office and warehouse in Guthrie. The Launch Pad FT serves the needs of entrepreneurs starting a new venture as well as owners of early stage companies facing struggles in today’s economic environment. “We were all at a point in our jobs where we had a desire to do more with what we feel the Lord has given us as gifts and we chose to throw in anything and everything and make a go of it,” said Helms, who serves as president and CEO. “Caleb ran across the incubator as an option to get started and that is what really launched us into a place to do our thing.” LevelOps hired its first employee in January and the company has now expanded to 20 employees. Helms said the business incubator and its director Fred Green have been invaluable to LevelOps’ development. “When starting a business there is just so much that you are not prepared for,” Helms said. “You have no idea what you may be missing. Being here in the incubator under the leadership of Fred 6

October 2014 | The Business Times

Green has allowed us to meet with him weekly. They are essentially our mentors and guide us in maturing as a business.” Helms said LevelOps will maintain an office at the Launch Pad for now. Green said the growth of LevelOps has been impressive in such a short time span. “The growth has been phenomenal,” Green said. “From an incubator’s perspective this has been a dream client because they listen, follow the program and they have been able to exceed all expectations on their growth as a company in revenue profit and employees. LevelOps is doing it the right way.” Helms said the role of the company has evolved since opening its doors. According to the company’s website, LevelOps can architect, implement, train and/or augment a company’s staff to ensure delivery on every element of IT through field networking, wireless communications, automation, SCADA, measurement, telemetry and equipping pumpers with new technology to reduce lease operating expenses and drive field economics through innovation and process efficiencies. “We started as an oil and gas services company and we have grown into other sectors,” Helms said. “We mainly deal with technology and putting that technology online so companies can use data to make better decisions.” Helms said when looking to start the company he ran into several roadblocks in trying to secure financing. “I probably went to 40 different banks saying here is our business plan and here is what we want to do,” Helms said. “Trying

to get investment capital was an arduous endeavor.” Helms said the decision was made to pool their money together and grow the company at a feasible pace. “There was no way for us to forecast the blessing and the wild growth we have experienced,” Helms said. “We have had periods along the way the past nine months where we have just had to find a way to make it happen. Fortunately, we have been able to make some good decisions with investments in people and tools and the right timing with contracts that the business has been able to grow at a rapid clip.” Helms said the company has been able to secure contract work with several major oil and gas players in Oklahoma including Devon Energy and American Energy Partners. He said LevelOps was able to recently secure a five-year contract with the City of Oklahoma City for its Oklahoma River project. The company will upgrade, configure and maintain technology along the river to help measure and communicate the water condition and river levels. Helms said of the company’s 20 employees, none of them are pure sales people. “We have chosen not to hire sales people on purpose and we allow in general the quality of our work to speak for itself and that has resulted in a tremendous amount of additional work that has been handed to our firm,” he said. Helms said they avoid hiring anyone who is not passionate about their job. “We find when folks are operating within their passion and not just what they are getting a paycheck for, they can be very effective,” Helms said. “We have been blessed to enjoy giving folks the opportunity to do amazing things.” Helms said he is pleased with how the company has matured. “It is exciting to see our business grow more than any of us had anticipated,” Helms said. “It is very gratifying to be a part of that growth. A year from now, I hope we can say we have exceeded every expectation and we continue to foster growth, innovation and a place folks are happy to come to work and generate value.”

Photos by Karen Moore | Special to the Business Times

FOR MORE information, visit www.levelopsenergy.com.

October 2014 | The Business Times

Gateway

Energy Company Takes to the Skies for Consumers By Van Mitchell | Special to The Business Times

ateway Full Circle Energy Services, 80 E. Fifth St., Suite 400 in Edmond, broke into the energy industry as a pipeline construction company in 1997. From that point, it has continued to expand its business offerings to increase service options for its clients with offices in Edmond, Shawnee, Fort Worth and San Antonio. And, in the last year the company added LiDAR technology, which is the latest tool in land surveying done through the air. “We have seen needs in the market and tried to fill those gaps. We have added survey, drafting and mapping. We have also added directional drilling, safety services and environmental services over that period as well. We knew we could serve our clients better if we had those services readily available,” said Kyle Thompson, business project manager. Thompson said the company purchased the LiDAR equipment from a Canadian company and attached it to a Bell Long Range helicopter it purchased. LiDAR, is an acronym of Light Detection And Ranging. It is a remote sensing method that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure ranges (variable distances) to the Earth. These light pulses combined with other data recorded by the airborne system generate precise, threedimensional information about the shape of the Earth and its surface characteristics. “Land survey has been around for a long time,” Thompson said. “LiDAR is essentially the latest tool in land surveying. It is remote sensing technology that measures distances. It can be put on a fixed wing aircraft like an airplane or a helicopter.” Thompson said the advanced technology of LiDAR is impressive. “It is the difference between the old box TV that you used to have on the ground and looked like a coffee table versus an ultra-high definition television,” he said. “The difference in the deliverable is dramatic.” Thompson said Gateway did its homework in learning the new system and how to market it to its clients. He said two Gateway employees that include a certified land surveyor and draftsman have taken the lead in learning the technology. Thompson said Gateway contracts with a pilot in Shawnee where the helicopter is based. 8

October 2014 | The Business Times

Photo provided by Gateway Full Circle Energy Services “We didn’t want to put the cart before the horse,” he said. “We had to get a sense of what the technology could do, figure out how to price it, how to sell it and how to educate the clients on the product. There was an extensive period of time on training and familiarizing ourselves with it and we have two of our best people on it. We are very satisfied in what we have been able to gain from it.” Thompson said LiDAR provides critical information to clients in a faster manner than the traditional on-the-ground land surveying so they can lower their costs, maximize their working capital, increase their project efficiencies and make more informed business decisions. “This is one of those technologies that allow you to get what you need a lot faster,” Thompson said. “It is significant time-savings. You are getting more data and better data.” Thompson said LiDAR is not for everyone and it is not for every occasion. He said companies have to weigh whether a project is large enough to make the investment. Bob Ault, business development officer with Gateway, said the company is diligently working to inform its clients about the technology. “The biggest obstacle for us is going to clients and telling them about this latest and greatest product and having them buy in,” he said. “They have been receptive. They can see it is a powerful technology and it is not cost prohibitive.” Thompson said LiDAR is helping keep Gateway on the cutting edge of technology. “That is what is setting us apart right now is that fact that LiDAR is still so new in the industry and not really being used that widely in this area,” he said. “We are one of the few people that can do that. We are on the cutting edge of bringing this technology here to this region.” Thompson said he believes the future of LiDAR is bright. “Forecasting for this is going to be interesting,” he said. “We are going to be doing a lot of LiDAR work in the next 12 months. Within the next year I see significant expansion in the sales and the amount of services we provide with LiDAR.” FOR MORE information about Gateway, visit www.GatewayOK.com.

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New Grant Aims to Grow Foreign Exports for Oklahoma Businesses By Van Mitchell | Special to The Business Times

he Oklahoma Department of Commerce recently received a $600,000 grant from the U.S Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration to support implementation of the Global Oklahoma program, a state-led initiative to encourage greater foreign direct investment, particularly in the aerospace and energy clusters, and increase exports for small- and medium-sized businesses. The grant is part of nearly $4.6 million in economic development funding to build critical infrastructure and encourage investment in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Clinton and Shawnee. The grants support diverse communities within the state, including the Potawatomi Tribal nation, communities affected by recent natural disasters and larger cities looking to support and attract businesses. The key idea of the grant was to do things to help increase foreign investment in the state, said Don Hackler, ODC public information officer. That helps create jobs and other opportunities for other Oklahoma companies and employees, he said. Hackler said the Global Oklahoma program is intended to increase Oklahoma’s international presence through targeted outreach efforts and provide technical assistance to Oklahoma-based firms to facilitate entry into new markets and increased exports. “The program is a state-wide effort to achieve greater gains in investment and trade and to continue to raise the bar on what Oklahoma believes is an important step in ensuring our economy and workforce remain competitive and technologically relevant well into the future,” Hackler said. “Supporting our businesses in growing their share of international contracts and market share is a core component of the overall strategy for this program.” Hackler said particular focus will be given to communities affected by the 2008 tornadoes and flooding, to assist in longer-term resiliency efforts. The project is expected to directly contribute to an increase in market exposure for Oklahoma, resulting in increased foreign direct investment and opening of new market opportunities for Oklahoma-based businesses. “We have five targeted stakeholders or regions including the areas where severe storms, tornadoes and flooding took place in 2008,” Hackler said. “This directly impacted 50 of the 77 counties. We are also assisting Native American tribes with investment opportunities. We are helping economically distressed counties that have high poverty rates.” Hackler said the grant also will be used to fund three to five foreign 10

October 2014 | The Business Times

trade trips; host several foreign trade delegations coming to Oklahoma to consider investing in the state; attend several trade shows and do global marketing activities. “We will assist private industry by inviting them with us to tradeshows where the cost to exhibit is significantly less as a result of partnering with the state, facilitate connections via B2B meetings, utilize our ITOs to help them expand into new markets, provide technical assistance, host trade workshops, promote greater market exposure for Oklahoma companies,” Hackler said. “We will undertake market research and lead generation efforts to uncover new opportunities for FDI and exports and break down barriers to increase trade. All with the goal of developing business opportunities for Oklahoma companies in new countries and regions.” Hackler said the ODC will utilize the grant in part to help the aerospace and energy sector continue to grow their opportunities. “As identified by our ecosystems, energy and aerospace are two of the five industries in which Oklahoma has an advantage,” Hackler said. “As a result, the tradeshows we plan to attend are primarily in the aerospace and energy industries and we welcome small- and mediumsize companies to join us. Companies will be made aware of these opportunities in the near future.” Hackler said the ODC also will be working with regional economic development agencies to build collaboration with local economic development agencies for higher paying jobs and better opportunities with foreign companies. Hackler said the grant will be used during a three-year period. He added it was too early to determine exactly how many new jobs could be created as a result of the grant efforts. “It is a great unknown right now,” Hackler said. “The number of jobs depends upon how much direct investment we are able to stimulate from foreign companies and foreign investors. It also depends on assisting the small and medium size companies and helping them find new products to export overseas and hiring more Oklahomans to meet the increased demand.” U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker said the Obama Administration and Commerce Department are committed to improving the nation’s infrastructure, which is crucial for both economic growth and job creation.

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Officials Urge Businesses to Stop, Drop and Hold On By Van Mitchell | Special to The Business Times

hile the debate continues about what is causing it, earthquakes have been on the rise in Oklahoma, surpassing California with the number of quakes recorded this year. As a result, homeowners and business owners are looking at ways to protect their property from potential damage. “The recent earthquake swarm in our state has many consumers talking about and purchasing earthquake insurance,” said Insurance Commissioner John Doak. “The truth is that Oklahoma rests along a fault line and has always experienced earthquakes, but in the past few years they’ve become more frequent. We don’t know what is causing the earthquakes. Since January 2009, the earthquake activity in Oklahoma has been about 40 times higher than in the previous 30 years. With all that shaking going on, consumers are taking steps to protect themselves.” According to the U.S. Geological Survey, from 1978 to 2008, Oklahoma was hit with an average of just two quakes of 3.0 magnitude or greater. As of June 19, 2014, there were 207 such quakes recorded in the state. An increase began in 2009 when 20 quakes of 3.0 magnitude or higher occurred, followed by 43 the next year and increasing every year except for 2012. As of June 16, 2014, California had recorded about 140 quakes of 3.0-magnitude or greater. “Oklahoma can have naturally occurring earthquakes,” said Austin Holland, a research seismologist with the Oklahoma Geological Survey in Norman. “We are currently experiencing an uncharacteristically high rate of earthquakes. We have a historical record of earthquakes going back to 1882 and the largest earthquakes we have had since are the 1952 El Reno earthquake with a magnitude 5.5 and the 2011 Prague earthquake, which was a magnitude 5.7, and both quakes did damage to structures in Oklahoma, but neither had fatalities. “The largest earthquake we know of to occur in Oklahoma is an earthquake about 1,300 years ago on the Meers fault in southwestern Oklahoma. The earthquake was likely close to a magnitude 7. So earthquakes are a part of life in Oklahoma, but the current rates are far greater than in the past.” EARTHQUAKE CLAIMS REACH RECORD LEVEL Doak said his office has seen a spike in the number of earthquake premiums and claims when earthquake premiums topped $11.6 million in Oklahoma in 2012. According to the Insurance Information Institute, Oklahoma’s direct premium written for earthquake coverage during the past five years has increased with $13.1 million in 2013 compared with $4.8 million written in 2009. Doak said earthquakes are not covered in a standard home/business insurance policy. “The thing that business and homeowners need to know is that earthquake insurance is not covered under your current policy in Oklahoma unless it is added by a specific rider for endorsement,” Doak said. As the frequency of earthquakes occur so does the possibility of damage to a person’s home or business including building movement, said Chad Westbrook, national service director for Saratoga Roofing and Construction in Oklahoma City. “The buildings may not have fallen down but building movement is 12

October 2014 | The Business Times

the second leading cause of roof leaks,” Westbrook. “Building movement is ranked No. 2 only behind foot traffic for major commercial roof leaks. Seams can be opened, loose items on the roof can puncture the structure and debris can fall if not properly secured.” Westbrook said Saratoga Roofing offers free roof inspections to all Oklahoma commercial property owners through their ongoing Inspect Oklahoma Program, which was started in response to the 2013 EF-5 tornado that leveled parts of Moore. “It is focused on giving (businesses) tools they need to better prepare themselves for any kind of natural disaster that might come up,” Westbrook said. “Most importantly it will help them understand their building assets. A roof is one of the most expensive assets they will have.” BE PREPARED — EVEN FOR EARTHQUAKES As part of addressing all-hazards, the Federal Emergency Management Agency says it is important for businesses to also incorporate actionable earthquake mitigation solutions into their planning and business decisions. According to the FEMA.gov website, preparing for earthquakes is twofold. It involves learning what employers and employees should do before, during and after earthquakes; and doing or preparing to do those things now, before the next quake. The website said workplace preparedness requires the participation of owners, managers and workers, as well as those who design, build, regulate and maintain buildings used as workplaces. Earthquake risk-reduction measures can range from inexpensive methods of securing building contents to expensive structural modifications. The mix of measures that is optimal for a home or business will depend on factors such as the potential severity of the earthquake hazards in your locale, the current condition of your facilities, whether your workplace is owned or leased, and how vulnerable your operations are to facility damage and associated downtime. The website states every employee, from top managers to part-time and

The Details

Earthquake insurance facts Fast facts about earthquake insurance from the Oklahoma Department of Insurance: • If you do not have earthquake insurance on your business, it will be 30 days from the most recently reported earthquakes before you can add an endorsement to your existing insurance or take out a separate policy. • Oklahoma homeowners can expect to pay between $100 to $150 per year for earthquake insurance. Costs for businesses vary due to a number of factors. • Earthquake insurance carries a separate and often substantial deductible in addition to the standard homeowner’s deductible. These deductibles often are based as a percentage of the insured property’s value, typically at 5 percent to 10 percent. • In 2011, it was estimated that less than 1 percent of Oklahoma homeowners carried earthquake insurance.

temporary workers, needs to learn what to do during an earthquake. Safety orientations should emphasize safe places to “drop, cover and hold on” during earthquake shaking and safe locations where people can rendezvous when the shaking has stopped and it is safe and advisable to evacuate your facilities. FEMA recommends holding periodic, mandatory earthquake drills to give employees opportunities to practice what they have learned and condition themselves to react spontaneously and safely when the first jolt or shaking is felt. The website says to help protect workers in the immediate aftermath of earthquakes or other disasters, arrange for employees to be trained now in first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of fire extinguishers. Once the shaking stops, workplaces should be prepared to implement prearranged, earthquake-specific emergency response and recovery plans. Earthquake insurance is now more of a priority among Oklahoma’s insurance agents. “I give Gov. Fallin a lot of credit on this,” Doak said. “We changed the rules and now have one hour of earthquake continuing education for licensed agents who sell property insurance in the State of Oklahoma.” Doak said the Insurance Commissioner’s office has worked hard to educate Oklahomans about earthquakes and protecting their property. “We believe that Oklahomans are becoming more educated,” Doak said. “We have been running PSAs and doing communications for two years on radio and TV for the Oklahoma Insurance Department asking Oklahomans to be educated and have that conversation with their licensed agent or broker.” Consumers can learn more by visiting the Oklahoma Insurance Department website at www.ok.gov/oid/earthquake_tips.html or visiting www.fema.gov or www.saratogaroofing.com.

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BUSINESS MATTERS

NICK MASSEY Astute Investor

Winners and Losers in the Recovery

he S&P 500 Index closed recently at a record high of more than 2,000. Yet if you talk to the average person on the street, many feel that the economy is still weak. Much of it has to do with employment and wages. Depending on your education, employment and skill set, you may well be thinking, “what recovery?” Unlike the typical post-credit-crisis recovery, this one features disappointing GDP, subpar job creation, stagnant wages and weak retail sales. However, those represent the average. Different employment sectors have done considerably better or worse, depending on demand and scarcity of workers in that field. As the old joke goes: My head is in the oven and my feet are in the ice box, but on average I feel pretty good. We do have an economic recovery of sorts, but it just isn’t evenly distributed. If you are a minimum-wage worker, jobs have become fairly easy to get — just don’t expect to support a family on them. If you are a low- or medium-skill health-care worker, you too can find work. However, it probably pays less than the job you lost a few years ago. At the other end of the socioeconomic scale, the unemployment rate for those 14

October 2014 | The Business Times

with a graduate degree is less than 3 percent. Unemployment in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and math) not only is very low, the pay scales average about 50 percent more than the median for U.S. workers. The unemployment rate in North Dakota, where there is a shale-oil boom, is 2.8 percent, the lowest in the U.S. Unofficially, unemployment doesn’t exist — anyone who wants a job there can get one. GM and Ford have to sell cars financed with a version of securitized subprime loans in much the same way as housing was in the 2000s. Meanwhile Audi, BMW and Mercedes are setting sales records. We see evidence of the bifurcated recovery in how various retailers have been performing. It is much better to be Coach or LVMH or Tiffany than Wal-Mart, Target or the various Dollar stores. As the Pew Research Center noted last year, all of the wealth accumulation in this recovery has gone to the top 7 percent of wage earners, with an increase of 28 percent, mainly because of gains in financial markets. As for the other 93 percent, their wealth has declined 4 percent. About half of all Americans own stocks. Therefore a surge in the S&P 500 from 666 to 2000 is a meaningless abstraction for

the other half. Say what you will about the Federal Reserve’s quantitative easing and zero interest rate policy, but unless you own stocks or can buy a house or have access to other credit, it isn’t putting much jingle in your pocket. The upper strata, on the other hand, has been benefiting mightily from these policies. There are signs that the economy is continuing to improve even for those who earn lower wages. However, these have been slower and more modest gains than the upper end of the income scales are enjoying. Many of them are still waiting for the recovery to begin. Thanks for reading. NICK MASSEY is a financial adviser and president of Householder Group Financial Advisors in Edmond. Massey can be reached at www.nickmassey.com. Investment advice offered through Householder Group Estate and Retirement Specialists, a registered investment adviser.

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BUSINESS MATTERS

MIKE CRANDALL Growth S olutions

The Lead Dog Sets the Pace

f you have never seen a sled dog team pull a sled you are missing out — it is truly a majestic sight, especially for a really good team. The things they can accomplish as a team are amazing — the precision, unity and teamwork are wonderful to watch. Now you are likely asking what is a Business Growth Consultant writing about sled dogs for? Fair question. There are a lot of similarities to a great dog sled team and a great business. Let’s start with some basics. The reason people have teams of dogs to pull a sled are many of the same reasons that a business has employees. Together they can accomplish way more than they can alone. Sled dogs are able to do more, for longer and get places faster while they work together. In business it is the same — the right team can do more, for longer and get their faster, too. Now let’s shift gears and look at the most important part — the leader. In sled dog teams, the lead dog is out front (regardless of the size of the team). Their primary responsibility is to set the pace for the team. The way they are attached to each other and to the sled is that no other dog can run faster than the lead dog. And all of the dogs have to run the same direction as the lead dog. If any 16

October 2014 | The Business Times

dog behind the lead dog tries to run faster than the lead dog or in a different direction it creates a significant problem for the entire team. For this reason the dogs are trained to follow the lead. To summarize in simple terms: The lead dog sets the pace and the direction. In business the same thing exists — the leader sets the pace and direction. The lead dog in this case is the CEO/ owner of the company. They set the pace and direction whether we like it or not. Often leaders do not realize this and get frustrated because their expectations are misaligned from the team. This is the key reason some businesses run so smoothly and others seem to bounce all over. Some have great pace and direction set by the leader, and some do not. Not only is this true for the entire organization it is also true for each functional area, division, team, etc. The leader of each is the lead dog for that team. Example: The vice president of sales sets the pace and direction for the sales team; the vice president of operations sets the pace and direction for the operations team, etc. For many this is often a chilling thought when they begin to absorb it. Not only for the leaders own individual role, but also

when they think about the other leaders in the organization. So let me ask: What is the pace and direction you are setting for your team? How about the pace and direction your other leaders are setting? When most leaders begin to think about this they do not like the thoughts they have. If your answers bother you then find ways to begin working on it. If you are not sure how to work on fixing the issue/issues then find a business growth consultant who can help. MIKE CRANDALL lives in Edmond. He is a consultant, coach, trainer and speaker focused on sales, management and leadership development for proactive business growth. He can be reached via email at mike.crandall@sandler.com or by phone at 405-844-1700. For more information, go online to www.customgrowth.sandler.com.

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BUSINESS MATTERS

TIM PRIEBE Webifiable

One-Time Activities to Help Your Search Engine Ranking

n the previous issue, you read about putting yourself in your ideal customer’s mindset, searching for yourself online using phrases he or she would, and seeing where you show up. If you were not happy with the results, I mentioned that there were both one-time and recurring activities you could do. Let’s take a look at the one-time activities in this column. While they don’t have the longlasting effect they used to, they’re still a good idea. For one-time activities, you need to look at how well your website is set up for search engines. Two things matter: 1. The setup behind the scenes. 2. The text on your website For better or worse, you’ll probably have to have a web professional look at the setup behind the scenes to see how well your site is set up there. Often, a lot of that can be seen without any special access, meaning the professional doesn’t have to have any usernames or passwords. They can just pull it up on their computer and look at some of the code. Sometimes the website can be salvaged if the setup isn’t terrible. Other times, it’s less of an investment just to start over again and get a new website. 18

October 2014 | The Business Times

When worrying about the text on your website, you want to think of the words and phrases that your ideal person would use when searching for you online, then make sure they’re in your website. That’s called optimizing your text for those phrases. To avoid guessing, you might find a Keyword Research Tool online. You can then enter some phrases and words you thought of, and it will give you information on those phrases and other, related phrases. The information likely will include data like roughly how many people are searching for each phrase and how tough the competition is for that phrase in search engines. You also have to take into account how well the phrase would fit your ideal person.

“When worrying about the text on your website, you want to think of the words and phrases that your ideal person would use when searching for you online, then make sure they’re in your website. ”

Looking at those three factors, you can narrow down which phrases you want to optimize your website for. Then the tricky part is to sprinkle those phrases throughout your site in a way that still sounds natural when someone’s actually reading the text. Too few, and you won’t show up any higher in the search engine listings. Too many, and your site’s text will be unnatural sounding, and could even get blacklisted from the search engine results. This may sound overwhelming to you. The good news is you don’t have to do this very often, especially if you’re also doing recurring activities. So if you think it’s worth the investment, look into hiring a professional to help with this step. TIM PRIEBE is a public speaker, the author of the books “102 Tweets: Social Media Update Ideas for Businesses & Nonprofits” and “The Beginner’s Guide To Facebook Timeline for Business” and the owner of T&S Online Marketing in Edmond. He can be reached by email at tim@tandsgo.com, by phone at 405-285-0348 or online at www.tandsgo.com.

BUSINESS MATTERS

JIM DENTON L edger Lines

How the Home Office Deduction Works O ne of the tax benefits of working at home is the ability to deduct part of your home for business. The Home Office Deduction is available for owners and renters alike and applies to all types of homes. This deduction is a way of capturing otherwise non-deductible expenses such as utilities, insurance, repairs and depreciation on your tax return and reducing your tax bill. In 2013, the IRS introduced what is called the “Simplified Option” for computing and deducting the business use of your home. The deduction allows taxpayers a prescribed rate per square foot of their office versus calculating their actual expenses. For 2013, the new optional deduction is capped at $1,500 per year based on $5 a square foot for up to 300 square feet. Know that if you are an employee, the deduction is entered on Schedule A — Itemized Deductions and is limited to 2 percent of your income. If self-employed, the deduction goes on Schedule C and directly reduces your income from your business. Using the “Regular Method” likely will produce a larger deduction because there is no cap on the amount that can be deducted. But, the Home Office Deduction cannot create a loss on your Schedule C or exceed your related employment income. There are two requirements in order to claim the deduction: 20

October 2014 | The Business Times

1. Regular and Exclusive Use — means a deduction is allowed only when it is used solely for business. The cleanest solution is that an extra room used for business is used only for business. There are two exceptions. One is where you are running a day care from your home. The other is when you store inventory or product samples in your home. In those cases, you are not required to meet the exclusivity test. 2. Principal Place of Business — you must show that you use your home as a primary business location. The office doesn’t even have to be the only one, as long as you don’t conduct “substantial administrative or management activities” someplace else. Once those particulars are determined, you can calculate the deduction by multiplying your indirect expenses (utilities, insurance, repairs and depreciation) by your business usage percentage. Your business usage percentage is the square footage of your business usage divided by the total square footage of the home. Any direct expenses such as painting the room of your home office are fully deductible. You are also allowed to deduct depreciation on your home. Depreciation is the gradual amortization of the cost of a long-lived asset over a period of years. The IRS allows you to deduct the cost of real estate used in business spread across 39 years.

Employees must meet the tests above plus their business use must be for the convenience of their employer and their home cannot be rented to their employer. If the use of the home office is merely for the convenience of the employee, you cannot deduct home office expenses. Whether you use the Simplified Method or the Regular Method, you still may claim a deduction for mortgage interest, real estate taxes and casualty losses on your home. The difference is that on the Simplified Method, you would report the entire amount of each on Schedule A. On the Regular Method you are required to allocate your indirect expenses between personal and business use. Taking a Home Office Deduction might flag you for an IRS audit but don’t let that stop you from taking it if you qualify for a deduction. JIM DENTON is a CPA and a managing partner with Arledge & Associates P.C. in Edmond. He may be reached via email at jim@jmacpas.com.

BUSINESS CALENDAR Boulevard Rotary Club 6-7 p.m. Oct. 6 (Club meets every Monday) Louie’s Bar and Grill 1201 N.W. 178th St., Suite 101 For more information, http://facebook.com/ BoulevardRotary

Edmond AMBUCS Noon Oct. 10 (Club meets every Friday) Cherokee Room in Nigh University Center 100 N. University Drive Call June Cartwright at 405-820-9667 for more information

Centennial Kiwanis Club 6 p.m. Oct. 6 (Club meets every Monday) Italian Jim’s Restaurant 13 S. Broadway

City Council 5:30 p.m. Oct. 13 (Second and fourth Mondays) City Council Chambers 20 S. Littler Ave. Visit www.edmondok.com to find the agenda

Edmond Summit Rotary Club 7 a.m. Oct. 7 (Meets every Tuesday) Mercy I-35 2017 W. I-35 Frontage Road For more information, call 405-CUEARLY Planning Commission 5:30 p.m. Oct. 7 (First and third Tuesday) City Council Chambers 20 S. Littler Ave. Visit www.edmondok.com to find the agenda Edmond Kiwanis Club Noon Oct. 8 (Club meets every Wednesday) Cherokee Room in Nigh University Center 100 N. University Drive Edmond Rotary Club Noon Oct. 8 (Club meets every Wednesday) Mercy at I-35 20147 W. I-35 Frontage Road For more information, facebook.com/ rotaryclubofedmond Edmond Exchange Club 7 a.m. Oct. 9 (Club meets every Thursday) Room 213 in the Nigh University Center 100 N. University Drive For more information about the club visit www.facebook.com/ EdmondMorningExchangeClub Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce Membership Luncheon 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 9 Speaker: Mike Knopp, executive director of the Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation Oak Tree Country Club 825 E. Second St. RSVP required at www.edmondchamber. com: Cost $25 for members and $30 for non-members and late registration Oklahoma City American Marketing Association 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 9 (Second Thursday of the month) Will Rogers Theatre 4322 N. Western Ave., Oklahoma City, 73118 For more information, www.amaokc.org

October 2014 | The Business Times

Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce Business Development Luncheon 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 14 Edmond Chamber 825 E. Second St. Speaker: Pete Winemiller of the Oklahoma City Thunder Topic: Customer Service RSVP required at www.edmondchamber. com; Cost: $15 per person or $20 for non-members Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours 5:30-7 p.m. Oct. 14 Brewer Carpet One 801 W. 15th St. No RSVP required for chamber members; cost free Edmond Evening Lions Club 6 p.m. Oct. 14 (Club meets second and fourth Tuesday) Johnnie’s 33 E. 33rd St. For more information, call Bob Austin at 285-4980 Oklahoma Professional Sales Association Monthly meeting 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 15 Colcold Hotel 15 N. Robinson Ave. Speaker: Mike Bosley, owner of SeatBeltPlanet.com More information at www.okpsa.org Launch Pad FT Discovery at Lunchtime seminar Noon to 1 p.m. Oct. 16 Speaker: Russell Wantland of Resolution Legal Topic: Confidentiality Agreement & Protecting Your Information Cost: Free. Call Launch Pad FT Business Incubator at 717-7730 to register Edmond Economic Development Authority Board of Trustees 8:15 a.m. Oct. 21 (Third Tuesday) 825 E. Second St. Visit www.eeda.com; Call 340-0116

Edmond Young Professionals Education Event 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 21 Edmond Chamber 825 E. Second St. Topic: Plug in to Edmond Speakes: Casey Moore of City of Edmond and Toni Weinmeister of Edmond Economic Development Authority RSVP required to www.edmondchamber.com. Cost: $10. Planning Commission 5:30 p.m. Oct. 21 (First and third Tuesday) City Council Chambers 20 S. Littler Ave. Visit www.edmondok.com to find the agenda Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce Morning Mingle 8-9:30 a.m. Oct. 22 Francis Tuttle Business Innovation Center 2824 Progressive Drive No RSVP required and event is free for chamber members. Edmond Noon Exchange Club Noon Oct. 22 (Fourth Wednesday of the month) Italian Jim’s Restaurant 13 S. Broadway Speaker: Beverly Terry of Edmond Historic Preservation Trust To learn more, visit https://www.facebook. com/edmondexchange Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce Women’s Network Breakfast 7:30-9 a.m. Oct. 23 Speaker: Terri Talley of Allegiance Credit Union Topic: Women & Money Oklahoma Christian Gaylord University Center 2501 E. Memorial Road RSVP required at www.edmondchamber. com. Cost: $20 for members, $25 for non-members

Launch Pad FT Discovery at Lunchtime seminar Noon to 1 p.m. Oct. 23 Speaker: Mike Crandall of Sandler Training Oklahoma Topic: Selling the Right Way Cost: Free. Call Launch Pad FT Business Incubator at 717-7730 to register City Council 5:30 p.m. Oct. 27 (Second and fourth Monday) City Council Chambers 20 S. Littler Ave. Visit www.edmondok.com to find the agenda Edmond NARFE Chapter Monthly meeting for national active and retired federal employees 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 28 (Fourth Tuesday of the month) Oklahoma Christian University 2501 E. Memorial Road Lunch cost is $8.50. For more information, call Barbara Pritchard at 405-249-1399. Leadership Edmond Alumni Cookout 5:30-7 p.m. Oct. 30 Edmond Chamber 825 E. Second St. RSVP required to www.edmondchamber.com. Cost free to dues paying alumni members only. Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce Membership Drive Celebration Luncheon Noon to 1 p.m. Oct. 31 Edmond Chamber 825 E. Second St. RSVP required to www.edmondchamber.com. Cost is free to members.

TO ADD your business event to this free calendar, email the details to lshearer@edmondsun.com.

HI, I’M JOE TAYLOR. Overton, Texas. What keeps me coming back to the Trail? It’s just absolutely sensational.

I have people tell me what they’ve spent playing one round at Pebble Beach and a night at the hotel, or going to Pinehurst for a couple rounds. We do the entire week, travel, hotel, green fees, good meals and everything for the price of one day at these places. And it’s absolutely a sensational place to come. TO PLAN YOUR VISIT to Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, visit rtjresorts.com or call 1.800.949.4444 today. facebook.com/rtjgolf twitter.com/rtjgolf

GROWING EDMOND

PHOTOS PROVIDED | EDMOND AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Ribbon Cuttings

CHAMBER WELCOMES PERK PLACE CAFÉ

CHAMBER WELCOMES ACCOUNTING 365 PLLC

Accounting 365 PLLC recently had a ribbon cutting to celebrate the grand opening of its Edmond location at 125 E. Third St., Suite C. Accounting 365 PLLC is an Edmond-based accounting firm owned and operated by Kyle Haugen, CPA. Kyle has more than 10 years’ experience helping small businesses with their accounting needs. Accounting 365 PLLC provides tax, payroll and bookkeeping solutions for both established and startup businesses. Kyle maintains certifications in QuickBooks, Xero, Bill.com, Expensify and WorkflowMax, which are all cloud-based solutions to help streamline business processes. For more information call 405-315-2567 or visit www.accounting-365.com.

HACKNEYS OPEN NEW CHIROPRACTIC CLINIC

Hackney Chiropractic opened in November of 2013 and recently had a ribbon cutting to celebrate the grand opening of its new location at 408 S. Santa Fe in Edmond. Drs. Daniel and Josiah Hackney met at school in Dallas and were excited to come home to Oklahoma to start their practice. Dr. Daniel focuses on preventing injury and increasing performance in athletes, and Dr. Josiah specializes in taking care of children and pregnant women. The doctors enjoy seeing families and have a children’s area with fun activities for kids. Outside of the clinic, they frequently can be found in the community working alongside local charities. For more information, call 405-388-2348 or visit www.hackneychiropractic.com. 24

October 2014 | The Business Times

Perk Place Café recently had a ribbon cutting to celebrate the grand opening of its new location at 1649 W. 33rd St. Perk Place Café serves locally roasted coffee and espresso, as well as a unique breakfast including burritos and paninis, and lunch menu of wraps, paninis, soup and salads. They also offer cappuccinos, lattes, smoothies, teas, a build your own parfait bar and more. Meals for children, EZ4U take home meals, group meals and catering are all available as well. The owners of Perk Place Café are dedicated to providing customers with quality service and value, have a strong focus on using local products, and are passionate about giving back to the community. Perk Place Café is donating 25 cents from every transaction to the Oklahoma Regional Food Bank – Food for Kids Program. For more information, call 405-420-3226 or visit www.perkplacecafeok.com.

CHAMBER CUTS RIBBON WITH NEW DEL TACO

Del Taco recently had a ribbon cutting to celebrate the grand opening of its Edmond location at 1000 E. Second St. Del Taco’s menu includes Mexican offerings of tacos, burritos, quesadillas and nachos, as well as American favorites like hamburgers and crinkle-cut fries. Del Taco also serves breakfast featuring a full line of breakfast burritos. All menu items are prepared to order using fresh ingredients including hand-grated cheese, lard-free beans slow cooked from scratch, and marinated chicken grilled in the restaurant–all for affordable prices. They serve more than three million customers each week at more than 550 restaurants in 18 states. For more information, call 405-341-1279 or visit www.deltaco.com.

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Castilla, Citizen’s Bank Receive Recognition For Leadership

Dunlap Codding Elects New Shareholder from Edmond

American Banker has announced the honorees for the 2014 Most Powerful Women in Banking. The 12th annual ranking is published online at AmericanBanker.com/Women-in-Banking and will be featured in the October issue of American Banker Magazine, along with the Most Powerful Women in Finance and 25 Women to Watch lists. Jill Castilla, president and CEO of Citizens Bank of Edmond, ranks 25th on the 25 Women Jill Castilla to Watch list this year. The locally owned bank also was recognized by American Banker as one of the top Teams in Banking in which female leadership teams are having a significant impact on performance. The list is also judged on whether the banks nominated have a high level of commitment to the development and promotion of female talent. Castilla appears in the special foldout cover of American Banker Magazine’s October issue. As one of the “25 Women to Watch,” Castilla is recognized as a recently promoted executive whose influence is felt throughout her industry. “When I became president and CEO of Citizens Bank of Edmond this January, it came after four years in which I made important changes in how our community bank operates and responds to its customers — changes that were essential to our future,” Castilla said. “And since then, I’ve expanded my focus to include ways in which Citizens Bank of Edmond can be even more integral to our community. As our customers evolve, we’re changing with them.” To make this happen, Castilla became the social media voice and public face for Citizens Bank of Edmond, responding personally to customer questions on Twitter and Facebook and locating her office on the first floor of the community bank. She pushed for technological advances in the bank’s ATM and mobile services, ramped up civic involvement through initiatives such as “Cash Mobs,” social media-driven events that encourage spending with local businesses, and recently launched Heard On Hurd, a hugely successful monthly street festival showcasing local food trucks, music and shops. To read about Castilla and other “Women to Watch”, go to americanbanker. com/women-in-banking. And for the latest on Citizens Bank of Edmond, follow on Twitter @citizensedmond.

Dunlap Codding recently announced that Emily E. Campbell, of Edmond, has been elected to the firm’s shareholder ranks. She has been an associate at the firm, an intern during law school and the first undergraduate technical specialist hired by the firm at the urging of the University of Oklahoma’s then-Acting Dean of the College of Engineering. Campbell has served as the head of the firm’s Trademark, Copyright, Internet and E-Commerce Emily Campbell Practice Group since 2012, providing strategic counsel to clients. Nick Rouse, the firm’s managing shareholder said, “We are proud to welcome Emily to firm ownership. Her election signals the esteem in which we — and the firm’s clients — hold her.” Campbell said, “I am honored to become part of the ownership ranks at a firm I have long considered to be my second family.” Campbell is registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. She graduated from Oklahoma City University School of Law in May 2007. Prior to law school, Campbell received her B.S. in Industrial Engineering in December 2003 from the University of Oklahoma. She currently serves on The University of Oklahoma’s College of Engineering Industrial & Systems Engineering Advisory Board and was the inaugural chair of Ignite Oklahoma City, where she continues to serve on the board of directors. She is also a member of the Junior League of Oklahoma City, and as such contributed more than 30 hours of volunteer service in the past year. In her free time, Campbell enjoys spending time with her husband, Robert Campbell, also a practicing attorney, and their 2-year-old daughter, Ellie. Dunlap Codding P.C. is an Oklahoma City-based law firm serving regional, national and international clients. Established in 1957 as Oklahoma’s original intellectual property firm, Dunlap Codding remains the state’s largest and most versatile IP boutique. Dunlap Codding represents a substantial number of sophisticated client companies, and for the past 50 years has obtained more patents, trademarks and copyrights than any other firm in the region. Dunlap Codding is a member of the International Society of Primerus Law Firms.

Griffin Communications Announces Plans to Purchase KSBI

Local FASTSIGNS Team Member Receives National Award

Oklahoma’s Own Griffin Communications has reached an agreement to purchase KSBI My Network TV from Family Broadcasting LLC. “We are excited to add KSBI to our group of companies,” said Griffin Communications Chairman and CEO David Griffin. “Our goal will be to integrate KSBI with our current operations while looking for ways to improve KSBI’s programming.” “Adding KSBI to our company will allow us to expand our service to Central and Western Oklahoma by creating a duopoly with News 9 like we have done in Tulsa with News On 6 and The Tulsa CW,” Griffin said. “One of the many things we are excited about is that our viewers will not miss regular CBS and syndicated programming when we are in severe weather or continuous news coverage on News 9, because we will be able to move this programming over to KSBI,” Griffin added. The sale will close upon final FCC approval, which is anticipated prior to the end of the year. Griffin Communications L.L.C. is an Oklahoma-owned multimedia company, providing news and information content to Oklahomans across the state. Holdings include KWTV/News 9 in Oklahoma City and KOTV/News On 6 and KQCW/The Tulsa CW in Tulsa. Griffin’s holdings also include News9.com, NewsOn6.com and Radio Oklahoma Network, representing 40plus affiliates across Oklahoma. Griffin Communications also has developed several partnerships and strategic alliances throughout Oklahoma, including Oklahoma Community Television/Griffin Tower Company and News 9 Now/ News On 6 Now (Cox Communications). Griffin Communications L.L.C. is among a few privately held media companies in the country, owned by David and Kirsten Griffin of Oklahoma City, and John Griffin of Muskogee. Griffin Communications L.L.C. solely focuses its resources in the state of Oklahoma.

Joel Walker, outside sales professional from FASTSIGNS® of Oklahoma City, received the Bronze Sales Award at the 2014 FASTSIGNS Outside Sales Summit, recently in Frisco, Texas. “It’s been an exciting year at FASTSIGNS of Oklahoma City,” Walker said. “This award is the result of working with terrific clients in our community. I enjoy helping them achieve their business goals using signs, graphics and other visual communications solutions that we provide.” The Bronze Sales Award recognizes Outside Sales Professionals who achieved sales between $200,000 and $399,000 from July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2014. With more than 550 FASTSIGNS centers worldwide, only 54 Outside Sales Professionals received this award. “The Outside Sales Professionals in the FASTSIGNS network are talented, driven and committed to providing customers the best visual communications solutions possible,” said Mark Jameson, executive vice president of Franchise Support and Development at FASTSIGNS International Inc. “Their dedication continues to make FASTSIGNS a leader in the visual communications industry.” FASTSIGNS of Oklahoma City is owned by Al Blankenship and Alda Blankenship. FASTSIGNS of Edmond may be reached at www.fastsigns.com/251 or call 844-8844.

October 2014 | The Business Times

OC HONORS COALE, ROSS Photos Provided

Lee Allan Smith speaks during the OC Associates Gala.

wo University of Oklahoma coaches received the Lee Allan Smith Spirit of Oklahoma Award at the Oklahoma Christian University Associates Gala Thursday. Sherri Coale, the head women’s basketball coach at OU, and Jan Ross, an assistant coach for the Sooners, will be the first OC alumni to receive the award, which honors individuals who have devoted themselves to the betterment of Oklahoma. The award is named for Smith, a tireless proponent of Oklahoma City and the state of Oklahoma. Previous winners include Oklahoma City mayors Mick Cornett, Kirk Humphreys and Ron Norick, former Oklahoma governors and first ladies George and Donna Nigh, Frank and Cathy Keating, and Brad and Kim Henry, and Oklahoma City weathermen Gary England, Damon Lane and Mike Morgan. “We are thrilled to honor OC alumni Sherri Coale and Jan Ross with the Lee Allan Smith Spirit of Oklahoma Award,” OC president John deSteiguer said. “They are examples of great ambassadors of our state and who live exemplary lives and impact young people for good.” Coale was an Academic All-American at Oklahoma Christian who graduated summa cum laude in 1987 after serving as team captain for three conference championship teams. Ross graduated from Oklahoma Christian in 1986 after a decorated career; she was an NAIA honorable mention All-America, All-District IV and AllSooner Athletic Conference selection in addition to earning NAIA Scholar-Athlete and Who’s Who honors for the Lady Eagles. Together, Coale and Ross helped resurrect the OU women’s basketball program and turn it into a national power. Since they 26

October 2014 | The Business Times

OC President John deSteiguer speaks from the podium at the OC Associates Gala. joined forces in Norman in 1996, the Sooners have won 10 Big 12 championships (six regular season, four tournament) and made nine Sweet 16 appearances, including a trip to the 2002 NCAA national championship game and back-to-back NCAA Final Four appearances in 2009 and 2010. Their program also is known for its academic excellence and for giving back to the community, including service as volunteer mentors and teachers’ aides at local elementary schools. In 2011, the Sooners earned the United Nations NGO Positive Peace Award after taking a mission trip to Haiti following a 7.0-magnitude earthquake. The OC Associates Gala was at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. “The Associates Gala is always a highlight event at Oklahoma Christian,” deSteiguer said. “It’s our time to thank donors, celebrate our students and alumni, and share the good news about our university.”

University of Oklahoma women’s basketball head coach Sherri Coale speaks from the podium after accepting the Lee Allan Smith Spirit of Oklahoma Award.

Jan Ross speaks after receiving the Lee Allan Smith Spirit of Oklahoma Award.

Lee Allan Smith, Sherri Coale, Jan Ross and John deSteiguer after the presentation of the Lee Allan Smith Spirit of Oklahoma Awards. OFFERING THE BEST IN OUTDOOR FURNITURE

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BUSINESS BOOK REVIEW

BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER | THE BOOKWORM SEZ

“Zero To One: Notes On Startups, Or How To Build The Future” by Peter Thiel with Blake Masters c.2014, Crown Business $27.00 / $32.00 Canada 224 pages

he thought pops into your head at least four times per weekday: I can do this. You can give good customer service; you do it every day. You’re good with numbers and people. You have more know-how than you know what to do with, and you can do this — on your own, for your own passion. So you’re thinking of stepping out, going it alone and founding a start-up. But before you close one door to open another, read “Zero to One” by Peter Thiel (with Blake Masters). How does a business thrive? It’s a question you’ve asked yourself while you’re thinking about your start-up. How can your business get a leg-up on success? The answer, Thiel writes, is that it can’t unless it invests “in the difficult task of creating new things … .” The way to do that is not with a Me-Too business, but with technology that is “miraculous.” Think about it: Since mid-20th century, “only computers and communications have improved dramatically… .” While there’s a lot of conflicting tenets in business, one key to building a “valuable company” is to figure out what nobody is doing, and do it. Another key is to create a monopoly, but not the illegal kind. Instead, you want “the kind of company that’s so good at what it does that no other firm can offer a close substitute.” That is the mark of a successful business but, to achieve it, you must know what a good one looks like. Then, start small and scale up carefully. Don’t underestimate the competition, but don’t pay it too much heed, either; the danger is that competition “can make

October 2014 | The Business Times

people hallucinate opportunities where none exist.” When founding your start-up, hire people who enjoy working together — people you like, and that are alike in their interests. Much like a marriage, choose partners and board members carefully. Ward off instability by establishing who owns the company, who runs it and who governs it. Know how to quash competition within your workplace. Remember that you are a salesman. And then start looking for secrets. They’re everywhere, and they’ll be the basis of your new business. Just before you open the cover of “Zero to One,” have a baseball glove ready. There’s a lot of info lobbed at you here — fast — and you’ll want to catch every bit of it. The interesting thing, however, is that this isn’t so much a book of advice as it is a book of thought-pokers. Building a successful start-up is not to be taken lightly, as author and PayPal founder Peter Thiel (with Blake Masters) subtly warns. There are dozens of things to understand, pitfalls to avoid, boxes to check when founding a business, and the authors don’t mince words when discussing them. That kind of caution — a demand to think first — is invaluable for all future moguls. And if that’s where your aim lies, then this book will give you plenty to ponder. Just clear your calendar a bit, and grab “Zero to One” because you can do it. Terri Schlichenmeyer is a book reviewer in Wisconsin. She may be reached via email at bookwormsez@yahoo.com.

October 2014 | The Business Times

LAST LOOK

SPECIAL TO THE BUSINESS TIMES

Chores to Doors Shops For You

By Patty Miller | The Business Times Photos Provided

hores to Doors is a new shopping concept that has just arrived in Edmond. Owned and operated by Edmond residents, it offers a new way to shop for groceries, order fast food, or coming soon, dry cleaning pick up and delivery. The cost is only $6.99 a delivery. Same day delivery comes with all of the grocery orders placed online no matter how large or small the request. With more than 4,000 items on Chores to Doors’ grocery shopping list, it is possible for the consumer to locate about anything he or she needs. From baby items to beverages, breakfast food to deli and fresh produce, bakery, cookies/crackers/snacks, meat and poultry, pasta and sauces, seafood, kitchen supplies, dairy, canned food, cooking supplies, pet food and fast food, there is something for everyone. If one can’t find what they are looking for, they are a phone call away from requesting the item and it being put on the shopping list, said co-owner Michael Cox, who majored in music theater and business. Favorite items can be requested online and all the client has to do ask. Chores to Doors asks the clients to give them 24 hours to add an item to the menu. Brand names and amounts are listed by most popular items first, and costs are updated weekly. An employee at Chores to Doors is on call throughout the day. Delivery hours are 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. for groceries and 5 a.m. to 2 a.m. for fast food. With five drivers working the Edmond area, expansion into Oklahoma City is on the planning board for November. “I got the idea for Chores to Doors when I was in college and I had to run errands for my mother,” Cox said. “This service is big on the East and West coasts although some charge $30 for a delivery and some charge $1 for each item.” Cox said he and some of his friends kicked the idea around for a few years before buying a website. 30

October 2014 | The Business Times

In addition to Cox, Jordan Evans and Jessica Sanborn are founding members. Evans is attending school to be an attorney and Sanborn is a theater and arts major. “We started our business a month ago and so far it has been growing by word of mouth and we have 100 clients signed up,” Cox said. Cox added they have a record time down as low as an hour and up to two hours grocery shopping. “We give you more time to relax by taking the stress out of shopping for your family,” Cox said. For parents who have students attending college and living away from home this service is perfect. “Having a student away from home can be hard for a parent. Order from anywhere and we will deliver right to their student’s dorm,” Cox said. “My mom would always be worried about me. With this service a parent can go online and order and we can deliver it to the student’s dorm.” Payment methods are by PayPal, VISA, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. Go to www.chorestodoors.com to order groceries or call 740-3390.

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