reading

BECOMING A CREATIVE ENTREPRENEUR

Your GPS to Business Success

A 50-Year Journey of One of Our Most Creative Entrepreneurs

AVIVA Publishing

New York

Jack Fecker

16541 Redmond Way, Suite 193C

Redmond, WA 98052-4482

jfecker@comcast.net

www.BecomingACreative Entrepreneur.com

CONTACT for Speaking Engagements/Media Interviews

Seminars/Consulting/Book Signings/Business Mentoring

J. Bakken

huntress4authors@comcast.net

425.333.5246

ISBN: 978-0-9841497-6-6

eISBN: 9781940984223

Library of Congress # 2009910152

Editor: Jane Bakken

Technical Editor: Tyler Tichelaar

Cover, Jacket, Interior Design: Fusion Creative Works

Every attempt has been made to source properly all quotes.

Seattle Times article printed with permission from Seattle Times

Printed in United States of America

First Edition

2 4 6 8

For Additional Copies, visit:

www.BecomingACreativeEntrepreneur.com

“As no stream can rise higher than its source,

So you can give no more or better to architecture than you are.

So why not go to work on yourselves and make yourselves

In quality what you would have your buildings be.

Frank Lloyd Wright

Addressing group of

Architectural students in 1950

Jack Fecker’s Revision for Entrepreneurs

“As no stream can rise higher than its source,

So you can give no more or better to business than you are.

So why not go to work on yourselves and make yourselves

In quality what you would have your business be.”

DEDICATION

To my wife, Jane

My Children ~

Lorrie, David and Jason

My Grandchildren ~

Brittany, Blayne, Jenna, Luke and Jonah

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

To all my family and friends ~ Your loving support throughout the whole of my life receives my deepest gratitude.

To all my business colleagues, partners, managers, investors, employees ~

The life lessons I have learned from each of you would fill a library.

Jane, my wife and editor ~ You never cease to amaze me. March, 1982, we began this soulful journey, and every day your huge love inspires me to be all I can be, as a man, partner, father, friend and as an entrepreneur. I could not have asked for a better soulmate, and I look forward to our next twenty-seven years together. Your editing, as always, is a work of art!

Lorrie, my daughter ~ Your endless creativity has always been an inspiration to me from the moment you were born. I’m trying to just keep up with you!

David, my son ~ You have taught me more than you can imagine. I am open and excited to continue learning from your wisdom. I am proud of all you have created in your life, and thrilled to watch your own “entrepreneur” creating profitable adventures in the marketplace.

Jason, my son ~ You have always attracted great people and adventures into your life, easily. I look forward to practicing in the marketplace, and every area of life, the knowledge and wisdom that you seem to be born with.

Patrick Snow ~ International Best-Selling Author of Creating Your Own Destiny, International Speaker, Publishing Coach and Internet Entrepreneur. Thank you for being such a phenomenal coach in writing and speaking. I owe you big time for your powerful contributions and excellent guidance in the publishing of this book. I look forward to our growing relationship in years to come!

Shiloh/Fusion Creative Works ~ Cover, Jacket and Interior Design and Layout. Your creativity and mastery of your craft has turned this book into a work of art.

Thank you so much!

Tyler Tichelaar ~ technical editor. Thank you for your great skills and attention to detail. You were a critical part of making this book most excellent!

Bob Farrell ~ Creator of Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlours, International Author of Give ‘Em The Pickle, and International Professional Speaker. You have always been a role model for me to stay focused on my goals. Your creations of Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour Restaurants set a standard giving the entrepreneur in me the opportunity to thrive. With your non-stop inspiration and ideas, you taught me continually to think big and always outside of the box. Thanks for giving me my first personal growth book ~ Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill. Without you, my business career would never would have been this much fun!

Joe Rutten ~ Friend since 1939, Business Partner for seventeen years in The Blue Banjo, Louie’s Old Chicago, and Elroy’s Ice Cream Parlour, Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour Restaurants (NW Territorial franchise) and Yonny Yonsons. Who knew when we were selling eggs and corn door-to-door as partners at age six that we would have end up creating so many years of such a great partnership! I learned more from you than any other business partner. Our on-going success hinged on your expertise in all those areas that I was not very strong. What a great time we’ve had. Thank you, my friend

Bill Keegan ~ Partner in Breadline & Soup Kitchen. Thank you for teaching me that good taste in food and all of life finds its source in my emotions. I’ll never forget all the fun memories we had in creating this great establishment. Your strengths and energy were always a huge part of its success!

Al Fleenor ~ Management/Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlours; Owner/President CEO

(Retired) of Pacific Coast Restaurants, Inc. You were one of the greatest managers I ever worked with. It is no surprise that you became the most successful businessman of all our employees, eventually building some thirty formal dining restaurants in nine different brands. Your openness to new ideas and your teachable spirit set you apart from all others. I’ll never forget your stellar dedication in driving four hours round trip every week from your Farrell’s restaurants in Tri-Cities just to attend our management meetings in Seattle. I recall vividly how much employees enjoyed working for you and thriving under your management style. You were always the kind of manager I wanted to be!

John Boyle ~ Creator of the Omega Seminars, where I learned the value of

100% responsibility for my actions and the freedom that came with that knowledge.

Mark Victor Hansen ~ International Published Author, including Chicken Soup for the Soul series, International Professional Speaker/Consultant/Seminar Leader. Thank you for your connection and friendship. From you I learned to keep creating a very large “want list” and the FUN of receiving what I want instead of what I don’t want.

Charlie Tremendous Jones ~ Published Author, Inspirational Speaker, and Seminar Leader. From the first time I met you in Seattle in the 70’s, you inspired me always to be excited about my work, and whatever I was doing. As a result, every day I went to work with the anticipation of the best of possibilities, and have been passing on your contagious optimism to all those I’ve worked with in the marketplace ~ thank you, Charlie!

Ron Connor, Friend ~ You always ask the tough questions at the right time, and provide support and inspiration for me when I most need it. Thank you.

Sheila Connor, Friend and Business Colleague. Thank you for teaching me how to give wonderful seminars. You have taught me so much of how to bring out the best in individuals and businesses alike, and your friendship is always treasured.

Stan Day, Friend ~ Though you have had more challenges than anyone should have in three lifetimes, you have still been there for me through all these years...thank you, friend.

Rev. Max Lafser ~ Minister/Public Speaker/Seminar Leader and Friend (also officiated our wedding). When Jane and I are with you and Rama, we laugh continually, no matter what life and the marketplace is throwing at us! Thank you for encouraging me thirty-five years ago to get up on that stage and always to give my best!

Rama Vernon ~ Friend and Global Teacher/Diplomat. Your ability to imagine and work on a global level has always inspired me to reach for the highest in myself. In your presence, I am inspired to always reach for the most creative, the most fun, and the most innovative ideas.

Dr. Timothy Weber ~ Wise and Inspirational Coach. You have always had the more powerful answers to my questions. Thank you for gifting me with the “integrity” definition for which I had been hunting (see Chapter 3).

Nancy Nordgren ~ Gifted Counselor. Thank you for the many years of your care and support in traveling more into my body with mind and spirit. It has been well worth the journey!

CONTENTS

Foreword

Introduction

Section I: How do I Create my Own Business? Steps Leading up to Opening Day

Chapter 1: IDEA

Chapter 2: Building a Vision

Chapter 3: Core Values in Business

Chapter 4: Treasure Mapping

Chapter 5: Storyboarding

Chapter 6: Tension-Resolution Systems in Business

Chapter 7: Getting Excited About Your Work!

Chapter 8: Brainstorming ~ The Idea-Generation Game

Chapter 9: Partners: Do I Really Need A Business Partner?

Section II: Open For Business...Now What do I do?

Chapter 10: Money...Money...Money

Chapter 11: Ten Unique Factors Theory

Chapter 12: Bringing the FUN Into Growing Your Business

Chapter 13: Using your STRENGTHS in Business

Chapter 14: Hiring the Best Employees for Your Business

Chapter 15: Learning the Art of Delegation

Chapter 16: Becoming More Creative

Chapter 17: Creating Alignment

Section III: How to Nurture Yourself While Growing Your Business

Chapter 18: Making Mis-Takes

Chapter 19: Vision Circles

Chapter 20: Celebrating Your 100^th Birthday Party!

Chapter 21: Spirituality in Business

Chapter 22: Asking for Help

Chapter 23: Letting Go of Control

Chapter 24: The Business of “Uncertainty”

Chapter 25: Business of the Future

Chapter 26: Living in Gratitude

FOREWORD

BY BOB FARRELL

Creator of Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour Restaurants, International Professional Speaker and International Author of Give ’Em The Pickle

Jack Fecker and I first met when the original Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour Restaurant was under construction. Even then, before we ever connected on a business level, Jack was a great encouragement to me in those initial strenuous and doubtful days when I was first opening a new business. From the early days of the original conception of the business, Jack Fecker provided a great deal of the pizzazz, promotional ideas and art work used in our 145 Farrell’s restaurants throughout the States. In my opinion, Jack has an astounding ability to come up with an awful lot of original ideas concerning restaurants, or any business. He is certainly one of the best concept idea men I have ever met!

Through the years, I’ve observed that Jack Fecker possesses one ability missing from so many creative people in business. He always had the strength to communicate his ideas to others ~ managers and employees ~ in such a way that they were able to make the ideas a reality, faster and more easily.

Many of our concepts at Farrell’s carried on through the years evolved out of our first few years of business, and Jack was involved in most of our “idea sessions” during that time. Jack eventually went out on his own and has proven himself over and over again as an exceptional creative entrepreneur and successful businessman.

I cannot speak highly enough of Jack Fecker. I know that he has been and will continue to be a tremendous mentor to entrepreneurs and companies everywhere. Jack’s insights into creativity, brainstorming, and all the building blocks required in developing a new business, and in revitalizing and expanding a struggling business, will increase the profitability for many companies.

In October 2009, we are excited about our Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlours beginning their second lifetime with the first stores being built in Los Angeles. When the call was made for new employees, more than 800 showed up. I have no doubt that parents with memories of our FUN restaurants are encouraging their sons and daughters to show up for this opportunity. Without a doubt, Jack Fecker played a significant role in developing the reputation of excellence in our Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlours that is now being handed down to a new generation.

If entrepreneurs start new businesses for the purpose of serving their customers in a manner superior to that being done anywhere else, they will have a job for life!

Jack Fecker has lived this motto as an entrepreneur throughout the whole of his life with great continuity and dedication.

This book is an exceptional gift to all business professionals and entrepreneurs. In these pages, there is a wisdom that Jack has been gleaning over more than five decades. I have no doubt that his ability to share this wisdom with humor, anecdotes and pragmatic action steps will go on to encourage and inspire that band of entrepreneurial adventurers and explorers of business for many generations to come!

Becoming A Creative Entrepreneur ~ Your GPS to Business Success is an excellent book! Anyone running a business or wanting to start a new business should absolutely read this book!

Bob Farrell,

Creator of Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour Restaurants

International Professional Speaker

International Author of the book, Give ‘Em The Pickle

www.GiveEmThePickle.com

Watch for Farrell Ice Cream Parlour Restaurants coming once again to your city! Initial opening in LA, Oct., 2009

INTRODUCTION

As this book is heading into its first printing in 2009, we find ourselves at a time in our economic history when we have never needed creative entrepreneurs more. Becoming a creative entrepreneur will be significant in the business of the future. Integrating linear and creative structures and systems will be the norm at every level of the business model and at the center of its DNA. Building on the foundational blocks of the agricultural, industrial and informational ages, we are moving into a conceptual age that will ask of all business owners in the marketplace a level of ingenuity and of creative thinking that we are just now beginning to explore more fully in this Twenty-First Century.

I sincerely believe in the public sector. I also believe passionately in the power of visionaries, adventurers and explorers infused with an entrepreneurial spirit. I believe wholeheartedly that we as creative entrepreneurs will be the leaders in the marketplace who pragmatically map out new possibilities dictated by supply and demand that will not only bolster our national economy, but will address in a more effective manner the business of global needs ~ innovative energy solutions and the “greening” of our planet, world hunger, healthcare, education and affordable housing, to name a few.

For more than fifty years, I have been on this adventure of becoming a “creative entrepreneur,” and in my estimation, there has never been a better time for me to pass on some of the details, knowledge and wisdom gleaned over these past five decades.

The tools and ideas passed on to you in these pages have been market-tested tough during my startup of more than twenty businesses. They have stood the test of time in facilitating hundreds of entrepreneurs and business professionals in beginning their own ventures, as well as in the development and profitable selling of companies by entrepreneurs.

Along the way, I have made many powerful discoveries, some more powerful than others. One of the most valuable thoughts I’ve used is that there is no right or wrong way to accomplish anything. Over the years, I discovered a powerful phrase in describing how I do things, which is “something is more or less powerful.” This is a statement generating questions that can serve to flush out your next steps in any venture. Is there a more powerful way to approach this project? If you were to do this over again, what things might you do differently? Could you perhaps try a new way? Is there something we have not thought of yet?

Let’s try using the word “maybe,” another word that is not quite so loaded.

“Maybe” we could take a little time and think this over. “Maybe” these action steps will be beneficial, “maybe” not. I’ve discovered that in approaching any concept in business with phrases such as “maybe,” “perhaps,” ”less powerful and more powerful,” that a great deal more can be accomplished. In my professional opinion, much less is accomplished using phrases such as right, wrong, good, bad, better or best, all of which will stifle the creative process.

I would have gladly invested $1,000 to have the tools outlined in this book at the age of twenty-seven when I started my first business. It would have saved me considerable time, money and energy, more than you can possibly imagine. I am confident that the manner in which these tools are presented in this book will enable you, today’s entrepreneur, to benefit tremendously from my own successes, failures, experiments and discoveries.

I have always seen myself as my own guinea pig ~ experimenting, trying this idea, making mistakes, coming up with a new way and starting all over again when something didn’t quite work out as planned. One thing I know about myself is that in the arena of business and in matters of the marketplace, I am persistent and possess a high degree of patience. The importance of these two characteristics will be discussed fully throughout my marketplace stories.

This book is set up in three sections:

SECTION I: HOW DO I CREATE MY OWN BUSINESS...
USING A PRIORITY, STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS
LEADING UP TO THE OPENING DAY. STARTING
WITH YOUR OPENING IDEA, NOW WHERE DO
YOU GO FROM HERE?

This Section includes:

• Identifying the “IDEA”

• Creating well-defined, long-range impossible goals; discovering how these will serve you

• Bringing your vision to life

• Integrating your own personal Core Values into the foundation of your business

• Mining the hidden secrets of treasure mapping in bringing your goal into reality

• Steps in using creative storyboards to save time in organizing your creation

• Creating structural tension and making it work for vs. against you

• Putting enthusiasm to work for you ~ getting excited about your work

• How to put your business idea in picture form utilizing theater set designs

• The game of brainstorming; Idea-Generation: How to create 100 ideas per hour when you want a solution that is easy, with the least amount of effort and cost

• Value of finding and secrets of maintaining a profitable business partnership

SECTION II: OPEN FOR BUSINESS...NOW WHAT DO I DO?

This Section includes:

• The importance and un-importance of start-up capital

• Putting the “Ten Unique Factors” to work

• Ten steps for operating a powerful, exciting, profitable and FUN business

• Discovering and using all your strengths

• Finding those great employees for your specific business

• Making delegation an easy part of your daily routine

• Learning how to become more creative

• Alignment ~ Creating it, and how it differs from “agreement”

SECTION III: HOW TO NURTURE YOURSELF WHILE GROWING YOUR BUSINESS

This Section includes:

• Learning to value mis-takes

• Starting your own vision circle support group (detailed guidelines)

• Planning your 100th Birthday Party with guest list and life contributions

• Integrating the value of “spirit” for profitable business practices

• Nurturing yourself in every area of life while growing your business

• Asking for help

• Letting go of control

• Letting go of procrastination by using the “do it now” principle

• Scheduling time for “play”

• And most important! A daily “gratitude exercise”

I am certain you will enjoy trying and using these ideas as much as I have.

Remember ~ all the FUN is in the journey!

SECTION ONE

HOW DO I CREATE

MY OWN BUSINESS?

Steps Leading up to Opening Day

CHAPTER 1

IDEA

Why do we always begin with an idea? Because it is the most essential nugget of any project, plan, design, goal or any business. It is the kernel from which everything else tangible springs to life. Imagination plays a primary role in the idea process for it is the soil in which all ideas are fed and nurtured, eventually sprouting and making their way to the surface of outer reality.

People with fertile imaginations are those individuals rich with an abundance of ideas. And ideas are a close sibling to choices, an imperative in solving problems. You will find that excellent problem solvers are idea-people rich with vibrant imaginations.

Solutions to any problem are waiting around every corner. We only need to be open to receiving. And there it is! A faster way to accomplish something, an easier method to perform a task, a more powerful way to attract customers, a new product or service needed in the marketplace, and each originating with the seed of an idea.

Everything begins with an idea. Webster’s Dictionary defines “idea” like this: “Something one thinks, knows or imagines; a thought; mental conception or image; notion.”

And every idea began with a thought in someone’s mind. What we too often forget is every detail of our daily lives has its origin in a simple thought. From homes, cars, windows and pavement to your silverware and plates on the table, even the table, their origin grew from one single thought.

Everything that appears had its origin in the mind. Our minds evolve the ideas, and nurtured through the imagination and our memories of senses, they begin to express themselves through words and pictures.

In 1957, I was twenty-five years old and made frequent trips between Seattle and San Francisco, my favorite place to visit. I would often visit The Red Garter in the Broadway District where they served beer and peanuts with a five-piece banjo band playing all the old sing-along tunes. It was the most exciting nightclub in the Bay Area, and most nights of the week, you were lucky if you could get a seat. Just seeing that place fired up my imagination until it was working overtime. I had a hunch this was a concept that was needed in the marketplace, and it would be well received in my hometown of Seattle.

At the time, I was a Boeing engineer with a secure job. Within three years, I was leading my own banjo band in an old-fashioned 1890’s bar in downtown Seattle, and soon, it became the most popular nightclub spot in the Northwest. It was called The Blue Banjo, with seating for 300 customers, and we always boasted of at least 100 people standing in line waiting to get in on weekends!

The point I’m making is whenever you experience something that has powerful energy for your body, mind and spirit, pay attention, for this is often the origin of a “big idea.”

The vision or picture I held in my mind was “a very popular night club with lots of folks having a good time with me playing in the band and people standing in line to get in.”

In 1936, Charles Fillmore stated in his book, Prosperity,