Steve,
Many years ago before I ever considered getting into the Hot Dog business I heard this story that made an impression on me. I just found it again on the internet and thought I’d share it with the rest of the gang. Enjoy!
-Dave Barkley
HOT DOG STORY
There was once a man who did not have any formal business training in accounting, engineering, law or medicine so he did what most people do in those circumstances, he went into sales.
He opened a little stand on the corner and yelled out “Hot Dog” and what do you think happened to his business? It grew.
So he got a bigger griddle, put up a sign that said “Hot Dog”, did some advertising and his business boomed so much, that he was able to put his oldest boy through college.
His oldest boy came back with a degree in marketing and obviously knew everything there was to know about how to run a business. He told his dad there was a recession going on and that he had better change the way he did business: re-engineer, cut back.
So the dad was scared his son knew it all, so he cut out his advertising, then he took down his “Hot Dog” sign, then reduced the sized of his griddle and even stopped yelling “Hot Dog”.
He went home one day very dejected and his son asked, “What is the matter Dad?” The dad said, “You’re right, there is a recession going on out there and it hit my business awful hard.”
Point: Self-fulfilling prophecy.
******************************
Great story with a great lesson.
Thanks Dave!
I remember this story and I love it! Thanks for finding it and sharing, great motivational read this early morning!
I’m also glad that Dave reminded me of this one. It’s great.
Yeah we pretty much started our business in the beginning of the resission, not wise enough to listen to all the experts. Our bizz began with a home grill an a folding tent and a $1500. Investment, we now own 3 concession trailers,4 trucks, enough equipment to cater for groups of a thousand or more and a thriving restaurant all done in 7 short years of the “bad times” ridgeviewbbq.com
Hey Jim,
Congratulations on your success. I know it took a lot of hard work but I bet it’s been a lot of fun too!
Thanks for sharing your story with us!
Awesome, Steve…………We can be our own worst enemy, or, our own best friend and positive thinker……HOT DOG, HOT DOG…..!!!
Indeed.
Recession…what recession???? My season opener was this past Friday…it was a VERY busy weekend!! Our annual “art tour” (a lot of artists here on the island) is this coming weekend and I look to be even busier….believe you can and you will….think you will fail and you probably will…..great story…read W. CLEMENT STONE’s Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude…great book…..I started serving nachos opening day…how do you guys keep the cheese hot and “on hold”?? Im using a double boiler…any better suggestions? Charging $3.00. Too hi/low? Steve???
“Believe you can and you will….think you will fail and you probably will.”
Truer words were never spoken. Thanks Larry and sell ’em all on the Art Tour!
Aye mates, don’t be cuttin off yer nose to spite yer face. Har har har.
If it ain’t broke , don’t fix it . Arrrggggggggggggg!!
A great season to all ye slingin mates !!!!
We will be opening the end of the month.
1St Mate Jim.
I want some video this year mate!
I’ll see what I can do matey..
Wow super inspiring. I also started with one rig and now have 2 ice cream trucks, a hot dog stand and food truck in works all started in recession. Thanks for sharing!
Good for you Annmarie!
My dog gig is the most recession proof thing I could imagine…$5 for a chili cheese bacon dog, chips and drink… My net is $3.90…On weekend nights, they are lined up, shoving money at me…If they have any $ left coming out of the bars, it is mine!!
Awesomeness!
Q
If you alway do whaf you always done.
You, always gef what you always got !
Many times we are our worst enemy
Yep.
It’s your attitude that controls your environment, not your environment that should control your attitude in life. Take it from someone who did motivation for 4o years covering 17 countries until becoming sick and almost not making it. After four months in the hospital and two years of doctor visits every month and a lot of positive thinking I’am still here and ready to start a hot dog business. I know I’ll be in GREAT company because the way you ALL think. There many CEO’s of corporate America that don’t think that way.
“Your thoughts today will be your destiny tomorrow”
Great advice and I’m glad you pulled through Gary!
I also started (Joe’s Famous Hot Dogs•Burgers & More). This hot dog slinging biz last May and I now have a NYC Street Cart and a concession trailer. I also do several events here and there it does take a lot of hard work. That’s comes with any successful business you run. I have so many people stop and ask me how to start up a food truck biz, what lic. Are needed. I’m about ready to start charging a consulting fee for this valuable info. I have a Cargo Co.lined up that can custom build to specs. I’ve already sold 3 concession trailers. It’s a lot of fun, also I get to meet so many people.
Good job!
Thanks Steve your forum here really helped me out. I tell you so much info from everyone on here. Thanks again Steve and your Cash Tracker Program my accountant will recommend it to other food truck owners that he does have about 4 accounts. Said that its a no brainer he was impressed with it
Glad you like the Cash Tracker! Tell your accountant thank you for spreading the word.
There is an old saying, The harder I work the luckier I get.
True, true!
Great story Dave…and so true.
The ‘suits’ who decided to lay me and thousands of others off from my ex-Corporate E-commerce employer are having their woes these days. They’re discovering that in their haste to ‘pink slip’ educated people like me to enhance that bottom line well…it kind of blew up in their face. I’m glad to finally be involved in an industry where I can experience ‘instant’ gratification from satisfied customers who enjoy having me be there for them every and…oh yeah…I don’t have to wait a year to see if I’m going to get a pittance of a salary increase that doesn’t even come close to meeting inflation while upper-management receive their automatic bonus and salary increases no matter what. Should I tell ya how I really feel ? LOL If you have or have had one of those ‘cut-back on service’ and ‘reduce the workforce’ employers like me pop their name into:www.glassdoor.com and see how they are doing these days…you might be suprised !
In the meantime I’ll just watch my tip jar fill up every day !
Doggers of the world unite…lol
Don’t hold back Bob 😉 Unite indeed!
like chevy chase in caddy shack…..Danny be the ball…be the ball……
and as bill murray said…..gungga galunga……
life is caddy shack…..
My favorite all time movie!
Ty Webb: Let me tell you a little story? I once knew a guy who could have been a great golfer, could have gone pro, all he needed was a little time and practice. Decided to go to college instead. Went for four years, did pretty well. At the end of his four years, his last semester he was kicked out … You know what for? He was night putting, just putting at night with the 15-year-old daughter of the Dean … You know who that guy was Danny?
Danny Noonan: No.
Ty Webb: Take one good guess.
Danny Noonan: Bob Hope?
Ty Webb: Ha ha … No, that guy was Mitch Comstein, my roommate. He was a good guy.
Keeps me motivated. Makes me want to put up a sign and yell hot dog.
HOT DOG!!!
If you don’t ask, you won’t receive ! If you dont try, you won’t succeed !
It reminds me of the hungry lepers in the Old Testament sitting there watching people eat a a table with abundant food. Finally one of them gets up and says that he is going over there to get some food. The others told him come back, that he would die if he went over to the table where the food was. His response was simple, “If I go over there I could die, if I stay here and do nothing, I will surely die.”
If I am going to die, I will die trying.
The worst thing you can do is do nothing. That’s when life is something that happens TO you.
I know it has me motivated although I’m still hesitant as to whether or not I want to leave my job to run the business fulltime. I believe in myself and my business but I’m scared because of the health insurance. Right now I have full coverage where I work and I’m diabetic so I’m afraid of dropping coverage and then later on be denied because of it. I can make my business grow, but at what cost? Sacrificing my health for it? I don’t know.
There’s no rule saying that you have to be a full time hot dogger. If your day job doesn’t make you miserable and you have good benefits then doggin on the side might be the way to go.
All that matters is that at the end of the day you are happy. If that requires slinging full time then you’ll make it happen. If you have an enjoyable day job and can sling hot dogs on the side for fun and extra income, there’s nothing wrong with that either.
Una vida feliz es la mejor vida mi hermano.
Man… you guys really keep me encouraged to keep my head in the game. I am new to the hot dog industry but I believe in this so much!!! I am really excited about being self employed and having freedom again. I know this is going to be a great career move for me (hotdog slinger) because I absolutely hate my job with a passion 🙂
Michelle Bell
Recession is what led me into this business! Unemployment was running out and Obama wasn’t creating any jobs that I could use, so I started thinking outside the box. And I found myself loving my new career! Extremely rewarding, people wise, not bad on the money side. Just hoping it’ll take off enough to get me through the winter.
You’re doing great Robin!