<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
  <channel>
    <title>Andreas Kröhnke</title>
    <link>https://krohnke.me/</link>
    <description>Posts by Andreas Kröhnke</description>
    <language>en</language>
    <atom:link href="https://krohnke.me/posts/en/rss.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/>
    <item>
      <title>Blogging with Emacs and org-mode</title>
      <link>https://krohnke.me/posts/en/blogging-with-emacs-and-org-mode.html</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://krohnke.me/posts/en/blogging-with-emacs-and-org-mode.html</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 06 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
      <description><![CDATA[<p>
Setting up blogging with Emacs is tricky compared to some other solutions, like
<code>metalsmith</code> in my case. I wanted to have a simple solution from writing to
publishing. With <code>metalsmith</code> I write the blog in <code>org</code> format, export it to
<code>markdown</code> then publish with <code>npm</code>.
It is not too bad, and I figured out some things as I was converting that
workflow from Javascript. It is likely not worth the effort, I spent way too
much time on it. But now I can write something quickly and export directly to
<code>html</code> with a few key presses.
</p>

<p>
Here are some of the tradeoffs that I ran into:
</p>
<ul class="org-ul">
<li>Less control of the output, it can be tricky to format or which method you
should use. You can write <code>html</code> for export, and include other <code>.org</code> files
directly for example.</li>
<li>Text in preamble/postamble will be replaced, ie <code>%d</code> etc. Be careful.</li>
<li>Your entries might be cached, so you forcefully have to delete the cache
when you edit a post and if you want to republish it.</li>
<li>Installing latest versions of <code>org-mode</code> and <code>org-contrib</code> with <code>quelpa</code>
requires custom configuration for Emacs to find the <code>elisp</code> files.</li>
</ul>
<div id="outline-container-org145052f" class="outline-2">
<h2 id="org145052f"><span class="section-number-2">1.</span> References</h2>
<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-1">
<ol class="org-ol">
<li><a href="https://orgmode.org/worg/org-tutorials/org-publish-html-tutorial.html">Publishing Org-mode files to HTML</a> - Org tutorials</li>
<li><a href="https://bastibe.de/2013-11-13-blogging-with-emacs.html">Blogging with Emacs</a> - Basti's Scratchpad on the Internet</li>
<li><a href="https://zwpdbh.github.io/emacs/org-to-blog-using-org-publish.html">Org to blog using org-publish</a> - Zhao Wei</li>
<li><a href="https://pavpanchekha.com/blog/org-mode-publish.html">Using Org-mode to Publish a Web Site</a> - Pavel Panchekha</li>
<li><a href="https://thibaultmarin.github.io/blog/posts/2016-11-13-Personal_website_in_org.html">Personal website in org</a> - thibaultmarin</li>
<li><a href="https://vincent.demeester.fr/posts/2020-03-22-org-mode-website.html">Migrating to an org-mode website</a> - Vincent Demeester</li>
<li><a href="https://djliden.github.io/posts/20211203-this-site.html">Made with Org-Mode</a> - Daniel Liden's Home Page</li>
<li><a href="https://rkallos.com/blog/2017/01/02/static-site-generation-with-org-mode/">Static site generation with Org Mode</a> - Richard Kallos</li>
<li><a href="https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/emacs/org-mode-blog/">Create An Org Mode Blog (Static Site Blog)</a> - Christopher Maiorana, inmotion hosting</li>
<li><a href="https://www.chaosape.com/org-mode-for-static-websites-generation">org-mode for Static Website Generation</a> - Dan DaCosta</li>
</ol>
</div>
</div>
]]></description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Key lessons on how Glenn Stearns went from zero to hero in Undercover Billionaire</title>
      <link>https://krohnke.me/posts/en/undercover_billionaire.html</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://krohnke.me/posts/en/undercover_billionaire.html</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 16 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
      <description><![CDATA[<div id="table-of-contents" role="doc-toc">
<h2>Table of Contents</h2>
<div id="text-table-of-contents" role="doc-toc">
<ul>
<li><a href="#org19d64f6">1. Survival</a></li>
<li><a href="#orgefdd213">2. Getting a contract job, paid in cash</a></li>
<li><a href="#org2737e44">3. St. Patrick's day</a></li>
<li><a href="#orge5c80f5">4. Finding junk to sell</a></li>
<li><a href="#org3c85ca2">5. Getting an apartment</a></li>
<li><a href="#org6e42f5d">6. Small Business Development Centre</a></li>
<li><a href="#org8493cc1">7. Business research</a></li>
<li><a href="#orgbb1c372">8. Flipping</a></li>
<li><a href="#org4de1d9d">9. Building a team</a></li>
<li><a href="#org7f40104">10. Restaurant launch</a></li>
<li><a href="#orgb75a3ee">11. Setbacks</a>
<ul>
<li><a href="#orgb3437cf">11.1. Mold</a></li>
<li><a href="#org060d46b">11.2. Brewing beer requires a lot of licenses and time to get them</a></li>
<li><a href="#org02e6e47">11.3. Restaurant location falling through</a></li>
<li><a href="#orgd82440e">11.4. Unprepared staff during Rib fest</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#org55e56e6">12. Revenue streams</a>
<ul>
<li><a href="#org933fcb2">12.1. Underdog BBQ restaurant</a></li>
<li><a href="#org3cfd383">12.2. Underdog beer</a></li>
<li><a href="#org5d1ab04">12.3. Online sales</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#orgecb6b5d">13. Summary</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div id="outline-container-org19d64f6" class="outline-2">
<h2 id="org19d64f6"><span class="section-number-2">1.</span> Survival</h2>
<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-1">
<p>
He got basic food for as cheap as he could. Second, he asked for a small
favor in the convenience store: "Do you have hot water?" and "Do you have a
plastic fork?". This was a key moment to go out of the comfort zone, and
ask for kindness from others. You don't ask, you won't get any help. Of
course Glenn has a leg up on many of us in this area. He is comfortable
negotiating and being in that brief moment of unknown.
</p>

<p>
Asking the landlord of a hotel he stays in for one night if he needs any
help. No luck, but he asked.
The next day he found a job selling dog toys on commission basis. He had no
success at all doing this as far as we know.
</p>

<p>
His cover story is that he quit a corporate job and start a business, as
revealed when he is volunteering in the soup kitchen. Even if he didn't get paid
here, he got a meal, and some motivation to win on his mission.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="outline-container-orgefdd213" class="outline-2">
<h2 id="orgefdd213"><span class="section-number-2">2.</span> Getting a contract job, paid in cash</h2>
<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-2">
<p>
He applied for jobs the first couple of days. And he got
one that paid for work and not commission. Laminating t-shirts. He got paid
on the day.
He got a chance to talk with RJ, and talk a little bit about himself. This
was also a great first contact that follows him through the whole series.
</p>

<p>
Second job he got, was cleaning someone's house.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="outline-container-org2737e44" class="outline-2">
<h2 id="org2737e44"><span class="section-number-2">3.</span> St. Patrick's day</h2>
<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-3">
<p>
St. Patrick's day was coming up. He got the idea to sell merchandise on the
street during this day. He went all in on this and bought discounted things that the
retailer wanted to get rid of, and he could sell for high margin on the festival.
He pitched the idea to RJ, who thought it was a great idea and wanted to sell
some things as well, so he joined together with some of his friends/staff.
</p>

<p>
It was a success because he could finally use his sales skills and negotiating
with a lot of people. He was now playing the numbers game, at least for a
day. Reading people and convincing them that they needed what he was selling.
Another lesson he says is to sell to a group of people, get one or two people to
buy and the whole group might follow. In the end, he almost 4x his money.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="outline-container-orge5c80f5" class="outline-2">
<h2 id="orge5c80f5"><span class="section-number-2">4.</span> Finding junk to sell</h2>
<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-4">
<p>
Sort of a parallel story to the jobs and St. Patrick's day have been to find some
tires for machineries to sell. He found some buyer for this already, online. 
It seems he spent a lot of time to find these tires, but the payoff is great.
He has some experience on at least identifying and evaluating tires, but he is
no expert. When the buyer arrives some tires are not good enough or worn out
actually. $1500 in cash.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="outline-container-org3c85ca2" class="outline-2">
<h2 id="org3c85ca2"><span class="section-number-2">5.</span> Getting an apartment</h2>
<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-5">
<p>
With the money he earned, he can now get an apartment for the three months. He
tried to negotiate a deal with the deposit to keep some money for himself, but
this was not successful. He ended up keeping half of the money, one month rent
paid and deposit for one month.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="outline-container-org6e42f5d" class="outline-2">
<h2 id="org6e42f5d"><span class="section-number-2">6.</span> Small Business Development Centre</h2>
<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-6">
<p>
This is a cornerstone in the whole story of the success to come. Here he get
support and is able to network with people, all for free. He even gets his own
small office after some time. They help him prepare to build and own a
business. Research, marketing etc.
</p>

<p>
"I don't know what I don't know". He has approached local business owners and
setup meetings to get to know the city and what is hot right now in the
area. Using some of his business knowledge, he is able to ask good questions to
the owners. "Why coffee, was that just a passion?", he ask a local owner, she
can speak free with an open question. That is showing interest in them.
"How is your business doing?"
</p>

<p>
He reflects that he need some business that is cheap to start, so not a metal
fabrication company. After meeting some owners he goes back to SBDC to have them
research about coffee and beer industries.
</p>

<p>
Once it's decided to go after the beer industry, because it is growing and
people welcome competition, he posts an ad to start doing interviews. This is
the networking aspect, and finding people who are hungry and willing to help out.
Of course, looking for passionate people who can add something to the table,
that are better than himself in different skillsets.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="outline-container-org8493cc1" class="outline-2">
<h2 id="org8493cc1"><span class="section-number-2">7.</span> Business research</h2>
<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-7">
<p>
He seeks out some owners of craft beer and asks to go to a study visit
and meet local brewers. Understand pitfalls, getting an attorney etc.
Unfortunately getting a license to brew beer takes 90 days, so the whole plan
falls apart. But with the team he has built, he gets a new spin on it to start a
restaurant that can be a franchise.
</p>

<p>
"What do you think is missing from these brew houses?", a question he asks his
future team. With open ended questions he can get a lot of insight and knowledge
from everyone. Also they will feel heard.
</p>

<p>
With this knowledge, he has the SBDC research again, this time about the BBQ and
beer restaurant. But with more revenue streams. Their own sauces, branding
and local beer.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="outline-container-orgbb1c372" class="outline-2">
<h2 id="orgbb1c372"><span class="section-number-2">8.</span> Flipping</h2>
<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-8">
<p>
To cover his startup costs, his best knowledge to make big bucks is in real estate.
But he don't have any money to do this yet. Instead he sets aim to flip a car.
</p>

<p>
The luck he has with this one is almost beyond belief. A car dealership going
under trying to get rid of all their cars. A gold mine! Search and you
will find.
He negotiates the hell out of this deal and gets a car for half the asking
price, that's almost all the money he has left. Since the seller needs to get
rid off the cars, he asks for more. This is another key play, leave the
door open. In a way he is asking to be a salesman working for free to sell
another car later.
</p>

<p>
Cleaning up the car and making it look nice, putting it in a well trafficked
spot are some obvious things to do when flipping a car. I guess he also put it
up online on craigslist.
</p>

<p>
This works, because he acts as a market maker or arbitrage in both time and
space. He seeks out a car where no one else is looking, and then puts the car
where there are more people looking. More potential buyers. Again, he about 4x
his investment. And he does this again with another car.
</p>

<p>
This leads into flipping the house. With the money he earned from the cars, he
can now afford a down payment of $10'000 for the house. Since he needs an expert
for this, he has sought out an interior designer that will do the main work
designing and renovating the house. There are many struggles here but it comes
through in the end, with the promise to pay the interior designer later.
</p>

<p>
With the money from the house, the money will cover the lease for the restaurant
and expenses for the festival that will launch the restaurant later.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="outline-container-org4de1d9d" class="outline-2">
<h2 id="org4de1d9d"><span class="section-number-2">9.</span> Building a team</h2>
<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-9">
<p>
He uses a key play here once he got a few people interested. The owners
he already met and had good connection with, he follows through. They get to act
sort of like a board of directors in the idea phase. They have no stakes, so
they all will feel empowered and trusted by Glenn.
</p>

<p>
Once he has interviewed a few people, he invites all to a gathering in a brewery
and talks about himself, but the most important part why he is doing this! The story
is important here, people want to help someone if they know the story. He is
able to use his confidence and convey the dream, inspire, and they want to be a
part of it.
</p>

<p>
Finally, this might be the third meeting with team members, he pitches the new
idea with the restaurant instead. Once he heard them and got them
onboard, he asks for the ultimate commitment strategy. "Are you with me? Are you
with me?". Then he starts delegating director roles.
</p>

<p>
After a few days he start to follow up on these roles. Everything from finding a
pit master, brewers and marketing.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="outline-container-org7f40104" class="outline-2">
<h2 id="org7f40104"><span class="section-number-2">10.</span> Restaurant launch</h2>
<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-10">
<p>
It's a lot of fun and games up to the launch of the restaurant. With the money
from the flipped house, he pays the interior designer, restaurant lease and the
marketing play with the BBQ at Rib fest. With the money, and the acknowledgement
he gets by winning the festival in two categories he can launch the restaurant
and pay the interior designer for her work renovating the restaurant. It leaves
him with $8'000 out of $21'000 from the festival achievements.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="outline-container-orgb75a3ee" class="outline-2">
<h2 id="orgb75a3ee"><span class="section-number-2">11.</span> Setbacks</h2>
<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-11">
<p>
There are going to be setbacks in life. That is how it is,
unfortunately. For Glenn there was a few times where it could have gone haywire.
</p>
</div>
<div id="outline-container-orgb3437cf" class="outline-3">
<h3 id="orgb3437cf"><span class="section-number-3">11.1.</span> Mold</h3>
<div class="outline-text-3" id="text-11-1">
<p>
After buying the house and the renovation started, they found a lot of mold in
the building. It is a newbie mistake, and should have been
inspected before purchasing. This did not ruin Glenn, but ate
into some of the profits from flipping the house. It's important to keep your head up
and look at the goal here, so that you can get over this kind of obstacle. If it
would have set him back further, we can look back into the story and see if
there are some opportunities to make some quick cash, such as flipping another car.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="outline-container-org060d46b" class="outline-3">
<h3 id="org060d46b"><span class="section-number-3">11.2.</span> Brewing beer requires a lot of licenses and time to get them</h3>
<div class="outline-text-3" id="text-11-2">
<p>
Glenn and his team got deep into craft beer. But once he talks with an attorney
about brewing, he gets punched in the stomach with some reality checks. It takes 90
days to get a license to brew beer, time he does not have. The whole
business plan with craft beer falls apart. This is not too bad because Glenn
is building his team and getting buy-in from the members. They are onboard
because of Glenn, his story, and the local aspect of the business.
</p>

<p>
Still, he and his team can use the knowledge and contacts they have built up, by
shifting to a simpler concept of a restaurant with the more revenue
streams from online.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="outline-container-org02e6e47" class="outline-3">
<h3 id="org02e6e47"><span class="section-number-3">11.3.</span> Restaurant location falling through</h3>
<div class="outline-text-3" id="text-11-3">
<p>
Another setback for the whole business idea and the execution of it was loosing
the deal with the owner of a bar downtown. But keeping his chin up and having
the realtor finding another spot, they end up finding a better spot next to a
road with traffic instead. Also the place is much bigger.
</p>

<p>
Because you have a setback, big or small, it does not mean that you will have
your whole plan fall apart.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="outline-container-orgd82440e" class="outline-3">
<h3 id="orgd82440e"><span class="section-number-3">11.4.</span> Unprepared staff during Rib fest</h3>
<div class="outline-text-3" id="text-11-4">
<p>
This setback actually costs a lot of missed revenue, which impacts the
profits and jeopardizes the goal of starting up the restaurant. Glenn can see
the shortcomings with the head chef but is unable to address it quick
enough. She is unable to do some basic things such as getting water for the food
preppers to wash their hands. All the tasks, and nervousness overwhelmed her. This
has been a requiring theme with her unfortunately. Glenn should have spotted it
and have some more staff to do some of her tasks. It was good that some of the
team members stepped in and diffused the situation.
</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="outline-container-org55e56e6" class="outline-2">
<h2 id="org55e56e6"><span class="section-number-2">12.</span> Revenue streams</h2>
<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-12">
</div>
<div id="outline-container-org933fcb2" class="outline-3">
<h3 id="org933fcb2"><span class="section-number-3">12.1.</span> Underdog BBQ restaurant</h3>
<div class="outline-text-3" id="text-12-1">
<p>
Food and beverage sales. With the branding, the business is able to franchise to
inspired entrepreneurs over the nation, while at the same time getting a piece of it all.
As the valuator says about franchising, if he can get 1000 franchises and take
between $2m - $10m per site, it becomes "pretty penny".
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="outline-container-org3cfd383" class="outline-3">
<h3 id="org3cfd383"><span class="section-number-3">12.2.</span> Underdog beer</h3>
<div class="outline-text-3" id="text-12-2">
<p>
Local partnership and national distribution. The brewer, Union Station, gets
part of the revenue for brewing the beer with their brand recognition on the
beer label i.e. "brewed by Union Station". Since they will be selling the beer
on a national scale, this revenue stream can be huge.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="outline-container-org5d1ab04" class="outline-3">
<h3 id="org5d1ab04"><span class="section-number-3">12.3.</span> Online sales</h3>
<div class="outline-text-3" id="text-12-3">
<p>
Sauces, rubs and apparel. Opportunity to build their brand and get people from
outside the locals or people passing by the restaurant to buy things. It
justifies having a presence and building a brand online with social media etc.
</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="outline-container-orgecb6b5d" class="outline-2">
<h2 id="orgecb6b5d"><span class="section-number-2">13.</span> Summary</h2>
<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-13">
<p>
My goal with watching this TV-series and writing it down has been to try and
distill something that is shorter and more digestible than the show itself. A
piece which we can come back to when we need some guidance. To be something like
a blueprint that we can follow to build our own businesses. I hope it helps us
both, and a big thank you to Glenn Stearns, what a hero you are for showing us
dreamers the way!
</p>
</div>
</div>
]]></description>
    </item>
  </channel>
</rss>
