1.14.17: Cannabiz

Article 1 Link: http://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/article/010917-california-cottage-cannabis-farmers-law/

I’ve never done any research on the marijuana business, but thought it would be appropriate given the recent passage of recreational use in the state of California through proposition 64. Its passage happened right before I arrived in California late last year for my friends Nick and Cindy’s wedding.

There’s a lot of concern surrounding the eradication of micro-farms (mom and pop cultivators that have similar operations and marketing as micro-breweries) due to large, conglomerate “big weed” corporations’ monopolizing the industry. This concern is shared by the governing authorities that hand out licenses for marijuana production and sales. With the enactment of the Cottage Cannabis Farmers Bill and provisions under Prop 64, the state government has only a limited number of licenses for large corporations to apply for in the first five years of enactment (beginning in 2018). The idea is for micro-farms to establish their businesses in the mean time in order to prevent from being out-muscled by the likes of Philip Morris or any other corporation looking to cash in on the new industry.

Whether you’re a supporter of legalized marijuana or not, the California government’s foresight into facilitating success for small businesses looking to establish themselves is commendable.

Article 2 Link: https://www.yahoo.com/news/goodbye-american-apparel-140000510.html

Article 3 Link:

1.1.17: Growing Pains in a Startup

Article Link: http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelineros/2016/12/20/growing-up-is-hard-lessons-from-scaling-our-startup/#29654ecc3222

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I’m still recovering from last night, so I went for an easy read about organizational issues that come with a growing start up. There isn’t much meat to the article, but it basically speaks to how you need to adjust the way you manage your team based on the stage and size of the startup. Really a no-brainer, but it’s worth thinking about.

As with all startups, flexibility is crucial I’d imagine. What got you here, may not be what you should do to get to the next level of growth. I personally have never started my own venture, but I think the toughest thing is entrusting your leadership once you’re team has grown. Entrepreneurs have their vision of their company and get used to the grind of executing business decisions in their own way, but once your leadership has been established… let them lead!

The main takeaway from the article though is adjusting how you gain alignment across the larger team, allow members to feel they’re being heard, and provide ongoing feedback to individuals and the collective. The adjustment should be dependent on each situation and company, but the balance between consistency in vision and flexibility of operations is an ongoing battle that’s tested with each stage of growth.

I go sleep now.

Article 2 Link: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/rough-road-ahead-for-hyundai-kia/news-story/957890da9cdd378c43e87dc290fe632e