California Miramar University

As we’re now officially entrenched in the digital age, more businesses are turning to online business models for their day-to-day operations. One Orange County based company that has done this brilliantly (and innovatively, of course) is ePropertySites.com. They are a property owner’s dream by creating completely customizable websites for each property you own and want to sell. But more than that, they create both automatic/customized and high-definition panoramic virtual tours to let possible buyers see everything they need (and get hooked) before even visiting the property.

Founded in 2007 in the middle of the housing crisis, this was definitely a bit of a gamble because, well, it wasn’t the most ideal time to sell a property. However, because of their innovative and all-encompassing real estate software, people caught on to how they really do solve all of their property marketing responsibilities. I mean, they even create a Facebook listing widget and analytics of website traffic for each property as well. Seriously; they do everything.

In 2007 when they first started their business operations, they had 2 employees and earned $141,855 annual revenue according to Inc.com. However, as they began to expand their software and services and market themselves in the real estate industry, their business exploded. In 2010 – just three years later – they earned $3.3 million annual revenue, a 2219 % 3-year growth, and added 12 new employees to their team. If that’s not impressive, I’m not sure what is.

So as everything continues to be integrated more and more into the online cloud (kind of like our online MBA programs), that leaves the door open for more innovative business concepts like ePropertySites.com to benefit. They have a great business model and are very deserving of our CalMU Small Business Spotlight.

With Earth Day coming up in a few weeks, we thought of nothing better than to recognize a company dedicated to the environment. With many accolades and awards to their name, we are shining the (first ever)CalMUSMALL Business Spotlight on E-Recyclers of San Diego. Their innovative electronic recycling services make them the leaders in California, with their ability to break down electronic products so that they can be sent directly to the furnace and be usable again; rather than breaking down products and sending them to other recyclers who further break them down for reuse.

Their customized process and equipment have enabled them to lead the industry towards a cleaner, more environmentally conscious recycling effort. Nothing that they touch is sent to a landfill (aside from organic material), encapsulating an ongoing effort to not only be eco-friendly, but to continually push for better and smarter solutions to recycling. With no toxic substances going to landfills, they are doing something that many other recycling companies are not – which might come as a surprise to some.

Last year, Cindy Erie, President of the company, was named the 2011 Small Business Peron of the Year by the San Diego branch of the Small Business Administration – a huge honor that not only speaks volumes of where they’ve come since their roots, but also where they are heading. They have also received countless other awards, including the 2011 Business of the Year and Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition by the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce. They also are actively involved in the San Diego community through providing public service outreach programs and partnering with organizations with a focus in sustainability of technological products.

For our students – specifically our on-campus, Hybrid and online MBA students – here is the lesson for the week: no matter what field you go into, continually strive to innovate and be a leader in your niche. E-World Recyclers have not only set the bar for other recycling companies in the area (and entire nation for that matter); they have also done so by recognizing a growing need for sustainable business practices and education and have strived to and succeeded in bridging the gap between waste and market reuse. Thank you, E-World Recyclers, we are honored to shine this week’s CalMU Business Spotlight on you.

This week we are shining our CalMU Business Spotlight on VeeVAçaí Spirit, and not just because it’s a “better way to drink.” After talking it over, we chose to highlight their business for two main reasons: innovation and sustainability. They are the perfect example of striking while the iron is hot, something that is paramount for starting a business and something we stress in our on-campus, hybrid and online MBA programs.

Over the past few years we have heard and seen a lot of one of the world’s most popular super fruits, the Brazilian açaíberry. Founded in 2006, VeeV is the world’s first açaíspirit, tying together two contrasting products: alcohol and antioxidants. They use all-natural ingredients and make their not-so-guilt pleasure in a renewable wind-powered distillery, so you don’t have to feel guilty about what you may do on the weekends.

Moreover, they recognize the need for sustainability, especially in the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest (which as we all know is continually falls victim to deforestation). For every bottle they sell, they donate $1 to Sambazon’s Sustainable AçaíProject. So not only have they pioneered a new ‘spirited’ product that has picked up on an emerging trend (pun intended), but they also are environmentally and socially conscious, making them true innovators in the Food and Beverage industry.

In 2007, a year after being starting their operations, they had 10 employees and grossed $147,673 that year, according to Inc.com. As momentum picked up for the health benefits of the açaíberry, so too did their business growth. Three years later, their 2010 revenue was $2.1 million, a 1316% growth rate over that three-year span. They continue to make headlines with their environmental activism and have come to be loved and consequently endorsed by celebrities, a great endorsement that transcends international borders.

So for our on-campus, Hybrid MBA and online MBA students, there are two lessons to learn from VeeV. One: ingenuity in creating a product that brings together two popular and important parts of society. Two: giving back to the people, plant and planet that are the reasons they were able to launch and grow so successfully.

From the entire California Miramar University faculty and staff, thank you for being a prime example of how to create and run a successful business. We wish you continued success and are very happy to shine the CalMU Business Spotlight on you.

Last week we showed a clip of Sherri Petro, MBA discussing the 15 Grand Strategies of strategic business management. This week, we’re looking at short-term objectives, both in terms of how they link and synch the company now, and how they can be tied to your company’s long-term objectives and ultimately set the course for accomplishing those.

This video clips comes from one of our online MBA courses on strategic management from a highly qualified and nationally renowned professional in business sustainability. Ms. Petro is an Adjunct Professor with us at California Miramar University, a 2010 Outstanding Professor of the Year award recipient, and one of the reasons why our on-campus, Hybrid MBA and online MBA programs have been recognized by the San Diego Business Journal as one of the Top 10 in San Diego County.

Transcript of the Lesson

So what are short-term objectives? Just how short are we talking about? I think about it as like operational work planning; it’s one year or less. Often times this helps resolve any type of conflicts between multiple departments within the organization and also assist with your performance management system. This is about making a strategy real, breaking it down into the functional levels, so that people know how they link and synch and contribute to the actual working of the company. Can each individual determine what their role is and the responsibilities they have in achieving strategy?

Short-term objectives: so, we said that they’re one year or less. They’re usually very specific. There’s a time frame for completion – both the start date and an end date – and we’re always determining who’s actually responsible for this, who will be held accountable. There are action planning worksheets when it comes to strategic planning that when we get down to this tactical level: Who is responsible? When’s it going to get done? What exactly is going to get done? It links and synchs the organization – hat will be S-Y-N-C-H, not S-I-N-K.

What are the qualities of effective short-term objectives? They have to be measurable, which means the activity that you are going after needs to be measurable. Often times when we get down to the functional level we’re also asking the question: How is technology going to support us in achieving this? Because we’ll talk about balance scorecards again, like we talked about in a previous chapter. Do I have the technology to actually measure, which means you have to be collecting the data. Do you have measurable outcomes? Are you able to prioritize either by importance or urgency, with a simple ranking or perhaps a weighted average? And can you link your short-term objectives to the long-term objectives? Every individual should be able to see that what they’re doing links to a strategy.

Video Transcription by GMR Transcription