MAY 29TH, 2009
By MATT GRUHN
By MATT GRUHN
A fitting end to a great weekend
Our Memorial Day weekend plans were packed with activities. We took Friday off so that my wife and two girls and I could beat traffic heading north out of the Twin Cities and so we could spend some additional time together. My sister-in-law’s family had invited us to their cabin on a chain of lakes for the long weekend, and after our head start, they joined us on Friday night. Normally on these long weekends, I like to relax and avoid running from one activity to the next, but this time I got caught up in the flow. Read more >>
By Mike Hoffman, owner, Marine Center of Indiana — I used to be in the medical business, and back then, I told people that “I sell something that none of my clients really want, but they all need.” Now I own a dealership and I enjoy telling people that, “We sell something that everybody wants, but nobody needs.” So as I begin this rant, please, let’s not forget that a boat is nothing more than a toy. We, as one industry, cannot control the economy. We cannot control the banks. We cannot control who gets to or wants to buy a boat. But we can control the way we operate our businesses, and through that, we can certainly deliver to each and every precious customer the experience that they deserve through boating. 
Last September, I became a black belt in martial arts, and lately I’ve been giving a lot of thought to how the philosophies we use in the dojo apply in the business world. I’ve found, for example, that I’m definitely not in the same shape I was when I first tied the black belt around my waist. Work and home have been busy, which has translated into less time in the dojo. When you’ve just spent three years building up to your black belt “final exam,” martial arts classes feel easy. These days … not so much. Regardless of the difficulty of these classes, as a black belt, I’m expected to act like a leader, to set an example for my peers and to face challenges and obstacles with a positive, fighting spirit. I can’t give up even when my arms are burning on our fifth set of push-ups. I can’t complain even when I’m wiped out after the first two rounds of sparring. And I certainly can’t let a tough day at the office impact the kind of training partner I am for my peers. 
I love today. I love it because, for me, this is the first day of summer. It’s the Friday before Memorial Day. It’s the first of a number of more-than-two-day weekends I hope to enjoy this summer. It’s the first time I’ll be out on a boat this summer. And it’s a signal to me that it’s time to truly get excited about my top boating priority: muskie fishing. 
When my husband called me at work a few days ago, I could hear a smile in his voice. It wasn’t long before I found out why. He had spent the past hour talking shop with Dan Barnes, the co-founder of Velovie, an Arizona bike manufacturer. Now, Jason is the kind of consumer who can be either a company’s dream customer or its worst nightmare. When he walks into a store to make a purchase, he has done his research – sometimes several years’ worth – and often knows more about a product than the salesperson. While he’ll research any major purchase, from household appliances and power tools to cars and lawn tractors, his real passion for which he reserves the most focus and attention is cycling equipment. 
With the news this week that the U.S. Small Business Administration will begin an interest-free loan program that provides up to $35,000 for small businesses facing immediate financial hardship, the federal government has taken a step that could offer immediate assistance to many marine businesses around the country. But will it help you, or any of the businesses you know? And, with the billions being spent on economic recovery, have you seen any of the benefits at your company, or in your area? 
It was the worst of circumstances, at least for a business trip. Up since 4 … bumpy flight … forgot to book the rental car … and the hotel … and late for two of our three meetings (traffic was horrible). All I wanted — all I needed — was sleep. We Pricelined a hotel from a Starbucks. A four-star establishment, The W seemed the perfect fit to wind down a hectic day. Until we returned from dinner. 
I’ve never been to Seattle, but it’s pretty high up on my list of places to visit. My favorite cities are those where you can be in the thick of what makes them so appealing – the museums, restaurants, shops and marketplaces – and you can look up and see the evidence of the natural world, the water and the mountains, just beyond. But even more attractive is the city’s large and progressive boating business community. Just look at the Northwest Marine Trade Association’s (NMTA) Grow Boating Initiative and particularly its most recent promotion, unveiled yesterday. 
Gerard Broshart is one of hundreds of dealers with a glum outlook this morning. He, according to 
Small businesses have an advantage in this economy. So wrote Harvard Business blogger Peter Bergman in 