@BeckyMcCray

Small Town Rules

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@beckymccray

@smalltownrules

#SMTulsa

Barry Moltz

Becky McCray

Remember when …

For small towns, this is not news

Wrong assumptions contributed to the Dust Bowl

We learned to question assumptions

It’s just like a small town

I. The Economy changed

One small town got caught

Plan for Zero

Rule 1:

Take a long term perspective

Survive 5 years of ups and downs

Plan ahead for fuel costs

Spend Brainpower Before Dollars

Rule 2:

Be frugal Use creative financing

Spend your creativity first

Multiply Your Lines of Income

Rule 3:

Diversify to reduce risk

Plant multiple crops

Build multiple brands

II. Technology changed

Containerized shipping smashed geographic advantage

Work Anywhere, Anywhen

Rule 4:

Rethink geography

Use technology to defeat distance Try rural sourcing

Learn customer-driven communication

Rule 5:

Communication with customers is 2-way

Use a variety of methods

Because customers do, too

III. Society is changing

The local movement is big

Be Proud of Being Small

Rule 6:

Stay small while building big

Keep small work groups

Hive off separate business units

Be Local

Rule 7:

Hold on to your local culture

Strengthen your local community

Build local engagement

7 Small Town Rules #STRules

1. Plan for Zero

2. Spend Brainpower Before Dollars

3. Multiply Lines of Income

4. Work Anywhere, Anywhen

5. Learn Customer Driven Communications

6. Be Proud of Being Small

7. Be Local

Due out in early April

@BeckyMcCray

www.beckymccray.com

If you want to succeed.

How to act like a small town business

If you want to succeed.How to act like a small town business

If you want to succeed.

How to act like a small town business

Photo Credits

Creative Commons (Flickr) and

Public Domain photos:

5: Bull Market: (CC) James & Vilija

8: Dust Bowl: (PD) Dorothea Lange

11: Foreclosure: (CC) TaberAndrew

12: Cornelia: (CC) JimmyWayne

18: Multiple crops: (PD) USDA-NRCS

19: Workshifting: (CC) Citrix Online

Thank you!

Becky McCray:3: Chicago and Hopeton

7: Alva, Okla.

9: Wheat field

10: Oklahoma City Rooftop

14: Harvest, Southwest Logo

16: Wine Shelves

20: Intermodals

25: Local Proud

26: Buy Fresh

33: Watermelon Feed

34: Boy on Rooftop

35: Parade

Due out in early April

@BeckyMcCray

www.beckymccray.com