On September 1, 1982, ACS became an active corporation. All I needed were clients and I knew just where to find them.
In a previous blog (HOW WASHINGTON WORKS), I mentioned that the federal General Services Administration (GSA), the purchasing arm for federal civilian agencies with whom we negotiated early contracts. GSA negotiates THOUSANDS OF contracts with corporations and companies, and that is where I would find my clients. Many of these small companies were getting very little business through the contracts and I knew why. They would be the targets for using ACS services.
The answer to lack of business was very simple. Even though they had contracts and expected TONS of business, it just wasn't happening. What they didn't realize was that the contract was a tool to get them in the agency door, but they still had to sell said agencies on the product advantages, and that is where I would come in. I would go from agency to agency, with product (s) in hand, demonstrate the advantages of same and ask for an order.
So, I selected about 100 small companies from the GSA records (it's public information, you know), and put my trusty typewriter to work with an introductory letter and offer. Within a few weeks I had 30 small company prospects.
However, I soon discovered that most of these prospects were reluctant to meet my requirements of an upfront meeting, at their expense, and a deposit for starters. I did meet with one small Connecticut firm, a father/son outfit, in Washington. We both liked what we heard, a check was produced and ACS was in business.
More, later.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Thursday, April 21, 2011
RETIRE? WHO? ME?
Why do you suppose that a person would want to retire from an active business career at age 62? I am not sure that I can answer that question, but I can tell you that I did just that! Yep. September1, 1982 was the BIG DAY that I left my office as a retiree.
It may be that some pre-retirement action paved the way to that day, and here is how it happened. Early in the year, I told dear wife that when I retired from my corporate position, I intended to form a consulting service. As you probably know, the Washington area is FULL of consultants and lobbyists, so another one would not sink the ship. She seemed rather cool to the idea.
That spring I engaged a law firm, friends of mine, to draw up the necessary papers to form a corporation. Lo and behold, in one month the ANDERSON CONSULTING SERVICES (ACS) was born and ready to swing into action at retirement time.
One day, early in June of '82, my department head came into my office to inform me that a corporate fax had just come in and perhaps I should take a look at it. It was a corporate retirement offer addressed to managers at my level. It seemed to have plenty of incentives to make consideration of retirement attractive.
I took it home to dear wife to discuss, and by July 1st we had made the decision to accept the offer.
More, later.
It may be that some pre-retirement action paved the way to that day, and here is how it happened. Early in the year, I told dear wife that when I retired from my corporate position, I intended to form a consulting service. As you probably know, the Washington area is FULL of consultants and lobbyists, so another one would not sink the ship. She seemed rather cool to the idea.
That spring I engaged a law firm, friends of mine, to draw up the necessary papers to form a corporation. Lo and behold, in one month the ANDERSON CONSULTING SERVICES (ACS) was born and ready to swing into action at retirement time.
One day, early in June of '82, my department head came into my office to inform me that a corporate fax had just come in and perhaps I should take a look at it. It was a corporate retirement offer addressed to managers at my level. It seemed to have plenty of incentives to make consideration of retirement attractive.
I took it home to dear wife to discuss, and by July 1st we had made the decision to accept the offer.
More, later.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
REACHING OUT
Early in our time in McLean, we became involved in volunteering with the Washington Tourist Bureau's International Home Visits Program. This was to answer the desire of overseas visitors to visit an American home. We would pick them up at their hotel, give them a meal and a tour of our home, and then return them to the hotel.
It was our aim to serve a typical American meal. For example: if it was summertime, the guests would enjoy hot dogs with rolls, potato salad, ears of corn, sliced tomatoes and condiments, with watermelon for dessert. During the winter, the meal would consist of roast beef with mashed potatoes and gravy, mixed vegetables and a home-baked pie for dessert. The guests loved everything about their visit.
We hosted visitors from Europe, Asia and the Islands of the Sea. One visit was as memorable as one can imagine, and it happened this way! Dear son and family were assisting me as we hosted four men from India. After dinner, my dear daughter-in-law excused herself in order to give the granddaughters a "tubby," while we adults retired to the living room for some conversation. Suddenly, granddaughter #2, at age two, streaked into the living room, stark naked, and climbed into the lap of one of the visitors!! The room EXPLODED with laughter while an embarrassed mother took daughter back to the bedroom.
More, later.
It was our aim to serve a typical American meal. For example: if it was summertime, the guests would enjoy hot dogs with rolls, potato salad, ears of corn, sliced tomatoes and condiments, with watermelon for dessert. During the winter, the meal would consist of roast beef with mashed potatoes and gravy, mixed vegetables and a home-baked pie for dessert. The guests loved everything about their visit.
We hosted visitors from Europe, Asia and the Islands of the Sea. One visit was as memorable as one can imagine, and it happened this way! Dear son and family were assisting me as we hosted four men from India. After dinner, my dear daughter-in-law excused herself in order to give the granddaughters a "tubby," while we adults retired to the living room for some conversation. Suddenly, granddaughter #2, at age two, streaked into the living room, stark naked, and climbed into the lap of one of the visitors!! The room EXPLODED with laughter while an embarrassed mother took daughter back to the bedroom.
More, later.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
MCLEAN BIBLE CHURCH
In my previous blog (Tysons Corner), I mentioned MBC and its location near PBC, on the Leesburg Pike. It is a story in itself.
The story began in a previous blog (Finding a Church), when dear wife and I became members. MBC had about 400 members and, like PBC, was ideally located at the Washington Beltway and Georgetown Pike. At that time MBC was considering an expansion program of its own which would double the seating capacity. The consideration became an actuality and we joined just in time to help pay for it.
Although the increased size of the building was beneficial, the Board of Elders sensed some problems between the congregation and the senior pastor and, after much deliberation decided that a change was necessary. Eventually we invited a young man who was teaching at a local Bible seminary and he accepted the offer to be our pastor.
With a new pastor in the pulpit, church attendance began to grow and the church kept adding services. Because of land restrictions there was no room to enlarge the current structure, so a move was necessary.
At Leesburg Pike and Lewnisville Road, the National Wildlife Federation had a very large building compound, but needed to expand and was looking to move. MBC bought their land and buildings and continued to increase. Today, there are THOUSANDS of people using its facilities weekly under the leadership of the same young man that was hired many years ago.
More, later.
The story began in a previous blog (Finding a Church), when dear wife and I became members. MBC had about 400 members and, like PBC, was ideally located at the Washington Beltway and Georgetown Pike. At that time MBC was considering an expansion program of its own which would double the seating capacity. The consideration became an actuality and we joined just in time to help pay for it.
Although the increased size of the building was beneficial, the Board of Elders sensed some problems between the congregation and the senior pastor and, after much deliberation decided that a change was necessary. Eventually we invited a young man who was teaching at a local Bible seminary and he accepted the offer to be our pastor.
With a new pastor in the pulpit, church attendance began to grow and the church kept adding services. Because of land restrictions there was no room to enlarge the current structure, so a move was necessary.
At Leesburg Pike and Lewnisville Road, the National Wildlife Federation had a very large building compound, but needed to expand and was looking to move. MBC bought their land and buildings and continued to increase. Today, there are THOUSANDS of people using its facilities weekly under the leadership of the same young man that was hired many years ago.
More, later.
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