Comstock's magazine 0118 - January 2018 | Seite 25

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Why Being an
Innovator is
Important
The first step to becoming a successful
business owner is showing up and a huge part
of that is having an innovative mindset. But,
you can’t just have innovative ideas... you have
to find ways to transform those ideas into
practical, tangible solutions.
Innovation in business is important for two
BIG reasons:
1. It gives you a competitive advantage — by
creating something new or doing things
in new ways, it puts your company in a
Former Sac High students
ace their business plan
by Joan Cusick
The Sangre del Dragon project started in August 2016 when Sac High seniors
Leo Lopez, Angel Roque, Benny Perez and Jordan Salvador were given an
assignment to create a business plan for hot sauce. Since graduation, they’ve
grown their team, expanded their line and secured FDA approval.
superior position.
2. It keeps you flexible — maintaining an
innovative mindset lets you switch gears
and change directions when needed.
Although industry giants like Amazon,
Facebook and Google have virtually unlimited
access to capital, the greatest innovations
often come from small companies. Why?
Because the larger an organization gets, the
harder it is for them to stay flexible. That’s why
as smaller businesses innovate and grow, they
are often acquired by these larger players.
SO HERE’S A THOUGHT:
When choosing your direction, choose ideas
that people will buy. Test by getting your
product in your customers hands then listen
to what they have to say. Also, give some
thought to which industry leader might look to
buy your company down the road - and how
you can lead your business in that direction.
The more innovative you can be, either in
your product/service selection or in how
you operate, the more you’ll find success and
potentially a huge exit down the road.
Art Exposed:
Benwar Shepard
Always by your side,
Mark Haney
Mark Haney | CEO
by Andru Defeye
Benwar Shepard and his team Bigger Than Us Arts make music and public
art experiences accessible to the youth of South Sacramento. Recently, the
nonprofit was awarded a $5,000 Creative Economy Pilot Project grant from
the City of Sacramento to bring a New Orleans-style second line parade to the
Valley Hi neighborhood.
www.HaneyBiz.com
HaneyBiz is a Comstock’s strategic partner
January 2018 | comstocksmag.com
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