The movie “Moneyball” is about a baseball manager with giant problems and no money to solve them. His solution was so inventive that it was game changing. For me, the baseball of the movie holds no importance, but the “big idea” of solving a big problem with little solutions is. America’s economy seems to be a place where money is used to solve most problems and is the source of much conflict. I learned in college that money was a facilitator of exchange. The 1986 definition does nothing to help me understand the vast number of ways to exchange funds today.
It is clear that the “Moneyball” solution for any business is to have most “apps” used for financial transactions. There is Paypal, Cash app, Zelle, Venmo, and new ones seem to appear every day. It stuns me that people actually buy weed paying with a cash application - huh? The world I knew is gone and the legal cannabis environment in NY State is here. Buying and selling using apps is common business, but I still hate it! My experience has been poor connections, long transaction time, trying to see my phone in direct sunlight with bad eyesight, and the worst, something goes wrong (which happens often!).
It seems like one big problem! If I don’t take electronic payments, I will lose business. The solution turns out to be several solutions. First part is to encourage cash transactions and charging a small fee on all payment app payments (card and app companies charge business owners a fee per transaction, it seems reasonable to pass on some of the costs to the customer). Second is to have a specialist, someone who is both able and patient to do the transaction. For me, that is my CFO and wife, and she is first rate at point-of-sale transactions. Thirdly, have a QR code for customers to scan to send payments to you. Put together, these three changes solve the app problem for me.
I believe it is essential to look to yourself and your assets before spending a dime or asking for assistance. You might find hidden value in a person or an old possession, the idea is to look with intent and purpose. Most problems leave room for many solutions and those solutions can take many parts. The first most important thing in the creative problem-solving process is to slow down and focus on something that calms your mind. It is extremely hard to be both creative and overwhelmed at the same time. Therefore, it is essential to bring out your best at moments of great need, so find stillness and prepare to act by slowing your mind and body.
Now, the need is great, and effects are deadly, what do you do? Prepare, make sure your biology is ready, settle your mind. Now act! Bridges have many parts, just figure out the parts! Build the solution in your mind, on paper, written on mirror, just start writing possible solutions. No hesitation, just brilliant or moronic, no telling, just allow your mind to focus on solving the issue. My trick is to think backwards, where do I want to go and how do I get there? Deduction is a technique used by the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes. He used to say; “When you have excluded the impossible, whatever remains, however impossible, must be the truth.”
“Moneyballing” the solution is entertaining the impossible and dreaming what seems improbable and making it happen. For me, this idea is both new and exciting. My business has certain challenges and I have been chopping at them with big solutions to no avail. The idea of solving smaller issues and allowing the big ones to sort themselves out is the approach I am using now. My issue: I need to sell more games! So, what is the big answer??? Nothing worked, but I had small successes, and it is those small wins that can be the beginning of a new strategy.
My Moneyball solution has been threefold, first expand my inventory. Second improve my website. Thirdly, put effort into making vending/game nights memorable for all guests. Each of these solutions have details that need to be worked, but the idea is sound, and I have decided to use this plan for the summer of 2021. Keep an eye on Roll-a-Bong for my big and small moves and see if my Moneyball solution works to increase my sales.
