Category: Uncategorized

Jeane Hains-Natural By Necessity

Published in the Independence Daily Reporter December 2019

Jim Correll, director Fab Lab ICC at Independence Community College, Independence Kansas

Jeane Hains became the owner of the Natural Food Center in Coffeyville in quite an unexpected way of becoming “natural” by necessity after a childhood illness almost claimed her life before she could become an adult.

“I was recently completing a questionnaire before attending a marketing class in Colorado, one of the questions was “How did you get to this place in your career?” I pondered my answer for a while wondering just how I should answer. After all, as I started my adult career, I had never guessed that someday I would own a health food store.

How Did You Come To Own a Health Food Store?

I answered, “Divine Intervention.” During a later one on one meeting with the instructor the first thing he asked me, “Really, how did you come to own a health food store?” My answer again, “Divine Intervention,” more than once”, he looked at me puzzled so I explained.

Growing up on a farm southeast of Altamont, KS, the youngest of nine children to older parents my goal as an eight-year-old was to hang out with my dad as he worked around the farm. Some of my older siblings had serious illnesses such as measles and rheumatic fever before I arrived, but I had always been healthy. That would all change the summer of 1978.

The summer started as usual, I was busy with farming and raising cattle but one day in June I sprained my ankle. While recuperating, I was disappointed to be in the house instead of in the field. After four weeks my ankle still had not healed. X-rays revealed no broken bones, but the doctor was concerned about a swollen lymph node on my neck. We went to a doctor in Joplin, MO. Medication shrank the lymph node and a biopsy showed nothing. As the following weeks passed, pain in my body increased to the point I was unable to walk. Every joint hurt.

Leukemia at Nine Years

In August of 1978, two and a half weeks after my 9th birthday, we headed to KU Medical Center I was put in a room and poked with more needles than I ever knew were possible. Within twenty-four hours the diagnosis had been confirmed with five other major medical centers around the United States, Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia.

The following three-plus years consisted of loads of medication and chemotherapy, a cranial radiation-a mandatory part of chemo at the time, bone marrow biopsies, spinal taps, x-rays, blood tests, and transfusions.

During those three years, several of the other kids in the oncology wing did not survive their cancer battles. Why was I surviving but they were not although I was aware that I had a team of people praying for me, I was just a kid. Fast forward to my teenage years. While attending a camp for kids with cancer, I experienced the same scenario. Why was God allowing me to survive?

Seeking Natural Remedy

As an adult, I started to see various health-related symptoms arise. After seeking the help of western medicine to overcome those problems I realized I was not pleased with the side effects or the results.

I sought the assistance of a naturopath, someone who guided me to healing the residual effects of the chemo with a more natural approach; dietary changes and supplementation with natural herbs and minerals. The results were much better. Working with the naturopath and adding a few things after my own research helped me to a more normal function.

Working a stressful job impeded my progress. I wanted to find a healthier option for myself. Having been a customer of the Natural Food Center (NFC) in Coffeyville for years I met with owner Mary Bookter to see if she was interested in selling. She was not ready at that time.

Divine Intervention

I continued to look for other employment options. While interviewing for a position with a corporation they requested a reference call to my current employer. I was hesitant to agree wondering just how my boss would react, but I did consent. I asked one of my sisters to pray that I might get this position. I informed my boss that I had applied for another position and he might receive a reference call. He took that as my two weeks’ notice and proceeded to replace me, although I had not secured the other position. Due to the stress of this realization, I called NFC for a special supplement. I then called my husband to have him pick it up and before I got off the phone with him, I received a call from Mary Bookter. Was I still interested in buying the store? Well yes of course! Feeling a bit shocked with the call from Mary I called sister that prayer I’d requested. She admitted, she hadn’t really prayed that I would get the position that I had applied for, but rather that God would put me where He wanted me. “Divine Intervention”

Perhaps this is the moment for which you have been created. Esther 4:14

I believe I’ve discovered HIS purpose for me.

Jim Correll is the director of Fab Lab ICC at the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship on the campus of Independence Community College. He can be reached at (620) 252-5349, by email at jcorrell@indycc.edu or Twitter @jimcorrellks. Archive columns and podcast at jimcorrell.com.

Let’s Have a Battery-Free Christmas

Published in the Independence Daily Reporter November 2019

Jim Correll, director Fab Lab ICC at Independence Community College, Independence Kansas

Like the perennial “It’s a Wonderful Life” I’d like to make this one a Christmas tradition.

When I was growing up, let’s just say it was several years ago, battery-operated toys were just coming into existence. In those days, batteries (technically, energy cells) were expensive enough that most electric toys were sold without them. Hence, the phrase we still sometimes hear today “Batteries not included.” It was kind of a sign that you were up to date with technology if you got something for Christmas that required batteries. Parents wanted to give their kids the latest so why give those boring, non-electric gifts like Tinker Toys, Lincoln Logs, or erector sets when the kids wanted the electric toys that had lights, bells, and the ability to move around on their own through simple electric motors?

One of my favorites from my era was a “robot” similar to those appearing in movies and shows like “Lost in Space.” Also, at that time, the “Jetson’s” animated cartoon show sported “Rosie” the robot maid. Although hokey by today’s standards, we didn’t know of anything else so the robot that would merely light up and move around the floor was as exciting to us as the more sophisticated cool robots of today. That early robot didn’t teach me much, except how to insert the batteries in the right direction but it was a cool toy. Fortunately for me, I kept on playing with the Tinker Toys, Lincoln Logs, and my erector set.

The trend to electric and now electronic toys has continued over the last 50 years–admittedly, with some really cool technology always emerging. This keeps parents wanting to make sure their kids have the latest electronic gadgets. Unfortunately, this trend has contributed to two or three generations of folks who, by and large, don’t know how to make things with their hands. Actually, many don’t try to make anything with their hands or fix anything around the house as they lack the imagination inspired by playing with hands-on toys that required tinkering and making.

We see this all the time at Fab Lab ICC with people of all ages that are not very adept at using their hands. In the first year we were open, 2014, one of our ICC students was a wizard at creating complex 3d drawings in using a computer program, but he couldn’t make anything with his hands. He didn’t know a Philips from a flat-head screwdriver. He moved on before we could give him much experience at using hand tools and making things and will be at a disadvantage in his professional and personal life.

Over the last few years, when we bring kids to Fab Lab ICC for maker boot camps, STEM camps, and other activities, we make sure there’s plenty of working with hand tools mixed in with the digital work of creating files that run the cool fabrication machines. Here’s the thing. The kids love making things with their hands as much as making digital files on the computer.

The most successful people in the future at work, at home and in business—and the future is now–are those who will make things using drills, screwdrivers, and hammers combined with the latest digital technology. Even those in a non-maker profession will be better at solving work-related problems because of their ability to create and make.

I’m not really advocating a totally battery-free Christmas, however, the toys we give, and the activities we provide for our kids (of all ages) need to be a combination of the cool technology along with some handwork with manual hand tools. The learning and increase in self-confidence that happens with this combination are phenomenal and very satisfying for the gift giver to observe.

Succession Planning – What Will Happen to Your Business?

Published in the Independence Daily Reporter November 2019

Jim Correll, director Fab Lab ICC at Independence Community College, Independence Kansas

The topic of business succession planning, or a general lack thereof, always comes up in discussions about helping rural American small towns prosper. No one likes to see established businesses simply close down instead of transitioning to new owners. There has only been limited success in promoting and facilitating business succession planning. Sometimes public meetings take place, but some don’t attend as they don’t want to “advertise” that they might consider selling. I think we’ve made the concept too complicated, thinking it’s all about what the accountants, lawyers, and consultants need to do. Those people are necessary, but there are several things that need to be done before getting the heavy-hitter professionals involved. The time to start is now. Sometimes owners or close family members become ill and force a transition to happen earlier than expected. After several years of observation and my involvement in a few transition efforts, here’s a top 10 list of things business owners should do to set up a smooth transition to a new owner. Notice the expensive consultants come at the end. You should work out your strategy to accomplish the first seven before initiating the last three.

Give yourself some time. Businesses generally don’t transition within a few months. Allow a year or two to find the right prospect and situation. Don’t wait until you’re 3 months from total burn-out to get started.
Keep up appearances. Keep the store nice and updated, including your digital presence; web site, and social media. Repaint, remodel, and rearrange over the years. This not only makes the business worth more at transition time, but your current customers will come more often if they know you’re always making changes and improvements.
Keep up with the changing times and markets. Markets are changing and changing fast. You’ll have a much better chance at transition success if you’re products and services have been updated to be in demand now, not what was in demand five or ten years ago. Make a regular practice of innovating new offerings to your customers.
Create your “cookbook”—how you do things. Well documented procedures of how you do things will open up the transition market to people that aren’t necessarily experts in your trade if you can point to a book and say, “Here’s how we do things here.”
Separate real estate. We counsel entrepreneurs and potential small business owners not to buy the building that goes along with a store, unless they want to be in the real estate business. Being prepared to keep the building and lease it to your new business owner will widen your prospect market.
Be prepared to finance. As a rule, it’s very difficult for the buyer to obtain full financing to buy a business for any more than the assets are worth. Most of the time, current owners have to be willing to finance a part of the purchase. You may not want to do this, but it might be the only way to find a buyer.
Consider your income tax strategy. Serious prospects, eventually, will want to see your tax returns to verify the business is performing as you say. Be aware that a tax strategy to minimize profits will also minimize the profits the prospect sees in reviewing your returns. This may reduce the value of the business in the eyes of the prospect.
Where will the money go? Assuming you’ll have a successful transition, be thinking about where you want the proceeds from the transition to go. This would be a good thing to discuss with your financial planner.
Contact your accountant and attorney. Finally, after all the above have been considered and done, consult your accountant and attorney. Consider making up a transition team of your financial planner, accountant, and attorney.
Contact a business broker—maybe. There are plenty of people that will be eager to confidentially help you find a buyer, without charging you a commission. These include representatives of Network Kansas and the Kansas Small Business Development Centers. We know who to contact in both of these organizations. Don’t forget your banker.

Selling a business is somewhat like selling a house. Keeping it updated and in good repair over the years is not only more beneficial to you but makes it worth much more when it’s time to transition to someone else.

James Cantrell, Unlikely Master Jeweler

Published in the Independence Daily Reporter November 2019

Jim Correll, director Fab Lab ICC at Independence Community College, Independence Kansas

James Cantrell was nearing the end of his senior year in 1975 at Field Kindley high school in Coffeyville. He had made no plans nor had he any desires to do anything after high school although there was one thing he knew he didn’t want to do—attend college.

Yet today, James and wife Sonya own “Cantrell’s Fine Jewelry” stores in both Coffeyville and Independence. James is the only certified Master jeweler in Kansas, achieved in 2002, and one of fewer than 200 world-wide. Had anyone asked his teachers about James’ prospects for a successful life in 1975, they would have expressed concern. Not in 100, wait, 500 guesses would they have associated James to becoming a jeweler.

What To Do After High School

James’ parents, instead of forcing him to go to college whether he wanted to or not, were patient and flexible with him. On a business trip flight, his dad struck up a conversation with a representative of a jewelry repair school. Knowing that James loved making things with his hands, especially model cars, Dad came home and said, “Hey, you like making things with your hands, what do you think about going to jewelry school.” Until now James had not considered “jeweler” as a career choice, but it was time to make some kind of life decision. After some thought that he decided the jewelry idea sounded interesting and three days after graduation, he headed to Paris, Texas to enroll in jewelry school. The studying was easier and went faster than James was used to because he was interested and eager to learn the craft. He was graduated from the 12-month program and a 3-week gemology seminar on his 18th birthday.

He worked as a bench jeweler (Wikipedia: A bench jeweler is an artisan who uses a combination of jewelry-making skills to make and repair jewelry.) in several area stores eventually coming back to Coffeyville in 1978 working for his dad. James went to work for Boles Jewelry in 1982 staying at that job for 25 years. Six months into the 26th year, he felt the desire to have his own store. He approached the owner, telling him he was considering going out on his own; the owner responded, “Why don’t you just buy this store?”

On October 1, 2007, James Opened “Cantrell’s Fine Jewelry.”

In one fell swoop, he went from bench jeweler to store owner, adding the daunting tasks of business, cash and inventory management to his daily duties. Sonya was all-in supportive. She worked full time in the school district office, her job, their safety net. Like most other business start-ups, there was no big financial loan package, however, the couple did obtain some bank financing and added their “cruise fund money” from a shoebox under the bed. The previous owner financed the inventory until after that first Christmas season. Sonya helped with business management after-hours of her full-time job until 2014 when the business had grown so much that she took early retirement to join James full-time.

James takes great pride in the repair work he does and the custom jewelry he designs. His inspiration comes from analyzing the customer’s parameters for a repair of a custom piece and then adding his own spin always to the customer’s delight. On numerous occasions, he’s repaired heirloom jewelry pieces that other jewelers said could not be repaired. It is common for those customers to tear up with emotion when they see their piece restored to its original splendor.

Give Youth Tools To Discover Opportunity

We live in a society that pushes our young (younger and younger all the time) to decide “what they want to be” when they grow up. How many James Cantrell’s are out there right now, struggling in school, our society making them feel inferior because they don’t know what they want to do with their lives?

Yet with an iceberg of opportunities waiting we show them only a tiny portion of the tip of the iceberg of career possibilities; we can’t possibly figure out how to show young people the whole iceberg. Entrepreneurial mindset and the art of making things will help them become life-long learners and show them how to discover their own opportunities, waking up their innate curiosity so they can observe and analyze the problems they see in the world around them and figure out what problems they want to solve as their life’s work.