The 1,500-Year-Old Company's Secret: 16 Precepts for a Business That Lasts | Ep. 11

Описание: Good morning Business Builders! Welcome to Business For Breakfast, where business is the most important meal of the day. I'm your host Aaron Novinger, the Venti Business Guy or otherwise known as VBG! Our goal on this show is to make you 1% smarter today by unpacking business news over the last 24 hours sprinkled with tips and tricks to help YOU Mind Your Own Business.


Today’s Briefing:
Welcome back to the show! I’m coming to you from my little cozy corner because, as you know, business is the most important meal of the day. Today we’ve got some "Juicy News" news to unpack. We are seeing a real-time squeeze where small business owners are being forced to raise prices just to keep the lights on, while the "Big Co" giants use their massive systems to weather the storm. It’s a "canary in the coal mine" moment for the American dream, but don't you worry—we aren't just here to talk about the hurricane; we’re here to find the rainbow and the tools to fix it.

I also stumbled onto something that absolutely blew my mind: the story of Kongō Gumi, a Japanese construction company that has been around for 1,500 years! Imagine a business that started in 578 AD and is still standing today. We’re diving deep into their "16 Precepts"—the secret sauce of longevity—to show you how you can build a business that doesn't just survive the next 12 weeks, but lasts for generations. If they can survive 40 generations and multiple civil wars, we can definitely handle a few tariff hikes.

Dad Joke, SNL Skit, Quote of the Day, This Day in History or Shows I'm Watching:
Shows I'm Watching: Land Man starring Billy Bob Thornton and Beast Games. If you haven't seen the amount of world records Jimmy breaks in season one, you’ve got to check it out.

The "Daily 1%" Advice:
Audit Your "Allergies": If you’re an "ATM" owner (Allergic To Money), put a lock and a doorway between you and the checkbook. Hire for accountability so you don't spend your way into a liquidity crisis.
Implement "Level 2 Management": As Aaron teaches, ensure your customers have a direct line to a decision-maker. Removing the middle-management noise makes you faster and more responsive than any "Big Co" out there.
Lean Into the Gray: Stop speaking in absolutes. True experts acknowledge the limitations and the "50 Shades of Gray" in business data. Stay a student to avoid the "Scarlet Letter M" (for Moron).

Chapter Markers:
00:00 - Licensing claps and the $4.20 royalty
02:15 - Welcome to Business for Breakfast
03:00 - The Morning Mark: Sharpen your edge
04:12 - TV Recs: Land Man and Beast Games
07:15 - The Truth About Tariffs: How the money flows
10:01 - The 3 Ps of Primal Existence
12:30 - The CEO as Captain of the Cruise Ship
17:01 - PAGs: Peer Advisory Groups (Your personal Board of Directors)
25:02 - The Spiritual Premonition: Saving Mom and Pop
28:42 - Automaker Values: Tesla vs. the World
37:25 - Novinger’s Law of Radical Responsibility
44:20 - The 1,500-Year-Old Company: Kongō Gumi
52:29 - Whiteboard Lesson: The 16 Precepts of Longevity
1:12:52 - Scott Adams Reframe: Love your self-criticism

Novy Notes:
"Routine is the key and consistency will set you free."
"Pressure is a privilege—you are the Chief Decision Maker (CDM)."
"The one in higher authority has to go first."
"I'm a big believer in eating my own home cooking."
"Level 2 Management" — A unique concept by Aaron Novinger to ensure every customer has direct access to the highest decision-maker to bypass bureaucracy and middle management.

Whiteboard Lesson:
Today we looked at the world's oldest company in Japan called Kongō Gumi. They have been building temples since the year 578! That's almost 1,500 years of existance! They have 16 "precepts" they follow to stay in business for over 40 generations. Some of the big ones are: be nice to everyone, don't waste money, and always do the best work even if it costs you a little profit right now. They say your tools are part of your soul, so keep them in perfect shape! If you follow these rules, you don't just build a shop for today; you build something that stays around for your grandkids' grandkids.

Here's the link to the 16 Kongō Gumi Precepts and Action Steps:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1O...

CTA:
"What is your 1% win today? Let me know in the comments!"

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#SmallBusiness #BusinessNews #BusinessForBreakfast #Entrepreneurship #KongōGumi