Monday Memo

A Byte of Knowledge

We love what 1st Phorm founder Andy Frisella says about having "aggressive patience."

Which is doing every little thing you can to inch your business/career forward each day.

While at the same time...

Understanding that the results of those actions will take time to materialize.

For example, you might create content every single day...

Consistently sharing insights...building your brand.

Promoting your products. Engaging with your audience.

But you know it could take months, even years, to see the full compounding effect.

Then your email list slowly grows...

Your social media following expands...

Sales trickle in.

Then one day...whoosh.

Hockey stick growth.

The dam breaks and it all comes together.

All those tiny actions...taken with patience and persistence...finally bear fruit.

Have aggressive patience.

Keep stacking those small wins.

And trust that with enough time the results will come.

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Something to Ponder

A lot of companies (especially direct response ones) will tell you their offer is the end all be all - the holy grail that will solve all your problems.

But then reality hits. Hard.

They fail to deliver on those extravagant promises.

And what happens?

Each letdown chips away at their brand's foundation.

One broken promise after another erodes their customers trust.

Eventually no one comes back and they're forced to close up shop.

Great companies operate differently.

They keep their word.

And even overdeliver.

Through this, they forge an unbreakable bond of loyalty.

As you scale your business, ponder this...

Are you keeping (and surpassing) the promises you make?

Or are you failing to deliver...

And destroying your most priceless asset - your reputation?

We Asked – AI Answered

Our Question: 

"Create a detailed entrepreneurial profile featuring a lesser-known entrepreneur who, despite not being a household name, is considered one of the most brilliant and influential business minds in history."

AI's Answer:

Entrepreneurial Profile: Clarence Saunders – The Genius Behind the Modern Supermarket

Who is Clarence Saunders?

• Born: August 9, 1881, in Amherst County, Virginia
• Founder of: Piggly Wiggly, the world’s first self-service grocery store
• Legacy: He revolutionized the grocery industry by inventing the self-service model, which became the foundation of modern supermarkets.

Why Clarence Saunders is a Business Genius

1. Inventor of the Self-Service Grocery Store

Before Clarence Saunders, grocery stores operated on a clerk-assisted model where customers would hand their lists to clerks, who would then gather the items. This method was time-consuming, labor-intensive, and limited what customers could buy.

• The Breakthrough: In 1916, Saunders launched Piggly Wiggly in Memphis, Tennessee, with a self-service layout. Customers could now walk through aisles, select their own goods, and take them to the checkout.
• Fact: This innovation slashed labor costs, increased sales, and gave customers the freedom to browse at their leisure, creating the impulse buying phenomenon that drives retail success today.
• Key Lesson: Saunders didn’t just streamline the shopping process—he redefined consumer behavior by making shopping an independent and more personal experience.

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2. First to Patent a Supermarket Model

Saunders didn’t stop with just an idea—he patented the concept of a self-service store, making him not only a retail innovator but also a business tactician.

• Insight: His patent included features we take for granted today, like shopping carts, price tags, and aisles designed to optimize flow. This was a key example of systematizing innovation—he turned an idea into an industry standard.
• Statistic: Within five years, Piggly Wiggly expanded to over 1,200 stores across the U.S. This rapid expansion was largely due to Saunders’ system being easy to replicate and operate profitably.

3. Pioneered Modern Marketing Techniques

Saunders was a marketing genius who understood how to create customer loyalty. He used branding, advertising, and in-store promotions to turn Piggly Wiggly into a household name.

• Example: He introduced pre-packaged goods and clear pricing, making shopping more transparent and enjoyable for customers.
• Fact: Piggly Wiggly was one of the first businesses to use branded packaging, giving shoppers a consistent experience and strengthening the company’s image.
• Lesson for Marketers: Saunders demonstrated the power of branding and consistency in customer-facing environments, principles that brands like Apple and Coca-Cola have since mastered.

4. Used Bold Stunts to Promote His Business

Saunders was known for his bold promotional strategies. When the stock price of Piggly Wiggly took a dive in the 1920s, he launched a high-profile stock manipulation stunt by buying back shares to push the price up. Though the plan ultimately backfired, the stunt was a testament to his boldness and commitment to protecting his brand.

• Phenomenon: This tactic became known as the "Bear Raid" battle, a high-risk strategy where he tried to outmaneuver short sellers on Wall Street.
• Lesson: While the gamble didn’t pay off, Saunders’ aggressive approach to problem-solving and willingness to take risks is a reminder that sometimes, entrepreneurial success involves daring moves that push boundaries.

5. A Legacy That Outlasted Financial Losses

Although Saunders lost control of Piggly Wiggly due to his stock market miscalculations, the self-service model he pioneered lived on and changed the entire grocery industry. Today, supermarkets globally owe their existence to Saunders’ innovation.

• Fact: As of today, there are over 38,000 supermarkets in the U.S., all following the self-service model Saunders introduced.
• Expert Opinion: Business historian Robert Sobel has stated, “Without Saunders, we wouldn’t have the shopping experiences we know today—he was decades ahead of his time.”

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Thanks for reading the Monday Memo.

Until next time!

The AI Marketers