Andrew and Jay discuss several key principles this week that can help your business grow, including:

• The Bullet Tells the Truth: It doesn't matter how well something works in theory; it must work in practice.
• Avoid Delusional Leadership: Understand the real workings and needs of your company.
• AI as Homework: Using AI can be beneficial if you use it wisely, much like looking at someone else's homework.
• Customer Alignment: Recognize that your business goals won't align with every customer, and that's sometimes okay.
• Exploring Other Shops: Visiting other businesses can provide valuable insights into different operational methods.
• Keep Vendors Close: There are advantages to having your vendors geographically near your business.

And there's much more. Hey, if you spot us at IMTS 2024, please come over and say hello!

Andrew and Jay continue their discussion of what kind of 5-axis machine should Andrew buy and how to think ahead in making big decisions. Then they shift gears into the art of crafting a mission statement that doesn't just gather dust on a plaque. What makes a mission statement not just good, but galvanizing? What is a good mission statement is even meant to accomplish? Finally, they discuss the "dark side" of lean methodology, when it begins to consume your life outside the shop.

Join Jay and Andrew as they dive deep into the challenges of using Fusion, the nuances of fair use in copyright law, and the art of dressing to impress in the business world (it's actually a thing!). We're picking up where we left off from our future discussion on Andrew's journey in scaling up his business and investing in new equipment. As we do, we'll explore why sometimes staying in your lane can be the most strategic move for growth.