Revving Change in the On-Demand Transportation Economy
Bill George witnessed a lot of change during his many decades in the ground transportation industry—he’s owned cab companies since 1984. But now, George is the one driving the change.
From the printing press to the iPod to Reese’s peanut butter cups, some of the best “new” inventions combine already-existing products or ideas. And that’s just what George did. He capitalized on shifting consumer expectations by combining the best taxi service model with the best technology. The result? A new hybrid brand of on-demand transportation called zTrip.
It would be an understatement to say George has ridden it to success. The “new face of taxi,” zTrip is now the country’s largest private passenger ground transportation company, operating in cities across the U.S. as well as through affiliates worldwide.
On the latest episode of my Talking Business Now podcast, George shares how his father encouraged him to bring new ideas to the table as they worked together—although George admits it sometimes led to some “knock-down-drag-out fights.”
He also draws on the lessons he learned from selling two businesses—and then buying one of them back. “There’s buyers and there’s sellers,” he said. “And as a seller, my advice to every entrepreneur is get enough money to happily walk away, because there’s a good chance you won’t be happy when someone else takes over this thing you’ve created.”
Although George’s innovations have disrupted the on-demand transportation industry, he’s built his company on solid, proven business principles. Tune in for George’s insights on:
- Leveraging the disruption your competitors create.
- How to carve out a niche and define customers.
- Working with family—including the thunder, wonder and blunder theory of multi-generational family businesses.
Kelly Scanlon is a business owner, publisher, podcast host, past chair of the National Association of Women Business Owners and lifelong small business and entrepreneur advocate.
She currently owns Interrobang Solutions, a company that provides writing, editing and other professional publishing services for companies. Interrobang Solutions is also the producer of Kelly’s podcast, “Talking Business Now.”
For more than 20 years, Kelly owned Thinking Bigger Business Media, Inc., a company that publishes and produces a variety of publications, products and events that connect growth-minded business owners with practical strategies, resources and information that will take them to the next level of success. She sold Thinking Bigger in March 2018.
Kelly serves on a variety of local, regional and national boards designed to advocate and assist small businesses. She currently serves on the board of directors for the NAWBO Institute for Entrepreneurial Development, is a co-chair of the Women’s Foundation Patron Committee, and is a director on Country Club Bank’s metro advisory board.
In the past, Kelly has been involved with numerous local and national boards and committees, including a 5-year term on the national board of directors for the National Association of Women Business Owners, serving as board chair in 2010-2011. Kelly was recognized in August 2011 on a list published by Forbes as one of the “Top 25 Women Tweeting About Entrepreneurship.” Some of the other awards she has won include the 2011 United Nations NGO Positive Peace Award on behalf of Kansas City area small business owners; U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2009 Region VII Women’s Business Advocate (for Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska); and numerous others.
She currently owns Interrobang Solutions, a company that provides writing, editing and other professional publishing services for companies. Interrobang Solutions is also the producer of Kelly’s podcast, “Talking Business Now.”
For more than 20 years, Kelly owned Thinking Bigger Business Media, Inc., a company that publishes and produces a variety of publications, products and events that connect growth-minded business owners with practical strategies, resources and information that will take them to the next level of success. She sold Thinking Bigger in March 2018.
Kelly serves on a variety of local, regional and national boards designed to advocate and assist small businesses. She currently serves on the board of directors for the NAWBO Institute for Entrepreneurial Development, is a co-chair of the Women’s Foundation Patron Committee, and is a director on Country Club Bank’s metro advisory board.
In the past, Kelly has been involved with numerous local and national boards and committees, including a 5-year term on the national board of directors for the National Association of Women Business Owners, serving as board chair in 2010-2011. Kelly was recognized in August 2011 on a list published by Forbes as one of the “Top 25 Women Tweeting About Entrepreneurship.” Some of the other awards she has won include the 2011 United Nations NGO Positive Peace Award on behalf of Kansas City area small business owners; U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2009 Region VII Women’s Business Advocate (for Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska); and numerous others.
Latest posts by kscanlon@interrobangsolutions.com (see all)
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