The Ant and the Bee watched as the Flamingo closed her doors for business. “I thought she was doing so well” uttered the Ant. “So did I” buzzed the Bee. The Flamingo had customer after customer that came to her restaurant. Even as the Flamingo packed up her stuff, customers still came to the door shocked to hear the news.
While every animal looked on the wise Owl understood exactly what happened. “It wasn’t sustainable” the Owl said plainly, “Flamingo spent more than she made and at some point she couldn’t pay her creditors.”
Owl turned to his friends, Ant and Bee and simply said “Know your revenue and your expenses.”
Lesson: While you’re running your business and generating revenue, pay attention to how much you are spending to acquire each customer and your overall expenses.
Image courtesy of porbital / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Gresham W. Harkless Jr.https://iamgresh.com👤 Author Name: Gresham W. Harkless Jr.
Title: Franchise Broker & Entrepreneur | Founder, Blue Star Franchise
Experience: 15+ years in entrepreneurship, digital marketing, and business growth strategy
Location: Washington, D.C. Metro Area, USA
About the Author
Gresham W. Harkless Jr. is a seasoned entrepreneur, franchise broker, and the founder of Blue Star Franchise, where he helps aspiring and established business owners find the perfect franchise opportunity to match their goals, lifestyle, and financial vision.
With over 15 years of experience in entrepreneurship, digital marketing, and business development, Gresh has worked with hundreds of CEOs, founders, and small business owners through his media company Blue 16 Media and the I AM CEO Podcast, which has featured over 1,600 interviews. His unique background gives him a deep understanding of what makes a business succeed — and how the right franchise can change lives.
A proud member of the Franchise Broker Association (FBA), Gresham brings a consultative and client-first approach to franchise matching. His mission is to help people “run their race” by finding franchise opportunities that align with their purpose, skills, and lifestyle.
📚 Credentials & Affiliations
Certified Franchise Broker – Franchise Broker Association (FBA)
Founder – Blue Star Franchise & Blue 16 Media
Host – I AM CEO Podcast (1,600+ episodes)
Featured in – 50+ Black Marketers on the Rise, Influencer & Media Innovators (2022)
B.S. in Business Administration – Howard University
