How Starting a Food Truck Taught Me Business Optimization
Having a low-level role at a big corporation doesn't teach you much about optimizing a business—even if your job title says otherwise.
I was a "Space Optimization Analyst" at PETCO, but when I started my own business, I realized you had to learn quick.
I always had the mind for optimization and organizing, now was the time to prove it.
1. Real Business Optimization Means Learning Fast
Running your own business means quickly learning about:
margins
marketing tactics
process efficiency
production capacity
and a million other things you never knew existed.
You feel wasted time because you're the one stuck working late.
Optimizing your business directly means more of your own time back and more profit.
2. Work Smarter, Not Harder—Easier Said Than Done
Optimization isn't a one-time task. It's constant.
Think hard, execute, repeat.
"Work smarter, not harder" sounds great, but finding the time to actually implement smarter systems is tough, especially in the beginning.
It reminds me of Mike Tyson's line: "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face."
When you’re in it, it’s hard to pull yourself out of it/
Coming up with a smart plan takes extra effort and planning—and that's real work.
You must think hard and then do. Then repeat that cycle endlessly.
3. Simplicity Equals Efficiency
In my experience, business optimization often comes down to simplifying.
It's about removing, not adding.
More complexity means more headaches and less time.
Strip your business to the bare bones first, then carefully add in only what truly matters.
(Sometimes the perspective of an objective outsider is helpful)
Customers don't need endless options—and the ones who think they do usually end up being more trouble than they're worth. Keep your offerings limited, focused, and high quality.
People don't remember how many choices you gave them; they remember the quality of what you delivered.
4. Structure Your Thoughts for Better Results
Without a clear structure, your thoughts scatter and inefficiency takes hold.
You're scrambling because you're trying to physically do things while also attempting to mentally retrieve the information you need to organize.
It's much better to get your ideas out somewhere tangible.
Then they're easier to:
dissect
refine
teach
This is why I built FloBoards.
They give me a place to organize ideas visually, making it easier for others to understand and for me to fine-tune.
5. Beware of Over-Optimization
But be careful—over-optimization is real. I'm guilty of overthinking things myself. Yes, planning matters, but ultimately doing the work is how you truly learn what's essential and what's not.
Think of optimization as science:
hypothesize
experiment
modify
repeat
Optimization is Your Business Lifeline
At the end of the day, optimization isn't just a buzzword—it's your lifeline.
It keeps your business lean, profitable, and sane.
Keep things simple, stay structured, and always test your assumptions.
You'll save yourself headaches, reclaim valuable time, and deliver the quality your customers actually care about.
Ready to simplify and optimize your business? Reach out to us to talk about our FloFrame Service or try a FloBoard and start building clarity right now.
