Weekly Ramble: What the Savannah Bananas Taught Me About Running My Business

In today’s episode, I share how reading Jesse Cole’s book Fans First, the story behind the meteoric rise of the Savannah Bananas, impacted not just how I see entertainment, but how I want to run my business.From a struggling summer league baseball team with fewer than 100 fans in the stands, to selling out stadiums nationwide with waitlists longer than a Taylor Swift concert, the Bananas’ success is rooted in one core principle: Fans First. Every decision, hire, idea, and experiment runs through the filter of “Does this improve the fan experience?”I unpack how that same philosophy applies to any business, whether you’re a real estate investor, a plumber, or an entrepreneur building your brand. This isn’t about baseball. It’s about putting your customers first in a way so radical, so consistent, that profits and loyalty become inevitable.Key Talking Points of the Episode00:00 Introduction01:17 JJ’s Joke of the Week01:50 Discovering the Savannah Bananas during Covid shutdowns03:19 Jesse Cole’s experience: A failing team, sleeping on an air mattress, and betting it all05:33 From summer league to “Banana Ball”—creating baseball built for entertainment07:41 My firsthand experience: a Norfolk game that entertained from start to finish10:42 Why “organized chaos” kept kids off iPads and parents mesmerized13:19 Discovering Jesse Cole’s book Fans First at the game15:12 The Bahamas connection: how impactful books seem to find me on those trips17:44 The mindset shift: how Fans First validated my own business instincts19:42 Customers = fans: Why every decision must reduce friction and add value21:07 Building a culture where everyone contributes ideas to serve the customer23:52 Rejecting investors and sponsors to keep customer-first decisions pure25:19 Why you should read Fans First—no matter your business or industry26:03 Put your customers first, profits will followQuotables“Blame is the enemy of progress. Ownership is the fuel for momentum.”“The Savannah Bananas turned baseball into entertainment because they put fans first—and they didn’t waver.”“Every decision has to pass one test: does this improve the fan experience? If not, scrap it.”LinksFans First by Jesse Colehttps://www.amazon.com/Fans-First-Change-Unforgettable-Experience/dp/154452921X608B Capitalhttps://608bcapital.com