Sep 16 08
Holy Cow!
By Renn Vara
With yesterday’s financial news, I’m having déjà-vu all over again. Could it be that we’re facing another drastic fall out in the current business cycle? Having been here to some degree a few times in the past, let me steal some unattributed quotes as a guide for getting through the next few months.
1. “To reach people no one else is reaching we must do things no one else is doing.” To maintain and grow business, we need to think differently and not be swayed by what our competitors are doing nor the economy for that matter.
2. “The next generation product almost never comes from the previous generation.” This is a simple challenge to those of us who’ve been around for a while; be open to new ideas and give them your full attention.
3. “What do I believe is impossible to do in my field but if it could be done would fundamentally change my business?” This is a creative challenge. Something to think about always. The ‘what if’ question.
4. “If we got kicked out and the board brought in somebody new, what would they do? Why don’t we just walk out, come back in and do it ourselves?” I like it.
5. “When your memories exceed your dreams, the end is near.” Remember to always look forward rather than lament the good ol’ days.
You get the point. Firms like ours usually take times like these on the chin. Sadly we’re often one of the canaries in the coal mine. Keep an eye on us. We’ll let you know how well the rest of you will do. Holy cow indeed.
