Article: What got you here - Won't get you there
Survived the recession? – Fantastic! – But what next?
If you run a busi
ness
and have managed to survive one of the worst recessions experienced in
the last 50+ years - step back and give yourself a well earned pat on
the back. You’ve steered your way through some of the most difficult
trading climates anyone will experience.
A year or so ago, several of my clients operating in quite diverse sectors told me they would be more than happy to break even - or indeed wear a small loss. Survival
was their target for success as the press and the world expounded doom
and gloom. We thought and debated long and hard over what might happen,
what the impact would be on their businesses and what the best tactics
would be to overcome what then seemed like a huge challenge.
The consensus was to look after what you’ve got and take any opportunities that came up, but at minimum risk.
They
looked after their best customers, improved service, husbanded cash
resources, tried their best to keep staff employed and took cuts in
their own rewards to facilitate this. Costs
were examined and pared down, financial performance was monitored as
never before; in essence they did everything they could to maintain the
status quo and I’m pleased to say they are still operating with
businesses which truly are lean and well managed.
So,
what now? – More of the same as we try and talk ourselves out of a
‘double dip’ or is it time to do something different? As that well known
financial phrase goes - past performance is no guarantee of future success!!
The climate has changed, the economy has changed, business has changed,
focus has changed, so is staying the same an option? – Only if you want
the world to pass you by.
The fact is that what got you here will not necessarily get you where you want to be
The
skills and focus you have developed over the last 12 – 18 months have
been about survival but those skills are not necessarily the ones that
will kick start your business back on to the growth curve. 
It is time to take a metaphorical step back and look around - where do you want to take your business? How will you achieve that? What can you do now to move towards that goal, that future you want to create for yourself and your business? How has the climate and your market really changed? How
can you access the opportunities that have been created. What skills do
you need to develop or rediscover, who can help you do that?
So what now? Carry on surviving or aim to grow and create the future you want – your choice!
Author John Collins
