This is the first in a series of blogs that relate to doing business in a changing environment.
We have used the term DOWNTURN* in the title to get your attention and because that is the language currently being used in the business community. The use of the word Downturn comes with a language warning. You see ‘downturn’ is a highly emotive word that carries with it rather negative connotations and creates an energy that is not conducive to maintaining an innovative, excited mindset from which you look forward, with anticipation, to the opportunities that will come your way tomorrow, the next day, the next month and so on into the future.
In a downturn are you just existing until the next upturn? In a downturn are you bunkering down and waiting it out? In a downturn do you go into self-protection mode and revert to a lone wolf mentality? In a downturn it is everyone else’s fault.
In a downturn everything is hard, everyone wants something for nothing, no one is spending – these big global statements remind us of teenagers. Everyone is going to the party. Everyone gets pocket money. No one has to make their own lunches. Global statements are just big stories that you enrol in to make yourself feel better about your circumstances, to place the blame somewhere else – they are big fat excuses for the way you have chosen to be.
In a downturn everyone is looking for a discount. (Discounting will be discussed in Part 2 of this series.)
A change in circumstance, a change in your external environment need not define you or your business. You are not your circumstances. You are not a downturn person.
Is it really a downturn or is it a reset? Was it a big surprise that came from nowhere or a lack of foresight? Is it the entire market that is impacted or a particular footprint?
Is there nothing you can do or is this an opportunity to build a tribe of like-minded people who will support and challenge each other to keep energy up and to do business differently?
Doing it on your own limits you to what you know you know – there a whole sea of knowledge out there under the heading – stuff we don’t know that we don’t know. You can read why the Lone Wolf mentality no longer cuts it here.
The questions we have asked, above, are asked to peek your enquiry and we encourage you to consider if your language, your internal dialogue and your thought processes really serve you. We challenge you to choose to use different language – to be fascinated rather than frustrated. We challenge you to challenge others to do the same.
Next week we will consider the dilemma of discounting and why you should tread with caution.
* Comes with a language warning!
In this fast paced business environment the lone wolf mentality does not cut it. You must be prepared to collaborate in order to expand your intellectual and relationship capital. You must recruit people who have what you need and engage in lifetime learning to fill the gaps. Otherwise growth will be severely stymied.
Take advantage of synergetic relationships which will accelerate and extend you beyond what you could do on your own.
A tribe is an effective way to embrace the power of collaboration. More heads are better than one, but only if they are the right heads – so choose wisely.
Select people who will lift, support, challenge and expand you and your business or career. Choose your tribe based on the vision you have for you or your business. Who has already done what you’re planning to do, who knows people you need to know, who has the contacts, the business acumen and supply channels, who knows your market?
Go ahead, ditch the lone wolf mentality and build your tribe. You may not have all of the names right now. If you don’t, identify the skill sets you need and then be alert for that person.