The challenges we’re facing in this prolonged economic downturn demand a renewed determination and a return to fundamentals. We haven’t seen such revolutionary change in our financial system in our lifetimes, and mine’s a little longer than most. The consequences are many but the most insidious is the Double V – my expression for the deadly duo of BIG VOLATILITY and little visibility.
These twin engines will predominate for the foreseeable future. More than ever, we need to focus on how to do things differently, with spartan resources, abbreviated timeframes, greater customer demands, lower prices and with the deftness that" floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee."
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Do you remember the words following Hamlet’s famous soliloquy – “To be or not to be, that is the question”? If not, consider what follows . . .
“Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing, end them?”
Here are some tips that may help you “take arms” and come out the other side with agility and resolve.
Battlefield First Aid
There’s a reason that the U.S. Army requires a specific protocol for Battlefield First Aid. They’ve learned that the “fog of war” bedevils the most hardened and experienced combat troops. They also recognize that among layman, the first reaction to injury is to focus on the damage rather than the more urgent problems created by the injury.
Battlefield First Aid stimulates the “sense of urgency” that should drive your business. If you treat your company like a casualty of war, you’ll discover the value of “Ready – Fire – Aim” and a proven process to tackle the challenges.
This approach will help you to set clear priorities – the medical term is “triage” – for the urgent problems that arrive lickety-split on the recession battlefield. It’s simple and easy to remember – 3 distinct steps in only 9 words.
- Stop the bleeding
In medical parlance, a “superficial wound” means that you won’t bleed to death. Likewise, minor cash flow infirmities may be troubling but they’re not crippling. Deeper wounds, however, are more painful and threatening, and the loss of blood – “cash flow” – can have fatal consequences. Unless you stop the bleeding first – get yourself to a break-even or positive cash flow position – it won’t matter what you do next.
Don’t be distracted by the immediate injuries. Stop the bleeding, follow the protocol and proceed methodically to the next step so you can ride out the storm.
During this turmoil, Exkalibur’s independent and unbiased voice, and its ability to drive results, can help you identify the practical strategies to survive and thrive when faced with the perils of the
Please contact me directly via Email or call me at 415/602-7870 if I can help you pull the sword from the stone. In the meantime, you can gain other valuable insights on Surviving the Storm, or visit the Exkalibur web site.