I cannot believe how quick the first week back from the break has gone. It has been a hard time – with the weather conditions affecting travelling throughout the UK and meaning that business has come pretty low in people’s priorities.
Looking out of my window, I see a barren white blanketed landscape. Snow is hanging from the trees, obliterating the grass, giving a brilliant but bleak view. Its only when I take a really close look do I see the signs of life – the tracks of the fox, the birds in the trees, the ducks struggling with the frozen canal and even the local neighbourhood cats!
This is how we have had it within the economy for the last couple of years – a really bleak landscape obliterating much of the activity. Just with the signs of life of the tough survivors, picking up snippets of business just to exist.
Natures way is to use these tough extreme conditions to ensure the healthy and strongest will survive. Refresh, renew, adapt. And just like the bleak winter landscape outside my window, the survivors will regroup, grow and prosper as the climate changes from our frigid winter to the gentle spring.
The strongest plan for survival and future prosperity with the changing conditions. Like the simple planning steps that I mentioned before the charismas break. For it is these simple steps that will make the difference, enabling the strong companies who adapt and design their strategies to suit the new conditions that will survive and will prosper.
1) Analyse the challenges you are now facing – what is the real geography of your situation?
2) Identify what you should keep and what is surplus to requirements
3) Find the trend for your market
4) Chase it - and adapt the strategies.
Being innovative is the start – being disciplined and looking for the best chance of survival will carry you through. Refresh, Renew, Adapt
And when the snow melts from the landscape, and the bitter sub zero temperatures start to raise, the shoots will come, and the natural life will multiply and prosper. Just like nature, I hope that you will plan to be there.
A happy and successful new year to everyone!
Chris Piggott
