Successful business isn't alchemy; it's a simple matter of consistently using time-tested strategies and letting it work its magic.
Entrepreneurs tend to prefer personal experience to simple basic facts and complex rather than simple formulas. There seems to be this idea that if the formula is easy, it must be useless.
Keeping it simple is an important rule in business.
If your business has crumbled to the point where you haven't got a clue what's wrong and desperation you've called in a bunch of management consultants who charge by the hour, then let's face it, your trouble began some time ago.
At times, a business should shed limbs and split functions without turning the whole operation upside down.
Circumstances and opportunities change. The world changes, come to that. The only constant is change itself.
It's not given to human beings to have such talent that they can just know everything about everything all the time. It is given to human beings who work hard at it—who look and sift the world for a mis-priced bet — that they can occasionally find one.
The wise ones bet heavily when the world offers them that opportunity. They bet big when they have the odds. The rest of the time, they don't. It's just that simple.
Very many companies have yet to understand that ailing businesses can be saved by simply reducing waste and using energy more efficiently. Many businesses have no idea how much money they're flushing away on unnecessary document printing, old-fashioned lightbulbs, energy-hungry office machinery and pointless travel.
Business is the moment where your good intentions meet the real world. It is best approached steadily and with fortitude. You will need stamina and patience to get out of the hole – especially when everybody is out to kill you.
There is no difference between a pessimist who says; “It's hopeless, so do not bother doing anything,” and an optimist who says; “Don't bother doing anything, it's going to turn out fine anyway.” Either way, nothing happens.
Is your business doing better than it was a year ago, a month ago, last week?
If not, things will not improve by themselves. Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored. It's time to stop and plan.
Success one day does not give you a free lunch every day thereafter.
You can't plan for the unexpected. All you can really do, is never let your guard down. Business is not just hard work; it's endless.
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