Staying the Course

Recently I decided to develop the habit of scanning all of the RSS feeds I've saved as “favorites” on at least a weekly, and possibly a twice a week schedule..... I mean, there is all this useful information that is slipping through my fingers.

First morning at it and I found exactly what I was on my mind at present– marketing!

Truth be told, the marketing company I’ve been using is less to non-existent at the moment; missed deadlines, ads not sent, etc... I find myself not sure that I trust anything they promise, and once trust has been broken it is really difficult to restore it... Not impossible mind you, but difficult.

What I find myself struggling with is the hassle of having to deal with any of this. I have somewhat succumbed to that, “what’s the point anyway?” feeling. You possibly know the one - It appears when a new course of action has to be taken, and/or an unexpected obstacle presents itself?

Thank you Bill Taylor for bringing me back to the importance of staying the course through these daunting times and not giving up (or in) when the going gets tough!

“For months, I have argued that a down economy can be a great opportunity for companies to try something different or start something new. I don't mean to minimize the pressures and setbacks that are part of unleashing real change in tough times. If all you've got is a spreadsheet filled with red ink and dire forecasts, it's easy to be paralyzed by fear. But if you've got some leadership nerve, and can muster a few good ideas, then hard times can be great times to separate yourself from the pack and build advantages for years to come.

Don't believe me? You can read it for yourself in The New Yorker. In a wonderful column last month, James Surowiecki reminded us of the bold strategic moves that repositioned companies and redefined industries during periods of turmoil. He told the story of how Kellogg, during the Great Depression, "doubled its ad budget, moved aggressively into radio advertising, and heavily pushed its new cereal, Rice Krispies." As a result, Kellogg became (and remains) the industry's dominant player. It's also worth remembering, he points out, that Texas Instruments introduced the revolutionary transistor radio during a recession in 1954, and that Apple launched the iPod six weeks after the September 11 terrorist attacks — hardly the best time to start a pop-culture phenomenon.”

O.k... I’m back on-board!

Read full article by Bill Taylor, Harvard Business Publishing

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