You don’t have to look too far to see what this miserable economy is doing to the construction market, both residential and commercial. Just this week alone USGNN.com™ ran a story about how Traco is selling off its vinyl window division; how PPG is exiting the IG sealants business; and today Republic Windows & Doors shut its doors costing about 300 employees their jobs. These times are rough, my friends.
As I write this “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” from Monty Python’s Life of Brian is ringing in my ears. But that silver lining I’m always trying to find is just looking a little tarnished.
I have talked to a few people of late who say that while yes things are bleak, it can also be a good time to focus on the direction they want the company to go. For some, right now is turning out to be a good time to focus on differentiating. Every company out there these days is fighting for the same little bits of business that are available. And one of the best ways to ensure those buyers are going to pick you and your business over the competition is if you can offer up something nobody else can—and that’s most likely going to be different for every company.
A down market can also be a good time to think about starting a new business. Here’s an interesting story I read online that lists the top 5 businesses to start in a down economy. I think the key is to take what you already know—what you already do well—and apply it to something different.
Some of you may be familiar with Jeff Tobe. He’s been a presenter at a number of industry association meetings and he’s sometimes called the “Coloring Outside the Lines” guy as he wrote a book by that name that shares thoughts on being creative when its comes to certain business tactics.
At any rate, he often talks about the power of two little words: What if? If you get a bunch of people together and start asking, “what if we did this?” or “what if we did that?” You’re eventually going to come up with a lot of really good ideas. And some of those good ideas what be just what you need.
2 comments:
Thanks so much for the 'mention'. While I DO encourage people to ask "WHAT IF" to think differently, there is a very important step that is missing.
First, we have to ask "WHAT EFFECT?". When we encounter an obstacle OR an opportunity, we need to ask ourselves or our people, "WHAT EFFECT does that have on...(fill in the blank! "on production?", "on the sales team?", "on the bottom line?"). Then, spend some time delving into the pain of it all.
NEXT, to bring the group out of it, you ask "WHAT IF...?"
Thanks again for the plug and I would be happy to respond directly to anyone's comments at jeff@jefftobe.com.
Jeff Tobe
Primary Colorer
Coloring Outside the Lines
Jeff:
Thanks for the post and the additional information. I'm honored that you read my blog. I heard you speak a few years ago at an IGMA meeting and I sometimes think about Miss A and Mr B, the very deep and very fast flowing river and hope that the whole gang in that modern fairy tale is some how living happily ever after.
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