Surviving Difficult Times...

If you don't know it yet -- your business is to succeed.

This was why we even went through growth initiatives. Yet
no matter how sharp one may be, in difficult times, having a
sustainable competitive advantage is not enough.

"Innovation is a necessary condition for business success --
but not a sufficient condition for business success."
~ Randall L. Tobias

What does one still need to do then?

Keep on inventing new advantages. Be proactive rather than
reactive. Find new ways to better serve your customers. Do
everything possible to exceed customers' expectations.

Realize that current traditional markets will not guarantee
sales, growth, and profit. They create new markets and new
channels. So, intensify your marketing efforts in terms of reach,
presence, and availability. Strongly consider the market space
-- and not just the market place.

See, satisfying and responding to customer needs are no longer
adequate. Anticipate what's really important to the customer.
Create business solutions and partnering such as unique
customer access, technical know-how, relationship networks,
and a loyal user community.

The ultimate goal is understanding customers' economic issues
and challenges. These allow you to anticipate rather than
respond to customer needs. From being just another supplier,
you become a key economic partner for your customer.

Create growth-based initiatives on traditional tools for
products, factories and personnel. Then create growth-based
initiatives on hidden assets by building long-term and win-win
relationships, competitive market position, and information.

"Business is often about killing your favorite children to allow
others to succeed." - John Harvey-Jones

In trying times specially, sacrifice is needed; and recognizing
the what's, how's and when's as early as possible would prove
crucial.

Do what it takes to outperform, outlast, and outwit your
competition. It is certainly better to be superior and ahead in
your chosen segments, industry, and product category...
not just to survive difficult times but always.

Take note...
"A ship in port is safe, but that's not what ships are built for."
~ Grace Murray Hopper