Theme from Mahogany

Diana Ross sang this a number of years ago and its words fit today’s economy better than ever. Most of us do not like what life is showing us.

Do you know where you're going to?
Do you like the things that life is showing you?
Where are you going to? Do you know?
Do you get what you're hoping for,
When you look behind you there's no open door?
What are you hoping for? Do you know?

Now looking back at all we've had,
We let so many dreams just slip through our hands.
Why must we wait so long before we see,
How sad the answers to those questions can be?

Do you know where you're going to?
Do you like the things that life is showing you?
Where are you going to? Do you know?
Do you get what you're hoping for,
When you look behind you there's no open door?
What are you hoping for? Do you know?

Revenues have plunged and profits are non existent. Layoffs are common and so are business closings. Employees are frightened about their job security and almost all are over worked. Businesses and employees do NOT know where they are going to.

Why is that?

Most of these businesses either do not have a workable business plan or have discarded their plan in the confusion caused by trying to remain profitable. They have moved away from the very aspects of their business that made them successful in the first place. The dreams that they had have evaporated and they are left with struggles.

What can you do about this? Here are 7 ideas.

1 Bring your executive team together and analyze your current situation and the opportunities that exist for you.

2 Use the information to develop a business plan that will work.

3 Focus your efforts so that you harness scarce resources.

4 Stay on top of cash flow. Cash is king!

5 Stop just cost cutting and work on driving revenue and profitability. There is a difference.

6 Engage your employees on focused business building within the scope of the business plan that you have developed.

7 Invest in some expert help. You don’t self medicate, so don’t do it to your business.

You may not like the things that life is showing you, change them. Make sure that you and your entire organization know where you’re going to.

Thanks

John
Maver Management Group



John Maver
President
Maver Management Group
(925) 648-7561
Maver Management

Keeping Your Strategy “Live”

Michael Port in his book “Book Yourself Solid” wrote

"One day, there was a blind man sitting on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet and a sign that read: 'I am blind, please help.'
A marketer was walking by and stopped to observe. He saw that the blind man had only a few coins in his hat. He dropped in more coins and, without asking for permission, took the sign and rewrote it.
He returned the sign to the blind man and left. That afternoon the marketer returned to the blind man and noticed that his hat was full of bills and coins
The blind man recognized his footsteps and asked if it was he who had rewritten his sign and wanted to know what he had written on it.
The marketer responded: "Nothing that was not true. I just wrote the message a little differently." He smiled and went on his way.
The new sign read: Today is Spring and I cannot see it.

Sometimes we need to change our strategy and positioning. If we always do what we've always done, we'll always get what we've always gotten. That used to be the case. In today’s economy, we will not get what we have always gotten. We are going to go out of business. Companies must change the way that they do business.

We have written often that many companies either don’t have full written business plans or have ones that are very loosely constructed. Some companies, even well run companies are wedded to the once a year strategic planning process. This is not only cumbersome, but also causes the company to miss out on many opportunities. The same holds true on positioning and the way that companies communicate their message. In trying to save costs, old materials are being used and the positioning in today’s economy just won’t resonate with customers. The example above is a very good illustration.

Is your business plan a “live” document?

How often do you review the basics of it?

How relevant is your company and brand positioning? Is it working? How well and how do you know?

We are now into Spring and you may be able to “see it” better if you check out the business plan and the positioning.

Thanks.

John

John Maver
President
Maver Management Group
(925) 648-7561
Maver Management

Twelve Turnaround Tips for Companies

Most companies have spent the last several quarters cutting and cutting and cutting costs. The focus is on minimalization. Unfortunately the tough economic climate is continuing and is expected to remain for some time. Now what? What focus do the company and the employees have and what are you going to do to actually bring in revenue?

Here are twelve tips to not just survive but thrive in the midst of tough times.

1. Re-examine your business plan and recheck your business fundamentals. You may be surprised at the opportunities that will be presented.

2. Do what it takes to remain profitable. Negative numbers become an excuse for almost anything and you will not only lose focus but you will lose more business. That doesn’t mean just cost cutting. It means being smart about what you are doing.

3. Focus! Cut what's non-core. Invest in what is. Know who and what you are and BE THAT!

4. Simplify something – it will help cut costs. Complexity equals expense. Take a look at all of your procedures and find simpler methods.

5. Look outside for good partners both as alliances and suppliers. Leverage relationships to save money or make money. Others are looking for help too, so work together.

6. Do what you already know is right -- only this time, really do it. Many companies know the right path but continually choose not to take it for a variety of reasons. Stop doing what doesn’t work and reallocate the resources.

7. Go talk to your customers. They are hurting too and want your love and leadership. They will remember you when things turn around.

8. Keep some investment in your R&D. You'll need it. This can give you the competitive advantage when the sales start to flow again.

9. Look for technology-based efficiency. Use the Web to cut costs and boost productivity.

10. Enlist your employees' support. Ask them for ideas. They are closest to the action and will have more good ideas than you could possibly execute

11. Believe in your own business and your future. There will be brighter days ahead and you want to be part of them

12. Hire a good consultant. Their experience and objectivity can show you ways to accelerate your positive business progress. They are not an expense. Good ones are an investment. The ROI can be astounding.

Contact me and let me know how I can help you.

Thanks

John

John Maver
President
Maver Management Group
(925) 648-7561
Maver Management