Ahead of the Curve: A Guide to Applied Strategic Thinking

Ahead of the Curve: A Guide to Applied Strategic Thinking

Quote: “Businesses do not go out of business, because they lost millions; they do so, because they lose their cents.”

Floyd Winchester III, 08/03/24-08/03/07

Dealing with failing businesses on a daily basis, gives a unique opportunity to witness, first hand, the shortcomings of the previous owners and top management’s inabilities to recognize operational failures, even when they are blatantly obvious. Possibly, the grandest tribulation is, they are legitimately unaware of the failures or lack the knowledge to eliminate them. It is difficult for me not to take my abilities and talents in this area for granted, since this is my profession. Personal fulfillment, at least for me, is taking a bankrupt business and scoring a complete turnaround not only restoring integrity and profitability, but also the confidence of the employees and public. Many view such accomplishments inconceivable, but making it become a reality in all aspects is “second to none”; an incredible high; I love my job.

Posted by: Jerry P. Richmond

Editor: J.F. Harl

Portrait of one

The beginning of a turnaround in business is not found in growth strategy alone. This is where most businesses fall short within their strategies to save the company.
They usually try to implement growth strategies; which, in a business turn around, are extremely premature. In this stage of the game, trying to save the company with growth strategies will, as stated, fall short of the needed responses financially and productively; in turn, this causes frustration. This, of its own account, becomes another variable to be dealt with. All of us have heard the expression, "Don't let them see you sweat!” This saying is critical when leading others in the right direction. As their leader, we must always be aware of the composer, if our plans are to restore the confidence of everyone involved.
Self-restraint cannot be an option here. You must keep in mind the manner in which you carry and present yourself, for this manner is going to be matched not just by the employees, but by everyone that is directly or indirectly involved in the company. Be very mindful of the manner in which you portray or present yourself to others; it has an impact, beyond
the moment.
Author: Jerry P. Richmond
Editor: J.F. Harl

I deal with failing businesses on a daily bases. I have the unique opportunity to witness first hand all the short comings of the previous business owner(s) and their top managements inabilities to plainly see the obvious operational failures staring them directly in the face, mmm, this within it's self could be some of the problem, maybe, they are unaware of the failures, just maybe, they don't know how to fix problems. I have heard it said, that " Anyone can see problems, however, it takes someone with talent to fix problems" maybe I take for granted my abilities or talents in fixing problems, after all, it's what I do on a daily bases. To me there is nothing more fulfilling then to take a bankrupt business and turn her around, to restore the integrity, the profitability and of course the public and employee confidence. The rush is second to none, I love my job.
I would like to leave everyone with this quote, "Businesses don't go out of business because they lost millions, they go out of business because they lose their cents.

Accountability

I have learned that accountability requires focus, and resolve, the opposite, requires nothing. What am I investing?

Beliefs

The substance of our beliefs will not be found in our speeches of grandeur but in idle words of no restraints the foundations are exposed. What are we saying when there is no one around? It's at those times our hearts seems to say what they feel. It's those thoughts that we need to capture and confront, not the thoughts that we carefully put together and say in front of others. Its the ones we say privately, for those are the bases of the foundations of our beliefs, which in turn, molds and shapes our life's.

Faith

How often have we used faith as, Break Glass Incase of Emergency response? and not away of life? Panic is not faith, in the same instance, faith is not panic. For true belief to bear any fruits, it must first be apart of our daily life, not just when something goes wrong. So the next time you wonder how things just seem to fall into place for other people, you may want to stop and ask yourself, what separates my life from theirs? I believe you would be safe to assume that Faith is a critical part of their life and, not a response brought on by panic

Determination

Williams James 1842-1910.

Success is no accident, it won't fall into to your lap regardless of how nice a person you think you are or how deserving you feel you must be. Success takes determination, a plan, focus, resolve, and not allowing your failure or falls to cripple you but using them to in power your resolve. Theodore Roosevelt once said, "It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes up short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms; the great devotions; and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat. There are more reasons for us to to change then there are for us to stay the same. How determined are you to change? Your life is just that, your life, so what are you going to do with it?