Back to Basics
I’ve had many philosophical and therapeutic discussions with friends and business partners over the last week, and each and every time, the conversation at some point turns to what affect if any this economy is having on business operations. The answers have ranged from “devastating” to “no change just yet”. But everyone is fully expecting some impact to business revenue…it’s not a question of if…it’s only a question of when.
I’ve asked several folks what they are doing in response to or in anticipation of the impact. I can summarize all of their comments into the following:
- simplify the game plan
- focus on business basics
- stay on offense/control the ball/run more, pass less
- protect the quarterback
- get to the post season
During the last few years when business was booming and the phone kept ringing with new opportunities, many businesses got away from their game plans, took advantage of aggressive scoring opportunities, and trusted their sales teams to generate new revenues to cover the enormously high discretionary spending that was occurring. But those times have changed and that optimistic and sometimes reckless spending of the past has been replaced with an intense focus on optimizing margins, minimizing or deferring costs and maximizing revenues from existing relationships. Many companies have already gone back to basics – selling, serving, and collecting – and most companies are now focused on small efforts executed well. These small efforts provide much greater certainty in today’s very uncertain economic conditions, and frequently occurring small victories provide some comfort and even create some momentum in times of enormous economic distress.
A common theme has also been to protect your star players – the quarterbacks in this sports analogy. That also occurs by focusing on basics – blocking, executing, getting those business first downs, and winning enough games to get to the business post season. Star players don’t like playing for losers. Star players don’t like getting sacked because of poor business blocking. Star players don’t like undisciplined teams where fumbles frequently occur and through those turnovers, business is lost. Instead, star players like being part of winning teams. Star players greatly appreciate the corrections and adjustments that adapt the game plan to the competition that exists. Star players like being part of the game plan development and like being held accountable for game time execution. And star players like overcoming great adversity and winning in spite of the enormous obstacles to victory that may exist.
John Wooden said, “it’s the little details that are vital; little things make big things happen.” In these uncertain times, the folks I know are focusing even more on those little details and all of them are going back to the basics of business execution. All of us are looking to grind it out right now, knowing that we’re going to get more yards on the ground than in the air. But every one of us will at times heave the ball down the field – it’s in our nature to go for that big play – but we’ll stick to the game plan overall – and hopefully we’ll all stay in the game and eventually win and make it to the business playoffs.
One Response to “Back to Basics”
OC_Marc on 06 Dec 2008 at 3:31 pm #
I think the journey of the Israelites always provides me with a good perspective when things go from the miraculous to the impossible. I agree with the thought of “back to basics†as it ties to the concept of staying faithful to the Lord, who has been faithful to sustain and bless us to this point.
I watch as internal corporate politicians try to build a “golden calf†hoping that new people/ideas will miraculously get them into a promise land. They discredit and offend the Lord and the star players of the Lord (like Moses). The golden calf looks promising but complicates the game and removes the Lord and the star players from the game. Keeping the saving faith in Christ is the simple game plan that we should not forget, especially in times that look impossible.