Hello Again
'May Day-May Day' is the universal distress signal on the high seas. Don't let that be your catch cry to start this month! I'm reminded of a joke, circulated during the last recession: 'I'm in trouble-first the laundry called to say they lost my shirt- and then my broker called with the same news.'
These tough times are nothing to laugh about but we do need to maintain some sense of humour and perspective to focus on what we can change-rather than waste energy on what we can't change. Frankly, I've been a bit stressed myself recently, and when converting one of my best selling books into an e-book, one chapter really resonated...and you’re the first to receive a link at the bottom of this email to that sample chapter titled:
'The man who swims against the stream knows the strength of it.’…I’ve used a surfing analogy to expand on this quote by Woodrow Wilson, as many of us have been swimming against the stream. Yet, experienced surfers always paddle out with a rip. It’s an example of using something as frightening as a rip to your advantage. So too, with the flow of the economy which may be going against you. That’s not to say you succumb and admit defeat; feeling that you can’t do anything but be sucked out by the monetary tide. But, better to be an astute observer versus frantic, futile activity simply for the sake of activity. This will be to your advantage and not use valuable energy fighting the tide of events in the economic world that you are powerless to control. It's important to try your hardest but sometimes, that makes absolutely no difference at all so it’s equally important to have the wisdom to know when enough is enough and go with the flow.
We first need to recession proof our mind before it becomes possible to recession proof our business. As I wrote in Good Service is Good Business, the following pointers may stimulate your mind to recession proof your business-to turn obstacles to opportunities even in tough times. Remember:
· Great service costs nothing but adds long term value
· Retain customers and use free word of mouth referrals to gain new ones· Fight complacency.... Success today does not equal success tomorrow
· Increase brand loyalty by turning complaints & obstacles into opportunities
· Now’s the time to make minor improvements for major impacts later· The 7 most expensive words in business are…’We have always done it that way’
· Winners become victors from change-rather than victims of change
· As stakeholder expectations change, differentiate between adding true value or just adding cost· We can’t always control circumstances but we can always control our attitude
· Focus on what you can do rather than waste energy on what you can’t do
And finally, in times of stress, we all need to take time to remind ourselves of the old adage:
Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,The courage to change the things I can,
And, the wisdom to know the difference.
Warm regards, Catherine
Click for sample chapter
Catherine DeVrye MSc, CSP
Catherine DeVrye MSc, CSP
Author of Who Says I Can't?-Hope Happens-Hot Lemon & Honey Reflections for Success in Times of Change-Good Service is Good BusinessPO Box 559
Manly NSW,1655 Australia
ph: 61-2-9977 3177 fax 61-2-9977 3122