Desperate Times… But Are Desperate Measures The Answer?
By Anna Johnson on December 22nd, 2008Brian Solis writes in TechCrunch that the recession has, as expected, given rise to a general sense of fear and panic among the entrepreneurial community. But while desperate times may call for desperate measures… those measures may NOT be in the long-term best interests of those making them…
Some of the advice being disseminated seems calculated at helping companies survive declining demand for their products and services. For example, Sequoia Capital’s position is that companies shouldn’t worry about getting ahead, but should instead focus on surviving by cutting costs.
Brian Solis, however, sees a distinct difference between mere survival and succeeding in real world business:
“Many companies may unwittingly lock themselves in an isolated panic room instead of taking strategic steps to evolve and grow the business opportunity that exists today.”
Furthermore, advice that may be appropriate for some… may be downright dangerous for others. In particular, there are plenty of opportunities for those with a keen eye and the wherewithal to take advantage of them.
And here’s the thing: not only may there be fewer competitors to take advantage of those opportunities… but taking advantage of those opportunities may give you an ADVANTAGE over those competitors.
Solis says:
“This is your time to vault in front of your competition, to earn rapid and sweeping visibility, for a fraction of the time and money that was required to excel during the ‘good days.’ Your rivals are retreating right now, so what are you going to do about it?”
Sounds like a plan to me.
Source: Brian Solis, “Fear Kills Businesses, Dead,” TechCrunch, December 21, 2008
