Never waste a good crisis
Inge Geerdens
Entrepreneur | founder CVWarehouse.com | co-founder Your Next Move ? and Foundershub | pitching & presentation coach | keynote speaker | independent board member
I recently participated to an entrepreneur’s parliament. 300 entrepreneurs and 4 politicians were gathered to discuss positive and constructive recommendations for helping the Belgian government through the crisis on a Sunday afternoon. The least you can say is that those 4 men were very brave facing a tough crowd of entrepreneurs who feel Europe has little or no faith in them despite their efforts. Especially taking into account that small entrepreneurs account for the biggest part of local employment. 65% in my own country Belgium.
Europe is all about innovation, creativity and start-ups. Very nice. We have many institutions supporting new companies and even more forms of grants and funds that can be allocated to new businesses and developping business ideas. Research and development clearly matters to Europe, and that’s a good thing.
However when it comes to choosing investments, it seems that Europe has adopted a logic of its own. It isn’t keen on funding existing companies. That’s odd and a bit counterproductive, I might add. Europe often taxes former protégés to finance the grants that will support new ones instead of further investing in it’s existing entrepreneurial patrimony. Why? Does Europe no longer believe in the business potential of those organizations?
My fellow entrepreneurs and I believe Europe should make the best of what’s already in place. There’s a huge opportunity to create win-wins for all involved! Imagine that governments lend capital to existing companies, allowing them to further develop their business and at the same time obliging them to invest half of the money into employment. Next, companies could than pay back the government loan, including a share of the profit as a return on investment. Seems only fair. Everyone would benefit. Right?
Any crisis is an opportunity. Let’s not waste it. Focus on entrepreneurship and let small companies flourish. They are the foundations on which we have built our society. I’m sure that if governments were to invest in those, it would not only result in job creation but also bigger profits and eventually a better life for everyone.
What is your opinion?
Business Development at BlueMantis
11 年Another view- I think it was Rahm Emannuel now mayor of Chicago who coined the term never waste a crisis. Unfortunately, that view is not exactly a positive one. Learning from mistakes is one thing, however crisis creation is quite another. If we look toward Europe as a guidepost to entrepreneurs i am not sure those are the best examples. American ingenuity is still the model of world despite what we now hear, and despite all the obstacles that prevent the very creation of small business. Think about the corporate tax rate in america--if that was lowered what a boom that would create....
Operations Manager at Mayfair Travel
11 年Its quite true that Europe should make the best of what’s already in place.
Helping Integrators/Resellers automate & secure their software document flows ?? to save ? and ??
11 年Entrepreneurs make the difference, not politicians. Look at the 'good leadership' of our european leaders. First the accepted Greece with a false budget and now Europe is supporting the russians with their money in Cyprus. That's money that can be spent to develop business instaed of breaking it down by creating instability. You are absolutely right, Inge. But politicians should create stability and a positive economic environment. We as entrepreneurs should be concentrating on developping business. Have you noticed the great european stability solution for Cyprus this weekend ?
Manager Carrier Compliance & BI - DHL Freight
11 年Investing in existing companies is also significant for Europe’s success, nonetheless Europe needs “new blood” not to be confused with “young blood” with a focus in new emerging markets. Many companies still hold views such as integration into our way of living/business/language and so on and with more emerging markets and “power houses” outside Europe, would you agree that this backward way of thinking which partly collapsed the economy must be rooted out to allow for new businesses, with a more open mind to sustain Europe as a leading “international” workforce. Things such as investment moving from Western to Eastern Europe might turn out to be a good thing, since these countries do not hold views of superiority which, in my opinion, in business is regressive. I go with investing in new companies any day of the week and let existing companies sustain their reign by being on top of their game, if these companies are not able to compete it means they are not good for Europe in the first place, that is if we really mean Europe or just National interests of individual countries which are not able to compete in the world scene. Remember emerging markets will continue to grow (new businesses) and is up to us in Europe to, not only show leadership but, that it can also play in the world scene. Yet I agree the experience of existing companies as huge potential and therefore there should be vigilant investment to sustain growth overall. Which existing companies in Europe have sustained growth and in which markets have they seen the biggest rise? Not in Europe… not in Europe.