I’m doing GREAT, aren’t I?

The need to know our health is extenuated by the conditions we are living in. Similar to physical health our status requires an unbiased examination conducted by a skilled practioner. Although we would like to think we can look into that mirror and be objective the truth is we can’t.

What provokes our needed interest revolves around the responsibilities we have either as individuals or as a business. A health check doesn’t have to be the response to an ailment in order to provide valuable information on changes or interventions that should occur. Although we have strongly recommended (pre-pandemic) that a checkup should occur at least every six months to one year, many wait until the ailment is substantial and often beyond reasonable correction.

We are seeing signs of acclaims that were made that now reflect the frail nature of our business.

• Customer service that is showing signs of being a disservice,
• Overreliance on shallow product diversity,
• Lack of resilience,
• Inadequate sustainability,
• Supply chains lacking alternative options,
• Adaptability issues,
• Creative and innovation deficiencies, and
• Contingency reserve shortcomings.

The ugly us is now laid out before us leaving as our only defense that the cataclysmic disruption of Covid19 is the cause. In fact it’s not the cause but is in fact the stimulus for the realities in our bravado to show.

All is not lost, as the Phoenix rose from the ashes, so can we recover in what some fondly refer to as the ‘pivot’. The pivot involves that deep self-examination to be undertaken and in doing so leaving our mind open to new possibilities. Companies that once depended upon their product/service offering must be willing to consider alternatives opportunities. It is quite easily to remain entrenched in the past and taking under consideration new avenues will be challenging. In some ways it’s a bit like being a fresh startup where you commence with an idea (offering) that you are attracted to, developing a deep understanding of the concept, contemplating how value can be generated, the obstacles that might occur and potential that exists. It is far to easy to through up superficial reason why not, and less easy to look at potential. It’s these hard things that represents the recovery potential for the streams that have gone flaccid as a victim of the pandemic.

Two situations have recently been presented to us. The first was for a small group of restaurants (3) that had to close in-dining services. Hobbling along on sporadic take out business the owner was struggling with whether to close two of the three establishments. Location and faithful clientele suggested that the choice was not to close but to adapt the facilities to expand takeout business. In three short months, upon acting on the proposal, business has increased 25% over what was being done by in-dining. The second situation involved a service business that derived its revenues from requests for services. In this situation the owners saw a dramatic downturn in opportunities and contracts in process were scaling back future work to preserve cash. It was suggested that since the company had previous served in a contract for hire situation that their resources should be diverted to creating broad market products. This situation doesn’t have an outcome story because of a resistance to change. It’s uncertain whether this is the result of fear, hopefulness that conditions will return, or they simply aren’t willing to speculate on reward potential. We can only hope that the paralysis will not be long lasting and that clarity of opportunistic direction will occur.

Don’t overlook your personal and business health. Attention, care and reformed habits will facilitate longevity. As the saying goes, you never know how healthy you are until you see a specialist.

Decision Points:

• Do I have ailments that need to be looked after?
• Am I knowingly healthy or blissfully ignorant as to my health (personal and/or business)?
• Have we got the right attitude or are we paralyzed, blind or blissfully vulnerable?
• Is my status on firm or unsteady ground?
• Do we lack flexibility and a mindset involving unlimited possibilities?

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Clarity Group Global is an intellectual decision validation institution dedicated to the support of leaders, companies and organizations that face challenging choices. Making right decisions that produce significant value equates to less disruption and chaos, "non-tradition made exceptional".

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