Penang's Water Crisis: A Wake-Up Call for Businesses Everywhere

What the scheduled 4-day water disruption in Penang reminded me about business survivability?

I won't go into details about Penang's 4-day water disruption from 10th to 14th Jan 2024, but below are my reflections on business and marketing perspectives.

1. Are You Prepared for the Worst?

In any business, life, or marketing decision you make, there's always a level of risk.

Sometimes the risks are expected, measurable to some extent, or even surprising.

For example, the Covid-19 pandemic taught the world a significant lesson, regardless of whether you're a small business or a big corporation.

We've seen many ups and downs, transformations, and creative ideas emerge due to the situation at that time.

Now, I want to relate this to the water disruption in Penang.

The relevant water authority even announced this a month in advance through various channels like news, TV, social media, flyers (yes, I received one in my mailbox), and countless WhatsApp messages (Malaysians will understand this).

In short, the water authority and Penang government made efforts to ensure everyone was aware of the impending situation.

They urged everyone to save water, make preparations in advance (I saw many public events postponed), and some even left Penang temporarily (my colleagues worked from home in neighboring Kedah or even went to KL to avoid water-saving measures).

Now, what about your business?

Do you remember the lessons from the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic when many small and medium businesses had to lay off staff, close down due to various issues like poor cash flow, financial mismanagement, and inadequate risk management?

What I want to emphasize is that we live in a world where uncertainty is ever-present.

Don't believe me?

Every day we witness major international companies laying off a significant percentage of their workforce, currency depreciation (except for certain export businesses), and countless rumors and news that impact business growth.

Despite all this, businesses need to continue running, and you must have a contingency plan in place, no matter what surprises may come your way.

?

2. Creativity and Innovation Often Stem From Desperation and Frustration.

Let me illustrate using the water disruption in Penang as a case study.

Before the disruption, Penangites were stockpiling water and devising creative, cost-effective ways to store it due to limited space in high-rise buildings.

They used heavy-duty plastic bags to store water and repurposed plastic chairs or containers to hold these bags, using them as garbage bags once the water supply returned.

Do you remember the lockdown period during the Covid-19 pandemic a few years back, not just in Malaysia but around the world?

It brought about new creative approaches and adaptations to living, such as remote work, hybrid models, online commerce, and more.

If you still feel stuck in your comfort zone in your business or personal career growth, it's probably because you're not feeling the urgency or seriousness of the situation.

When faced with a crisis, you're forced to make changes and innovate to survive.

While I understand that some prefer to stay relaxed, for a business to thrive and improve, it needs to keep evolving, innovating, or even pivot when necessary.

So, you may need to create situations that allow for innovation and creativity to flourish within your organization; otherwise, things will remain the same, leading to similar results.

3. Stay Alert, Updated and Sensitive

Naturally, during a water disruption, people keep seeking updates on when the water supply will be restored.

Personally, I frequently check social media for official press releases, on-site repair photos/videos, or user posts to see which areas have had their water supply restored.

However, in business, we sometimes lack the ability and commitment to observe and monitor the market continuously.

We focus solely on our business without considering external factors or the global landscape.

For instance, lessons from supply chain disruptions in the semiconductor industry, shipping vessel incidents, global conflicts, trade wars, policy changes, and various news might not seem directly related to your business.

Still, their long-term effects can eventually affect your business, market, and life.

In any case, at a minimum, you should allocate time to update yourself with news, stay informed about competitors, or any developments related to your field.

You can also leverage AI tools to compile and summarize this information as part of your routine to make your life more efficient.

??

As I write this, I'm still patiently waiting for the water supply to return to my home.

I hope my reflections serve as a reminder about a few essential aspects of your business and life based on my short sharing.

Always have a Plan B, stay innovative and keep yourself updated.