Surviving the Storm; What to Do When You're Stuck Out on the Water or facing a tough 2023!

Hi, my summer (or not so summer) holiday experience inspired me to write this article.

While many of us, myself included, were looking forward to see the end of 2022 and hoping for an ok 2023, the weather has not been helpful in starting the year off in a positive manner.

Personally, my husband and I were due to go to the Coromandel via our launch for a family holiday, and were first delayed due to water tightness issues on the boat, that finally got fixed on 30th December, and then we headed out, to meet the storm on 1st January.

While living through eight nights on a boat in up to 50 knott winds, and four of them in the same bay not daring to weigh anchor as we felt safest in our anchorage, we look back and reflect on what we learnt.

The reality is, if you google what to do when you’re stuck out on the water, it is like preparing for tough trading in NZ for 2023.?

https://www.rejuvenateproducts.com/cleaning-tips/boating-storm-survival-tips

After coming off the back of a torrid lock down, then boom sales in 2021 and part of 2022, and then an earlier than expected hard brake on sales mid August, our importing, retailing and service businesses of kitchen and laundry appliances, has weathered its own storm these past few years.

On reading the above article, it feels like that surviving a storm is just like what we are preparing for in 2023.?We are best to be prepared, and as our business now hunkers down for a tougher 2023 with a plan to grow market share, I have updated the 10 steps in the boating preparation, for our business (and what I believe would be relevant for many businesses in NZ and around the world):

1 – Prepare your Business – make sure all the basics of business strategy and processes are in place, along with extra preparations to ride a tougher trading period.

2 – Prepare your Team – ensure your leaders have all the tools to help lead, and the wider team know your business and the strategy to ensure all the team can assist in achieving the goals.

3 – Read the Conditions – the conditions can change, and often very quickly – when you are importing and have six month lead times, you need to be able to read what your customers want, and adapt quickly to ensure you can ride “the storm”.

4 – Look for Options – having alternative plans to help navigate the often changing conditions are important, which can mean being able to pivot or have a plan B.

5 – Make a Plan – being clear on your intention to navigate through the conditions is important, making sure all the team are across it and that they believe in the plan to ensure that you are in the best possible position to achieve it.

6 – Communicate – Always a critical part of any business, plan and situation!!!

7 – Be Practical – Do all the basics and don’t let go of common sense.

8 – Be Aware – Keep close to what is going on, and make smart decisions if things change.

9 – Prepare for the Worst – It is better to prepare for the worst possible result with which your business can survive, and be prepared to do what is necessary to achieve that, or better.?Often that means making hard decisions, which are necessary to ensure longevity.

10 – Damage Control – Whether during the storm or immediately afterward, you need to check the damage and have a plan to look after yourself and your team.?Everyone will be exhausted from another tough trading period, and need some time and support to recover from this.?However, we can get through this, and then want to be able to thank all those that step up and do their utmost to deliver, and not only survive the storm, but help the business thrive.?At this point we can probably add a point 11 – Be Thankful – once you come through a storm, it helps you appreciate even more the business and the team that help you succeed.?It takes a motivated, aligned team to deliver the best possible outcome.?Appreciate what you have.

As we came back to Auckland yesterday, via car as we need to wait until the weather improves before bringing the boat back around the sometimes treacherous Channel Island, we brace for 2023 and plan for achieving the best outcome from both a professional and personal level.

And if you ask, how was my summer holidays – in fact, I enjoyed it.?We made the most of the time together to cook nice meals (we still managed to catch good fish before the storm hit), do minor repairs and cleaning on the boat, read strategy books, practice my Japanese language, watch martial arts videos, and have some genuine relaxation.

On a personal note for 2023, outside of preparing our family business by growing leaders, tightening spend, and preparing for the worst, but having a plan to grow market share, I am also looking forward to a few more milestones – 20 years in our family business, 20 years of marriage, and going to Japan to sit my 5th Dan black belt training in Shorinji Kempo.?

I wish everyone a positive 2023 and hope that you also prepare your plan to come through this year with the best possible outcome.

#kitchenthings #jonesfamilybusiness #familybusiness