Thinking the unthinkable in a recession
The difference between having a daydream and working towards a vision is the call to action (strategy, plan, execution, delivery).
Desperation is a great call to action!
The recession is forcing people to think the unthinkable. Considering new markets, new processes, new ways of working and new terms. Everything is up for grabs again. Positive or negative, it’s an adrenalin rush and we are thinking in basic terms again.
- Stay Positive
- Work Hard
- Innovate
- Think Big & Take Action
My favourite case study of the recession is Brawn GP. In March 2009, Ross Brawn announced a last minute buy-out of Honda F1 under the new name of Brawn GP. Almost half the workforce was made redundant, Jenson Button took a significant pay cut and they didn’t have an engine until Mercedes stepped in. I have listened to Nick Fry talk about this experience and it is clear that things got pretty desperate; they were a hair away from going down the tubes.
The success they are now enjoying is shared by all the people who put themselves out there getting a car ready in the shortest possible time ready for the first race. It is testament to the following characteristics:
- Belief
- Courage
- Determination
- Motivation
- Commitment
Even Jensen Button admits that “It felt impossible because I wasn’t positive myself”, the people around him reminded him that they needed to be positive or no-one would want to buy the team.
Of course a number of elements have to come together, held together by sheer hard graft. A friend of mine works alongside the Brawn GP team and he confirms that it is half the people doing twice the work and its better. There is a different attitude and normal rules don’t apply.
Normal rules don’t apply!
Sometimes we need help to think the unthinkable. Braun GP are working towards a vision of making Jensen Button the best driver he can be.
Who is helping you? What is your success story going to be?
Saira
said on June 19, 2009
I too run my own business in these challenging times but there is one thing that I feel keeps me ahead of the game and that is not to believe we are in a recession. It is amazing how you can change peoples attitudes and outlook by telling them that things are getting better and how you yourself have seen things starting to change. I am a great believer in postive attitudes changing the way we do business and get a real kick out of operating in different industry sectors and telling them that their industry is starting too pick-up, its amazing how good news travels and after a while people do start to beleive in what you are saying. There are too many negative people that are all to quick to pass on bad news shame on them and lets hope they can take a leaf out of your book!!
Love the website and look forward to doing business with you in the near future.
Yasmin
said on June 19, 2009
“NORMAL RULES DON’T APPLY”
As a member of the Cheeky Monkey team this is one rule I am being encouraged to follow. Working the day shift is not enough! we are pushing hard to improve our business, team and the services that we offer. It’s not easy, the whole team are under pressure to achieve new goals week in, week out and when things don’t go to plan it can be difficult to stay positive, but positive we must stay.
As a team we are united in our belief that we can make a difference and are continuously motivated by the courage and determination that Nina provides as our leader.
We all have something unique to offer, believe in yourself and the world will believe in you.
Denise
said on July 1, 2009
What recession? I remember those, we had one in the nineties. If the market for our business has just shrunk by 20% it means we’d do well to get, at the very least, 20% harder, fitter, better than we were before. What people don’t want is to work with organisations with a defeatist attitude, because it’s horribly contagious. And, if they don’t believe in themselves, why should their customers? I congratulate Cheeky Monkey on its ‘tail up’ approach and enjoyed the comments.
Denise, SME Board Director