From Surviving to Thriving

Now that we're at the end of the first quarter of 2010 - are we having fun yet? The economic indicators are all over the place, so who knows what "the economy" (whatever that is) is going to do.

What's important is not "the economy" but your business. Any business can thrive during these times. Even during the Depression, luxury goods were sold, real estate was bought, and fancy cars were purchased.

What makes the difference for our businesses is whether people want to do business with us because we're fun. I went to Kaua'i a few months after Hurricane Iniki. The devastation was everywhere, yet many shops and restaurants were open. In some places a wall of despair hit me as I opened the door. I turned around and walked out. Who wants to stay there? But one restaurant was jumping. This restaurant was unscathed, but another cafe had been wiped out. Two two restaurants joined forces in the same space - one opened for breakfast and lunch, the other for dinner. It was a great place to go no matter what time of day.

If you are fun to do business with, you'll always have business.