Your business faces major challenges in the days, weeks, and months ahead.  There are rising prices, markets destabilizing due to tighter credit restraints, and an obvious feeling of general helplessness by everyone. 

But we are the lucky ones!  We have our own businesses, allowing us the freedom to choose our own course toward the future. We all need to focus on what is most important during these times of uncertainty.  Here are three focal points with which to begin...

1.  The pursuit of excellence is overrated.  The more your business provides to a customer, the more they in turn, expect.  Never mind that it may cost you ever more to provide what they request, raise the prices and you are the villain. It is much better for your business to satisfy as many people as you disappoint providing better balance for your business.  Trying to satisfy everyone all the time will drive you crazy, and the insanity may just appear in the performance of your business.  It is not worth the risk!

2.  Service to the community of mankind is impossible.  The world is in such great need that no single act of kindness will ever make a difference in the grand scheme of things.  You will be wasting your time giving anything away for free.  Do not volunteer time, money, or resources to these lost causes.  There will be no direct value if your business chooses this suicide run.  And who is going to pay for these free rides?  Your customers, after you raise prices and become the villain once again. Will you enjoy being the villain?

3.  Respect of the individual is irresponsible.  Why sacrifice the  good of the many in catering to the few?  Every business has it's 1% of customers it will never satisfy no matter what is done.  Gear your business efforts to the appeal of the masses, ignoring individual differences.  One generic advertising message will suffice reducing  your advertising overhead.  Everyone will just have to discover their own significance in the message. Marketing to the individual will only serve as a catalyst for raising prices and leading us to being a villain.

There is no Fool like and Old Fool, unless you are a Business Fool.  We hoped you all enjoyed "our rant".  Happy April Fools Day!  Snicker on, Garth, chuckle on, Wayne.   And as always, we welcome your comments.

The Plain Page Prophets