There’s an old joke from the early 1900’s that goes:
Two shoe salesmen go to Africa looking to open new markets. After spending several days among rural villages, the first telegrams back, “There’s no hope. No one wears any shoes.” The second sends a different telegram, “There’s unlimited opportunity. Everyone here needs shoes!”
Looking for opportunities for your business? Ask yourself this first: Which salesman are you?
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How’s business? We’re closing in on the end of the first quarter, so you’re looking at how you’re doing, right? Just imagine looking back on the first quarter and realizing you’re ahead of your goals and set up for success through the rest of the year. That sounds like fun, doesn’t it?
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“This is a test. This is only a test. If this had been an actual emergency…”
I grew up at the tail end of the Cold War, but still remember those Emergency Broadcast System messages designed to alert of a coming nuclear strike and – near as I could tell – annoy 10 year-old boys by interrupting Bugs Bunny cartoons. Because, when you’re young, you don’t really believe the world is coming to an end.
When we have more at stake, it’s easy to forget that:
It’s only a test
The world probably isn’t coming to an end
Your business is in the dumps right now? It’s only a test. The world probably isn’t coming to an end.
Your top client is pissed at you? It’s only a test. The world probably isn’t coming to an end.
Your best employee is jumping to a competitor? It’s only a test. The world probably isn’t coming to an end.
As a former boss of mine used to say, “If it doesn’t include the words ‘terminal’ or ‘indictment,’ it’s not that big a deal.”
Still, don’t think I’m a Pollyanna about these things. Even if the world isn’t coming to an end, each of these tests – and others like it – have meaningful consequences. In other words, these are important tests. Your Bugs Bunny cartoons may have to wait a while.
Because, really, what they’re testing is you. Your ability to respond to them. To handle them. To prevent them in the first place – or at least prevent them from happening again.
But, they’re only a test. Are you going to pass?
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Rupert Murdoch thinks Google is a ‘content kleptomaniac.” Jeff Jarvis thinks Murdoch is just a maniac. Who’s right? And why does it matter to your business?
There’s an old joke from the early 1900’s that goes:
