| In the face of an ever changing world, the ability | | | | breadth of their world. Not only an entirely new |
| to see the tides that sweep in on you and your | | | | vocabulary is emerging, but a new lifestyle is |
| enterprise can mean the difference between | | | | blossoming as well. Storefronts are being |
| optimizing oncoming opportunities; or mitigating | | | | threatened by desk tops in rapid and previously |
| losses from their crippling effects. The well | | | | unimaginable way. Consumers are finding in their |
| prepared entrepreneurs become industry leaders, | | | | fast paced worlds the benefits of cost and time |
| while those who failed to lift their heads in time to | | | | savings by interacting online as opposed to |
| take a glance at global shifts find themselves | | | | chasing down their social lives, goods and services |
| squeezed out by increased costs, regulations, and | | | | out in the streets. It is only a matter of a time |
| obstacles. Shifts in trends are like the sands in the | | | | for the creative minds to develop virtual vacation |
| deserts, ever moving and ever changing the face | | | | packages in the near future. |
| of their environment permanently. The former | | | | Loss of habitats, bio-diversity, global security are |
| views, techniques, and avenues of doing business | | | | rolling in as substantial market influences as well. |
| are being re-written. And failure to recognize | | | | The waver are mounting up and regardless of |
| these shifts means failure to survive long term. | | | | what ever size of enterprise you operate, all of |
| The pendulum effect. | | | | these shifts are coming your way. Most of the |
| We have all been eying the "globular credit | | | | astute businesses have already on file their |
| crunch," it certainly has our attention because it | | | | tailored continuity and crisis management plans |
| levied a heavy blow. But this occurrence was a | | | | appropriate to handle sudden extreme events. |
| mere domino effect of a much larger wave and | | | | However these have absolutely no relevance in |
| one that seems to be passing out again. There | | | | terms of coping with incremental changes. A |
| are rumors in the wind that our materialistic and | | | | entirely new set of objectives and strategies |
| consumer dominant point of view are gradually | | | | have to be considered. |
| being replaced by a more moderated humanitarian | | | | In the face of uncertainty lies opportunity. |
| one. As the consequences of a materialistic driven | | | | As a rule of thumb, if uncertainty is ahead, it |
| mindset's mount up, so too does motivation to | | | | should be viewed as a flag to analyze market |
| counter balance the ill effects. "Green " seems to | | | | shifts. Looking at the trends early enough on will |
| be the catch phrase of the recent day and it is | | | | allow for better information gathering, decision |
| still relatively new. You can gauge this by the | | | | making, and strategizing. Because these shifts are |
| mixed reactions you get in the marketplace over | | | | slow moving, it provides opportunity to enact |
| the concept. However it is safe to say "green"is | | | | "what if scenarios" and gather enough resources |
| has a toe hold as a mindset in business practices. | | | | to adapt to the oncoming waves of change |
| Green thinking is rapidly being rewarded as an | | | | before they impact the bottom line. |
| incentive to get on board voluntarily. History | | | | Bio-fuels are an excellent example. Though much |
| however has demonstrated that there comes a | | | | in their infancy, their introduction in the global |
| point in time as the impact of any crisis increases, | | | | energy scene are already irrevocable as an |
| when societies will call upon their governments to | | | | environmental inevitability in order to reduce CO2 |
| enforce legislation, taxes and even levies to | | | | emissions. At the same time, solar panel |
| attempt better control of the situation. The closer | | | | technology is also evolving and maturing as a |
| to a crisis we get, the more costly it is for the | | | | technology and now expanding worldwide. You |
| entrepreneur to maintain old standard business | | | | talk to the industry leaders in both sectors and |
| practices. For the entrepreneur there is little he | | | | they will tell you that there is unprecedented |
| can do, but face these winds head on with or | | | | global demand which allows them to anticipate |
| with out a plan. Preferably with! And in | | | | continued growth for decades. |
| understanding the pendulum like motion of cause | | | | For the businessmen that is not thinking in terms |
| and effect in these global shifts, the entrepreneur | | | | of innovative technology but merely to survive |
| can even see opportunities and alliances that will | | | | and grow in the face of change long, recognizing |
| always present themselves with change: which | | | | the waves coming in can mean the difference |
| can be less painful and considerably more cost | | | | between standing and having the rug pulled out |
| effective if one can see it coming in advance. | | | | under you. A good case in point, and only |
| Flying on the winds of Change. | | | | mentioned as an example, was the decision for a |
| We are currently suffering from the hangover | | | | certain mortgage lending company, ( Total |
| that our insatiable appetite for goods have | | | | Mortgage Services LLC) who attributes not only |
| created. Directly ahead of us lies climate change | | | | stability, but growth in the face of recent market |
| issues which (as a small example only) are | | | | volatility to their foresight. Sensing a possible |
| impacting water sheds and in turn electrical | | | | credit crunch approaching, only because everyone |
| supplies on a globular scale. The effects ripple | | | | seemingly hopped on the same lending's incentive |
| outward in the forms of costly infrastructure | | | | band wagon, decided themselves not to jump on |
| revamps, power outages and rising costs of | | | | board, but rather differentiated themselves in |
| electricity, as well as tax structures.. On it's heels | | | | service and expertise. The company mandated |
| we hear the admittance that our two most | | | | searching out a more stable and qualified buyer, |
| populace landscapes in the world China and India; | | | | and it certainly paid off as their suspicions came |
| both report substantial depletions in natural critical | | | | to fruition. |
| resources and arable land. This creates a massive | | | | The longer businesses delay the inevitable the |
| supply and demand shift forcing the re-gearing of | | | | more it will cost them at the back end, and the |
| marketing mixes. In addition and perhaps | | | | more opportunities they will pass by without |
| consequently, we are also experiencing population | | | | notice. As a shift approaches and innovators jump |
| shifts from less developed countries to more | | | | in to answer the change in demands, the |
| developed. Loss in arable land will no doubt impact | | | | movement picks up speed to a dizzying pace. But |
| far more than migration statistics. | | | | why would a business fail in long term planning? |
| There is also talk in the air that the international | | | | Perhaps they have not considered the issue of |
| communities are formulating a consensus for | | | | adaptation before it was too late. They may not |
| global economic reform. There is an idea put forth | | | | believe themselves to be at significant risk. Or |
| for economic sharing. The entrepreneur has to | | | | they do not believe they have substantial |
| wonder how that is going to translate to their | | | | opportunities available in these shifts. Motorola can |
| market share. Where would they be positioned | | | | testify to this. On top of the world one moment |
| post reform? How will they survive the transition? | | | | with their "Razor" phones and now a few short |
| Where could they be positioned with a good | | | | years later struggling for their lives playing catch |
| strategy and financing? | | | | up. Why? The rapid response and forward thinking |
| The headlines are also inundated with the | | | | of their competitors introduced the "Android" |
| consequences of yet another influence hitting the | | | | phone that offer the convenience of bundling |
| business community. Computers are evolving and | | | | advanced cellular technology with internet |
| become assessable mainstream in the homes and | | | | applications on the go. |
| pockets of humanity on a globular scale It is good | | | | It is apparent that to survive the future, an |
| example of how a wave can wash in and change | | | | entrepreneur has to plan today. Keeping their |
| the face of each and every business environment | | | | eyes open for changes, uncertainties, and rumors |
| in a very big way. Buyer behavior has evolved in | | | | in the wind. Staying informed, networking, and |
| the wake of this new era, as new products, | | | | running "what if" scenarios when they sense |
| avenues of advertising and distribution of goods | | | | something approaching. Not only in their own |
| and services are rapidly searching out means of | | | | minds but also on the tables of boardrooms and |
| going online to find their consumers. And yes this | | | | company meet and greets as well. Involving as |
| trend has it's casualties too. | | | | much collaboration and creative crunching as |
| For those who fail to recognize the permanence | | | | possible. Looking at things from every angle of |
| and gravity that technology has taken hold of the | | | | the marketing mix and assessing the potential |
| world the lesson has been painful. Mind sets have | | | | threats and time lines involved. As the old adage |
| to change. Computers are rapidly molding the way | | | | goes, two heads (or more) are always better |
| business and consumers alike view the scope and | | | | than one. |