By Malcolm Gallagher FCIM
It’s time to get out of your bunker and go seek new opportunities – even amidst all this Brexit Deal/No Deal uncertainty.
Unless you have a real pile of cash to waste you can’t afford to sit on your hands. Plus, the more you do nothing then the more languid your people become, the more customers forget about you and the more your business value dwindles.
So, what to do?
Now I am sure you have been through all the usual Brexit checklists on supplier contracts, customer contracts supply chain and so on. The usual battening down the hatches in tough or uncertain times. Or perhaps you are like too many other businesses, hiding away until the summer holidays are over.
Is that truly the best way to lead your business? How about seeking and seizing the opportunity – there is plenty of it around as I’ve been helping clients find out.
Take one of my brewery clients. With our Tourism Plus Channel, I’ve got them to focus on a very special event next year – VE Day – the 75th anniversary of the ending of WW2 in Europe. By some special branding and contacts, I was able to provide, and by doing things now they should now be able to make 2 if not 3 years profit just in that one-weekend event.
Take my business law client who through aligning alongside our Supplier Plus Channel and our bid readiness and tender writing services has got a new, sustainable and immediately buoyant revenue stream on contracts preparation, T&Cs, and other relevant documentation.
Take my Gin School client who provides a world-class product as well as an attractive venue. They have aligned themselves with my Leadership Plus channel and team-building courses to be able to offer a key solution to the people retention and people growth challenges faced by corporate companies today, especially around uncertainty. Win-win all round.
Okay, those 3 examples were a bit self-centered around me but I wanted to show you that real and profitable opportunity is there NOW if you look up and around.
So how do you start what I call your Opportunity Odyssey. Yes, I say Odyssey, a lengthy journey with lots of highs and lows along the way. Uncertainty is the new global norm and there is no way there will be an instant Brexit quick fix – it will continue to be a challenge and so will your Odyssey to discover opportunities.
But get started!
Start your Odyssey with the word “Disruption”. Disruption will occur if there is No Deal or if there is a Deal or even if there is Remain. Disruption is becoming endemic in business – mostly through technology or Industry 4.0 or climate change and so on.
The Disruption Dive
Stage one of your Opportunity Odyssey is what I call your Disruption Dive.
Think which markets or clients that you serve or want to serve or could serve will be subject to disruption. How can what you do, or offer, help them be successful?
What new products or services could you develop to meet prospects needs?
Now this Disruption Dive exercise requires foresight, knowledge and a good deal of lateral thinking. But I know it works as I’ve facilitated it for many clients!
Don’t do it as a solo exercise, by yourself, but instead get your team involved or even external help for facilitating.
It can be great fun and you’ll likely end up as I do with a wall full of mind maps or a crammed whiteboard but, provided you do it correctly, the light bulb moment will happen!
There are other parts of the Opportunity Odyssey for you to discover with me over upcoming posts, episodes, videos, and courses here on the BizVision Network. But for now, get started with your Disruption Dive. Get in touch with me mg@bizvision.co.uk if you need any help or prompts.
