|
A quick flick through this weekends FT or Sunday Times would have most business people reaching for the Valium. The doom and gloom about Greece, the Euro Crisis, continuing bad news on housing etc. would lead you to think the sky was falling again, just like 2008. And yet.... On Friday night, I called at my favourite watering hole on the way home, (Dukes at Castlefield, Manchester) for a quick drink - and they were 4 deep at the bar. After a 10 minute wait, going nowhere, we gave up and went in their sister restaurant next door, Albert's Shed, ( it ended up being an expensive quick pint!). The terrace outside the two businesses was literally a seething mass, heaving with around 5-600 people I reckon. So, were all these people spending the last of their hard earned money to get themselves into a drunken stupor, before their currency became worthless and we needed wheelbarrow loads of money to buy a pint? Somehow, I don't think so. As I sat on the terrace, with the balmy weather reminding me more of Marbella than Manchester, eating my meal, watching with fascination, the hordes conversing, it dawned on me, they didn't look too miserable. In fact, most seemed to be having a damned good time! Perhaps they're the idle rich I thought? But, no, apart from a few, most had the flat hard, (but friendly) Manc accents, so well broadcast by Liam & Noel Gallagher of Oasis. These were local Manchester lads and lasses on their usual Friday night out. Strangely enough, I didn't hear much talk of banks crashing, currencies collapsing or Quantitative Easing. No sir. So. Is the world ending or isn't it? Well, there's no doubt that things are slowing down in some sectors and marking time in others, but you know what? That always happens. As one sector fades another one rises. The "Crisis" that scares most business people to death, is actually in our heads. Things are as good or bad as we care to make them. People are still spending money. Moral of the story? If your business is finding things tough, look at adjacent sectors, find out what people are spending money on and morph into that area, (still can't get plumbers or electricians BTW). Ask around. Most people will coment on how you can't get a decent "X" any more. Go make some "X"! But don't take risks. You can keep your upfront costs to a minimum by asking the folks at Hired Help to look after you calls and admin. Only pay for what you need. That's the new mantra for the current age - get virtual and get rid of fixed costs! Have a great week. Denis O'Donnell
Last Updated ( Monday, 03 October 2011 13:28 )
|
