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The greater good
Times of crisis in a business sector can often lead to an overall improvement in the community. Weaker entrants often leave the game when the environment worsens and the barriers to entry for new players seem higher. Those that remain therefore have reduced competition and “better quality” competitors who operate with more similar parameters of quality, value and commercial behaviour. In the global economic meltdown of 2007/8 many companies were forced to review?commercial terms and conditions with customers. Typically, long-established “standard”?credit periods that pre-crisis had been applied to whole countries as a default position?suddenly became unsustainable because banks were not playing ball.Obama vs Thatcher: Public speaking lessons pitting the world's best orators
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Times of personal crises can be a watershed for growth
Finally, consider the effects of personal crisis. Redundancy is hugely challenging for the individual concerned and the fear is centred on the uncertain future ahead. It is true that when one has worked for many years within an organisation that the world of work outside seems more and more challenging. There is something comforting about unchanging procedures, environment and colleagues. However, it can also be said that such conditions are restrictive and that living in the comfort zone can lead to an individual operating below their potential. It is quite common to hear of individuals who have never looked back after?redundancy because it unleashed an entrepreneurial spirit that had been dormant. Many?describe themselves as “reluctant entrepreneurs” because it was the act of being made?redundant that forced the change in approach ? they needed a push. It wasn?t planned but?nonetheless these people certainly didn?t waste a good crisis! Similarly,?the sales warriors of today may be missing a trick. According to the biggest battle’s in history, an indirect approach is the ultimate “grand strategy”. Andrew Low is managing director of JE Invest and the owner of?DiscussingBusiness.com.? This article was originally published on 25 February 2016.Share this story