Crabby Times

If you like seafood, what is common between crab legs, oysters and lobster? They are tricky to eat, and the tasty reward is worth every effort you put in. I have always wondered if I were to hire somebody for the sole reason of extracting the crab leg meat allowing me to dedicate my energy on the chewing part, would I still enjoy those crab legs as much?

In a bubble, businesses tend to lose sense of the real value of strategies. They are busy fixing the situation and mostly using their rear view mirror. They are hoping that somebody (e.g., the government, the market) would dictate a big strategy for all businesses, while they focus on the chewing part. At the beginning of the gold rush, gold seemed to be everywhere workers dug and even the lousiest digger was capable of making a good living. When resources started dwindling, only the best strategists and then the most skilled were able to find the gold. A great strategist with good skills always enjoy a downturn when every idiot is no longer able to find gold. Sounds familiar? How many idiots do you know became real estate agents a couple of years ago? How are they doing now compared to more seasoned peers?

A downturn is the perfect timing for sound businesses to plan for prosperous times. This is the time that is most enjoyable to true business strategists. This is the time to sort out the men from the boys and discover who can cope with difficult situations and who cannot. This is the time to setup your business to generate additional added value. Also make sure you equip your business with the right technologies and tools just like you need a dull knife and a nutcracker to help you enjoy those juicy crab legs.
(Dedicated to Mimi and Z)