DISQUS

C.C. Chapman · 10 months ago

What I have always loved about Chris is that he can boil down a life lesson into a very simple and DIRECT way so that anyone can understand it. The really hard part is for the person reading it to actually stop and put it into action.

Great post Penn and as always I learn something out of everything you create. Keep it up.

Monthiel · 10 months ago

This is a great post and a big lesson... thanks

Chris Frost · 10 months ago

Recessions have always been great, all great comapnies started in recessions, Apple, google, Microsoft - teaches you to be lean and focus on the really serious business, as mistakes can be crippling.

If you survive a recession, things will be easy in the good times!

Rajtilak Bhattacharjee · 10 months ago

A wonderful post.

Whitney · 10 months ago

I've been considering doing a visual diary of what's going on around here. I see a gradual increase in homes for sale, homes for sale for longer periods of time; farmers trying to sell off their open lots; businesses leaving one at a time out of smaller shopping centers, more and more desperate sale signs in the windows of those that remain. This is also telling since I live in an area heavily involved in the pharma, banking and corporate America.
You can see the bad stuff coming, and the ground signs of any recovery by driving around and talking to people- just like the folks who recommend management by walking around, you never have a real sense of what's happening unless you keep your eyes open and take a look at what's around you.
Once you build your awareness, you can then pick a place to begin your work, and make changes that are relevant to your community, based in reality, rather than just speculation. And unless you maintain a sense of relevance, filling a need- everything else is merely window dressing.

allan isfan · 10 months ago

Great post Chris!

If I may add a couple of things.

1. get out of your typical context. grab a fascinating book, go to a park, starbucks, go for a run ... it is amazing how that opens up the brain and you start coming up with amazing new perspectives and ideas you just wouldn't get sitting at you desk.

2. if you're part of a small company or even a startup, your agility is your only weapon. if you're not close to the market and partnering with you customers so you can feel what they feel, you're like the ninja that has his hand tied behind his back and is about to get run over by the chainsaw steamroller

cheers,
@isfan

Suzi Craig · 10 months ago

This economic shake up has caused our company to reinvent. Instead of living from project to project, we are taking a cloud's eye view and making decisions from there. Just like that 30-something professional who has found their groove and suddenly has the gusto to stop taking crap from their less-than-stellar boss, we are transforming into the company that we were meant to be.

We don't take clients who won't take us to the next level. We are activating our knowledge in ways that directly correlate to our clients' success. And we don't take clients who look at us like we're a towel boy at a high-class club. We are on our way to running the high-class club but we're also changing the mojo of that club from high-class to the funky dive bar where everyone wants to hang out.

Tess Giles · 10 months ago

Really good post, thanks, and some of the comments are excellent as well. I'm right with Allan on getting out of your normal context. I booked into a hotel room (alone!) last night away from all distractions just to concentrate on re-evaluating some aspects of my life. It was hugely productive.

doug buckley · 10 months ago

Perhaps another approach to step out of a losing battle in a crises economy is to drop competition as the weapon of choice, and instead choose cooperation and collaboration?

Zach Heller · 10 months ago

Well said Chris. I love the analogy here because it really can feel like you are battling against impossible odds sometimes. But taking a step outside of the day to day routines to evaluate and find new opportunities is the best way to keep moving forward and stay positive about the business. Thanks for the insight.

James Schneider · 10 months ago

I just read this post, and you've really put things into perspective for me! I thank you so much for this valuable information! This will definitely come in handy for me since I work for a new business. I've already forwarded this post to my co-workers because I found it to be so helpful.

Thanks a bunch!

Amie Gillingham · 10 months ago

This post is totally made of win. What a fantastic anaology. Thanks, Other Chris!

Anja · 10 months ago

With other words, go back to marketing basics! You should never have lost sight of the customer. But when times are good and the sales are rolling in, we tend to forget.

Grant D Griffiths · 10 months ago

Instead of looking at our current economic situation as a problem. We should all look at it as an opportunity to grow or get going. I have never understood the doom and gloom crowd. I have been through all of the so called recessions since I was born in 1960 and as one of the commentators said above, some of the greatest companies have been born during times like this.

It is a lot easier to just give up and put your head in the sand. Instead, walk tall and kick butt.

Nick Bostic · 10 months ago

I'm sorry, I used to read daily, but as I am a pirate, all of this talk of ninjas is rather insulting.

Unfortunately, simply replacing the word "ninja" with "pirate" didn't quite make sense. I will keep reading in the hopes that there is adequate pirate representation in the future.

Suzi Craig · 10 months ago

Pirate references are severely MIA from most chatter, that's for sure Nick.

I'm partial to Scottish kilt-wearing, rock throwing, dirty-faced renegades, but that's just me.

@stephenthornton · 10 months ago

Good post Chris; putting yourself in your customers' shoes, thinking way outside existing paradigms, etc .... all great advice. I do have to wonder though whether simply "stepping aside" can solve the problems many businesses face at the moment. If only it were so easy. This foe is not easily avoided methinks.

William Muncrief · 10 months ago

In Northern California I have observed many outlandish things over the last decade that have directly affected the current state of the Union. Home values had reached a staggering 48 % over valued rating as well as land prices. These homes were sold with questionable loan products for years to poorly qualifying consumers. Contractors building these homes worked on the blow and go philosophy thinking it would never end.

Well the ship has sunk like the rest of the nation, and has forced the cream to the top. Competition is the best motivatior for innovation, quality, and honesty. These so called hard times are necessary cycles to cleanse the business environment of the chaff. Now is the perfect time for Amercia to get strong again.

Great article, thank you for the Ninja insight.

E. Christopher Clark · 10 months ago

Ninjas are a great way to get any point across, methinks. Great work! Very inspiring.

Michelle · 10 months ago

What an awesome way to put that - I THANK U!! I love the Ninja insight wow.

Heather Gardner · 10 months ago

I want to be a Ninja! Thanks for the guest post.... I'm sharing this positive insight with my own network of professionals. You ROCK.
Best,
Heather

Dmitri Eroshenko, Relenta · 10 months ago

The ability to sidestep in the heat of a battle comes from years of diligent practice. This isn't something you can try and do after reading a brilliant blog post.

"We are to practice, practice with whatever we may have at hand, until the enemies of our own anger, hesitation and greed are cut down with the celerity and decisiveness of the stroke of a sword."

Takuan Soho, The Unfettered Mind. Writings from a Zen Master to a Master Swordsman.

Kiran · 10 months ago

Very nice article. Very relevant too. The key would be to shed all baggage and start thinking at the PRESENT. So all reports which talked of Future forecasts and stuff should rather be allowed to just gather dust

Malcolm Bastien · 10 months ago

I like it. It's an important message that without analyzing the work that you and your company is doing, without taking that step back you risk missing a giant opportunity because everyone is busy doing work for work's sake.

And no matter how much work you do, the customer's perspective is the key in continuing to provide value.

Tom · 7 months ago

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Alexanderson · 3 months ago

Thanks for sharing.

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