I was talking to the employee of another store who mentioned that he had suggested to his boss that she read my blog.
"Too negative."
O.K. I totally understand that.
I really do.
But you know what? I look at what I wrote two years ago, and if anything I underestimated the problems...
And, if I'm allowed to say this, I was more right about what was coming than most people at the time.
So...if my estimate that it's going to be horrid the first half of next year turns you off, so be it....
I don't see how you can begin to plan or deal with the problems if you can't acknowledge them.
Feel free to ignore me. But I wish I could find some sites where owners actually talk about what's happening. It's just not in their natures, I figure. Business owners are a canny bunch.
I mean you can find no end of local and national blogs run by business that are nothing but rosy, nothing but "look what shiny new things we just made, or got, and isn't it just wonderful?"
Try to find anyone talking turkey. I've pretty much given up. Just as I had to give up years ago asking them face to face, or over the phone. I never know what they're really feeling until after the fact, usually about 6 months later when they've either made it through and are looking back ruefully, or they're closing shop.
There are a fair number of business news blogs who can be honest, but they are depending on facts and figures that don't usually get reported until long after the actual timeline.
It doesn't really matter.
But much of this blog is about preparing myself, because....believe it or not...I consistently underestimate the problems, and overestimate my ability to deal with them.
I'm just trying to narrow that reality gap.
And as I always say, if I ever STOP talking about it, then you'll know I've got real problems. As it is, I'm doing pretty good because I've made the necessary steps.
Postscript: I've just had two really good days in sales. Mostly due to two customers, but then they do count. I don't know. I just think I can talk about a slowdown without scaring people. That it's just one of those parts of the business cycle. Maybe not. You tell me.
"Too negative."
O.K. I totally understand that.
I really do.
But you know what? I look at what I wrote two years ago, and if anything I underestimated the problems...
And, if I'm allowed to say this, I was more right about what was coming than most people at the time.
So...if my estimate that it's going to be horrid the first half of next year turns you off, so be it....
I don't see how you can begin to plan or deal with the problems if you can't acknowledge them.
Feel free to ignore me. But I wish I could find some sites where owners actually talk about what's happening. It's just not in their natures, I figure. Business owners are a canny bunch.
I mean you can find no end of local and national blogs run by business that are nothing but rosy, nothing but "look what shiny new things we just made, or got, and isn't it just wonderful?"
Try to find anyone talking turkey. I've pretty much given up. Just as I had to give up years ago asking them face to face, or over the phone. I never know what they're really feeling until after the fact, usually about 6 months later when they've either made it through and are looking back ruefully, or they're closing shop.
There are a fair number of business news blogs who can be honest, but they are depending on facts and figures that don't usually get reported until long after the actual timeline.
It doesn't really matter.
But much of this blog is about preparing myself, because....believe it or not...I consistently underestimate the problems, and overestimate my ability to deal with them.
I'm just trying to narrow that reality gap.
And as I always say, if I ever STOP talking about it, then you'll know I've got real problems. As it is, I'm doing pretty good because I've made the necessary steps.
Postscript: I've just had two really good days in sales. Mostly due to two customers, but then they do count. I don't know. I just think I can talk about a slowdown without scaring people. That it's just one of those parts of the business cycle. Maybe not. You tell me.