#204: Practice going broke

Ernest Hemingway pointed out that the way we go broke is ‘gradually, and then suddenly.’ What he did not add is that the opposite is also true. Success comes gradually, then suddenly.

The same happens to organizations: they go broke gradually and then suddenly. But they also become successful gradually, then suddenly.

Many successful people have demonstrated that to be suddenly successful you must take time to practice success gradually and consistently. I am pleased to say that I have worked with senior executives who obviously know this.

Sadly, I have also worked with the other type. These executives are pretty good when times are good, but at the slightest sign of financial trouble, they immediately practice going broke.

How do I know that? Because they focus on cutting costs, even at the expense of growing their sales.

Gradually, their costs come down, and suddenly, so does their business.


I’m james@nonsenseatwork.com

Copyright: 2008 James Henry McIntosh

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