How to stay in business even during a recession

Browsing the book store at Heathrow airport a week ago I spotted Malcolm Gladwell’s latest book called Outliers. I had thoroughly enjoyed his book ‘Blink’ so was persuaded to part with some money to acquire this one.

I haven’t been disappointed at all. It is a great read and worth getting. What I like about his books is that they are a great combination of some hardcore research and creative thinking behind the conclusions he draws. This particular book is all about what factors contribute to make some people successful and others not.

There are obviously a whole bunch of factors that contribute. Those could be the home you grew up in, the education you got, the work environment you found yourself in and your particular interests or passions amongst some of the points made.

One of the most interesting reasons why some people are successful while others are not was the chapter on the 10 000 hour rule. He provides a great example of the Beatles.  By accident, rather than design, Liverpool bands were invited to play in clubs in Germany and the Beatles took the opportunity.

The Beatles went several times. Their reason for going was the free booze and the copious quantities of available sex. All very important lifestyle components for young men! However, a part of the Hamburg experience was the fact that the band had to play for hours on end. No free lunches!

A raw, undisciplined, not particularly great band went to Hamburg and returned as a disciplined, well rehearsed group with a wide repertoire. They got in their practice. Undeniably there was huge talent there to start off with, but the endless hours of playing pushed them into the exceptional category.

A friend’s tale of his hot water heater breaking at 8.00pm and his efforts to find somebody to replace it reminded me of Gladwell’s book again. Gladwell describes the super achievers as having put in more work than any of their contemporaries whether musicians or mathematicians.

What happened in the saga of the boiler replacement is exactly what stops businesses from growing and in a recession from surviving. Trying to get a new boiler showed up the attitude to work that business people often have. Only one of the listed businesses answered the phone after hours, although all the ones he phoned promised a 24/7 service in their sales copy.

How often have you had to wait for somebody to get back to you? How often have you waited for a builder to arrive at your home to give you a quote?  And they never showed up. Many times, I’m sure. And I’m also sure that when the opportunity arose, you rewarded the hard-working entrepreneur, who made the effort to call, with your business.

In the words of golfing legend Gary Player, “The harder I practise the luckier I get.” The harder you work at your business the ‘luckier’ you will be in seeing it grow or at the least in our economic hard times, to survive. And if that requires you to actually be available 24/7, then so be it.  It will be well worth it.