One of the earlier instances of understanding ebb and flow came from building out the forecast for the bar during planning stages. I applied a percentage to each month that tied to the percentage of the target revenue goal we would hit. The percentage actually drops two times during the year – winter months and the first true summer month (it’s based in Madison, WI) – other months we exceed the target. In the end, it manages to be a profitable business and there are no tears when it drops – it’s expected; planned for.
I met a friend for coffee yesterday and we got to talking about the attendance of events at venues in town. Post pandemic there was an uptick. Now it’s down again. We both believe it’ll go back up in the next couple of years, but then go down again a couple after that. Ebb and flow.
Victorinox understood that when you are playing the long-game (Simon Sinek, calls it the The Infinite Game), the smartest business decisions you can make are not the ones that help you flow faster, but that help you manage and thrive through the ebb and flow. They prepared for the ebb during the flow while competitors tried to get the most they could out of the flow.
The skill here (and it is very much a skill; something you can acquire and build upon) is foresight.
Might as well assume there will be an ebb and flow. In what ways can it happen? What will you do about it?
Answering the questions is what will give you the competitive advantage when the ebb or flow hits.
Stay Positive & Done Right And Even The Ebb Can Be A Flow
- Ebb & Flow - January 15, 2025
- All The Reasons Why - January 14, 2025
- Generosity Has Momentum - January 13, 2025
