{"id":1075,"date":"2019-06-05T10:00:08","date_gmt":"2019-06-05T10:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rocksolidbizdevelopment.com\/ourblog\/?p=1075"},"modified":"2025-07-01T17:20:22","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T17:20:22","slug":"even-if-youre-on-the-right-track-youll-get-run-over-if-you-just-sit-there","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rocksolidbizdevelopment.com\/ourblog\/even-if-youre-on-the-right-track-youll-get-run-over-if-you-just-sit-there\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cEven if you\u2019re on the right track, you\u2019ll get run over if you just sit there.\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

In 1998, Dr. Spencer Johnson published \u201cWho Moved My Cheese,\u201d a business fable that would remain on the New York Times best seller list for almost five years.\u00a0 Its message is as relevant today as it was when it was published over 20 years ago, and it remains a very popular business book having sold over 26 million copies worldwide in 37 different languages.\u00a0 The central theme of the book is change<\/u><\/em> . . . particularly about how we react to change.\u00a0 Do we hunker down and wait it out in the belief that the change will pass and we\u2019ll get back to life as normal?\u00a0 Or do we embrace change as the \u201cnew normal\u201d and look for opportunities that the new normal may bring?\u00a0 Considering the international business conditions many of us now face . . . trade wars, embargoes, tariffs, etc. . . . change seems to be an especially appropriate topic right now.\u00a0 Like it or not, we all live in a global economy, and our business fortunes are inextricably tied to those of other countries all over the world.\u00a0 Even those of us who have no obvious ties to international markets, probably have customers or suppliers who do.\u00a0 For more on change and how we deal with it in the 21st<\/sup> century, please read on.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven if you\u2019re on the right track, you\u2019ll get run over if you just sit there.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>~Will Rogers<\/em><\/p>\n

Complacency is a disease that will kill us more quickly than just about any other disease we can think of.\u00a0 A little paranoia, on the other hand, will keep us on our toes and force us to continuously scan the horizon for the next approaching threat.\u00a0 In fact, in a very real sense, identifying the changes coming at us and devising defenses against them are the two most important duties any of us have as company owners and CEOs.<\/p>\n

So what sorts of changes are we guarding against?<\/p>\n

We need to be alert for any and all changes that could threaten the company, its mission, or its goals, but in general, such changes will fit into the following broad areas:<\/p>\n

Competitive changes<\/u><\/strong>.\u00a0 A new, bigger, better-financed competitor enters the market (think a local hardware store suddenly faced with Home Depot entering the market).\u00a0 Or maybe an existing competitor comes out with a new, revamped product line with functionality your products can\u2019t match.\u00a0 Or maybe an existing competitor launches a new pricing strategy that requires a response from you.<\/p>\n

Technological changes<\/u><\/strong>.\u00a0 A so-called \u201cdisruptive\u201d technology enters the market making your products or services, if not obsolete, at least less important that they were previously.\u00a0 Or these could be production technologies that allow a competitor to produce at higher quality standards, higher tolerances, or higher volumes than was previously available.<\/p>\n

Governmental\/Regulatory changes<\/u><\/strong>.\u00a0 Even if you\u2019re not in a regulated industry, you can still be impacted by governmental policies, tax structure, and judicial rulings.\u00a0 OSHA inspectors can walk through your door anytime they choose whether you\u2019re in a regulated industry or not.<\/p>\n

Social changes<\/u><\/strong>.\u00a0 Could you face a public relations problem if your workforce is perceived to be insufficiently diverse in terms of ethnicity and\/or gender?\u00a0 What if your pay scales do not provide a \u201cliving wage?\u201d\u00a0 Could you fairly be accused to perpetuating a toxic environment for women and\/or minorities?<\/p>\n

Financial changes<\/u><\/strong>.<\/strong>\u00a0 We are struck by either a depression or a recession.\u00a0 Think 2008 all over again.\u00a0 Or maybe it\u2019s less dire, but interest rates are high and bank financing is increasingly harder to get.<\/p>\n

So how do we effectively keep an eye on these various sources of change?<\/p>\n