"When you open a window, you get fresh air. . . but a fly flies inside!"

So relates an ancient Chinese saying. It's a colorful statement that illustrates an axiom of nature: Progress brings change -- but not all change is good. So would the world be better off without progress? Of course not, but the good should outweigh the bad. . . and the "winners" in life will be those who accept the progress but are prepared to cope with the changes it brings.

Leveling the Playing Field

In his new book, "The World is Flat", Thomas Friedman explains how globalization and the internet are leveling the playing field for small and midsize businesses to compete with large companies. Suddenly every business has some sort of access to information, analysis and support that only large companies could afford a decade ago.

Small business owners can only compete when they have access to the same forecasting, key measurables and processes that allow the larger companies to grow. For example, The Limited took a slice of the market and combined it with excellent planning, inventory management, global sourcing and sophisticated management processes to make Les Wexner a retail icon.

Management One® was developed with the principle in mind to provide all business owners with the same resources and information that the larger companies use. M1's Winning@Retail™ gives small and midsize independent retailers access to safer forecasting inventory management and trend analysis than the chains. The playing field is leveled and the smaller retailers can compete.

M1®'s Winning@Business™ process offers the same opportunities to businesses of all sizes. Small and midsize companies can organize, motivate and succeed with processes that nullify the advantage that a big budget gives the large competitor.

Years ago, retailers were proud of the largest selection and the biggest investment in inventory in the marketplace. Those claims are a part of retail history. Smart merchandising is the key to successful buying today. Not enough disappoints the customers and the business loses sales; too much dictates costly markdowns, cutting into the bottom line. Winning@Retail™ allows the retailer to have the right inventory in the right amount and at the right time.

Time to Step Outside

Too often owners spend way too much time in their business without venturing outside of it. When surrounded by employees, one gets a jaded view how the business is perceived. When dealing only with customers, only the filtered effects of those who like and frequent the business are what is seen.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of the market consists of those people who either don't know you exist, have done business with you in the past but no longer use your goods or services or have heard of your reputation and choose not to do business with you.

These people are the keys to the growth of your business. The more you know about their problems, desires and habits, the better able you will be to serve their needs and expand your market.

Look outside the business and think outside the box!

Quote of the Day

"Once upon a time I was riding on the top of a First Avenue bus, when I heard a mythical housewife say to another, 'Molly, my dear, I would have bought that new brand of toilet soap if only they hadn't set the body copy in ten point Garamond.'

Don't you believe it. What really [influences] consumers to buy or not to buy is the content of your advertising, not its form." -- Advertising guru David Ogilvy