TC: PAST PRESENT FUTURE
Each period is rooted in the circumstances of its time. The challenge is to understand the three periods and how they can help you grow a successful business.
The Past: By studying the past you will learn both what elements of business have survived, and which have not. One treasure in my library is a 4-volume set published by Simon & Schuster titled The World of Business and compiled by a group of Harvard School Professors. The first chapter addresses the oldest known business code written nearly 4,000 years ago by Hammurabi. From there it goes on to track the changes in all aspects of business life to the present time.
Your first challenge is to look up the history of your profession and make notes of what features and practices have survived over a long period of time and how they have affected the overall profession as well as their customers.
A side benefit is your ability to share the history of your profession with your current and potential market. It helps establish your credibility and knowledge.
The Present: Having learned from the past, you now can implement the best “practices” as you strive to perfect and grow your business. Basic truths about your profession and the benefits that it offers should be your focus. Applying what has worked and what has failed in the past will save you both time and money.
The Future: With change being the only constant in our lives your products and services may undergo some changes. Yes, your delivery method and marketing methods will also change but the basic, underlying truths will perpetuate themselves.
Your challenge in this section is to keep an open mind on what is happening. Do not wait for someone else to lead the way; devote a portion of each week to researching upcoming changes. Stay active in your profession and you will gain a better knowledge of what is happening.
The extra effort, hard work, will more than pay off as you grow your business based on a much more solid foundation.
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