Re: Changing the Standard

While I agree in principal with most of what Franklin says, you just cannot apply it all the time and in all parts of this counrty, and especially not globally. People in other countries and cultures just do not share the business mentality that most people have in the U.S.

Franklin McMahon The creative people who have this desire become very successful, it does not even depend on skills often, its tenacity and drive.

I just don't believe this is true, even in this country. You cannot succeed ONLY on desire, tenacity and drive. You MUST have skills and abilities that match. You can possess those skills and abilities... or you can hire them out, but you cannot achieve high levels of success without them. That's like a restaurant who has great marketing and advertising, a cool space, and funky and friendly waiters...but their food sucks. You won't be eating there long based on their desire and tenacity at getting you in the door if that food continues to suck.

Donald Trump no longer focuses on 3 story condo buildings. He's moved on. He has a unique thirst to take it to the next level, ready or not.

If you've ever read much about Donald Trump...I dare say he's what anyone would consider a well-rounded role model for success. For most small-business owners I know, and likely the majority of people that contribute and read these forums, business success is rarely measured in how much money we make, or by the name recognition of our client roster. Many of us have families and other priorities that may even preclude us from taking on certain types of projects and clients. So I think when you say"pimp yourself anywhere and everywhere..." it should be clarified...because the very notion of pimping oneself is pretty much synonymous with taking money from anyone, anytime for ANY service. I think what you're saying is we should seize every opportunity to promote ourselves...which to me is very different from pimping our company.

We've been in business for 13 years, with most of those being profitable. But we're starting to see the effects of the economy here in the midwest. Huge companies are continuing to lay people off, usually in small groups so as to not draw media attention. They're closing factories. They're cutting budgets..and the projects they have left are being handled by people who are quite literally overwhelmed and cannot get to them all...which means they sit, being postponed and delayed. Clients are taking longer and longer to pay their bills. Some large companies have even sent letters stating they've changed their payment policy and it will now take longer, sometimes MUCH longer to get paid.

Now I ask...what do you do about that? These are NOT companies that could be considered grinders by any stretch of the imagination. These are several billion dollars a year companies, with brand rosters loaded with names you'd all recognize. Do we drop them because they're taking 90 days to pay? Do we fire them because they're no longer as organized as they once were and projects are pretty much a nightmare to work on?

There will be GREAT production companies in this economy that will go out of business. Several, like the Orphanage already have. The reasons will be many and varied. So while I generally agree with the premise of what you're saying...I do not believe it applies for the majority of people working out there in this economy. You can have GREAT branding (and I agree it's fun to do), and a great service and still fail in these times.

I think an even bigger key to surviving and thriving is finding what services people DO want and need and are willing to pay for...and becoming THE expert or provider of those services and solutions in your market. So I agree it means continuing to grow and learn...but it has to be growth that has a commensurate need. It won't do you any good to learn to do something new that people don't have a need for or that they've moved in-house.

Chris Blair
Magnetic Image, Inc.
Evansville, IN
www.videomi.com