Smart Business Magazine, February 2021

46 Smart Business February 2021 Visit Michael Feuers website www TipsFromTheTop info to learn more about his columns watch videos and purchase his books The Benevolent Dictator and Tips From The Top TIPS FROM THE TOP Michael Feuer Virtually every business has faced more challenges in the past 12 months than they did in the preceding 12 years likely even longer Almost out of nowhere a pandemic of unprecedented size and scope emerged and changed the way companies do business likely forever With great expectation and an abundance of hope with new vaccines the world economy can now see the light at the end of the tunnel and hopefully its not another train heading towards us Businesses have learned incredible lessons during this tragic and tumultuous year For those that survived it will never be the same The obstacles that were overcome are indelibly etched in our memories never to be forgotten In hindsight companies and organizations efforts creativity and determination during the viruss dark months are and were no less than inspiring In a project dubbed Warp Speed health care science pharmaceutical entities and the government collaborated to deliver a promising cure and treatments that will end this grim chapter in our history Instead of requiring the previous norm of years to develop a vaccine this monumental undertaking was initially completed in a mere 12 months Plus by mid year if all goes well the inoculation process should be fully underway For companies dealing with this scourge it indeed was a matter of survival of the fittest Those that were agile and able to find ways to avoid possible or likely failure are now poised for renewed hope and growth Organizations should use this newfound optimism as a catalyst to create the ultimate superspreader event success Nothing breeds success like more success It can disperse the previously omnipresent cloud of acquiescence to perennial problems that plague every company shortcomings that were accepted because they were what they were the cost of doing business Now that industry has proven what it can do its time to embrace a mindset of doing it once doing it right Creating a perpetual spreader event of positivity in your company embodying the heroic can do or even must do accomplishments during the pandemic can perpetuate your momentum There is great value for the entire organization in reflecting on all your company did to make it through to the other side These included cutting costs becoming significantly more efficient and adopting the attitude that all hands must carry their weight and contribute That approach involved taking temporary pay cuts and other reduced benefits when necessary to preserve capital to fight another day All these many accomplishments and sacrifices both big and small underscore that a good company and its people can and will rise to the occasion when faced with significant challenges The lessons we learn should be savored and celebrated They provide roadmaps for what everyone hopes will be a new normal of renewed good health creativity and the ability to adapt and overcome the inevitable new obstacles we will have to deal with in the future The best companies will no longer tolerate mediocrity success will be contagious and the expected norm of doing business Michael Feuer Co founded OfficeMax and in 16 years as CEO grew the retailer to sales of 5 billion in 1000 stores worldwide Today as founder CEO of Max Ventures his firm invests in and consults for retail businesses Serving on a number of boards Michael is a frequent national speaker and author of the business books The Benevolent Dictator and Tips from the Top His long running nationally syndicated Smart Business magazine column has received more than 10 awards for excellence mfeuer@ max ventures com This summer make success a welcome superspreader event in your company Mediocrity is no longer an option in the post COVID business world