"It is
impossible for ideas to compete in the marketplace if no forum for
their presentation is provided or available." Thomas Mann, 1896
Letter from the
President
October 4th, 2002
John
Hathaway-Bates
President
& Executive Director
I have always been cautious in recognizing trends, but having lunch the length of the West Coast with decision makers who call the management plays in government, academia and business, gives me access to intelligence (even if I sometimes miss it) that most people do not get.
Lately I am getting the unmistakable premonition that the very concept of decision-making is changing. Making a military simile of the economy today, it is like the army has lost faith in its ability to mount an attack and win, and so it is digging trenches and preparing for a long winter siege on the defensive, and preparing a plan of rationing to last it out, until someone else comes and rescues them.
And a long winter it may seem this year in the Pacific States of America. In the last few months alone we have seen California pass laws that could force many more small businesses to abandon providing healthcare for their employees; then last month California was voted by the business community of the United States to be the worst State in which to be involved in business, and this month the longshoremen have pushed management of West Coast ports to the point where nothing is moving.
The other strange thing I have been watching amongst managers is the different ways they are reacting to the downturn in the economy based on their age, with exceptions as ever of course. The old timers who have been here before during their careers are hunkering down for the long term, while the younger ones who have risen during the bull market of the last decade are acting as if they are completely lost and ducking for cover - or complaining because they cannot indulge themselves the way they had got used to coming up.
But perhaps the strangest thing about this slow down is that basically everyone, it seems, is sat around waiting for someone else to lead them out of it; and "make no waves" is again the catch all to rely upon. It is as if the economy is the passenger in a car about to crash over a cliff, remaining belted up and waiting for the driver to get out and go round and open their door for them.
The only thing that never changes, is that Change continues to happen while you are making plans for something to last forever. To my mind, now should be the time to be gathering market intelligence and trying to grab market share, not spending time reading about and talking about how some disgraced analyst or ejected-for-greed executive is to be punished. And yet it seems to me that people have stopped boasting about their organization as they once did, or describing the excitement they gain from just being part of their organization, and instead the small talk today seems to me to play from a War they can do little to affect happening or not, or just babbling about professional athletes or the star of some sitcom or another.
The fact is that this too shall pass - fortunes are still being made - and careers are still being built. If you do not believe me look around, or if things are bleak where you are right now give me a call and perhaps I can help.
Hope to see you at lunch soon
President & Executive Director
* * * * * * *
If you have ever had lunch with The Business Forum or read one of our White Papers and have not already done it or if you are new to us. Please update your information now. To do so:
* * * * * * *
Previous Letters from the President
April
2001
May 2001
June 2001
July
2001
August 2001
September 2001
October 2001
November
2001
January
2002
February 2002
April 2002
May 2002
June 2002
July 2002
August 2002
September
2002
You can email me at john@bizforum.org
You can telephone me at 310-550-1984
or Fax me at 310-550-6121
Learn about the Founders of The Business Forum
About Our Site
As The Business Forum acts as a source for information on so many business subjects for it's members, ranging from Information Technology advances to Retirement Planning to Composites Engineering, it is probably easier for you to pick a subject and Search the whole site, rather than try to browse your way to any particular subject.
You may find these pages of particular interest:
How Sponsoring Business Forum events can help your organization
The History of The Business Forum
Future Business Forum Events
Recently
Held Forums & Conferences
Recommend This Site!
Search Our Site
Search the ENTIRE Business
Forum site. Search includes the Business
Forum Library, The Business Forum Journal and the Calendar Pages.
Disclaimer
The Business Forum, its Officers, partners, and all other
parties with which it deals, or is associated with, accept
absolutely no responsibility whatsoever, nor any liability,
for what is published on this web site. Please refer to:
Home
Calendar The Business Forum Journal
Features
Concept
History
Library
Formats
Guest Testimonials
Client Testimonials
Experts Search
News Wire Join
Why Sponsor
Tell-A-Friend
Contact The Business Forum
The Business Forum
9297 Burton Way, Suite 100
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Tel: 310-550-1984 Fax: 310-550-6121
john@bizforum.org
webmaster: bruceclay.com