From Survive to Thrive in the New Year

Happy New Year everyone! Time to put the scale in reverse – and shed the holiday pounds!   It’s also time to ring in new business along with the new year. It's not just a new year its a new decade.

Holiday wishes have gone back & forth across networks and around the world.  That’s all well and good … in fact, let’s keep the joy and positive thoughts and expressions going all year long!   Heaven knows the “holiday spirit” shouldn’t be reserved for the holidays – can I get an amen?! 

I decided to focus this issue on a message that I hope will have a lasting value – and will lead to a more prosperous New Year.   It’s one thing to “wish you a prosperous new year” … I’m going to try to suggest a way you can achieve that!   (As for healthy – get to the gym and put down your fork!)

The year 2009 revealed how vulnerable we are and how easily our economic world can be turned upside down.  It was a year to hold on – to survive.   Businesses sought effective ways to reduce expenses and operate more efficiently for example by switching over to an IP (Internet based) phone system.  At the same time we sought to maintain or gain market share with better marketing strategies & tactics, while strengthening customer service for existing customers.   Because difficult times lead to budget cuts and attrition by those we market & sell to, it’s equally important to be doing lead generation and converting prospects to new customers!    In 2009 we did all we could to survive.   Going forward into the New Year, with the worst of the recession behind us, hopefully, I propose that the focus for 2010 shift from survive to thrive!

That’s the theme of this newsletter issue – From Survive to Thrive!  And, I’ve come up with a singular approach for how you can do that.  This approach I’m going to call “Alignment”.  That’s right.  We’re going to go from surviving to thriving by asking ourselves (and every one of your staff at every level in the organization) how they can better align technology with business processes, strategies & tactics.

You would align your car’s tires once a year or so to get better wear and greater gas mileage.  So, I ask you, when was the last time you truly aligned your CRM system to take you down the road to greater marketing, sales, and service success?  To thrive in 2010 let’s take a look at what it means to do so!

Bob Ritter
President of First Direct Corp.
Publisher of GoldMine Success