Check your fire alarm

Currently on TV The fire department are running some very good adverts about checking your fire alarm while the ads are on - "now is a good time to take a minute and check your fire alarm". Its brilliant - we did it and it took about 30 seconds. That 30 seconds could save my children's lives one day. Just think about that! 30 seconds to save my family.

In the media right now there are numerous columns about the state of business confidence, recession, falling property market, over valued property market, price hikes in basic foods, a dollar that is to strong, we need tax cuts, we need interest rate cuts No hang on a minute we need to start saving, no we need to get our cash flow up, but fuel prices are through the roof, the finance market is keeling over, "oh the humanity" (wasn't that from the reporter who commentated the Zeppelin explosion back in the 1930's).

So do you have any hair left on your head after witnessing the business world being obliterated right in front of your eyes. This might be a good time to check your fire alarms if you haven't already. Take half a day and take stock of your business. Step back and have a good look at things in relation to the current market you are operating in.

1. Are your costs being well managed?
2. Are you maximising your skills base?
3. What value can you add to your clients purchase in terms of knowledge and service?
4. What markets have you not tapped into yet?
5. Who on your database have you not contacted for a while?
6. Review your business plan - brush the dust off it and see where you are at.
7. What collaborations can you make to increase your market?
8. Have a look at all the small things you take for granted and make sure they are not
costing you in terms of money, time and inefficiency.

The list could go on and on - but you get my point. Check your fire alarms. I remember a speech that Michael Barnett of the Chamber of Commerce gave at the Waipa business awards once. He said that a survey of 1000 Auckland businesses showed that 80% of them thought the economy was negative but at that same time, the same group thought they were doing alright in their own business. You work out the logic.

Ultimately we are not in a depression so we have an opportunity to smarten up our act and make sure that we are as fire proof as we can be.

Check your fire alarms, reset your goals and create new strategies. Rock on!