How to Escape Business Slumps & Dangerous "Stagnation" Territory
Dec 14, 2023
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This podcast discusses ways to escape business slumps and dangerous stagnation. They delve into case studies of converting stagnation, music and fashion for beating slumps, pivoting out of bad periods, and successful turnarounds by companies like Sprint and Applebee's. They also explore signs of dangerous stagnation and the myth of sunk costs.
38:29
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Quick takeaways
Recognize red flags indicating stagnation in business such as lack of purpose and innovation.
Knowing when to pivot or stay the course can be challenging, but having a metric of success and embracing change can lead to growth.
Deep dives
Maintaining vs Growing a Business
Maintaining a business is not necessarily a bad thing, but it is important to have something moving forward to keep the business motivated. Lack of clear purpose, waning enthusiasm, disengagement from others, lack of innovation, infrequent wins, and process trumping curiosity are red flags that something is wrong.
Knowing When to Pivot or Stay the Course
Knowing when to pivot or stay the course can be challenging. It's important to have a metric of success and give yourself a certain number of iterations to hit that metric. It may involve trying different approaches or making small pivots before deciding to make a big pivot. Enduring and persevering can be valuable, but there are also times when a pivot is necessary for growth.
Reframing Quitting as Pivoting
Quitting or pivoting can be seen in a positive light by reframing the narrative. Seeing it as a strategic move or an opportunity for growth can help overcome the fear of failure or sunk costs. Each pivot or transition represents a new lifetime or opportunity to be great at something, and embracing these changes can lead to new successes.
Permission to Pivot
If you are on the precipice of making a big pivot or transition, know that you have the permission to do so. Sometimes, pivoting is necessary for personal and professional growth. Embrace the new opportunities and the potential they hold for your future success.