How are you doing in the current economy?

 

BY PETER SCHOR

Showroom specialist

 

Everywhere you go, people are talking about how tough things are in the economy, and the media continues to daily blast us regarding unemployment, foreclosures, big name businesses that are closing their doors and any information they can put together to let us know how bad things are out there. But the big question is “What are you going to do about it”?

You can jump on the doom-and-gloom bandwagon and say “Woe is me” and do nothing or you can make a choice to do something about it. This isn’t the first time we have faced this situation — and it probably won’t be the last. Do you honestly believe that by supporting a negative frame of mind things are going to get better?

 

Instead, think success! Take positive action. There are people and companies out there that have chosen not to participate in the recession. They are thinking and acting like winners. They are focused on and talking about success, rather than failure or survival. They are focused on making things happen rather than waiting for things to happen to them. They are planning for success and executing the plan.

 

In these days of really hard work, uncertainty and crisis, it’s good to remember the following words from Albert Einstein: “Let’s not pretend that things will change if we keep doing the same things. A crisis can be a real blessing to any person, to any nation. For all crises bring progress. Creativity is born from anguish, just like the day is born from the dark night. It’s in the crises that inventiveness is born, as well as discoveries and big strategies.”

 

Here are some methods that I recommend you try:

 

• Avoid negative media, such as television news, newspapers and radio especially when you first wake up and before you go to bed. If you watch the news or read the newspaper, 1/2 hour a day will keep you well informed.
• Avoid negative gossip and stories of gloom and doom from fellow workers, family and friends. They become toxic and help create a negative attitude and impair your ability to think clearly. Don’t condemn, criticize or complain. Look for solutions!
• Identify the resources you will need to overcome the obstacles you face. Many resources do not cost money. I.E: Go back to The Wholesaler (www.thewholesaler. com) archives and source out the many showroom articles with numerous tips that cost little or no money. In my showroom column of January 2008, I identified 33 things that you could use to make things better in your showroom. The #2 tip was having an “Outcall Service.” Create an outcall service charging a minor amount per hour to go to a consumer’s home to determine what would fit their applications. The cost should be refundable against the purchase of the goods from the consumer or through your recommended trade resources.
• Since 2004, I have been writing showroom columns based on proven factual information extracted from the most successful showrooms in the U.S. and Canada — both plumbing wholesaler and dph types. If some of you may think that I am a “horse’s ass,” please don’t let this prevent you from looking back in The Wholesaler archives for showroom articles in order to create better results for you and you showroom.
• Read, listen or watch something positive, inspirational, motivational, educational or spiritual every day. Rent a sports movie that is uplifting and inspiring. Some of my favorites include Facing The Giants (football), my all-time favorite; The Final Season (baseball) staring Sean Astin of the Rudy movie fame; and The Express: The Ernie Davis Story.
• Have an attitude of gratitude. Stay focused on everything you should be grateful for.
• Look for solutions! Rather than identifying the problems, write down your solutions. Set a time frame in which to accomplish them.
• Goals: Set short-term, intermediate and long-term goals. Zig Ziglar said, “Obstacles are things we see when we take our eyes off our goals.” Work smarter.
• Embrace change. Learn how to embrace change. Some of you and your companies have more than 25 years in showroom education and believe that you do not need to change! Many of the suggestions that I advocated about showrooms in the late 80s, 90s, and 2000s forward have happened. What I was trying to do is have you strongly position yourself to capitalize on the market changes and become the leaders that most of you are!
• Think, talk and act like a winner!

 

I know a lot of people in our industry who are doing well in our current economy. Is this hard for you to believe? I am heading out to speak about baths while helping six of my well-known bath/plumbing manufacturers at a 5-star hotel conference in October. The event is sold out! There are 100  4- to 5-star hoteliers of all types attending. This event includes face-to-face meetings with 100 manufacturers who serve this segment. Out of the 100 manufacturers that serve hotels, 23 cover the middle to high-end luxury bath/ plumbing manufacturer segment. The hoteliers, both specifying and buying, who attend this event had to “qualify to attend” by listing their current projects, hotel rooms and purchasing volume.

 

Am I saying that the hotel industry is booming! No. Am I saying that there is current opportunity outside of your comfort zone and belief systems? Yes. Twice over the past year, I wrote articles on the hotel opportunities in The Wholesaler for bath/ plumbing manufacturers, manufacturer’s reps, distributors and showrooms! Yes, showrooms! I would be glad to e-mail you an attachment of 3/4 of a page “Industry News” article that ran on page 67 in December 2008 and then again in the digital online edition of The Wholesaler in August 2009. For those of you who e-mail me a request for this information, I will also send you one of my latest books.

 

Peter Schor, president of Dynamic Results Inc, is a bath/plumbing industry speaker, educator, author, columnist and consultant in many segments of our industry. He has conducted seminars for the past 20 years and speaks at numerous conventions. Schor has great expertise in the field of showrooms and hotel bathrooms and has won many industry awards. He also consults manufacturers in taking their products to market in the areas of sales, marketing and public relations. Schor can be reached at 1302 Longhorn Lane, Lincoln, CA 95648, phone 816/408-5346, fax: 916/408-5899, e-mail pschor@dynamicresultsinc.com  or visit his website at www.dynamicresultsonline.com.