(Time to read this Blog is about  2 1/2 minutes)

Before we get to the main topic, here are a few things to get you thinking or smiling:

1. My Quote of the week:
   “Wishing you a wonderful Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, generic holiday celebration or non-event of your choice!  As long as it includes  joy, kindness and gratitude, I’m all for it.” 
   …Donald Cooper.
    
2. Quick Biz Tip:
    On what will you focus your time in 2024?   Here’s a quick insight that could make you a more effective manager and leader in 2024.  First, make a list of 3 or 4 activities that currently take up a lot of your time and could be delegated to someone else in your organization.  What coaching and encouragement might they need to take on this new responsibly and deliver great outcomes?
    
   Next, make a list of 3 or 4 key activities that you will spend more time on.  Activities that will grow the business, strengthen your team and improve your bottom line.
    
   To help you with this important exercise, click here to download my insightful Biz Tool #B-26 on ‘How to delegate, get more done and grow your people…without losing control.’
    
3. The myth of ‘The Circle of Life’.   We’ve all heard about ‘the circle of life’.  They even sing about it in The Lion King movie.  But, in reality, I think life is not a circle.  It’s an upward or downward spiral.
    
   An upward spiral of giving and receiving value, giving and receiving love, joy, respect and gratitude.  An upward spiral of working and striving to elevate ourselves and those around us…
    
   …or life is a downward spiral of taking from others, disrespecting others who, in turn, take from us.  A downward spiral of wasting our talents and potential and then blaming others or ‘circumstances’ for our lack of success.
    
   So, which ‘spiral’ do you choose?
    
4. The airplane seats you hate to sit in are actually the safest. The middle seats at the back of the plane are statistically the safest, with just a 28 percent fatality rate in the event of a crash.  By comparison, the seat you prefer, the aisle seat in the middle of the cabin has a fatality rate of 44 percent.

  Now, to this week’s important topic:

 Cooper’s different take on business ‘sustainability’!

There’s a lot of talk about ‘business sustainability’ these days, but it all seems to be about the environment and being ‘green’. That’s important, but there’s another aspect of ‘business sustainability’ that’s equally important…and that’s being sustainable, relevant and profitable as a functioning business. There’s no point in being ‘green’ if you’re ‘gone’. 

More than half of the companies that were on the Fortune 500 list of the biggest companies in the year 2000, no longer exist.  Fifty years ago, the life expectancy of a Fortune 500 company brand was about 75 years; now it’s less than 15.   The same attrition rate is true for small and medium size companies.  They’re falling like flies.

Ultimately, it’s about financial sustainability.  If there’s no bottom line, there’s no business.  Below are my ‘4 Tips’ on creating financial sustainability:

1. So, you need a sustainable business model that defines the future of your industry…not one that perpetuates the history of your industry. There are thousands of companies trying to fiddle and fine-tune a business model that has become irrelevant and needs a complete reinvention.
2. Then you need sustainable, clear and compelling customer value that ‘grabs’ your target customers, clearly differentiates you from your competitors, makes you famous…and grows your bottom line. Does your business need a ‘customer value’ rethink?  Your customers have likely changed…have you?
3. Next, you need to create world-class operational efficiency that makes you price-competitive, service-competitive and profitable. Without that, you’re a goner.
4. Finally, you need a sustainable ‘Talent Pipeline’ at every level in your business. To use a sports analogy, you need ‘bench strength’ to be sustainable. This includes extraordinary and sustainable leadership at the top. If that’s you, don’t stay on past your ‘best-before’ date.  It’s not all about you!  To download my brilliant Biz Tool #A-17:  ‘Evaluate Your Talent Pipeline’, no charge, Click Here.

All of this, done right, will create financial sustainability.  Using my ‘4 Tips’ above, what needs rethinking or fixing in your business?  Who will make that happen…by when?  If you need help, I’m easy to find at donald@donaldcooper.com.

That’s it for this week…

Stay safe…live brilliantly!       

Donald Cooper 

Donald Cooper speaks and coaches internationally on management, marketing, and profitability.  He can be reached by email at donald@donaldcooper.com in Toronto, Canada.