Business by Design this month worries about "waiters."

THIS MONTH:
+ Waiting Doesn't Work
+ Time to Act
+ "Take" It Til You Make It

+ Waiting Doesn't Work
Waiters are wimps.

I'm talking about design professionals whose single mission now seems to be to "wait until next year."

They're the ones focused only on putting 2008 behind them, chalking it up and writing it off and hoping this wrong year will magically give way to a strong year.

I know too many design pros whose year-end strategy is little more than wishin' and hopin': wishin' for a rapid recovery, and hopin' they'll benefit from it.

They don't get it.

They don't get that it will take time -- maybe a long time -- for the economy to recover.

And they don't get that their inactivity jeopardizes their business -- and increases the likelihood they'll be OUT of business if they don't act soon.

They're reactive at a time they need to be proactive.


+ Time to Act
29 business days remain in 2008.

That's plenty of time to adapt your business to the current economy -- by promoting more interior consultation services, perhaps.

Or by offering additional services to your best clients, rather than blindly chasing new ones. Or, by streamlining your office or showroom operations. Or by updating your website.

There's plenty of time to get coaching, and to review books and tapes on how to enhance your business skills.

And there's plenty of time to create a sales and marketing plan for 2009.

The business of interior design will never be the same after this economic downturn.

How and with whom people spend money will change dramatically.

So will the ways you attract clients. And serve them.

Surprisingly, many design professionals choose not to prepare themselves for these seismic changes ahead.

They choose, instead, to play the waiting game.

Too bad. That's a game without winners.

"Take" It Til You Make It
Success is yours for the taking:

Take charge. Tell yourself: What is to be, is up to me.

Take stock. What's working? What isn't?

Take action. Pinpoint and pursue success strategies.

Take inventory. Cut unprofitable product lines -- and unproductive staff.

Take advantage. Consider moving in where competitors pull out.

Take credit. Remind yourself of past successes.