By now everyone that hasn’t been hiding behind the moon has heard the various “experts” tell the world how gloomy the business climate is.  Undoubtedly we are collectively in tough times.  I have been reading, however, some comments by thinking businessmen that are pushing the concept that this is the perfect time to invest. 

Craig Barrett, recently retired CEO of Intel says, “CEO’s must screw up their courage to buck  the  conventional wisdom of Wall Street and invest through the downturn (after all, by now we should recognize that Wall Street is hardly wise). It’s time for long-term thinking in an environment that has too often been dominated by quarterly statements.”  
 - Newsweek, February 2009

Perhaps it may be that the big guys can think like Craig Barrett but the small business manager must be even more careful.  Perhaps.  It would appear, however, that this is the time to insure that when we come out of this, we will be ready with the right products and the right controls and procedures to insure leadership and profitability in the long term.  In my company, we are taking the leap and increasing our investment in new capability in our product line and know-how in our staff.

Other articles that may be of interest:

• The Human Factor
• Life is Change
• Planning for a Comeback
• Finding Your Company’s Social Media Voice
• Déjà-Vu All Over Again

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