So things are not going well with the Asia markets. Hong Kong, Thailand, Japan and Korea are reeling from as much as 80% loss in stock values. Some companies are having to go out of business. Numerous banks have closed their doors in order to stop massive withdrawals. All of this news makes you wonder how long until the United States starts feeling a steady economic downturn. Hopefully, not to the extent of Asia.

Let's face it, we are living in an incredible bull market. Sooner or later interest rates will go up and demand will go down. Will you remember how to handle the bad weather when the storms come calling?

Right now things are going well. Consumer confidence is high, the stock market is 1400 points higher than this time last year. Things look good. So why wait for things to get bad?

Start using every avenue to plan ahead and change customer confidence and attitude. When things are going well, people in general tend to loosen up and become reactive rather than proactive. "If it ain't broken, why fix it?"

Well, your customers are like ships. They do not stop and change directions without a lot of time and space. Just remember how long it took your current customers to make a decision to use your product or service the first time.

Think ahead and do not be so reactionary. If you take a very large ship running at full speed and you want that ship to change direction fast without making a twenty mile turn, you have to cut the engines, put them into reverse, and turn to port or stern.

Chances are good that by doing this you might throw a propeller, seize an engine, or at best cause some heavy vibrations! Your customer will act the same way if you try to change products, services, or prices overnight.

Now that we are in the new year, let's start planning ahead so we do not have to take such drastic measures when new products, services or pricing are introduced. If you know these things are going to affect your customers in any way, shape or form, start planting seeds early. Would you surprise your boss after you lost a major account without giving him or her the opportunity to help save it? Odds are pretty good more than just a propeller might get thrown.

In the new year, letâs keep our hands on the wheel and guide customers to safe shores, rather than facing ice fields and finding ourselves in deep water like the Titanic.
 

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