Are you serious about sustaining your business? “Yes, of course!” you say….

What are you doing to make that happen? What are you doing to ensure profitablity and longevity?

The culture of business is changing dramatically: Changes in post-consumer-society behavior and ideaology, to rethinking the status quo business structure and embracing and utilizing emerging technologies. Adopting the “this is what we have always done” philosophy and simply maintaining (not to mention hanging onto a romanticized view of ‘yesterday’) your processes will leave you ripe-for-the-picking by newcomers.

I am witnessing a growing disparity between those that embrace new methods and tactics and those that are still holding onto the soon to be (if not already) antiquated view of what worked in the past….and by past, I am refering to the very recent past.

Some businesses are making use of emerging social media outlets, growing comfortable with blogging, utilizing video and otherwise creating and maintaining conversations with their audience. Others have yet to discover the email newsletter, or for that matter realize the value and importance of knowing how to use a computer!

I am challenged, in multiple instances, in finding ways to educate those that have significant opportunity in front of them on ways they can use technology to move their business forward. The excuse of “I am computer illiterate” is something I have heard on multiple occasions, and by more than one small business owner. Struggles with simple tasks like emailing attachments and not responding to emails from potential buyers because, “I don’t like using email”.

Folks, it’s time to sink or swim…and unfortunately I think a number are outside the range of the life preserver.