On reading this I’m probably knee-deep in packing for snowboarding.
Packing for a mountain trip is the work of the devil.
So much stuff, so many random items, so many awkward bags.
This trip will be Barney’s (my son) third Christmas on the slopes.
The snow is looking good, fingers crossed.
And Barney is getting good on his board.
His skills aren’t quite at half-pipe level just yet, but his fitness?
Jeez, that’s another story…
Come the afternoon, after a nice mountain lunch?
That boy has got me over a barrel.
I’m a slow old man compared to him.
…And he bloody knows it.
He sails past me with a smile on his face and a glint in his eye.
We both know I’m screwed.
And this is a good reminder in this game…
See, when you run your own business it is easy to get disheartened in this game.
It is easy to feel like the field is stacked against you.
You can see that big-boy competitors have bigger budgets and more connections…
Or that multi-national companies have more power…
Or that the corporate fatcats get all the tax breaks and backhanders.
And it is very easy to lose faith.
But here’s the thing…
You can beat them at this game.
Because these big boys have a killer weakness…
These big boys are slow.
With every employee they take on, with every office they sign up, they are getting slower and fatter.
Take this weakness and exploit it.
Turn it to your advantage.
Be there first.
Be nimble.
Be fast.
Make decisions and take action with speed.
Snap up customers before they’ve even had a board meeting to ‘float some ideas.’
Be down the mountain first…
And leave your competitors in your dust.
Until next time.
Make More. Provide More. Be More.
Charlie Hutton
