Many economic gurus are talking of impending global doom and gloom.

For a truly blistering example, if you want a damned good scare, check out the INO link [below], which was issued, presumably world-wide, via e-blast last week.

I don't see the future in that doom-and-gloom light.

I do see a need to get more productivity per employee...simply stated,

"We must get more productivity per employee if we are to survive and thrive."

How do we do that?

Here's a suggestion...

I've written, many times, messages about emotions. My core message can be summed up as "happier people do better work". When I deliver this message I am not talking at the extreme. For example, I am not talking at the extreme James Allen wrote about when he described "work and bliss" about 100 years ago. When I read James Allen's words about bliss, I cannot help but think of the blissful state near the essence of Zen...Eastern religion...and other religions, albeit well-buried by centuries of translations. And, I'm sure that's exactly what James Allen intended when he wrote about work, work mastery, life-purpose-guided work, and work bliss.

But, that's not what I'm talking and writing about. 

I'm talking and writing about a balance between that extreme extent of work-enjoyment and the reality - work must generate the creation and exchange of true value.

We all know, at the very least work needs to generate a sustained 'break-even". And, on an overall basis the exchange of value must grow. It must grow at least enough to cover population growth.

That said, do you choose to rely on newcomers to the business world to do that expanding of value or do you choose to take charge, right now, and do the expanding of value yourself?

[Was that a leading question?]

Isn't the right answer rather clear?

[Was that another leading question?]

Footnote:

http://free.ino.com/accept/106D3E/108707636.html

Thought Tweet #532 When you think on narrow paths you can be efficient; when you think on broad paths you can be effective.

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

And, being effective is twice as productive as being efficient. That 2:1 ratio makes sense...it signals the value of leadership ['effectiveness' being a, or the, key word] and management ['efficiency' being a, or the, key word].

About Business Paths

Reference for the 2:1 ratio comment above: Dixon & Adamson, 'The Challenger Sale - Taking Control of the Customer Conversation', (2011)

This is the first time I have used a 3rd party quote as a title for a Thought Post.

"Selling is the horse that pulls the cart of business."

Philip Delves Broughton

'The Art of the Sale', (2012)

Why use that quote?

Because it is beyond crystal clear - the time has arrived for Canadian B2B people to double check to make sure strength exists in front of their business-carts. 

I have personally witnessed hundreds of situations where local, SouthWestern Ontario, businesses are struggling and failing to forecast or maintain let alone grow sales. 

The problem is beyond crystal clear, it is perfectly clear; there is much B2B sales discomfort around forecasting and performance; we need to improve our B2B sales performance, and we need to do it sooner rather than later.

Here's another quote that captures some of what I am thinking:

"Sales success today is much less about getting better at what you already know and much more about creating an ability to tackle what you don't know. In order to thrive in that world, you're going to have to build a sales organization - and a sales culture - that enables that kind of innovation activity. A world where effectiveness is elevated above efficiency."

Matthew Dixon & Brent Adamson

'The Challenger Sale - Taking Control of the Customer Conversation', (2012)

So what...quotes from recent books about selling: don't make sales-challenge mountains out of sales molehills and sales quotes!

Here's what!

Take a good close look at your business development function: is it keeping up with the times?

If it is - great...you are in the successful, leading-edge minority.

If it isn't - don't sweat it...just get at making some changes for the better.