Marketplace Commoditization / Value Added Bankruptcies
It may well be that two of my groups’ most recent speakers will be the two who provided the most lasting message.
Sam Bowers‘presentation “Sales and Marketing in the New Economy” made clear, from his perspective, that the old axiom, “Faster, better, cheaper – your choice, any two” no longer applies. That, in fact, being able to provide your company’s product, its service, better, faster and cheaper is now the price of admission just to be considered. “It is,” he said, “the new definition of Capitalism.”
Sam asked a key question: “What are you providing now that your customer does not value?” According to Bowers, “The concept of Value Added has bankrupted more companies than any other.” Bowers is far from subtle. One of his comments is already on my web site, Businessquotes.com: “Business entertainment,” he said, “is attempted bribery intended to encourage an employee steal.” Later, noting the chaotic economy, said, “The recession will end when consumers can no longer delay the purchase of durable goods.” Makes sense.
The second would be Futurist David Houle who told both my CEO groups that “intellectual property is the new currency” and asked each what was the intellectual currency of their business. Houle identified technology, health and medicine and energy has the high growth areas for the future.
The former media executive (he played key roles in the start-up of CNN and MTV) told members that no generation before ours has ever lived through an entire age, but this generation will have been here for the start as well as the finish of the Technology Age.” It is his contention we have now entered into The Shift Age (the title of his new book) – a transitional decade before whatever comes next.
Citing the current economy, Houle provided additional content for my collection of pithy quotes, noting, “Thrift is the new extravagance, the new cool” and later added, “The speed of change today is in constant acceleration.”
Bud Carter
Senior Vistage Chairman Atlanta
Publisher Chairman Carter’s Collection of Pithy Quotes (designed to improve your bottom line, or, at the least, your disposition)
