Don't Dig a Hole. Getting out of the blocks with an aggressive focus on attaining the revenue number is critical. Focus on the customer, particularly those that deferred in Q4 but have all of the qualifications to buy this year. Gaining momentum through achieving initial sales numbers in the first quarter sets an early tone for the organization and could provide a welcomed morale boost. Planned Sales and Marketing programs or campaigns that can jump start sales early in the year could assist in this area. On the downside, digging a revenue hole can be very difficult to remedy and may take much longer to refill.

On Thursday, January 18th, Chris Scherer presented “Managing for Flow” at an event for local manufacturers hosted by the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce. Scherer emphasized the need for company leaders to develop a “system approach” to undertake their management activities in order to get employees fully involved in daily problem solving efforts.

OMEP’s Chris Scherer will lead a discussion of growth strategies at the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce on December 13th from 7:30 am to 9:00 am. Consistent with the Chamber’s strong interest in providing expanded services for local manufacturers and supporting local economic growth and job creation, company executives have been invited to a continental breakfast where they will hear a presentation, entitled “It’s Not Luck”, devoted to six growth strategies identified in a national study prepared by the American Small Business Coalition.