Sharpen Your Razor
by Rui Esteves on 12/11/07 at 1:07 pm
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One of the great things about small business is our ability to make quick decisions and act (relatively) quickly according to the current environment in which we operate. There are no decisions by committee and there is no political office bullsheize to maneuver around. We see a gap and we can take it.
But are we taking the gaps? Are we constantly improving and revising all the elements of our products, services and business? Are we innovating?
We should be answering yes to all those questions, because if we’re not, we’ll soon be up turd alley.
My favorite example of a company that innovates is Gillette. Mach 2, then Mach 3… and now the Fusion has five blades and a microchip! Tell me, where the hell is Schick? Playing catchup! It’s much harder shooting at a moving target… and even harder shooting straight when you’ve got your thumb up your ass and your head in the sand.
Do yourself a favour. Visit www.schick.com, and then visit www.gillette.com. Do you think I am being to hard on poor Schick?
Do yourself another favour, and visit http://innovation.cnbc.com/en/podcasts
Rui Esteves was the co-founder of Vida e Caffé, one of the fastest growing quick service food businesses in South Africa. After selling Vida, Rui created Collective São Gabriel, a luxury beer range with a strong emphasis on traditional and natural brewing. Rui is out to change the world as we know it. View more articles by Rui Esteves.
