Wim GE De Vos

Author: Wim GE De Vos

  • Predicting the future

    Predicting the future

    IMG_4507

    Today there are more futurologists out there than the total sum of “self-declared expert” national football coaches, presidents of nations and health experts in virology together.

    There is a type of of futurologists I find interesting though.

    Enter the “The Builders” -> Predicting the future by creating it.

    Marc Andreessen & his VC squad wrote a challenging piece recently “It´s time to build“. Check it out.
    Triple AAA: Actionable – Ambitious – A-political.
    What will you build?

    Tim Sweeney & the gaming gang on the metaverse. “Fortnite and the metaverse”
    Going beyond the internet.
    How to escape the stronghold of Facebook, Google, Apple,…?

    Marc Cuban & his entrepreneurial posse on challenges and avenues for action. “What would you do as president“.
    Particularly interesting how Cuban mentions existing trends with transformative power.
    How do we amplify transformative trends for the better?

    Striking how all of them try to predict the future by asking questions, invite to action, look for perspective and see transformation as a way forward.

    Maybe, just maybe, we can learn from their approach?

    It will be harder for sure than sitting back and consuming what is fed to us.
    But it might just be more rewarding and have a real impact if we do…

    Small decisions with a BIG impact 🤜🏻.

     

  • Inside 1st Wave 🌊: Sell Painkillers

    Inside 1st Wave 🌊: Sell Painkillers

    716641E2-8A64-49F2-8C31-7FA12CA4CC11

    We are still inside the first wave.  Economically the situation is beyond our control, beyond our understanding. Beyond anything any of us has ever gone through with our businesses.
    But in times of stress the need to be calm, decisive and positive is higher than it has ever been.

    We control our own destiny. We decide if and how get through this wave.
    We need to get back to basics in each of our businesses.

    In previous posts we talked about Cash. And we have talked about People.

    So let us now discuss our Value Proposition under these extreme circumstances.

    Extreme short version:

    Inside the 1st wave of this shit storm.

    Sell painkillers 💊 to your existing customers.

    But only offer your most effective ones.

    The ABC of your Value Proposition for the next 4-8 weeks

    Note: You will need extreme FOCUS.
    Say yes to a few things and no to many.
    (This will serve us well in 2-3 months when trying to surf the second wave).

    A) Customer segment: existing customers.

    You have the trust (real asset right now), you have a relationship (basis of all business), you can show you truly care how they are doing.
    These are the people you can serve right now.

    note: this is NOT the time to look for new customers, segments.

    B) Needs analysis: find the pain.

    The pain right now is acute (confronted with it every day), it is very real, it is urgent to have a solution and you will find pretty universal.
    This is the equation you have to solve. Treat the pain. Now.

    note: this is NOT the time to look for demand of luxury or desires to be fulfilled.

    C) Your Offering: sell painkillers.

    Think of products & services you can offer that are effective painkillers.
    Could be networking, could be explaining how to use Zoom, could be a sound system or a TV to forget about the shit storm out there for a couple of hours.

    note: sell only the best painkillers. Focus on the pains you can relieve.

    People will remember. Make sure they remember you and how you made them feel.

    Focus on your existing customers who are in pain.

    And apply your crafts. You are as essential as you have ever been.

    Be well, be safe. ✌🏼

  • The dark horse

    The dark horse

    77EE2469-6FEB-4423-8519-67D4CD0483A2_1_201_a

    Every day we choose between 3 approaches for everything we do:

    • Custom, tailor-made, one-off
    • Personalised, configured, repeatable
    • One-size-fits-all, standard, commoditised

    But when we make our choices are we consistent, smart, see them in context?

    Ask which of the 3 approaches you choose in the following cases:

    • connecting with our customers
    • drafting and sending proposals
    • delivering control or audiovisual systems
    • hire and fire
    • remuneration
    • training
    • service
    • making cars, speakers, systems,…
    • …

    I dare to think we all use far too much custom and standard approaches…

    When the personalised, configured, repeatable approach is the dark horse* in the race for success.

    Custom is overrated

    One-size-fits-all is overused

    Personalisation is the dark horse…

    Asking ourself some simple questions may have a big impact 🤜🏻 💥

    *Definition “dark horse”:
    a candidate or competitor about whom little is known but who unexpectedly wins or succeeds

  • Day 21 – Inside the 1st 🌊: We the people…

    Day 21 – Inside the 1st 🌊: We the people…

    For full video drop – click here.

    08BDDA1B-5A38-4B46-A215-03097577E05D

    End of week 3 in lockdown here in Spain. And in a similar situation in many other countries.
    Some are amazed how how much we have in common…
    As people. You, me, everyone else.
    The same is true for small businesses.

    As discussed in a previous post, people are the foundation of a businesses.

    Distilled from over 40 conversations over the last 3 weeks I propose the following Preamble in these times of business hardship, but hopefully also long after…

     

    WE THE PEOPLE OF SMALL BUSINESSES,

    believe in the Power of We, and therefore:

    • will grow and cherish the Community as a self-healing complex network of organizations. Each of which is the sum ⨋ of individuals to the power of their values. ⨋ (individuals)
    • will Connect with other people on a daily basis putting the relationship before any short-term gain. Connections are infinite and accumulate value over time.
    • will have the Courage to accept our own responsibility and attitude. Therefore we will empower others (team members, customers, suppliers) to allow them to rise to the occasion every day and thus contribute to the success of the organization. Freedom and the means to do so will be provided for all.

    DBAA3C61-AAB2-4594-ABD7-C53D9E9D0163

    #thisisastoryaboutpeople

    Screenshot 2020-04-03 at 09.34.05

    As always – looking forward to hearing from all of you soon. ✌🏼

    For more on this “Covid19 – 3 wave 🌊 – storm”… click here

  • Inside the 1st Wave 🌊: Self-test for CASH to survive

    For full Video drop – click here

    29CBD518-7915-4E2B-8308-BEAD6107694A

    I will be brief*

    I will be frank

    I will share what generous wise people have shared with me these last 2 weeks.

    Fact 1: We are facing the biggest challenge for small businesses in over 50 years**

    Fact 2: This will hit us harder and last longer than any of us expected at first.

    Fact 3: The mission of a business is first to survive and then to thrive. In That Order.

    Advice:

    Self-test and know where you stand – Download your Cash Stress Test NOW..

    Evaluate your options and decide – do this together, do it fast.

    Embrace your situation and act – maximise Cash & Time

     

    Planning for a a future you cannot predict is a business owners´ job.

    It is what we do.

    Now is the time to lead.

    You owe it to your business, to everyone in and around the company you built, to yourself.

    Big decisions, with a big impact. 💥

    For more on this “3 wave 🌊 – storm”… click here

    *my video drop below for those interested can be found on my Facebook page 

    ** I am aware of my european-centric view here. 

    *** tool developed thanks 🙏🏻 to Pablo at Fitness-KPI and Yulia at Genesis, home technology architects.