Do you ever feel like your business is on a roller coaster? To some extent, external factors like the economy can create unavoidable ups and downs for your company. That’s the business cycle. That’s life. Don’t exacerbate the situation by taking actions that create even more volatility and make you feel like you just jumped on the Breakdance ride at Coney Island after gulping down a greasy corn dog. You don’t want to go there with your business.
But it happens all over. When things are really good or really bad, there is a tendency to act without stepping back and putting some common sense into the equation. Investors, governments, consumers, and CEOs often overreact, because they feel that there is a need to be dramatic. This only makes matters worse.
Drama is for actors and politicians, not business people. So before you make another “bold” decision of the week that gives your business a bad case of whiplash, try to put things into perspective. Wild gyrations on a carnival ride create excitement, but this probably isn’t the kind of thrill you want to get out of your business. Jerking your company around creates unnecessary stress for everyone involved.
And the stakes are extremely high. You can easily derail any progress that you’ve made over the years by making hasty and emotional decisions just to “do something.” When you buy your ticket to ride on any course of action, make sure that you understand where it might take you.
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