BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL -- ogh a4nhancth gg - The Syndrome Of The Buggy Whip I s your business like a typewrit- er? Could it be today's buggy- whip industry? If you send carbon-paper business. First, be open-minded and go at it with a healthy attitude. If you run your own construction firm invoices through the mail to cus- and have failed to get tomers or prepare sales bids on jobs, you might receipts with a pen, your consider applying for a business could very well be construction position in at risk of following the path a larger corporation and of the typewriter. then winding down your A buggy whip is today's company. universal symbol for any- If you have been mak- thing hopelessly outmoded. ing your living selling fax It is literally the horsewhip machines, carbon-paper used by carriage drivers invoices and sales slips, Robe rt Sher before the invention of your business is doomed automobiles caused the Colu mnist to fail. Today's business product to be virtually climate requires a computer to do useless. The buggy whip has simi- just about all administrative work. larities to the typewriter, which was You can even fax using a special e- the most significant business tool mail program on your computer. from the late 19th century through You are already a salesperson. the 1980s before it was replaced by Be proactive. Why don't you find a the personal computer. new, more current product to rep — While I can't say which business- like the latest and greatest project es will survive and which ones will management software or backup fail, I can see the writing on the wall data storage systems for desktops in many industries, among them our community's longtime lifeblood, the automotive manufacturing industry. You certainly don't need me to tell you that every person and every business in this area and elsewhere is impacted by what happens in this very industry; however, I can con- tinue to encourage you to get out and network and reiterate why it is important to continually seek new opportunities. I can remind you to let people know what you can do for them, to stay positive and to help oth- ers whenever you can. There is still plenty of opportunity. You need to find it. In my coaching practice, I help business executives navigate the complicated mazes they face every day in the business world. I help family businesses transition from one generation to the next. I try to share what I've learned in my coaching practice to help you focus on your goals and also to continu- ously improve the quality of your work, productivity and relationships. Today, I will try to give you some advice you can use to develop plans and stay ahead of the game Cotatiute a 67-years thaditioR! and avoid the next buggy whip and laptops? Take a cue from my son, Michael, an associate real estate broker, whose business began to soften several years ago when residential home sales plummeted. Instead of waiting it out or whining about the bad market, he did some research to figure out how to put his skills to better use. After taking a class on short sales, Michael began specializing in this type of real estate and now has a reputation for being very success- ful doing short sales. Remember, do what it takes to avoid the next buggy whip industry, whatever it may be. It is never too late for innovation. It is never too late to be part of the solution, not the problem. There is great oppor- tunity in this bad economy. Your job is to find it, embrace it and make it work for you. Wish family and friends and the entire Jewish community a Happy New Year! :L.friE,1.4;1U 24q351 5107 Please clip and send the coupon below with remittance or visit www.iNonline.us Greetings arriving after the deadline will run in the following edition. For private party advertising only. Businesses are not eligible. s)C( hi as&na May the coming year be tilled with health and happiness for all our family and friends. L'Shanah Tovah! Ad Deadline: Sept. 9, 2009 Published: Sept. 17, 2009 - name — 1. I 't It tt May the coming year be filled with health, happiness and prosperity for all our family and friends. May the New Year bring to all our friends and family health, joy, prosperity and everything good in life. -110111C- — name — 0 0 _ _ ads smaller than actual size Name (PLEASE PRINT NAME TO APPEAR IN GREETING) Address City/State/Zip Phone Email Personal Check Enclosed Visa/MC/AmEx Exp. Date Amount Signature Please Circle Ad Desired: ❑ #1 - $65 — #2 - $95 — #3 - $115 Please fill out this form completely and send with your check or charge card information to: Robert Sher, CPA, is a certified executive coach. He is former CFO and partner for Schostak Brothers & Company, Livonia. His e-mail address is: info@bobsher.com . iN Rosh Hashanah Greetings 2009 29200 Northwestern Hwy. Suite 110 Southfield, MI 48034 or fax to: 248.304.0049 August 13 - 2009 27