Business View Caribbean | May 2016

6 May 2016 - Business View Caribbean Business View Caribbean - January 2016 7 Corner View It seems like only last week that we were celebrating the ringing in of a new year, and yet it’s May already. Here, at Business View, we are already putting together our series editions for January of next year! I mean it’s an absolute “time warp.” As an executive how do you cope with time, working both for and against you? What do you find your biggest challenge to be - deadlines, productivity, revenue efficiency, quality assurance? If money was no object, and stakeholders no obstacle, what would you want your company to focus on most? You see, I wish I could provide all of the answers that you seek when dreaming of the perfect business. However, that’s not the job of Business View. We have our own set of challenges to face, and our own list of questions that go unanswered until solved by the wisdom gained of doing it wrong - or the sweet satisfaction of having boldly guessed correctly. Either outcome is what makes business as adventurous and invigo- rating as high stakes gambling or death-defying roller coaster riding. What we do attempt, however, is presenting you with questions that you should be asking yourself, your partners, or the market. Questions that, if left unanswered, find ways to cause havoc, close doors, and faint away into tears and whispers for the next entrepreneur to ponder with hopes of answering and thereby travelling the road to business success. The correct answer isn’t always answering correctly, but the wrong answer is definitely not answering at all. In other words, it is better to answer wrong, than to not answer (unless you’re a politician – in that case, “deflect”). Leaders lead in the face of uncertainty. Many of those leaders find themselves in the middle of a wrong decision. In those cases, good leaders recalibrate, reassess, and make a new decision that is either right or wrong, and if wrong, rinse and repeat until it’s right. This is called wisdom. It’s often unattainable without the price of failure, and even though it’s worth its weight in gold, we rigidly reject the means by which to obtain it. So, by all means, attempt to succeed at first try, but never be afraid to embrace failure, mistakes, miscalculations, and short- comings. Be a tenacious disciple of the very wise adage “if at first you don’t succeed, try, and try again!” Because when it’s all said and done, it will have been those obstacles that have gained you the wisdom necessary to become who are to become, and to behold all that you dream to behold. Eventually, you will answer every question that arises with the most complete and accomplished answer that there is. You’ll attribute this gift to those times when your answer was not so wise, and not so accomplished. This is the journey, and until it’s complete, let’s walk it together. Until next time; plan, build, and continue to prosper. Andre Barefield