September 2015 Issue Business View Caribbean

Business View Caribbean - August 2015 7 Corner View Welcome again, Business Viewers! I look forward to our talk every month around this time, and I actually convince myself that you do, too. I tell myself that you’re itching with anxiety while awaiting each monthly release of Business View Caribbean. It’s a time to discuss some of the most interesting companies and business issues in the region. It’s also a time to talk about how you, as executives, have affected every aspect of your community, your town, your country, and yes, even your universe. Sometimes, there seems to be no rhyme or reason why a particular company is chosen to write about over another. We might feature a billion-dollar company with 10,000 or more employees, right alongside a company that staffs no more than 50 people. Why would we do this – especially considering that our readership is mostly comprised of high-end, senior level executives from companies that generate extremely high-end, annual revenues? Well, the truth is, every business featured in Business View Carib- bean has been uniquely selected as a result of what it has done to impact the world. We used to wonder, as well, why you, as the executive of a company performing admirably on the corporate stock exchange, would find our feature on, say, a local woodworking company, to be worth reading. What could be your interest in this modest business with 60 staff members? As valuable as your time is, what compels you to spend the moments necessary to read an eight-page editorial on a company that takes a year to generate, in revenue, what your company generates in a week? (In fact, we were, at one time, at the point of making sure that every company featured in Business View Caribbean was one that gener- ated a minimum of $25 million US. We knew that companies of that size would consistently draw the attention of our subscrib- ers.) It was at that point that we decided to ask you what you liked, what you didn’t like, what you would like to see more of, and, most importantly, how we could do a better job, overall. While performing this exercise, we found that many of you enjoyed the small business features just as much as the large corporation stories. When we asked why, you replied that it’s because most of you once ran a small business, yourselves, and that as a small business owner, it was the small things that you did that converted your small business into a larger one. We found that many of you see your former selves when reading about the small business owner or executive. So you still relish the hunger, the fight, the struggle, and, ultimately, the triumph. We found that you are also reminded by many of these smaller businesses of some of the things that you no longer do, that you once did consistently to gain the confidence and loyalty of your customers. And BINGO!!! That’s when it hit us. A good executive is perceptive, regardless of the size of the business, and that he or she draws upon many different elements to bring about its success. It is for this one reason that you, our esteemed reader, find yourself glued to the stories of companies that others may define as below your standards. Because, you know, as do we, that there is no such business below any executive’s standards. And while some may win, and some may lose, Business View Caribbean is here to pay homage to all those with the gumption to play the game. Until next month, plan, build, and continue to prosper. Thank you for your readership. Andre S. Barefield