Are YOU a Committed Optimist?

‘Committed Optimism’ embodies Enterprise North Shore’s outlook on the attitudes and behaviour everyone needs to embrace to see our community through the gathering economic slump. We are Committed Optimists – and not without good reason. The Enterprise North Shore Economic Futures Report (www.ens.org.nz/efr) demonstrates positive long term trends. Building a strategy to exploit these positive trends, as opposed to focusing heavily on the current crisis and business cycle, is the way to business success. How can you become a Committed Optimist? Firstly, pick up a badge proudly displaying ‘Committed Optimist’ from www.ens.org.nz ($2 for one, $18 for a set of ten). Then, embrace the following:

Committed Optimists:

• Keep themselves and others spirits up
• Create their own certainty and stability and are quietly confident of success
• Do not put their head in the sand and pretend it will be over soon without any great effort on their behalf
• Step back from their enterprise and quietly reassess their strategy in light of the realities of the economy
• Call on professionals to help them change the way they do business
• Focus on sustainable business
• Hold on to their dream and onto concepts that work
• Are confident and do not succumb to the limiting effects of fear


Being a Committed Optimist means your business plans need to weather both the ups AND downs of the business cycle – businesses who have ‘fixed the proverbial leaky roof’ during the last eight years of boom-time should stay afloat, whereas those that survive only in fair weather will struggle. Because we are in a downturn, business owners should be operating the ‘downturn’ phase of their business model reflecting the current stage in the business cycle.

For those without business plans that cater for economic scenarios such as we’re currently experiencing – all is not lost. Enterprise North Shore wants to help you Thrive in Tight Times. Struggling businesses should seek to capitalise on opportunities presented by the economic downturn and take action to optimize operations thus emerging fighting fit for the future better times.

Enterprises can leverage competitive advantage in smart and decisive adaptability to a slowing economy. Take a giant leap back from day-to-day operations and impose a rational-yet-vigorous self evaluation. Within this evaluation, you should: (1) visualise where your business will be in 3 years time and consider what you need to get there; (2) review your current situation with close scrutiny – should you invest in research to develop your product or service?; (3) count the beans: consider postponing unnecessary spending and focus on inflow of cash; make your cash flow reporting more regular; (4) eliminate wastage and optimize your resources - you’ve visualized where you want to be, you’ve assessed your current activities and you’ve scrutinized your accounts. Now it’s time to ‘trim the fat’ from your operations and take control of your businesses destiny. To read more or register for a Thriving In Tight Times Workshop, head to (www.ens.org.nz/thrive).

Enterprise North Shore is actively recruiting Committed Optimist’s amongst North Shore business–people with a simple badge bearing the Enterprise North Shore logo and reading ‘COMMITTED OPTIMIST’. These badges are available for sale at Enterprise North Shore for $2.00 each, or $18.00 for 10 on our website.

Start 2009 out right - jump on the bandwagon to Thrive in Tight Times and become a Committed Optimist in your business dealings. We’re keen to hear any feedback from those embracing this idea and how it affects your business and what your customers say. Email us at comms@ens.org.nz to tell your story.