your new biz partner’s name is spike

ok, i’m not talking about too much product in your hair

i’m talking business…..revenue…..gdp……$$$

sorry there will be no illustrative graphs or bad power point presentations today

instead the simple observation that this 5 min of our lives everything seems to be “spikey”

there are no more lines on charts that are slowly rising or falling.

in fact….there doesn’t seem to be any flat lines on those charts either

is it me?

or does everything seems way too fvcking spikey?

the stock market swings several thousand points

our government leader reverses daily

sales are up and then down and wheretf is my toilet paper?

plus, peoples attitudes/moods now spike and change daily let alone by the minute

if you’re a small, emerging, entrepreneurial business you’re seeing/feeling the spikes

and it’s scary

if you’re in the “immunity” or “prepper” category your spikes are quite favorable

if you’re in the food business your spikes are currently pointing up also

of course to the contrary

we can all rattle off all sorts of biz categories that are spiking the wrong way

travel, events, luxury goods……you know the list

but with food?

good news…basket size is way up!

not so good news? right now shopping frequency is down and pantries are stocked

so now some food, immunity and health businesses who were kicking ass

might be feeling their new friend spikey come to town

ok

here’s the point my lovely humanoid goofballs…..

we should assume our new biz partner spike is here for a while

sure things for some of you it may be going ok right now

but the downward spike may also be in your future?

whether you’re trending up, down or sideways?

the line on the graph is going to be zig zaggy up and down along the way

this month you could be beating your numbers?

next month you’re down big and it’s only halfway through the month

wtf?

these spikes could be short or long?

could last a day, week, a quarter or even longer?

bottom line?

the days of steady graphs and lines are now long gone due to…..

viral uncertainty, govt lack of leadership/strategy, consumer craziness and the general humanoid tendency towards entropy, chaos & divisiveness (feel free to add to this list)

humanoids…..welcome to your new shitstorm

every biz no matter how small or large is going to get spikey

but let’s talk about you……what’s an emerging brand to do?

if you haven’t already cut your expenses?

if you’re currently working out of an office?

maybe consider going back to the way it was a few years ago,

when you were even smaller and scrappier, and working out of your garage?

keep as many key people to run the biz as you can and pay em hazard pay

and if you can

please stash as much cash as possible now for the spikes whether upward or downward

you’ll need it to survive or take advantage of an opportunity

but wait there’s more

please expect a visit from our new so called friend spike when you’re forecasting for your new abnormal future

some may ask……do we even have a future?

i say……..yes you fvcking do!!!!

speaking of forecasting?

please remember my definition,…..

“forecasting = strategy + hallucination”

but we will leave that for another time and discussion

accept it

your new business partner’s name is spike

btw when you know and understand ’em well you can add the “y” on the end of the name

kind of like my good friend jim….who i get to call jimmy

except this time spikey isn’t really your friend

just one more secret obstacle or disturbance to get over on

good luck

stay positive

go back to work…get creative

and vote mofos