Firstly, allow me to wish all of our readers a fabulous festive season full of friends, family, fun and rest (rest most of all!).
Secondly, allow my last Willow’s Words of Wisdom for 2018 to be a little self-indulgent, and to reflect upon, what some may say, is one of the most tumultuous years of modern times.
If you’re feeling anything like me, 2018 has been one of the most challenging and disruptive years of your working career.
Telstra’s Andy Penn has been quoted as saying something along the lines of “businesses need to disrupt themselves, before others disrupt them”.
Certainly, at Aria Technologies, we have been mindful of that message and many other messages like it. Our release of this Willow’s Words of Wisdom blog, our rollout of the Disruptive Selling™ training, and implementation of our HubSpot support tool - have all been designed to not only position our partners in these times of massive change, but to prepare them to take advantage of the opportunity that the new world presents. Believe me, it’s a new world!
Before I explain further, I must acknowledge our partners in Disruption, Carpe Diem Consulting for their fabulous support and insights that were a major source for our training material and content.
We have all become accustomed to recent business phenomenon such as Uber, UberEats, TripAdvisor, Airbnb to name but a few, but the pervasiveness of these changes to contemporary business models run much deeper.
Last week, I was arranging for our pets to be cared for over our Christmas break. For years, this has entailed finding a kennel/cattery for Lulu, Princess and Figaro, booking in, getting them there and having the family fret over their welfare for the duration of the holiday.
This year, it’s all been done online. The pets are being cared for at home by a pet/house sitter, at approximately half the cost - and I had 6 options to choose from in the local area!
For me, this is the perfect example of how disruptive changes in the market have reached almost every product or service offered today.
The message is, that we all need to change the way we approach our business and how we access our customers.
In 2019, if you don’t, I doubt you will survive.
It’s now not only what you sell, but how you sell it.
We’ll be continuing our disruptive path into 2019, including our annual Roadshow which will be taking place around the country from February. Look out for your invitation in January!
Finally, just a small insight to end my blog…
In the 1980’s, we told our children not to get into a car with a stranger.
In the 1990’s, we were told not to deal with strangers online.
Today, we tell our children to go online to engage a stranger to get in his or her car.
Interesting…!
To all of our readers and your families and friends I wish you all health, wealth and happiness in 2019!
WILLOW