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O P I N I O N
M any firms are experiencing growth during this post-recession period and you can almost sense the excitement generated by the current talk about infrastructure investment. After so many years of contractions in the marketplace, the return of optimism in the AEC industry is a welcome change. Risks aplenty Growth is all but assured in a healthy market, but if a firm doesn’t watch out, it can grow helter-skelter to the point of extinction.
Stephen Lucy
busy? Absent development and adherence to a plan, all the benefits of great economic periods are ex- pended in the short-term with no goal of sustained growth for your firm. You don’t want to be that squirrel who eats all the acorns as they are gathered and then starves to death in the cold winter ahead. “After so many years of contractions in the marketplace, the return of optimism in the AEC industry is a welcome change.”
Most translate growth as meaning increased revenue, profit, and opportunity. However, along with all the positives, growth also brings increased risk which can imperil both current and future firm operations. Absent recognition of these risk factors, you may grow your firm to the point of extinction before you even realize it. Some specific risks to avoid include: ❚ ❚ Lack of planning. When business is down, we fret, lament the competition, and focus on the long-term in a concerted effort to prevent failure. When busi- ness is good, we rejoice, celebrate the easy wins, and focus on the short-term in an effort to meet imme- diate needs. Why is planning for the future one of the first items pushed to the sidelines when we get
See STEPHEN LUCY, page 8
THE ZWEIG LETTER February 20, 2017, ISSUE 1188
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