Loading ...We are at our creative best in adverse situations. Each one of us is very capable of finding innovative solutions to face any challenge that life throws at us.
In adverse situations we are under pressure to change something in our lives that is not working. We are forced to look at ways in which we can overcome adversity. Adversity puts a strong demand on us to innovate for survival. It forces us to be different than what we have been being. Some of the most successful people and businesses that the world has seen have grown out of adversity.
Wal-Mart is one of the best examples of how adversity can force you to innovate. Wal-Mart started operations in isolated Bentonville in Arkansas. They did not have any advantage over their competitors in terms of location, resources, manpower or suppliers. The only way they could compete was on the basis of lowest prices to customers. To achieve this objective, the entire organisation got creative around reducing cost and increasing efficiencies. So much so that, today, Wal-Mart is the largest retailer in the world with the lowest cost structure and the most efficient supply chain. Some of their methods are highly criticized, and rightly so. However, it does not change the fact that their innovations in reducing cost and increasing efficiencies has revolutionized the global economy.
If you are faced with an adverse situation, be creative.
Regards
Salman Mansoor
Ceo
NeonSolutions.net
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4 responses so far ↓
1 oal // Jan 21, 2008 at 9:44 pm
1. Individuals do not well address systemic issues;
2. Speaking as an entrepreneur, few, comparatively, seem cut out for it by way of temperament, and fewer than that may have sufficient “floor” or “capital” for holding out or hanging on for improved revenue;
3. This is for comfort: given what some economists call “creative destruction” in the free business enterprise system, one may lend the same nod to perseverance as one does elsewhere: failure teaches and for not a few, repeated failures followed by a magnificent success justifies all. Overall, creativity progresses but may do best underwritten by a palette of forgiveness, loan, and incentive programs and organizational and tax formats.
4. About those “highly criticized methods”: states inevitably pay a price for suffering wherever it has gotten its start, so lowest-wage, least care bites us in the ass, frankly, as reduced consumer ability and increased public health care costs involving more and more population. is that really a good business model from a community or public policy perspective? Moving sideways, events in Kenya this month seem to have involved a process of long-term disenfranchisement and neglect, the thing that opposition leader Raila Odinga has long played on and held tight for leverage leading either to election or, as it has turned out, violence and the exacerbation of probably misguided division.
Much has been written about “big box” retail in the U.S. but one may suggest the basic principle for the goods offered has long been hammered in stone: common goods –> low price wins and low price is a function of costs plus margin. In addition to bare bones staffing and labor policies, reduced real estate costs, carrying (warehousing), and sophisticated automated data processing weigh in.
We’ve solved a part of the problem of building and distributing (everyday) stuff; that leaves a lot left to do.
Also, all said, the latest answers inevitably lead to new questions.
2 Maria // Feb 13, 2008 at 8:49 pm
SUPERB ARTICLE!
3 Aseem // Jan 10, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Hi Salman,
I am the author of this article (http://www.letstalkinsights.com/2008/01/adversity-breeds-creativity.html). I feel honored that you liked it to the extent that you have even put it into your blog.
I would really appreciate if you include an acknowledgment of the same, and include the url (trackback) to the original article on my blog. This is the standard internet etiquette for bloggers. I do hope you will consider my request.
My best wishes to you.
Thanks and Regards
Aseem
4 Aseem // Jan 10, 2009 at 7:27 pm
The original article: http://www.letstalkinsights.com/2008/01/adversity-breeds-creativity.html
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