Maps Drawn Without Accountability To The Landscape Are Worthless!
It amazes me how eager some people are to pursue things without accountability. All journeys have obstacles that distract you and detours, taking you off the plotted path. Often, along these journeys, you will come across old directional markers that don't account for the changes along the journey's landscape.
Recently, I heard an analyst from the print services industry describe what he thought would be a tremendous entrepreneurial endeavor for the young generation pursuing ownership of a dealership.
As I listened to the directions, I thought of the many times the actors within the print industry do not care if the navigators are accountable to the landscape's reality.
This analyst suggested that wannabe entrepreneurs buy an IT services company and decide which printer OEM's product line to offer as part of the IT stack!
The debate regarding how the print channel should engage in selling IT services or why the IT services industry wants nothing to do with selling, servicing, and supplying print equipment - is long overdue.
It has been 15 years, and for many, nothing has changed in the mindsets, meaning the old directional markers still along the path do not account for all the changes in the landscape.
I also caution the print industry that IT security is a path that, if not correctly navigated, you will fall off its edge, and climbing back up won't be an option.
All business models must have a plan, and for those wishing to have their own IT services business, when you write the plan, you will realize adding print equipment, its supplies, and services in any way familiar to the current print industry's deliverable is not worth the distraction or noise.
Successful IT services companies understand that print equipment, supplies, and services represent less than one and half percent of a company's IT infrastructure spend.
The print industry needs diversification. However, I hope our industry is done chasing the squirrels eager to find nuts!
In a recent episode of The End Of The Day With Ray! I shared my thoughts on how I believe Konica Minolta will exit from its IT services platform All Covered and GreatAmerica from its master services platform Collabrance.
In that episode, I also shared why I believe Visual Edge IT is another example of failed attempts to merge print services with IT services based on navigational maps drawn by cartographers who copied the many previous journeys; journeys without accountability.
I am hopeful that as what I believe are failed attempts unfold, the print industry will demand more accountability from all its diversification strategies.
In closing, award season is upon us. Please remember that awards as marketing tools are worthless. Only through your remarkability to those you serve will you be rewarded with more of their business.
It still amazes me watching grown men and women slap themselves on the back without any accountability to the merits. Please don't fall victim to those insecure about their place in the future who are eager to find others with the same insecurities whom they can capitalize on through gratuitous platitudes.
Status Quo is the killer of all that will be invented.
Ray Stasieczko
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The first thing to evaluate in all diversifications is the effectiveness of current management. The most disruptive component of all diversification strategies is the realization that many of the navigators who led a legacy business to its current relevance may have reached the end of the journey.
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