Small is the New Big Big used to matter. Big meant economies of scale.
Big meant power and profit and growth. Big meant control over supply and control over markets.
There was a good reason for this. Value was added in ways that suited big organizations. Value was added with efficient manufacturing, widespread distribution, and very large research and development staffs. Value came from hundreds of operators standing by, and from nine figure TV advertising budgets. Value came from huge sales forces.
Of course, it’s not just big organizations that added value. Big planes were better than small ones, because they were faster and more efficient. Big buildings were better than small ones because they facilitated communications and used downtown land quite efficiently. Bigger computers could handle more simultaneous users.
Get big fast was the motto for start-ups, because big companies can go public and find more access to capital and use that capital to get bigger and bigger. Big accounting firms were the place to go and get audited if you were a big company, because big accounting firms could be trusted.
Big law firms were the place to find the right lawyer, because big law firms were a one – stop shop.
And then it happened…..
Enron (big) got audited by Anderson (big) and failed (big). The world trade center was a terrorist target. Network (big) TV advertising is collapsing so fast you can hear it. Big computers are silly. They use lots of power and are not nearly as efficient as networked computers. Big Boom boxes are replaced by little I-pods.
Today little companies often make more than big companies. Little churches grow faster than smaller worldwide churches. Little jets are way faster (door to door) than big ones.
Small means that the founder is involved in a far greater percentage of customer interactions. Small means the founder is close to the decisions that matter and can make them quickly.
Small is the new big because it gives you the flexibility to change your business model when your competition changes theirs. Small means you can answer e-mails from your customers.
Small means you outsource the boring, low-impact stuff like manufacturing, shipping, billing and packing to others while you keep all the power because you invent something that’s remarkable and tell your story to people who want to hear it on your own blog.
A small law firm or accounting firm or ad agency is succeeding because they’re good, not because they’re big. So smart companies, small companies are happy to hire them.
A small restaurant has an owner who greets you by name.
Small is the new big only when the person running the business thinks big.
North Myrtle Beach is a city that is growing big, with I-74 coming and the main street connector opening in the next couple of years, you will see tremendous expansion going east and west of the waterway, probably all the way to the Waccamaw River.
One of the things I hope will never happen is with all this growth, expansion, annexation here, there, and everywhere, that we never lose our small town feel, because I truly believe that we are a very progressive city and we do think big. Looking at an amphitheater by the waterway, performing arts center, convention space, new library, new museum, a senior center expansion and our parks and recreation to possibly include new tennis and soccer facilities.
There is no doubt we think big and our future is big and bright. But let us never forget to think big and remain small. Our community is what makes North Myrtle Beach such a premier destination. Small, Simple remark ability is what North Myrtle Beach is all about. Paul C. Williams
|
My Articles 
