Six Degrees

6 degrees.  That’s what the thermometer is reading as I write this.  For my friends in Canada, that’s -14C.  I know that’s almost a balmy afternoon for you, but for this son of New York, it’s the coldest we’ve been in a few years.  The bitter cold that has been working its way east has arrived and I could be less happy only if they banned golf forever. Of course, I also find business lessons in the cold.You have to behave differently when the weather turns this radically cold and you have to alter your behavior when the business climate matches the chill.  If you can, in both situations you should stay inside. In business that’s sticking to your core competencies.  While this awful economic environment provides a lot of opportunity, I’d only venture out of my core business, my home, if I run out of supplies.

Low body temperature affects the brain, making a person unable to think clearly or move well. Seems to me that this economic climate is doing the same.  The warning signs of hypothermia include shivering, exhaustion, confusion, memory loss, slurred speech and drowsiness.  Look around your office or the train and tell me that even warm people (yes, even sober ones) aren’t behaving as if their body temps have dropped.

In cold such as this, you protect yourself as best you can.   You keep moving.   Watch for signs of frostbite.   If you have an issue, take immediate action but do so gradually – your system can’t take more of a shock.  Oh – those are my thoughts on business – were you thinking I meant cold weather?

Just remember (as I’m trying to):  the cold will go away – maybe tomorrow, maybe next week, just as the business climate will warm.  In both instances, if you are smart and take precautions, you can get through it.  Heck, maybe you can even venture out and have some fun.  I hear there are winter sports too….