Alpine skier Danelle Umstead can hit speeds greater than 112 kilometres per hour when she competes. But unlike her peers, Umstead can’t see a thing while she’s hurtling toward the finish line. She is blind due to a genetic eye condition called retinitis pigmentosa.
It would be hard enough throwing yourself off a mountain with full vision especially at those speeds, so how does she do it blind? The answer is that she uses a “safety skier guide” to get her down the mountain, quickly and safely.
The guide is responsible for describing the surroundings, choosing the line of descent, and providing verbal instructions to the skier as they ski down, one behind the other. The ski guide provides full awareness to the blind skier charging down the hill at 112kph. Ultimately navigating the skier all the way to the finish line in one piece. Without the guide, it would be impossible.
What’s this got to do with business?
I feel there are too many ‘blind businesses’ and not enough guides. In order to navigate your business to profit you need to have full awareness of your surroundings, the direction you are taking and guidance along the way.
You need to consider:
- What employees are making you money?
- What employees are not?
- What expenses are blowing out?
- What cash flow is needed?
- When to invest
- When to pull back.
Ask yourself, do I have full visibility, or am I the blind skier without a guide because we all know how that is going to end.
Ross Denny
Head of Finance – Joint Venture