Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM AUGUST 2021 46 Steven Morris On Brand O ur society is rapidly evolving as we transition from COVID confinement to freedom. But I'm noticing a residual effect of the pandemic in some business leaders – a "scarcity mentality." I get it. We've been through a roller coaster ride of ups and downs, openings and closures, and it's created anxiety. I've felt it, too. Some of us are concerned that the other shoe is going to drop at any moment. The scarcity loop is a self-perpetuating soundtrack that, left unchecked, will only get louder. It's a lurking concern that the world will go back into confinement, limitation and anxiety. Here's the rub. Our scarcity soundtrack is holding us back. We can't control what the world will do, but we can control how we respond. The scarcity mentality grips us too tightly to allow us to see the opportunities before us – as if we'll never realize prosperity again. As if you don't deserve to bring in new customers, attract great new employees, and realize a fruitful, profitable business. And as if the flow of new customers and team members can be easily turned off. It's critical to cease this line of thinking because it can affect everything we do, and it's contagious to those around us. Here are some ways our scarcity soundtrack shows up in action: • We defer investing in our company's long-term strategy, for example improving our people, our brand, our market reputation, our culture and our strategic execution. • We hold off investing in our people, our training, our team building, and our strategic planning. • We stop smart marketing and fall back on urgent promotions and discounts. • We say "yes" to business opportunities that we normally wouldn't, because we're afraid the prospective customer will find another resource. Of course, there's a wiser part of us that knows the opposite to scarcity mentality is abundance. I'm not talking about magical thinking, but the deep-seated confidence that comes from all that you've earned in the past. You've done this work for years; why wouldn't things improve now? HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO The abundance mindset knows there are many ways to succeed, and that you get to define what success looks like. Remember these lessons from some of my previous articles. (You can find them at Matterco.co.) • All-In – "I'm not sure what's more powerful, someone who's got everything, or someone who's all-in with nothing to lose. I wouldn't bet against all-in. I've benefited from recognizing the critical and exhilarating moments in my life – the ones where not hesitating to go all-in has paid rich dividends. How great could you, your company, your brand and your culture be if you fully committed and went all-in? Who would bet against such commitment? Not me. I'd be all-in for you, too." • Bold Moves for Brands – "Bold actions inspire those around you. They create a gravitational pull toward courage, attracting more of the right people to your culture, your business and your cause. When you set out to do some serious good in the world, to make positive changes, to move people, you tap into the wellspring of others who are trying to do similar things, and your efforts shift into the collaborative game of business." • Worth Fighting For – "The long-game, where all the best business strategies reside, is a game of 'wins' one step at a time. To me, this is worth fighting for." • Keep Moving Forward – "The secret weapon for all of this success is: keep moving forward! The lesson here is that you'll hit obstacles in your life and work, so just keep moving. Where you stumble, you'll find your treasure. But you have to keep moving forward." Stepping out of your comfort zone is one path to breaking the scarcity soundtrack. The edge of your comfort zone is the place where you can realize more success than you've ever experienced. To thrive is your birthright as a human and a business. And it's a choice. Breaking the scarcity soundtrack leads to the world of abundance. I'm here rooting for you, cheering you on, believing in you and serving you. There's a world of people out there who need just what you can provide. Go find and serve them. BREAKING THE SCARCITY SOUNDTRACK Preparing for a Post-COVID World Steven Morris is a brand, culture and leadership advisor, author, and speaker. Over his 25+ years in business he's worked with 3,000+ business leaders at 250+ global and regional companies. Discover: https://matterco.co RO

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