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Pondemonium by Greg Wittstock
March 12, 2008
Think Offensive, Be Defensive
Posted at 11:17 AM
Well, the news ain't good. The U.S. economic outlook for 2008 seems to get worse each day, and it's not likely to get better until the second half of 2009. The television, newspapers, and magazines seem to be on the economists' side, especially if you're lumped in the catch-all category of housing starts the way we are. So what's an entrepreneur like you or me to do when the media are saying the sky is falling and the world is saying play defense but we are more suited to playing offense?
We are definitely feeling the effects of the economy on our business. After a record January, we missed February's sales goal and March isn't looking any better. But what do you do when you can't guarantee sales and you're trying to serve customers, invest in the future, and maintain profits?
First and foremost, we're increasing our efforts to promote our traditional products in current markets and in new markets, and we're doing the things that made Aquascape "Aquascape" in the first place -- creating innovative new products for new markets. In other words, we're promoting, innovating, and doing everything we know how to do in order to spur sales growth in an increasingly challenging market. We are focusing on initiatives that have low cost and immediate returns. That's the offensive side of things and as a tried-and-true entrepreneur, I just love it. And we're really good at this!
But also as a tried-and-true entrepreneur, I've learned what happens when offense is my only strategy. I ignore the doom and gloom, attempting to will my top line into being -- and I come up short. We need to have a defensive strategy! Although contrary to my nature, I'm learning to appreciate this. When sales aren't there, the only way you're going to hit your numbers is by shrinking your overhead to increase profitability.
This is something we all know, but aren't all good at. I guess you football fans out there would call this a preventive defense. And as any offensive-minded fan would tell you, the bend-but-don't-break strategy is a great way to lose! The challenge in bending but not breaking is to know where to bend so you don't break. Most of us don't have a crystal ball to predict sales with the same degree of certainty that we can predict expenses.
That's why I'm letting my president and defensive coordinator -- ironically, he's a former quarterback at Army -- make the calls, controlling overhead spending and capital expenses to ensure profitability. Last week, we made the decision to delay the start of the implementation of our new IT system that I spoke of in "Circling the Wagons." Business expenses are being scaled to fit the top line. Team input, buy-in, and communication are mission critical. I'm counting on my defensive coach to communicate clearly with me and the team and then stay the course. If these sales trends continue, we will need to further shrink ourselves if we're going to be profitable in 2008. If this turns out to be the case, then so be it. As an offensive coordinator, does that make me grit my teeth? Hell, yes! But I'd rather formulate my strategy assuming a less-than-desirable outcome and come out with a win, than predict a perfect game and end up with a loss. Sometimes the defense wins the game. I'm learning this now more than ever in my business.
This year will test me in ways I've never been tested. I'm resolved to win. I'm resolved to learn. My goal with this blog has always been to help others with what I've learned in the often hard and gritty world of business -- even if what I've learned has been difficult at times. I only hope that by writing about our experiences, it helps you in your business.
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Greg,
With you being a former great football player we have all heard about from you in the past, I just wanted to help you out a little.
The defencive plan you are talking about is commonly called Prevent Defence, not preventitive defence. Are you actually writing your own blogs?
"That's why I'm letting my president and defensive coordinator -- ironically, he's a former quarterback at Army -- make the calls, controlling overhead spending and capital expenses to ensure profitability."
Why don't you have this person do the blog entries on how to operate a business more effectively instead of Greg? Sounds like he/ or she is the one making the decisions."
Below are dates and full sentence quotes from your recent blogs...How are we learning anything? What will you change your mind on next week? How do you keep your employees focused on a goal? What tools do you utilize as a business owner to keep track of all of the different directions you are directing your employees, distributors, and installers? If business could potentially slow down are we to invest more or cut back? You have said to do both? Is the industry growing still? Any data you provide on your site or prior maiings is many years old regarding the demand and relevant sales of watergarden products. Could you update any information so we can decide if building ponds would be a good thing to get into please?
11-26-07:
"I've got a passion for ponds and Buckeye football but this blog is not going to be about either one; rather it's going to be about another passion of mine ... helping others reach their fullest potential."
12-6-07:
The human side of all those budget cutting meetings is about to become a reality. Tomorrow I get to stand in front of the 178 people who signed on to be part of the Aquascape team and tell them something they most certainly didn't expect to hear when they came on board: "For some of you, your services are no longer needed.
12-13-07:
The sales we anticipated just didn't happen despite all the time, energy, planning, and money we invested.
But 2008 is a new year and represents a new beginning. We have budgeted for exciting new initiatives, and we could not be more optimistic about the future. I started this company in 1991 with a vision, with passion, and with optimism, and that is exactly how I feel entering 2008. We are forecasting year over year growth in both profit and revenue. The 2008 possibilities are endless!
12-18-07:
And yet, today, after one year of a full-scale assault, we have increased our distribution access points from 71 to right around 500. What this means is simple. We're putting our customer base in the hands of a distribution network that until now we had supported with a wink-wink. Now, for the first time, we've put our money and our customers where our mouth is.
The market's there. Water features are still hot with consumers. During the transitional year of 2007, we sold more products -- albeit at a lower margin -- than any previous year.
12-27-07
For the first time, a new opportunity has presented itself that I believe I can be passionate about today, tomorrow, and five years from now. Additionally, this new opportunity has vastly greater upside than our core business and is just emerging as a new industry. And given that this new opportunity leverages some of our current products (in a different application) as well as many of our organization's core competencies while being sold to our existing customers through our current distribution network, it would seem like a slam dunk!
In the end there's only one thing I know for sure: The ultimate success or failure of any company's expanding mission is up to the market to determine. Here's hoping that by deviating from what made us number one, both Aquascape and our customers will be able to grow more in the future, together becoming all we can be.
I will reveal in a future blog post what the new opportunity is for those of you who are interested. Assuming things go as I expect they will, it shouldn't be long.
1-3-08:
That's why I'm finding myself as excited as I've ever been not just despite but actually because our sales results for 2007 came in below projections.
In my last post (Is Losing Focus Always a Bad Thing?), I mentioned my belief that sticking to our core product line and market had been a cornerstone of Aquascape's success. Yet, when sales growth slowed in 2006 and flat-lined in 2007, I began to feel a breeze which led me to look out a proverbial new window. And what I saw was an exciting view I might never have seen otherwise. Which raises the unanswerable question, Would I -- and the organization I lead -- ever have been able to see the new opportunity we are now poised to jump on if our forecasted sales had actually materialized?
Here's what I do know: My chief strategist and longest-running employee both have been beating the drum for this new opportunity for the last year -- and damn loudly for the last six months. Why did it take me so long to hear what they were saying? Why did someone who loves new challenges and has a ready-fire-aim entrepreneurial make-up sit on the fence until only recently? Those were realities I had refused to acknowledge before but now I say bring it on! If we were sitting on easy street and swimming in cash, would I have this same level of enthusiasm? I think not!
1-29-08:
In 2007 we opened up our distribution model, going from 71 locations across the country to just shy of 500 today. One general theme drove this model shift … increased access points would mean increased exposure and thus lead to more installations of water features. How's it working one year later? So far, so good, as product sales increased and our end user, the contractor, had more convenient options from which to choose.
2-1-08:
And here's the deal from my end. I stand by every blog entry I've posted, every sentence I wrote, and each word in them.
2-6-08:
There's one more analogy I want to offer, and I promise it will be my last. 100MM represents the gold medal to me.
Time will tell if I made the right choice to open up my distributor model. Customers speak with their pocketbooks, and so far we've closed January up 40 percent over last year. Let the games begin!
3-4-08:
That's right, despite -- or actually because of -- the bleak economic outlook for 2008, we're investing in key strategic initiatives that will help us in the future. The last thing anyone should do in a down market is cut, cut, cut. All you're doing by doing that is hastening the inevitable. But that's probably what your competition is doing, which is a golden opportunity for you if you play your cards right.
Going into 2008, we freed up two million in cash to invest in key strategic initiatives. And yes, if you're new to this blog, that included a reduction in force of 21 people in December.
Now, instead of circling the proverbial wagons in 2008, we're in the early stages of a Herculean organizational-wide effort to change our IT operating system, which is a capital investment of more than a million dollars. The additional investments are for training our new distributors, upgrading our website, making key hires, and developing new products for the future.
Now, instead of circling the proverbial wagons in 2008, we're in the early stages of a Herculean organizational-wide effort to change our IT operating system, which is a capital investment of more than a million dollars. The additional investments are for training our new distributors, upgrading our website, making key hires, and developing new products for the future.
The moral of the story? In a down market you must resist the urge to circle the wagons. You need to send out pioneers into new markets, while reinvesting in core strategic initiatives.
3-12-08:
We are definitely feeling the effects of the economy on our business. After a record January, we missed February's sales goal and March isn't looking any better.
Last week, we made the decision to delay the start of the implementation of our new IT system that I spoke of in "Circling the Wagons." Business expenses are being scaled to fit the top line. Team input, buy-in, and communication are mission critical.
3-3-08 From your company website news tab:
St. Charles, IL - Aquascape, Inc. is excited to announce a one-time only summer event that is replacing its annual Pondemonium® week. By special invitation only, a select group including Certified Aquascape Contractors, Water Garden Excellence members, and Authorized AquascapePRO distributors will roll into Aquascape headquarters for the "World's Most Extreme Pond Build" from July 14th-July 18th, 2008. The 250' x 90' water feature will reside at the entrance of Aqualand, the company's corporate headquarters.
"By inviting a select group of our customers to participate in the creation of our signature pond, we'll be able to provide hands-on education that incorporates both traditional and non-traditional construction methods using the Aquascape product line," stated Ed Beaulieu, Vice President of Field Research at Aquascape.
Pondemonium® will return for a special 10th anniversary celebration in 2009 and will again be open to anyone wishing to attend. Entry-level seminars will be available for those just getting started with water features and specialized sessions will be offered for seasoned pond installers and retailers who've enjoyed many years of Pondemonium®.
My questions:
If you are trying to expose water gardens to more people and get more contractors to install them, then why would you limit who is invited to you once a year training? Is it to save $?
Can't you write off all the cost and expenses related to building the pond on your own property utilizing free labor from those that are paying money to attend the "training" (training that will allow them to claim they are Aquascape Certified Installers) while also building equity in your property? Seems like a win/win for Greg?
Can I come,,,Can I come,,,,Can I come,,,
The "goal is to replicate an Illinois Watershed"
Last time I saw a Illinois watershed it did not have several 10 foot high waterfalls or a grotto. Where would I go in Illinois to see such a natural watershed like this?
Oops! Somebody made a spelling mistake. Looks like somebody forgot to proofread. But calling a spade a spade, the correct terminology is prevent defense (defense is spelled with an s, not a c!). You must have graduated from the SEC.
sorry on the spelling error. either way a person who was on a state winning football team would know that it in not called preventitive defense.
For the meticulous, long-winded person who asked about the Illinois watershed: There are numerous waterfalls over 30 feet in height throughout the state (some with a drop of 50 feet): Cascade Falls, Burden Falls, Ferne Clyffe Falls just to name a few. The word "grotto" means cave or cavern, and there are many of these throughout Illinois. All you need to do to find cave locations is perform a quick Google search for Illinois caves. In addition, there are approximately 25 watersheds in Illinois. Which Illinois watershed did you visit? It might explain why you didn't see any caves or waterfalls over 10 feet high.
Good comeback from the gentleman who is obviously familiar with the real geology of our fair state. (responding to the embarrassingly uninformed Meticulous Long-Winded Person) Is that dude for real??
Misspellings of two syllable words and the demonstrated inability to locate and utilize the "Shift" key in order to employ capital letters definitely points to the SEC. Good call man! (whoever you are)
It is indeed tiresome to listen to the self-righteous twaddle on this blog from those who cannot gain an audience under any other circumstances. What's driving their pathetic narcissism? Perhaps they were not sufficiently breast-fed as infants? Never got a date without having to pay for it? Or they were never allowed to be on top?? Who can say?
There are certainly some severe mental health issues associated with those on this blog who are so hopelessly obsessed and fixated on this company and its founder. It wouldn't surprise me in the least to learn that these pathological Aquascape stalkers have enlarged color photos of Mr. Wittstock on their bedroom ceilings where they routinely engage in wistful, homoerotic fantasies with the man they so love to hate. Decorum forbids further speculative elaboration.
Perhaps our overly-verbose, wannabe barrister is busy staying awake nights practicing his budding prosecutorial skills on an unwillingly captive audience by studiously pointing out football strategy typos, while neglecting his own elementary grammatical gaffes, and then ripping volumes of mundane and useless information from the Net which is calculated to induce terminal narcolepsy even in the most determined methamphetamine user??
Not to worry though MLWP---that mail-order diploma from ACME Lawyer School should be here any day now. It was certainly worth the $25.00 investment wasn't it? Perhaps Mavis Beacon or Video Professor might be on tap next for post-graduate work?
Greg:
Great blog! You going into such detail on how you're dealing with challenges in your busienss is extremely helpful for other entrepreurs. I see that you are still investing in your team too, getting them trained and developed so they too can help grow the business in a market that is a bit challengeing. Keep on blogging, we have a lot to learn.
Kurt, for those not in the know, can you explain how Greg and Aquascapes is investing in their team and getting them trained. It's the first i've heard of this.
Regarding investing in their team; as long as I have known Greg & Aquascape, I have never seen any other company invest more in their people and customers than they do. Their level of training is our primary reason for doing business with them. It is obvious that Greg knows training and professional development is important and will be a priority even in a sluggish market. Just this week I attended a leadership session with Jim Paluch of JP Horizon’s as an explorative initiative to see if such training would bring value to the CAC’s. Two of Greg’s guy’s were also in attendance and I learned that one of them has had a recent promotion working with Aquabasins. His major responsibilities include R & D and helping us and other customer be successful and profitable installing these features, which is exactly what Aquascape has been doing ever since I’ve know them…....helping their customers succeed. While we were learning from Jim Paluch I know the Aquascape sales team was at Aqualand for 3 days of training as well.
So if you weren’t aware of what Aquascape offers, you must be a new customer. Get in touch with a salesperson, call customer service, call a CAC, go to their web site…..there is a lot for you to take advantage of.
And Greg…..Thanks for keeping your priorities straight, while budget cuts may be necessary, training still goes on. Also the fact that you continue to train your customers while also developing all of your distributors is amazing………keep it up!
"That's right, despite -- or actually because of -- the bleak economic outlook for 2008, we're investing in key strategic initiatives that will help us in the future. The last thing anyone should do in a down market is cut, cut, cut. All you're doing by doing that is hastening the inevitable. But that's probably what your competition is doing, which is a golden opportunity for you if you play your cards right."
This was your statement for us to follow less than 10 days ago. Now it seems like you are not following your own advise. I thought this was a golden opportunity?
Why the cracks at the SEC? Who's self-righteous now?
Go Gators!!!!
Greg, Just to clarify things.
So you freed up cash by laying off 21 employees in December so you could now invest in hiring more people now? How does that make any logic?
Your sales were up 40% in January of this year. What happened in the economy since then that is causing lowered sales forecast? Or did you front load a lot of new distributors with products in Jan to show the boost in sales?
Right on 40%
I am so bored with this blog and the people who post on it. Why don't you big bunch of idiots get a life and stop pick apart every single thing on this blog. My company may not be as big as Aquascape, but Greg, don't you have better things to do? I know I do!
jerk
You wish you had as much to do as Greg
If you have better things to do besides reading boring entries and posting on this blog then why are you doing it yourself?
Greg - despite all the crap that is being thrown around on your blog, I am still following to read more from you.
When trying to reach such a lofty goal of 100MM, when your company recently pulled in about 60M (is that about right), how far ahead to you plan - a couple of quarters, a couple of years, decades, etc? Do you have a 20 year plan for Aquascape?
What are you doing for the next 8 years? Wanna run for president? I'll write you in! :-)
It is pretty clear that plans change drastically about every 10 days ( not years or quarters ) according to Greg. Sales were great in January (up 40%) and now the economy has just had a recent change and sales are down and his investment advice to take advantage of a golden opportunity has changed drastically as well.
He would make a great politician,,,,not a President hopefully! Flip - Flop like a Koi!
I am thinking the sales growth in recent years has been primarily due to aquisitions of Nursery Pro in Des Moines and his dads company in Yorkville. Otherwise it appears sales of Aquascape products themselves have not been growing that rapidly. Here is an insert from his bio on the inc blog:
"Aquascape has experienced remarkable growth, appearing on the Inc. 500 list four years in a row (1999-2002)."
Looking at my calender it is now 2008. Why has Aquascape not been on the list for so long, but Greg still acts like things are growing so fast?
New York is looking for a new Governor.
Hey Greg I don't know why you continue with this blog with all the BS that gets thrown @ you, I know you like challenges and as a current loyal customer of yours, I know I have been a challenge to you as a customer and suprised that in the past you didn't send me packing at times. (Yes it sometimes is a good thing to fire customers.)But instead you took time out of your schedule (& at times those of your employees) to talk to me about things going on. When part of my business (landscape maintenance)was down & I was doom & gloom even @ Aquascape events and spoke up about my prospective on things, as negative as they were, you took the time to listen. Yeah you are able to 'hype' people up or is it that you are able to get people to see inside themselves and reach for the inner strength we all have to succeed. All the free help and guidance you & your employees have offered in the past to me on both a business level and personal level are appreciated. You sure as hell didn't do it for the potential profits that I would be bringing to your company. The one thing that will always stick in my mind is how when you met my 15 year old son 4 years ago @ a seminar you spent time talking to him and then when I saw you about 6 months later you actually remembered him by name and asked how he was. 40 years in the green industry and I have never received such good treatment & customer care from any supplier! Well I was along for the ride during the great times and plan on being along for the ride down the bumpy road we are all facing. Your recent advice at the last seminars I attended paid off well for myself and my company and while I may not have a banner year in sales due to the economy I will at least be paying my family bills and still own my own business. Thanks Greg & AI for your support.
it's too bad you don't know the people of ADI say about you when you are not around PVW.
I'm very sad about all of this junk about The Pond Guy! Greg PLEASE get back the way I have heard the Aquascape should be! I hope you don't loose customers that respect your Company. Please get back involved!
Que serra, serra...
This ain't a 'blog' it's a soap opera!
HAL - arious!
Thanks for the comic relief "No Namers!" You guys are better than the Joke Show!
(Those with no juevos need not apply...or contribute!)
HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHH!
Happy Paddy's Day, Y'all!
Most of the "no name" blog entries know a considerable amount of facts on Greg and Aquascapes. Many other "named contirbutors" only have direct exposure to Greg or Aquascapes once or twice a year.
Kind of like if I know you as a freindly neighbor or aquaintance from my kids school. I can have a very different opinion of how you operate versus your spouse that lives and deals with you daily.
Many "no names" do not expose themselves due to non-compete and no-disclosure of company info papers signed at the time of employment.
If Greg is willing to sue his own dad(who was not invited to his own sons wedding!), that leaves little questions to his ability to sue others over frivilous matters.
Greg, I don't know you and I'm not a customer of yours - I'm a IT guy planning my eventual escape from Wall Street and that means I read Inc. constantly...
You should have them turn on the comment moderation/approval feature of this blog. You're seeing the effects of allowing every anonymous person to post comments to this blog.
I applaud you for being so open and inviting to all but all the unnecessary negativity has got to be taking it's toll on you (it certainly is for readers).
All the best...
Formally Employed/Former Customer
It is interesting for me to read this blog, which after reading the first set of responses, I personally would have shut it down due to the fact that no one was really listening just venting. But out of curiosity I continued to read as Greg continued to post. Now as you saw in my first line I am a former customer (sold my business) and supported my family in 2007, with income working for Aquascapes. As I read the responses from others I find myself understanding their frustrations in some form. The problem with Aquascapes is that when it was first started Greg went to market with “your part of a family” not just a business customer. Everything they did focused on your special and more than a customer or an employee. Including how they treated the employees with the parties at Gregs home, use of his personal stuff and fun events at work.
This caused you to think differently about Aquascapes then most other vendors and to really buy into the company. This for a marketing plan is good. But can be challenging in times of growth and change. In the past year I have seen Aquascape make some big changes that some people who bought into the family style marketing have not agreed with. Change is hard for everyone, and most resist it or go out fighting with negative words or adapt.
I myself have followed this same path, just before I was let go Greg offered some advice to me and after being let go, I let my emotions instead of brain guide me. I spoke poorly of him and focused on what things used be and how Aquascapes used to handle things and to put it simply I didn’t want change.
I have spoken to others who have stopped doing business with Aquascapes within the past few years and I have found that they mostly were upset by the changes and not feeling they had the role they used to have in the company or family. But was it a role they deserved or should they have been a customer from the start and Aquascapes a vendor?
What I have found is that low and behold in the past year, Aquascapes has become a formal business and is working to act like a formal business for long term success. With TD, he is trained to think and act business, which I would think is hard for Greg to adjust too, along with all the others. But that is who most strong companies have and need in charge. Watching the news and reading this blog I keep hearing business talk, about having to make hard business choices. Someone posted that things in the blog keep changing so fast, I agree but I also know as a business owner in challenging times you need to be able to change fast and forever be tweaking your business plan or die.
Over the years as things changed in my business, I found a way to survive and grow my business no matter what Aquascape was changing. As Aquascape was making changes I focused more on growing my future and less on whether I agreed with what Aquascape was doing to support their business. It was up to me to make myself a success. They were my vendor and I their customer. I try to remember that for many years I was able to be more involved with a company than just a customer. I was able to take that experience and learn for my own business management role. For most business owners who purchase from vendors, you do not have that opportunity, your are nothing but an order number. I remember how working with Aquascapes helped me become the business owner I am. I challenge every business owner who dislikes Aquascapes to at least admit that you are a better business owner in some way from your past relationship with Aquascapes.
It is much easier to take the focus off yourself and your company, when you have someone else to kick and belittle. Reading the recent responses I wonder how many are from owners who are simply worried about having to fully step up and take control of their own futures. I know I regret the choices I made in my actions as I worked through my understanding of Aquascapes business changes and or growth. Admitting that I am not on the inside and do not have a full understanding of the business issues that drive their changes. I do not have the information needed to judge.
It is not a family facing divorce; it is a business working hard to support itself and to survive. It is a business; it is your vendor or employer. Your business future or employment is up to you. As an employee bring value and you will be kept. As a business owner really look at the value a vendor brings and then decide, but decide without your emotions. Its business.
It is very hard to face the change of something that has had a role in my life for the past 7 years; it was easier to just keep on the same path. But life is full of change and as I adapt and or overcome I will make my life all it can be, that’s my job not Gregs. For many Greg has been a good and handy tool. Tools never really get any of the credit, but you sure bitch when they don’t work the way you want them to…..
Greg, your blog does bring value to all business owners, if you stay focused on teaching business the good, the bad, the successes, the failures and even your mistakes.
Scott,
Your blog is well written.
Can you enlighten us more on why one retail location you opened had failed (you were unable to pay bills to multiple suppliers who were left in the dust), you then rented space in another existing retail location in Janesville.
Suddenly you were paid by Aquascapes to go spread the word across the country of how great retailing Aquascapes products would be to make money for other companies.
If it was such a great way to make money than why were you working for Greg? Why wouldn't you concentrate on building your own business? Where is that retail location now? Have you spoken with Eric Wood,,,,he has a similar story to tell now?
So when you did not "say Yes" to everything Greg had to offer, you were let go?
Sounds like a very "open company" that values everybodies opinion to me? How much money did Greg make off of your seminars you performed across the USA that touted what a great happy family/vendor that Aquascapes is? When you start to have some basic business question you are then let go for not following the company line. That is how thing have operated there for years.
Please read prior blogs related to Ben the HR manager for more details on employee relations in this blog. Many employees who added great value were let go while other "yes people" who did little were kept aboard it seems.
Amen
Many former current and former employees would agree with the post just place 2 notches above!!!
Good Job!
Sorry about they typo....
Many former and current employees would agree with that post!
Nice job, Scott Story.
Thank you.
Scott, is this your attempt to get back into Greg's good graces?
Greg,
Can you have your President, TD shed some light on his thought processes on what he looks at when having to make these tough decisions? I would also like to know from a business standpoint where he feel the company is moving? And finally, are you ever going to shed some light on what this new direction is that you are going to take ADI? The drum beating thing that you previously referred to?
Greg,
I had to check this out - interesting. Looking forward to another great year with Aquascape, see you in July.
Why should Greg or TD even bother to respond to a question from anonymous blogger who refuses to give his name?
Good luck getting real business answers from this blog.
Greg and TD have too much of a God complex to answer to the peasants' managerial questions and I don't really think they have the solid answers that real businessmen who come across this blog are awaiting.
They (Greg or TD) most likely will not answer directly because no matter what they say on here someone will surely find fault with it. There is more negative comments posted on here by people who don't even want to reveal their true names, perhaps if these people go away and worry about their own business then things would get a bit more serious on here. Then the people who truly want to improve could do so.
It will be nice when things get busy again and people wont have time to bitch on this blog all day long when they should be working.
What happened to Scott Story? No replies from him?
Aquascape emplyees that are entering in blog info are not listing their names either, so all is fair!
Ecclesiastes 10:12 (New International Version)
Words from a wise man's mouth are gracious,
but a fool is consumed by his own lips.
Scott H...don't you have any thoughts of your own? A lot of people wish you would stop quoting others!
Don't bother Scott.
Ecclesiastes 1:9 right back with you; "...there is nothing new under the sun."
Perhaps your wearisome critic imagines herself guilty of original thought?
Well, "Posted By"...
A lot of people" WISH there was "free bubble-up" and "rainbow stew" without end available for their own consumption-all, of course, without cost or effort on their part...
"A lot of people" WISH everyone else would conform to their own way of thinking...
"A lot of people" WISH they could be successful...
My daddy used to say to me; "WISH in one hand and "spit" in the other - see which hand gets full first"
OOPS! Another quote! Sorry! But 'Bitchslap' is correct!
There is nothing new under the sun.
It simply occurs to me, "posted by", that there are many wise people (past and present) whose words bear contemplating. People who are perhaps more thoughtful and contemplative than those of us posting out of some pretty shallow emotional reactivity on this blog. (I, myself, am somewhat experienced in this exercise) People whose thoughts are apropos to the subjects discussed herein and have stood some test of time and application.
"Words mean things." Words are the expression of our thoughts, and viewpoints, and dreams, and visions, and hopes, and joys, and desires, and frustrations.
Your words - written here - “mean things" and the give a clue as to "who you are" at this time in your life. I value your words as an indicator of your opinion...your person...your outlook - although I reserve the right to assign them the commensurate weight and influence they bear in my own situation.
As far as having "thoughts of my own" ?
What might you conclude?
Because there is "nothing new under the sun"; one might say that we humans are actually incapable of 'original thought'. Breaking it down to a simplest physical forms we currently understand - thoughts are chemically generated electrons racing across the synapses between our neuron's axons and dendrites in our brains. Nothing new there...electrons have been around a long time!
I would submit that what makes a thought "original" is its exploration, understanding, acceptance, ownership, and application of the thought in our own life.
One more quote before this turns into another thesis...
"The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks." Gospel of Luke 6:45(Jesus speaking)
Have a 'good' week! Sincerely! I WISH you a 'week of goodness'
Scott, 15 more let go this week, and many more giving notice and the remaining ones actively looking for another job. What words of wisdom do you have for that fact? How can that be a positive trend for AI and it's "future".
"Don't believe everything you read"
I think AI grew up as a 'family'.
It's hard to leave a 'family'. It's even a more anguishing experience to have 'your family' leave you or drop you off in the 'woods'.
Families, like individuals, can fall on hard times - or have hard times fall on them. It's no news that this world is far from perfect. Its no news that people fall short of their goals.
And it sucks.
But any man's reach should exceed his grasp - or what's the point? (yep! yet another non-original thought - vis, "quote")
That said; what is to be done? Does a company sacrifice all it's employees to a retarded rate of 'starvation' in order to sustain itself - however weakened - for a few more days, weeks, or months?
Does a 'family' keep on eating steak on a macaroni budget?
Does the dance band just keep on playing on the poopdeck while the ship goes down pretending there's no problem?
(A lotta people died in that historical shipwreck because the leadreship pretended there was no problem. Far fewer souls would have been lost if someone in leadership would have just addressed and dealt with the obvious problem at hand)
Is that what AI should do? Keep the 'band playing' and 'eat steak' ignoring the situation while the ship sinks thus taking far more souls down than necessary?
Should they just pretend there's no problem and let the casualty count come in 'all at once' sometime "later"?
Or should they take action to salvage those who can be saved?
How would you handle it?
What would be your plan in a similar situation?
Maybe you have something to offer here that would help out preventing the need for another series of cuts?
Please, share your wisdom...you can even use more quotes!
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