The Pause That Refreshes

Many of us may know the famous Coca-Cola line a few decades back ..."the pause that refreshes". While this is still very much rich strategic territory for Coke today, the term I believe applies to how all businesses should be looking at the downturn in the past few years.

I have said in past blogs that this slowdown will be viewed by smart business leaders as a time to retool and strengthen not only product portfolios but corporate and brand positions as well. For those readers who enjoy a life line to the oil patch, you may find the attached video clip from McKinsey and Schlumberger's CEO Andrew Gold worth the three minutes it takes to view it. (The entire 6 clips take about 30 minutes if you are interested.)

Mr Gold's line of "This pause gives you an opportunity to get places where you think you've lost it or you don't have distinguished products and services.", proves that even the traditional oil field service industry need to look at business and reposition itself for the environment of the day.

Enjoy the clip.


http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/McKinsey_conversations_with_global_leaders_Andrew_Gould_of_Schlumberger_2572?pagenum=1#interactive