Well here we are, just weeks into 2009. Like every new year, 2009 will bring forth highs, lows, both joy and tears. This annual turnover will also take each of us to new unveiled chapters in our everyday walks. Such it is with the life we all share. Of course attitude will play a role in one’s coping with the up’s and downs of this crazy world. Attitude, a mind-set, one’s approach or outlook on the circumstances at hand, or even deeper, into ones future. Seems it should be like a flip of the switch to bring light into a dark moment, or to overcome the “natural” reaction that society has bred up to believe we should act in a time of situational peril. Hmm…attitude, such a modest little word, but yet a word that can transport optimism from shear suckiness, a word that can fire up hope from actual hopelessness. Where attitude comes from is a mystery, some seem to be able to effortlessly breed it onto and into one’s fellow man, and most can truly feed off this unusual, uplifting breath of outwardly positive thoughts, feelings, and emotion. Now there also a few chosen that have that incurable case of Eeyore Syndrome, but the norm remains unknowingly eager to want more sunshine on those awful gloomy days.
2009 is indeed crashing the party with doom and gloom for many around the world, and maybe attitude is more important now than it has been for a while for those folks. Thus is the case for our little cottage knife industry. I assure you, the industry, our industry, is seriously feeling the party crashing of the year 2009. From retailers on up to manufacturing, 2009 has pounced from day one and even borrowed sorrow from its now older cohort 2008. I guarantee you it is not pretty on any cutlery front, and certainly there will be casualties as we progress through this awkward chapter of our reality. Maybe survival defines success these days, but make no mistake, it is leaner and scarier within the industry than I’ve seen in the last 25 years. I shudder to think of the industry tomorrow, but have faith that we will all adapt and be the over comer’s of these most challenging of times. We’ve gotten to a point where we are rooting for our fellow competitors success, as others can only follow the defeat of even just one. Trust me when I tell you, it’s that bad, and I’m unsure if the worst is behind us.
Running Kai USA’s Sales Dept. in these days has been quite testing, and I can’t say there are not sleepless nights, and those pesky gray hairs are revealing themselves with daily regularity. Mood swings have been fast and furious, and the demands of my surroundings have me on my heels. This is not to say that our business is not currently successful, but more to say that it is different than it was even up to just 6 months ago. I should in fact mention that 2008 was our most successful campaign in the company’s history. That momentum is precious to us as we march forward.
We recently had our annual sales/budget meeting, and expectations we’re not surprisingly lowered. What really floored me at the retreat was something that I least expected…my attitude was altered. With all of this sky is falling talk, one Mr. Jack Igarashi (Kai USA V.P. of N.A. Operations), a most talented business man and maybe even a better marathon runner, turned me, and my…my negative skepticism upside down with his incredible, inspiring, yes you guessed it, attitude. Jack sprung on me like unexpecting child, and disclosed a short term business plan that is formulated with 2 tiny ingredients, most important of which was, attitude. With all that said, Kai USA has implemented our 3 “C’s” mentality for 2009, and it has me (for lack of a better phrase) "jacked up" . Those encouraging 3 C’s formulate into the following: Change, Courage, and Challenge.
Change:
Helen Keller said, “To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable”. Uplifting words Ms. Keller.
Our outlook, work habits, efficiency will have change. The way we do business in general will change. Times have been drastically altered, so the way we conduct business has to be changed. To stay the course could be a virtual death sentence. Status quo is not in our equation. Some of our changes will affect you the consumer, some of it you may love, and other parts you may not, but the times have pushed us in a direction of change. Just as many of you have made alterations in your own lives, we to have to pursue what is best for our long term success. Folks don’t always like change, I certainly don’t, but necessary change is exciting and has consumed managements imagination with implementation of change. It’s almost a feeling of starting fresh, a, turning of the page if you will, and so a new chapter of Kai USA begins.
2009 is Kershaw’s 35th year in business, you should all know there is a change on the horizon.
Courage:
Dorothy Thompson was once quoted as saying, “Courage, it would seem, is nothing less than the power to overcome danger, misfortune, fear, injustice, while continuing to affirm inwardly that life with all its sorrows is good; that everything is meaningful even if in a sense beyond our understanding; and that there is always tomorrow”.
Kai USA fights for this kind of courage, and it is in fact our goal to attain it during these dangerous and unfortunate times. We will succeed, will overcome, and there will always be a tomorrow. The company will Dare each Day, and tomorrow will indeed come.
Challenge:
Mark Twain voiced that Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
I looked at this as each of us taking on our own personal challenges. We all have unique challenges every day, and every day we set out to confront them whether we want to or not. As a company, we want not to be disappointed or fearful, but more on the side of those who want to explore, dream, and discover the success and opportunity that lie directly ahead. We can do it, will do it, we won't be denied. As a company that is very goal oriented, we take this current challenge head on, ready and able.
Although the 3 C's lack the details you may be curious to hear, we felt it important thay you heard our general direction and attitude from here on forth.
We most certainly appreciate our customers support, and value them more than you know. Without you all we would not exist, and so ultimately you are our constant focus. From everyone at Kai USA we want to wish you a most blessed 2009 and shout out Thank You to our most celebrated customers.
Change, Courage, and Challenge, Kai USA can’t hardly wait to dive further into the new year
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