THE shifting sands of the business landscape mean it is more important than ever to be on the front foot, an entrepreneur coach says.
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Global speaker and business mentor Andrew Griffiths said businesses that stayed relevant to their audience would be in the best position to navigate the terrain.
Mr Griffiths said jobs and industries of the future were beyond our imagination.
“We used to worry about the competitor opening up next door; now it’s a global player,” he said.
“Airbnb doesn’t own any apartments and Uber doesn’t own a car.
“Uber is not a transport company, it’s an employment company.
“It was set up for people who want to work one hour a week or work 18 hours a week; it grew up in college towns to suck up under-employment. There are 170,000 Uber drivers in London.”
Mr Griffiths said a new state of mind had evolved an old business into the Uber industry.
“Every industry will be Uberised though; Uber will be Uberised,” he said.
Speaking ahead of his Albury event on Wednesday night, Mr Griffiths said businesses needed to focus on the near future.
He said he subscribed to Alvin Toffle’s theory: “The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn”.
“We’ve got to be so prepared to learn, unlearn and relearn,” he said.
“Not many people know Toyota started out making automated loom machines.
“It’s not all bad and it’s not all good.
“But it’s not an option to do nothing.”
Mr Griffiths also spoke on how to “Market the Market” to organisers of the weekly Rotary Community Market, which would soon relocate to its former Kiewa Street car park site.
He said the most successful markets in the world had a theme.
“The Queen Victoria market is renowned for the food while the Salamanca Market is known for its handmade Tasmanian produce,” he said.
“Story-telling about the stallholders and the produce is very important too.
“People are going back to markets because they want to meet the grower or the maker; it’s got to be a bit of an experience as well.”
Mr Griffiths will speak at Commercial Club Albury on Wednesday, 6pm to 7.30pm.
Peter Drummond Real Estate sponsored Mr Griffiths’ visit after hearing him speak in Albury in mid-August.
Bookings essential by the close of business Wednesday via Albury Northside Chamber of Commerce website business.alburynorthside.com.au/events/details/andrews-griffiths-is-back-306.
Half of all proceeds will be donated to Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre Trust Fund.
