Avoid seven deadly words

At some time or other, you’ve undoubtedly heard about the seven deadly sins. But do you know about the seven deadly words?In case you haven’t heard of them, here they are: “We’ve never done it that way before.”

This seemingly innocuous sentence has the potential to not only stop you dead in your tracks, but also can impede your vision to the point that you may no longer be able to see the goals and objectives you’ve set for yourself.

And let’s face it: It’s virtually impossible to hit a target you can’t see.

So, as we head into a new year with a clean slate, let’s make it a point not to include the seven deadly words in any of our game plans.

Granted, we are an industry that is facing major challenges. But we also happen to be an industry populated by scores of creative, innovative thinkers who will find ways to not merely survive, but to grow in this upside-down environment.

Lastly, we are not alone. I recently read a New York Times interview with Gregory Wasson, the president of drug store chain Walgreen’s, that helped put our challenges in perspective.

While it’s easy to see why consumers might be reluctant to spend money on furniture in this economy, one would think that when it came to their health, the story would be much different.

Not so, according to Wasson, who told the Times that the economy has caused sales of prescription drugs to drop at Walgreen’s. He added that he said he suspects that some consumers are even skipping doses of their medications to save money.

Another of Wasson’s observations may resonate with traditional furniture retailers. Not that long ago, his competition for prescriptions was other drug stores. Today, it’s anybody that fills a prescription, and that can be retailers, mail-order companies or Internet pharmacies.

To stay in the game, Wasson spearheaded a number of out-of-the box strategies, including creating a network of more than 600 in-store health clinics.

Wasson has a plan for 2009 and is working it. Are you?