Knowledge is Power

Feeling swamped lately? Even with the lazy days of summer upon us, I think everyone is feeling a little overwhelmed by the sheer number of balls they have in the air. In many of my conversations with business people from across the nation and across industries, a similar theme has cropped up—they are (and have been for some time now) doing more with less, and they are getting tired.

While it sounds a little downtrodden at first, when I present the follow-up question “Do you think all the effort is paying off?” I have been met with a resounding “yes.” Is it tough out there? Heck yeah, but distributors and suppliers also are embracing this new era of print. They are staying nimble and finding exciting and fresh new revenue-building opportunities.

From iPads and social media to augmented reality codes and online marketing solutions, hip new technology is breathing life into the print industry and things are starting to heat up. There is an undeniable piece of pie for everyone—that is, if you are game. With this fact in mind, I have a couple of ideas that may be helpful in getting prepared.

First, get some rest. Yep, I said it, rest. Give yourself a breather, even if it is a short one. You will come back to the business feeling revived and happier to take on the multitude of tasks that stand before you.

Second, get up to speed. If you aren’t schooled on Facebook or LinkedIn, if you don’t know what an “app” is, better yet if you haven’t googled “augmented reality” (the next generation to the QR code), do it. Just do it. Find out what new technology is out there—all of it. While it may seem an overwhelming task, I can guarantee you will generate new business ideas and the notion that knowledge is power is certainly true here. This knowledge will give you a leg up in the new print world.