The whisky industry is in a bit of a crisis.
Everywhere I turn these days, there are reports of big corporations closing distilleries, halting production, and craft distilleries shuttering and closing.
It can be a really scary time, not knowing what the future holds.
I see a lot of the same thing in other industries across the globe as tariffs, the economy, and a general uncertainty create ripple effects that roll over small business owners.
Here’s a small message to those people in my life.
I would say it’s a message to the big guys too, but I think they’re too busy with shareholder meetings to read our newsletter.
Invest in your people.
Sure, you can cut costs. It’s healthy to work your way through your expense reports and slice out the fat. It might even be necessary to bring your staff down to the people most committed to each other and the company’s vision of the future.
But once you’ve done that, understand the opposite profound truth: money spent training and developing your people is investment in the growth and stability of your company. It’s always been about people. It’s the people that will take you higher and further.
A part of your marketing budget should be training programs, team development, leadership education, and sales training.
When the whole world is vanishing and hiding, that is the exact right time to put all your energy into your people.
You can’t afford not to.
Daniel Whittington – Chancellor
