[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Aesop Fables or Aesopica is a collection of fables credited to Aesop, a storyteller believed to have lived in ancient Greece between 620 and 564 BCE. A favorite of mine is the story of The Grasshopper and The Ant. If you do not recall, the premise of the fable is that the Grasshopper is enjoying the summer day, hopping, chirping and singing away when the Ant passes by, working away, storing food. The Grasshopper asks the Ant why it is working so hard when everything is so easy, foods plentiful, and states that the Ant should be enjoying the sunshine. The Ant replies that he is planning for the winter, by continuing to work when everything was going well. Of course, winter comes and the Ant is well prepared while the Grasshopper is out in the cold, starving. The moral of the story is:
When times are good it is always best to prepare for the days of necessity
How does this relate to business? If you recall, a few short years ago, the economy was down, the market crashed, and many businesses went under. During this time, here at the SBDC, we were inundated with clients wanting help with marketing, strategic planning, financials, sales, etc. Times were hard, people were scrambling to make ends meet and those businesses that had not planned, or utilized our services, often did not survive the downturn.
Now, look at the present…the economy is improving, consumer’s disposable income has increased, and businesses are once again busy building, selling, and doing what they do. It’s the summer time and life is easy! How does this relate to the Aesop’s fable?
The savvy Ant businesses are meeting the demands of their customers, but also continuing to plan for the future. They are taking time out of their busy schedules to strategize, plan and prepare for the days of necessity, and they are utilizing The University of Georgia Small Business Development Center to do so. You may be surprised to know that many of the most successful businesses in your area, and around the state, have taken advantage of our no-cost consulting and low-cost programs, such as the SBDC’s upcoming GrowSMART program.
So, I ask you again, are you a Grasshopper or an Ant?
Contact your local UGA Small Business Development Center to schedule a session with a business consultant or attend one of our upcoming training programs. The UGA SBDC offers no-cost, confidential consulting services and low cost educational resources to help you transform your business![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][media image=”4772″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]Laura Katz, MBA, is the Area Director of the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center in Athens and specializes in marketing and business development. Ms. Katz can be contacted at: 706.542.7436 or [email protected].[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
