A good friend of mine sent me the following scan of an SZ graphics. The source is Hoppenstedt and Henokiens.
To me, the list looks rather interesting. They are among the German “Top 10″ when it comes to the oldest enterprises, with the exception of breweries. Seeing this, you could easily conclude that an enterprise can only exist extremely long if they produce and/or offer a sensible and really continuously sought-after product.
So here is what the entrepreneur can learn from this:
First and foremost, you have to determine your own personal success criteria, along with those for your enterprise. If “longevity” is a central issue, then the entrepreneur should, first and foremost, see to it that his enterprise offers a product to the market that will always be in demand.
And as I see it, this is all but easy. So here comes the negative (and on purpose cynical) conclusion: since most enterprises throw things onto the market that basically nobody needs and that will – in a constantly changing world – quickly be nothing but ballast, it does not make sense for most enterprises to think in terms of sustainability and longevity.
In reverse, that means:
Maximize your profit in the here and now! Suck the enterprise dry as long as you possibly can.
And that is exactly how it is often done. Vivat the throw-away mentality (not just for enterprises).
RMD
(Translated by EG)
P.S.
For comparisons, just click on the image.
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