Success Is Built Daily, not During Times of Crisis
February 22, 2012 As you read through the dozens of articles you will find in the subsequent pages of the 2012 Cotton International Annual, you will find a common theme that runs through many of them. Each is delivered by a recognized thought leader and industry veteran, and their message contains good news as well as some challenges.
The good news is … Despite the volatility we’ve seen over the last few years, you can succeed, no matter what link of the supply chain you belong to. You don’t need massive amounts of capital or an enormous workforce. You need better relationships, communication, and trust in the people you rely on. Closer contact, better planning, and an honest concern for the success of others are the keys to success, despite the radically unstable marketplace. Discuss ideas with partners you rely on, and those who rely on you.
The challenge is … You can’t just do it once in a while, or when problems arise. Cooperation, communication, and concern for the welfare of others must be an integral part of your daily operations. You can’t wait until a crisis takes place.
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Consider the wealth of advice you’ll find in this publication, and in 2012, let’s all strive daily to ensure we aren’t that weak link.
Set Your Sights on Excellence, not Survival
Our industry has been around for thousands of years, and although it sometimes seems like the current market volatility and other challenges are overwhelming enough to bring cotton down, they won’t. Cotton cultivation, production and consumption will change, to be sure, but cotton will remain a fiber with many inherent advantages. The number and size of global merchants, mills and growers will change by region but they will remain vibrant sectors around the world.
I know that settling for the status quo isn’t good enough for you, and you can rest assured that accepting mediocrity will never be good enough for the industry’s true leaders around the globe – beginning with the dozens of authors who contributed articles to this year’s Annual. As acknowledged leaders both in their own countries and in the international market, they have myriad responsibilities, face tremendous pressures on their businesses, and work tirelessly to advance not just their own companies, but the cotton industry as a whole.
Yet they all put forth the additional time and effort needed to compile and explain their thoughts and insights about cotton’s future, and they didn’t do it for their own benefit – they did it for ours. They did it because they believe in the value of natural fiber, and because they know how many millions of people around the world depend on the cotton supply chain for their very survival.
That’s the definition of leadership, in my eyes. When challenges present themselves, some people step back – but others step up, accepting the mantle of responsibility to do what needs to be done.
Cotton International is grateful to the 2012 Annual authors and their fellow leaders in each region, who have shown once again why they are so highly regarded across the globe.
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