In the 90s we all thought we could take over the world.
In the 90s we all thought we could take over the world.
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Furbo

Original Poster:

1,533 posts

48 months

Yesterday (22:09)
quotequote all
Rory Sutherland, the fat guy from Ogilvy's, popped up on my YT short feed saying (paraphrased): In the 90s we all thought we could take over the world. Now, everyone feels like they can only survive by doing the core business as efficiently as possible.

I feel the same way. I don't see unlimited possibilities anymore. I feel like our business needs to pull in its horns and just be efficient. Not try to be ambitious. Just survive.

For me, it is a gut feeling rather than a response to particular economic conditions.

Anyone else feel the same or the opposite and care to articulate why?


LuckyThirteen

821 posts

35 months

I agree.

It's a general lack of stability and optimism
I could probably write a lot.

However, working in the property market the last 2 decades....

Up to 2006, Boom
07-10 massive bust
5 years of stability
5 years declining market (after Brexit vote announced)
Then COVID. Shutdown, @9 weeks.
2020-22 Then Boom. 2 years of mania
2022-2025 bust once more. market dead

That above is tiring!

Add on to that being hammered by rising costs. Many many years of min wage going up way over inflation. While the dividends have been taxed higher against inflation.

Many many many other costs rising too.

Where I am, the decent business suck all this up, while many competitors can still ignore all sorts of operational, employment, Tax, and road transport rules. And never get caught.

Which, Ok, that's same as it ever was. But when it's against the current backdrop. It's demoralising.

Then, there's other things that would take the thread off topic. However they remain just as broken now as thirty years ago.

Furbo

Original Poster:

1,533 posts

48 months

LuckyThirteen said:
I agree.

It's a general lack of stability and optimism
I could probably write a lot.

However, working in the property market the last 2 decades....

Up to 2006, Boom
07-10 massive bust
5 years of stability
5 years declining market (after Brexit vote announced)
Then COVID. Shutdown, @9 weeks.
2020-22 Then Boom. 2 years of mania
2022-2025 bust once more. market dead

That above is tiring!

Add on to that being hammered by rising costs. Many many years of min wage going up way over inflation. While the dividends have been taxed higher against inflation.

Many many many other costs rising too.

Where I am, the decent business suck all this up, while many competitors can still ignore all sorts of operational, employment, Tax, and road transport rules. And never get caught.

Which, Ok, that's same as it ever was. But when it's against the current backdrop. It's demoralising.

Then, there's other things that would take the thread off topic. However they remain just as broken now as thirty years ago.
What do you do in the property market?

Eric Mc

123,985 posts

281 months

It was called "arrogance" and has now been succeeded by the (totally predictable) "hubris".