Lean v. Fat

I had the most amazing conversation last night during an event with a friend and her husband. We were talking almost about everything until my friend's husband enquired about RedRibbon Days, and if I'm doing any marketing at all - as he only knew about it when my friend(the wife) told him about it. Quite honestly, I do not have an up to date marketing plan for RedRibbon Days. All our marketing was executed as we go along - and as a university graduate, I've done 1 subject on marketing - so I know the importance of a marketing plan. Right...Really ? Do we really need to have a marketing plan that we adhere to like a bible?

Back to the conversation I had with my friend and her husband - so, we went on to discuss about the market for "experience gift" in Malaysia, and he went on and mentioned that "RedRibbon Days is a great product - unfortunately, I think you do not have a very strong marketing strategy". I gulped - I had to agree. After being in this business for 3 years, finally, a very honest soul came to me and said that to my face. Was I offended? No. I was thankful.

As we chat into the night, I learnt more about my product - and he went on to give few very critical feedback. He quickly surfed through our website, and within seconds, he pointed out to me things that should be there but was not there - and things that shouldn't be there but was there.

I had to be honest on this. As a growing company, everything that we do is constantly in a "chop chop" pace. Quite simply, there is no room for too many pilot testing - and to gather feedback for everything that we do. Everything has to be done in-house, seeing that I'm rather fussy when it comes to designing work ; from the type of font use, to the very red that represents RedRibbon Days.

And then my friend went on to say "Lean is the way to go" - I had to pause for a second or so ; and I thought it was an answer to a question that has been disturbing me for the past one week. Lean is good. Lean is this context refers to "a small company but with very good,efficient people". It is better than a company that is big(fat), with many team members, but only a handful are top achievers/performers. I had to agree. I had rather have a small team of good, efficient people working with me, rather than a big team - that does nothing productive but give me problems. Of late, I've been very troubled by the fact that I had to let go of some staff. I hate letting people go, as I believe each of them has something unique in them that will do good for the business.

So, when my friend said that - like a light bulb lighting up a room, my question was instantly solved. I do not need a big team for now especially if they are a team of people who are not pulling their weight to meet the company's objective. I need a very lean team - not a fatty team that will cause health problems to the business down the road.

I had to asked myself last night before I slept - Did God/The Universe sent them my way to give me answers to all the questions that I've asked myself before?