Managing when times are tough / Theo J. van Dijk.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Let's cry a little, kick the fat cat, and get on with it -- A reality check is long overdue -- What has to be relearned -- Focus on the basics and what can be controlled -- There must be opportunities out there -- No time to waste.

"Sales are falling. Maybe it's because of a general recession, maybe because of bad decisions, neglect, changing tastes, poor cash flow, or anyone of a hundred other circumstances. You know that when the going gets tough, the tough get going. But how do you translate that wisdom into management skills that will preserve - and even enhance - your business?" "Theo van Dijk has spent a lifetime getting companies out of difficulties. In Managing When Times Are Tough he shares his expertise, offering practical advice on honing management skills and employing simple techniques that are highly effective in helping companies weather nearly any storm. Urging managers to rediscover that business is a team sport, he argues that the key to success in tough times is to ignore the "big gloom-and-doom picture" and concentrate on the issues a manager can and must control." "In a text interspersed with anecdotes from his own experiences, van Dijk teaches managers and business owners how to concentrate on real cash flow, emphasize product differentiation, implement marketing tools without adding expense, and practice the technique of "inverse marketing." Stressing that management requires personal commitment and great attention to detail, he demonstrates a "lean and mean" approach, enforcing practical skills that will work now - and prepare the team for the opportunities to come."--BOOK JACKET.