p46 jenny dec5 1/12/08 14:57 Page 46
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Jenny Ley-Meek “Sitting there with
fingers crossed that we’ll all be OK
when January arrives is not the way
to go about running a business”
C
hristmas is coming; the goose is Speaking to my clients, I’m not so sure
getting fat; please put a penny in it’s as hopeless as the doommongers
the old man’s hat!” Or should that suggest, as they believe they are simply
be: “Please put a penny in the working too hard to forego the reward that
travel agent’s hat?” is their annual holiday.
I’m sure it’s a sentiment a lot of But the last year has also taught
us could relate to at the moment. me a lot about running a business
As if proof were needed, I’ve and I would agree that sitting
even heard reports that some there with fingers crossed
homeworkers are being told by that we’ll all be OK
their companies to find second when January
jobs up to Christmas because arrives is not the
the demand is not there. way to go about it.
As I write my final column Christmas is a time
before Christmas, there is no for planning: planning
denying that things are really which gifts to buy, what to
tough. Casting my mind back, it’s eat, and whether to invite
incredible how times have changed the in-laws.
over the last 12 months. So while we’re at it, we should
This time last year my company, Superior also be planning for the new year.
Travel, had only been running for five So my message to all agents is not to
months but our agents were celebrating mope around saying “I want to be busy in
some of the biggest commission-filled pay January”.
packets for many a winter month. Instead, make tactical decisions to
A year on and nobody wants to compare make sure you will be. Don’t leave it until
last year’s wage slips with the ones they’ve next year, because if you plan well now,
just opened. you’ll be too busy to think about it!
We’ve had a year of failures, culminating
in the one that hurt most, XL Leisure
Group, not just because of the consequences
for the industry, but also for some of my
best friends who worked for Freedom
Flights, Kosmar and XL Holidays.
So will January hold the answers to our
prayers and herald a better year in 2009?
Not according to some, who suggest
independent companies hanging on Jenny Ley-Meek works for homeworking
for January are fooling themselves. company Superior Travel
46 05.12.2008
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