"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" says a
famous adage and making mistakes is an accepted part of any worthwhile
undertaking. We shouldn't expect to get everything right first time,
particularly when breaking new ground, like in a major renewal project.
Creating an environment in which traders are encouraged to make
worthwhile contributions is a major emphasis for this renewal campaign.
Consultation and engagement opportunities have never been more prolific for
traders. Perhaps the biggest mistake we can make is seeing opportunities for
improvement but doing nothing about them. Passive mistakes are worse than
active mistakes. Active mistakes can be corrected. Passive mistakes just slip
into the depths to later re-surface and inhibit progress.
Thorough analysis of new ideas is an essential part of any major
project and criticism is inevitable. But offering criticism without offering
positive solutions, or at least contributing to the discussion, is cheap. Let's
be honest, we have plenty of traders who are willing to criticise or denigrate
efforts at improvement. The real challenge is to make contributions and offer
solutions. Not throw away lines like "Just bring back the customers we
used to have" but a real assessment of the incredible changes in retailing
and how a public retail market might prosper in the future.
Will there be mistakes? Of course there will. But this is a great
opportunity to influence our future and correct any mistakes we might make
along the way.
"People who don't take risks generally make about two big
mistakes a year. People who do take risks generally make about two big mistakes
a year." - Peter Drucker