Tariffs are rising. Prices are unpredictable. Cash is tighter than ever.
So how do you plan for growth when everything feels uncertain?
With new tariffs creating fresh economic anxiety, many business owners are on edge. But this won’t be the last disruption we face. Whether it’s inflation, supply chain shocks, or political unrest — uncertainty is the norm, not the exception.
The key isn’t to resist the storm — it’s to bend like a reed, not break like an oak.
Right now, you’re probably wondering how tariffs will affect demand. But this is classic economics:
• When uncertainty rises, demand shifts left — people hesitate.
• When costs go up, supply shifts left — fewer goods, higher prices.
Tariffs do both. So what do you do?
The answer depends on your industry and business model. Not every company will be impacted the same way. Some will even grow stronger. In Stoic philosophy, this is called the reserve clause — knowing your plan might get flipped, and turning obstacles into opportunities instead of excuses.
🟢 A Real Example: Starbucks
In the early 2000s, Starbucks was booming — opening six stores a day with a soaring stock price. But by 2007, they’d lost their way. The original vision — a premium, personalized coffee experience inspired by Howard Schultz’s Milan trip in 1983 — gave way to scale-at-all-costs expansion.
When the 2008 recession hit, the cracks were obvious. Starbucks had become a $4-a-day luxury with a poor experience. Sales dropped. Stock fell 50%. The brand was floundering.
Then Howard Schultz came back as CEO after leaving the company in 2000.
He realized the problem wasn’t external — it was internal. The customer experience had been commoditized. The operations had lost their soul.
Here’s what he did:
• Shut down 900 underperforming stores
• Closed all stores temporarily to retrain staff
• Launched a customer feedback loop
• Rebuilt internal systems to prioritize forecasting clarity and experience metrics like:
• Same-store sales
• Customer satisfaction
• Employee retention
• Local economic signals
In short: they stopped chasing growth and built a business that could bend, not break.
The result? Starbucks doubled its stock price and came out stronger.
🔧 What About Your Business?
Most companies rely on three core engines:
• Sales/Marketing – drive demand
• Operations – deliver product/service
• Finance/HR – maintain clarity, guide decisions
During chaos, you don’t just “ride it out.” You adjust operations to drive demand, or you double down on marketing. Either way, the answer lies in the data.
Without it? You’re just guessing in the dark.
A strong Finance/HR function gives you the tools to turn messy problems into 5-minute decisions. So the real question is:
Are you making your problems 5-minute ones — or letting them spiral for months?
With tariffs, expect higher prices. But what happens next?
• A short dip followed by recovery?
• A long recession?
• Business as usual?
You can’t control the economy. But you can know your numbers. You can know where the leaks are. And you can position yourself to grow while others are retreating.
If you’ve got a 2-year war chest — this might be your moment to tighten operations while competitors chase clients.
If marketing is your bottleneck — it’s time to rethink your offer.
Either way, your vision and your data will show you the path forward.
🧭 Want help bulletproofing your business?
Join me Thursday at 11am CST for a free live session:
“How Small Businesses Can Survive Uncertainty and Grow Anyway”
