| The past few weeks have presented nothing but bad | | | | market realities, but they will have to be relentless in |
| news for the formerly world leading American | | | | the pursuit of economies, creativity and changing |
| automobile industry. Henry Ford must be rolling over in | | | | cumbersome bureaucratic business cultures.Change is |
| his tomb. Alfred Sloan, the architect of the multi-division | | | | short-term pain. Managers will be significantly fewer. |
| General Motors juggernaut, is a very sad "car guy" in | | | | Blue-collar workers will not earn $65,000 plus per year |
| the sky these days. Plant closings, huge employee | | | | for unskilled labor in new jobs. Communities will |
| layoffs, lost market share and horrid fiscal | | | | undergo brisk changes in tax revenues, real estate |
| performance indicate that the "big three" (including | | | | prices and shopping patterns. College plans will be |
| Daimler-Chrysler) are in big trouble. They must change, | | | | upset. Retirement dreams will be delayed, in some |
| and change is not pleasant for huge business | | | | cases destroyed. Parts suppliers will be pressed on |
| complexes, or for employees, suppliers or | | | | pricing. And yet, the future for all effected parties can, |
| customers.This brings to mind a change that occurred | | | | and should, be bright.Since the Luddites in the mid-19th |
| right before my eyes as a small boy growing up in | | | | century attempted to stop the industrial revolution and |
| Kentucky. Several times each week, a horse drawn | | | | preserve old-world work models, there have been |
| ice wagon would pull up in front of our little house and | | | | groups trying to thwart progress. Progress requires |
| deliver block ice. The iceman was named Herb. My | | | | change. Fortunately, looking in the rear view mirror is |
| mother would always pleasantly greet Herb and they | | | | not a widely admired American trait. The parties most |
| would exchange small talk, how about that the Reds | | | | effected by this sea change in the American auto |
| game last night or the nice weather we were enjoying. | | | | business have multiple opportunities to re-train, |
| Herb was a hard working and very nice man. And | | | | re-strategize, and start new businesses and services. |
| then, one day this regular ritual in our lives abruptly | | | | With normal American drive, work and creativity our |
| ended.My parents bought a refrigerator. The hand | | | | society will be blessed with a new generation of |
| delivered block ice that was essential to keep the old | | | | wealth creation, entrepreneurs and growth. It has |
| icebox cool was no longer needed. My mother was | | | | always been so.We live in a global market place. |
| very concerned about the effect our new wonder | | | | Nothing will change that. If foreign auto companies |
| appliance would have on Herb. She met him in the | | | | make better products at a better price we have to |
| yard and told him as gently as possible that his ice | | | | confront, and overcome, these market realities. |
| deliveries were no longer needed. Then she asked him | | | | Americans always have in the past, and there is no |
| if he would like some iced tea and to sit a minute.As | | | | reason not to foresee a bright, but different future, for |
| clearly as I remember anything in my youth, I | | | | every current participant involved in the radical |
| remember that conversation. Herb knew the inevitable | | | | restructuring of our formerly great auto business.The |
| march of progress and technology; in this case a 12 | | | | American economy is the most dynamic in history. |
| cubic foot Frigidaire, meant that he was soon to be | | | | Opportunity abounds and is available to every citizen |
| looking for another line of work. It was sad. He was | | | | willing to compete in the marketplace of ideas, work |
| very matter of fact and my mother tried to be | | | | hard and not look backwards. Ford, Chrysler and GM |
| encouraging. Over the next few months we saw Herb | | | | can survive and prosper. Nevertheless, understanding |
| in the neighborhood less and less. Within six months | | | | and preparing for change will separate the successful |
| the ice Company was out of business.Accept Change | | | | from the losers, or modern day Luddites.Geoff Ficke is |
| or Get Run OverLike the barrel industry, the bicycle | | | | President of Duquesa Marketing, Inc. an international |
| industry or dozens of other formerly thriving business | | | | consulting firm with over 35 years experience in |
| segments, the ice delivery service, and now the | | | | creating customized strategies and business plans, |
| American automobile industry was forced to change | | | | product development and funding opportunities for |
| business models. If change were not embraced, indeed | | | | entrepreneurs, inventors and small business expansion. |
| aggressively pursued, industry subsets would be | | | | Mr. Ficke is also a Senior Fellow at the Page Center |
| superceded by new upstarts and technologies. "The | | | | for Entrepreneurial Study at the Business School, Miami |
| Big Three" still have an opportunity to adjust to new | | | | University, Oxford, Ohio. |