A Normal Business

The world is full of normal businesses. Ones that you don’t hear about. Businesses that plan, recruit and do their work thoughtfully. Businesses that work on the basis that if you do the right things consistently for long enough, you get the right results. You never hear about them because the media, and users of social media, tend to be interested in spectacular failure or incredible success.

Since January, I’ve watched Everton take this path, to the disappointment of many. Got rid of the underperforming manager, recruited one who knows the club, knows how to build teams and clubs, even when they move to a new stadium. One who is, frankly, a bit steady and unspectacular. Dismantled the hierarchy, bringing in the people they want when they become available, rather than who’s available right now.

Even with transfers, waiting for the right person at the right price, because as good business people (and punters!) know, you spend your money when there’s value, or you negotiate till you create it. You might miss out on a few things, you’ll get the odd one wrong, but in the long run, you’ll be better off. Whatever happens with Dibling, it is significant that it was Southampton who dropped the price after we walked away, just like Moshiri changed his tune when TFG walked off first time round.

Everybody wants a well-run club, until they get one, and realise that it’s about mixing hard work, hard negotiation and patience. It’s remarkably unsexy. It sometimes seems like you’re doing ‘nothing’, because it’s all happening behind the scenes. I’ve worked for businesses that grew spectacularly quickly, looked invincible, until they crashed just as fast. It’s not so exciting when you see people lose their jobs because of ego and a lack of governance, just like it’s a horrible watch when your cub implodes to near-extinction because an oligarch’s mate thinks money solves everything and keeps woefully inadequate people in charge. That hard work and diligence really makes a difference and it shows.

We’re building foundations on rocky ground here. I’m not expecting to see much for a year or two, possibly a cup run. I’m looking for steady improvement, the kind that might see players and agents take us more seriously. No news about the finances, because they’re being run properly, to let us focus on the football. Little news about the directors, because they just quietly get on with the job of running the business. If we know we’ve been a basket case, what does the rest of the industry think? It’s going to take time to change perceptions. Look at the successful teams over the past few years. Solid structure and foundations first, then improving the business on and of the pitch. Look at those, not just us, who have taken the quick, ‘easy’ path.

I run a one-person business. I’ve made quick decisions to ‘make something happen’ and regretted those costly lessons. These days I take my time and think longer term. I’m glad our new management takes this approach. It isn’t very spectacular, but I think it will work better in the long run. It’s what normal businesses do. So far so good for me.