This morning I came across an article by a top retail business executive who had gotten involved in amateur sports organizing. His comments would seem to mirror the state of pool in America.
?lost its way because of lack of strategy, organization, and execution?
?inbred club of [pool] types who either don?t want outsiders involved or don?t know how to enroll such people?
?found [pool] to be long on passion, short on vision, and adversarial in its dealings?
?[pool] has failed to win its fair share of mind or wallet, and to do so is critical to its success?
?Business is a collaboration of people and skills to achieve a common objective that is measurable and articulated to all. Essentially, business is a horizontal endeavour with each unit in a company moving in lockstep to achieve a common goal?
?[Pool] is a vertical endeavour with every sport, every event, and every participant focused on narrow self-interest at the expense of the greater good. This hinders [pool?s] ability to be seen as more than its component parts and capture the imagination of the population and the private and public sectors.?
?A business strives to deliver products and services to a defined customer segment. Ask 10 people to define [pool] and you will likeslyt get 11 different answers. [Pool} must, in unison, de-confuse its various publics about the significant differences between recreational and high-performance [pool]. Amateur [pool?s] three customer segments ? the public, government, and the private sector ? will potentially support both if customer expectations and needs are met in each. Failing to segment the two has worked against [pool]. Each is a noble cause, but each provides different benefits that need to be defined. Know what you are selling and to whom. Selling the benefits of improved metal counts to a customer focused on community involvement is as bad as selling the benefits of youth participation to a customer focused on high performance.?
?[Pool] is all vertical with no organization or process to manage the totality. The lack of a horizontal perspective is the single largest detriment to reaching the next level. Regrettably, the biggest losers are the [pool players]. To achieve their potential, [pool players] need a seamless support system.?
?[Pool is hindered by the sheer number of [pool] organizations. [Pool} leaders must find common ground, do away with duplication, re-allocate resources to the product and product development, create a strategy for the [pool] enterprise, and create a vision?.
?I encourage [enlisting] non-pool expertise, perspectives and skills.?
?If [pool] is to thrive and grow, take a lesson from the business community. Consolidate and collaborate. Reach out to leaders with proven track records. The experise is within reach ? utilize it and everyone will benefit?
?lost its way because of lack of strategy, organization, and execution?
?inbred club of [pool] types who either don?t want outsiders involved or don?t know how to enroll such people?
?found [pool] to be long on passion, short on vision, and adversarial in its dealings?
?[pool] has failed to win its fair share of mind or wallet, and to do so is critical to its success?
?Business is a collaboration of people and skills to achieve a common objective that is measurable and articulated to all. Essentially, business is a horizontal endeavour with each unit in a company moving in lockstep to achieve a common goal?
?[Pool] is a vertical endeavour with every sport, every event, and every participant focused on narrow self-interest at the expense of the greater good. This hinders [pool?s] ability to be seen as more than its component parts and capture the imagination of the population and the private and public sectors.?
?A business strives to deliver products and services to a defined customer segment. Ask 10 people to define [pool] and you will likeslyt get 11 different answers. [Pool} must, in unison, de-confuse its various publics about the significant differences between recreational and high-performance [pool]. Amateur [pool?s] three customer segments ? the public, government, and the private sector ? will potentially support both if customer expectations and needs are met in each. Failing to segment the two has worked against [pool]. Each is a noble cause, but each provides different benefits that need to be defined. Know what you are selling and to whom. Selling the benefits of improved metal counts to a customer focused on community involvement is as bad as selling the benefits of youth participation to a customer focused on high performance.?
?[Pool] is all vertical with no organization or process to manage the totality. The lack of a horizontal perspective is the single largest detriment to reaching the next level. Regrettably, the biggest losers are the [pool players]. To achieve their potential, [pool players] need a seamless support system.?
?[Pool is hindered by the sheer number of [pool] organizations. [Pool} leaders must find common ground, do away with duplication, re-allocate resources to the product and product development, create a strategy for the [pool] enterprise, and create a vision?.
?I encourage [enlisting] non-pool expertise, perspectives and skills.?
?If [pool] is to thrive and grow, take a lesson from the business community. Consolidate and collaborate. Reach out to leaders with proven track records. The experise is within reach ? utilize it and everyone will benefit?
