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Editor-in-Chief
Al Krulick
Associate Editor
Lorie Steiner
Director of Advertising
Lauren Blackwell
Research Directors
Paul Payne
Rohan Stewart
Brendan McElroy
Creative Director
Dana Long
Vice President of Business Development
Erin O’Donoghue
Vice President of Production
Aimy McGrew
Vice President of Publishing
Andre Barefield
CGO
Alexander Wynne-Jones
COO
Brian Andersen
Executive Publisher / CEO
Marcus VandenBrink
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Canada
Caribbean
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Email for all inquiries:
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Contact us
Corner View
Business Viewers!!!
If you never properly knew the definition
of what a Business Viewer was, well, it’s sim-
ple. It’s a very important person, of a superior
executive intellect, that happens to have
the best taste possible in choosing their pre-
ferred source for corporate Business to Busi-
ness executive news and information. And,
by the looks of it, that makes you, by default,
A Business Viewer! Congratulations!!!
Moving right along, as we come into an-
other edition of the Caribbean’s top choice
in business magazines (I really could go on
bragging all day…it’s fun…and easy!!! LOL…),
I’m reminded by looking around the region,
that some of us are not having the best of
economic times; as countries, as companies,
as divisions, as executives, as employees,
and also where it’s most impactful, as fami-
lies! I’ve been speaking with a few differ-
ent government administrations of a few
different countries, and they’re dealing with
adversity as every other person or entity
must –one day at a time. In discussing this
with them, and speaking with some of the
affected companies, I’ve learned a lot about
those signals that could allow one to sur-
mise if this is an administration, or company,
that is capable of finding its way through
the tunnel and back out into the sunshine
where it’s warm and beautiful, or if it’s just a
matter of time until doomsday. Based upon
that data, I’d like to share my findings.
Words cause attitudes, and attitudes
generate body and facial expressions. Even
over the phone, someone can tell which
facial expressions you’re making, based
on the words and tone of the words you’re
speaking. A couple of years ago, I spoke with
a company in Barbados that was encoun-
tering grave financial woes (I’ve resisted
revealing the name of the company for
professional reasons – I’m usually not that
professional, so this was a challenge), and
while speaking with him, through his words
and voice tone, I was able to easily detect
the lack of optimism and hope. I knew that
he was telling me, in so many words,“I don’t
think we’ll be around for very much longer!”
When I got off the phone, I marked a date
on my calendar to look him up again in just
eight months. I called him, perhaps a month
or two later than eight months, and learned
that they had just shut the doors the month
previous. I was not at all shocked. This was
a company with more than 150 employees,
and also a reputable institution.
Now, on the other hand, I just spoke with
the minister of a economically challenged
country (again, for professional reasons, I’ll
resist providing the name of the country
- it’s hard work being so professional), and
I couldn’t believe how enthusiastic and en-
ergized that government official was about
the immediate future. Through research, I
noticed that things couldn’t possibly look
as good as they were being portrayed. How-
ever, what I realized was that this person
understood that words and attitudes can be
infectious to those who hear and see them.
This generates confidence, and confidence
generates productivity, productivity gener-
ates revenues, and steady revenues generate
profits. This is how you run a country, a
company, a division, or a family. Speak with
encouraging optimism, and let that opti-
mism permeate throughout the halls, walls,
and yards over which you hold domain. It’s
easier said than done, but those who will
prevail will remember this one tip when all
else fails.
Until next time, plan, build, and continue
to prosper.
Andre Barefield
april / may 2017 Contents
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