My beloved Aston Villa is to be relegated from the Premier League.
Villa’s steady decline over the last five seasons has been a sorry tale of bad decision making, poor leadership, and a singular lack of vision that goes right to the very top of the club.
Our American billionaire chairman has proved to be a shrinking violet in the face of challenging times rather than the inspirational leader that galvanises and energises through thick and thin.
In every business, organisation or team the leader is responsible. Responsible for success and failure. Black and white. No question.
If you are a business owner or leader of a team then the performance of that business or team is your responsibility. So take it.
Fail to do so and, like the Villa, you could find the trap door opening below you.
According to many commentators, for the last 25 years or so the travel agent has been dying. And many agencies have indeed failed to stand the test of time. In the early 1990’s there were 7,000 odd travel agent offices trading. In 2015 that number is more like 4,000.
On the surface, it’s depressing. Many of those agents that have disappeared have only themselves to blame. Their leaders lacked vision. They did not recognise a changing market place. They did not adapt. They did not take responsibility.
Scratch a little deeper however, and there is so much to be positive about for travel retailers in the UK.