Upon leaving towards Hong Kong, I felt al lot of uncertainty surrounding me in the diamond trade. To say that most exhibitors went to this show with relatively low expectations is an understatement. I’d like to share some thoughts that crossed my mind, and I jotted down, during the long flight to Hong there

“As far as the laws of mathematics refer to reality, they are not certain; and as far as they are certain, they do not refer to reality.”

The quote above was expressed by Albert Einstein, when he addressed the Prussian Academy of Science in 1921.

At the heart of the traditional approach to business strategy lies the assumption that you can predict the future of your business accurately enough to choose a clear strategic direction for it. In reality this process often involves underestimating uncertainty in order to lay out a quite precise vision of future events. When the recent past has been more volatile than we had been used to, this approach is at best marginally helpful and at worst downright dangerous: underestimating uncertainty can lead to decisions that neither defend a company against the threats nor take advantage of the opportunities that higher levels of uncertainty provide.

That’s quite a dilemma. How do you determine your financial level of commitment, as expressed in purchasing and stock levels, under such circumstances?

Customer intimacy

My approach to business has always been based on customer intimacy. Through the years Diamond Dreams has focused on offering a unique range of customer products and services specifically tailored to meet differing customer needs. This mode suits my character best. I’m genuinely interested in doing the very best I can to create win-win relationships with my clients. I talk to them, listen carefully and proceed in such a way that I expect both my client and Diamond Dreams to be happy with the outcome. My generally good mood and openness of mind have served me well in applying this method and enjoying myself while dealing with clients’ needs.

Hong Kong results

This year the Hong Kong show was not that different for me than in previous years. I enjoyed the company of my great network of Asian customers and met some new promising clients. All in all, I’m not complaining about the event. Expectations were low at the start but demand and sales exceeded these quite strongly.

Returning briefly to strategy, predictions and expectations about the future, one final thought.  Would you really like to know your future? If your answer is yes, think again. Not knowing is the greatest life motivator. So enjoy, endure, deal with each moment as it comes to you in its proper sequence — a surprise.