Sunday, February 5, 2012

Weekend Update

Well fellow spineophiles, it has become quite evident that for all of you shooting poison arrows at our hearts, no one, not one single commentator has sent us a post in the last 36 hours.  Could it be that all those pundits that criticize and mortalize this blog really don't have the literary skills that they profess? Easier said than done, huh? Who are the contenders versus the pretenders for 2012? What is endearing your customers hearts to you?  Biologics? Another pedicle screw? Another ISP plate? Another POD model?  Another POC?  Is it the money?  Is there a company out there that has the vision to combine staying power, meaning capital requirements, IP, and business model that makes small but incremental advances to overthrow the Big 4 or 5?  TSB thinks so.  Someone out there really understands that the days of 20% growth are somewhere over the distant horizon unless the accounting rules change. The world forever changed in 2008, and we may never pass that way again. There must be a company out there that understands long-term strategic thinking that is critical to executing ones objective whether it is building their company eventually taking it public, or flipping it to one of the Big Boys. No fellow purple people eaters, it's not you, so calm down. Why the rush?  Let's be honest, short-term thinking nearly brought the U.S. economy to its knees. Maybe short-term thinking is the primary reason the United States is no longer considered a market leader? And please before you start blaming the government, look at your own companies. It takes a solid linear thinker or thinkers to succeed.  It takes PATIENCE.  Ever wonder why some of the oracles in the industry continue to churn and burn through personnel and capital?  They are trying too hard to effect success. Results entail a process, something many people fail to place a premium on.You could espouse all the wonderful cliche's about management and teamwork, but it takes continuity and execution in order to effect change. Is your company reactive or proactive? Ever work for a company that changes its personnel and or business plan every year to two years? TSB bets many of you have either had that experience or have the name of those people at the tip of your tongue. The problem in spine is that it's not the banking/investment industry, there is no Big Brother, aka the Federal Reserve to provide a quantitative easing to some of the smaller companies. There are no CDO's or CDS unless you consider POD's as our contribution to the decay.  Over the last few months many of you have attended your NSM's and the question that the market needs to know, is whether or not you have anything that is going to differentiate you and the next guy?

You could read all the motivational books you want and take those anecdotal quips and deliver them to your sales team, but if you do not have the fire power (product) to sustain market share and incrementally grow your business, sooner rather than later, your customers and market forces will expose your deficiencies.  Is your company providing you with the necessary tools to get the job done?  Does your company really have a grasp of its clinical and financial trends?  Are they planning to make adjustments, hell, are you planning on making adjustments?  Considering that we work in a dynamic and less than loyal industry, TSB cannot blame a distributor or direct sales person for carrying multiple products, can you? There is no loyalty, there are only expectations and sometimes one has to take a step back and ponder whether some people are living in a bubble? So as most of you get ready for what will probably be a highly contested and entertaining Super Bowl, take the time to enjoy the agony and the ecstasy of the moment but remember that paying attention to detail (as painful as that is for some), process and a lot of luck will get you to the Big Easy.  TSB predicts that the winners for 2012 will be......................................?


24 comments:

  1. Please see my prior post under "A Call to Arms",,

    TSB, I do believe this blog has officially "jumped the shark". Just the true reality of an industry that is truly stale at this juncture.

    Thanks for being there when there was content to discuss, but those days seem to be gone for now.

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    Replies
    1. I have to agree. Much like Robin's Spine awards, you both need to expand to all ortho to keep things interesting.

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  2. TSB, I used to read this blog in order to gain info regarding new products or competitive info. It has turned out to be a bed of immature, crass comments from what I hope is a minority of readers. There are true professionals left in this side of the industry. It insults all of us when we read the reponses of those who enjoy bashing others.

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  3. As TSB loves to quote lyrics,, Perhaps these lyrics are most fitting:

    "Turn out the lights the party's over they say that all good things must end
    Let's call it a night the party's over and tomorrow starts the same old thing again

    What a crazy crazy party never seen so many people
    Laughin' dancin' look at you you're havin' fun
    But look at me I'm almost cryin' but that don't keep your love from dyin'
    Misery cause for me the party's over

    Turn out the lights...

    Once I had a love undyin' I didn't keep it, wasn't tryin'
    Life for me was just one party and then another
    Broke her heart so many times had to have my party wine
    But one night she said sweetheart the party's over

    Turn out the lights..."

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  4. Take heart TSB - your previous blog just proves it is so much easier to edit than to create. Keep up the good, and difficult job of keeping readers informed as to the real state of spine.

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  5. LDR and SpineArt. Both have sterile implants and innovative products.

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  6. Paradigm spine... Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhah. Purple!

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  7. Spartan vertebral augmentation wins innovation challenge

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  8. K2M will continue to grow through organic growth driven by solid products and an executive board that understands long term planning. K2M treats it's business plan and our industry like its a marathon. Leave all the PODs and nepotistic companies to treat our industry as a sprint.

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  9. K2m sells to POD's... Idiot!

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    1. K2M does not participate in and/or support PODs. If you would like to see how true this statement is, publish your name and contact info so K2M can sue you for slander.

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    2. this is a blog, not a newpaper, people will write thoughts and ideas, no slandering is going on, nor can anyone sue for slander . Free Speech

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    3. Yes this is a blog and not a newspaper. The point was that K2M's ethics are above selling to POD's and therefore had this been a different venue or forum the ability to sue for slander would be appropriate. The emphasis is that in no way shape or form does K2M condone or participate in the sale or support of POD's. Now since this is a blog I would like exercise my right of anonymity and expresion. You sir are a douche bag.

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  10. Agreed, K2M continues to surprise and surpass expectations for me. The management, BSA all seem to be strategic enough to weather the ups and downs but keep moving forward. I guess when you start with a focus on deformity/complex spine, it flows from there. Fingers crossed they keep on the "right" path, PODs are the biggest red herring in the industry right now, detracting from where the real focus needs to be. But what do I know, I'm just a lowly rep trying to provide a good service for my customers....

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  11. tsb was once an outstanding blog and i am convinced that the post i am reading are from a new director at tsb. if so just admit there has been a passing of the torch. tsb is less than mediocre and have noticed the change since the first of they year.

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    1. I totally agree. The changing of the guard is obvious, disappointing, and truly unfortunate. R.I.P., TSB.

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  12. K2M is getting new talent everyday to complete its new sales management direction for the better.

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