"How to lose your customers and ruin your business in a few shortsighted steps"<p>From making quick layoffs in a highly volatile economy to automating support inquiries during a time when customers more likely need personalized responses, I don't know if there's a single thing on this list that isn't the equivalent of shooting yourself in the foot.<p>> 10x your product.<p>And 1/10x your customer support! This is definitely the time people will buy the most expensive product with the least decent support.<p>> Turn fixed costs into variable costs.<p>So you can have more surprise bills!<p>But my favorite is:<p>> Be committed to building a high-performance culture. In a downturn, everyone must perform. This becomes non-negotiable.<p>Ah yes, the "work hard or else" mentality that will definitely help you keep your top talent during a tough time when significant parts of your workforce are likely to get sick and need flexibility.<p>Let me make a different recommendation:<p>This is a <i>volatile</i> time. Volatility works both directions, and it may mean both ups and downs. Focus on what differentiates you - and usually that means answering the phones when your customers call, having staff who can actually solve problems (eg, good talent who is happy to be working with you) and a real product that brings value.<p>Yes, there is value to being adaptable, and part of adaptability is letting go of non-value focused things. There are ways to do that without being a jerk to your employees and customers. Those who don't understand this are doomed to fail no matter what they do.