Why It’s Better to Start Fresh.
by Gene Muchanski, Editor
The Dive Industry Professional
October 18, 2021

The Diving Industry is going through a paradigm shift.  A real one, this time.  A paradigm is a way we do things.  If we keep on doing the same things and get better and better results, then everything is fine, and the way it should be.  However, if we keep doing the same things and only getting the same results or worse, then we are not in a groove anymore, we are in a rut!  Many of the Diving Industry Advisors I have been speaking with lately, agree that the diving industry and many of its companies, are in a rut.  And it’s time we get out of this rut and make a change for the better.

With only a month before the industry’s annual trade event, there is talk about getting the band back together and making changes in the companies and organizations we have been dealing with in the past.  Some are saying, and rightfully so, that the diving industry is in trouble.  Something needs to be done to adapt to the new market realities, if scuba diving is to survive.  As much as I agree with these rock stars from another era, I have to say, after fighting this type of fight for over 40 years, I have learned that you can’t change the stripes on a Zebra.  They are going to continue to do what they do because of the structure of their organization, the people who are invested in its operation, the people that administrate its resource, the people that oversee that administration, and the agenda, goals, objectives, and desired outcomes of the organization.  We see it all the time.  They say they are going to do one thing and we buy into it.  Then we see them working on something totally different and what they said they were supposed to do, falls apart at the seams.  Here is the best part of this situation.  We are the ones with the check book, and we don’t have to buy into that anymore.  When I say “we” I mean every Dive Industry Professional who earns a part-time or full-time living in the industry.

It’s not for me to try to change a company that has no intention of changing.  Let the free market make that call.  If an organization is currently meeting the needs of their customers, they will do well and stay in business.  If they are not, then another organization will.  Successful companies vote with their dollars.  Let the voting begin.

Organizations that serve an industry’s needs must be transparent in their purpose for being in business.  A Mission Statement is not only a definition of who they are and what they do, it is a promise to the world that they will perform their mission to the best of their ability.  They must communicate what they do on behalf of their partners, members, and customers.  They must hire the right, qualified people to administrate the company resources to effectively complete the organization’s planned outcomes.  Organizations need to have a qualified Board of Advisors to see that their hired Administrators are doing the job they were hired for, and replace them if they fail in their task.

Here are my suggestions for working with individuals who are concerned about the scuba diving industry being in trouble. 

• Agree to help define what the needs of the industry are.
• Look at your own company’s Mission Statement.  Is your purpose for being in business clear?
• Look at your planned outcomes.  Do your current inputs help achieve them?
• Look at your organization.  Is it set up to accomplish your mission?
• Look at your people.  Are they on-board to achieve your mission?
• Look at your Advisors.  Are they qualified?  Do they support and enforce your mission?
• Look at your success history.  Are you achieving your goals and growing?
• Look at your scalable growth.  Do you have the right sized organization for your mission? 
• Look at your products & services.  Do they meet the needs of your customers?
• Look at new organizations in the industry.  Can networking with new organizations help build your company and make it more professional, productive, and profitable?  

For more information, contact Gene Muchanski at gene@diveindustry.net  Ask for a copy of our Member’s Guide and our Digital Trade Publication and Buyers Guide.