While I was at Graph Expo, quite a few people stopped me to comment that they had read my new book, “Renewing the Printing Industry.” They were pleased with it, and I was happy that they found it helpful in understanding the changes that the industry is undergoing. More importantly, these conversations reflected that they were stepping back and looking at their business and their opportunities in an optimistic and proactive manner. It is hard to find the best strategy for you company in a rather confusing time, but these folks are doing it.

As managers, the marketplace challenges us to act for the benefit of our companies while keeping in mind what is best for long-term positive relationships with our clients. What those actions should be can often be hard to discern. There are rarely singular choices, but rather, ranges of them.

Readers of this column, the newsletter, and this latest edition of the book know that even in difficult times we can create outcomes that exceed our expectations. This requires a firm grasp of the facts of the marketplace in order to create a solid jumping off point for decisive actions.