It used to be called Plan B

We started discussing our Nuclear Option today. Every startup should have a good Nuclear Option. It used to be called a Plan B but in honor of our 109th U.S. congress we changed the name to the Nuclear Option.

Lately our sales and marketing efforts are just not paying off. Our new sales guy is starting tomorrow so we are hopeful, but our marketing department is in an absolute shambles and cash flow has slowed to a trickle. We are working on some high profile projects with decent receivables, but right now the cash just isn't there.

It is essential for our survival that we maintain a steady pipeline of new business. A typical sales cycle is three to six months so it's tough to have an immediate impact on cash flow. And a bad sales person (which we've had a bloody string of) can have a twelve month effect on the pipeline. To secure our future we need at least ten new leads and one quote every day. Every day, every week, every month.

Don't fret however, we're still positive. We have a great set of products that continue to get better. We have top-tier reference accounts and the best sales guy we've every seen starting tomorrow. If we can just eke out the next few months, we might just make it. After 15 years and four startups it's not in our nature to give up. So we press on, and on and on. And we're ready with the Nuclear Option. I'll keep you posted...