Play Meter
Issue: 1979 January 15 - Vol 5 Num 1 - Page 4
The year 1979 is upon us , and I'm sure a lot of you are wondering what
it will be like . If I were a fortune teller, I would happily answer that question
for you . But as a journalist I feel it's best to leave the predictions to the
fortune tellers and the forecasts to the weathermen .
One thing you can be certain of in 1979, however , is that it will be
another difficult year as far as the nation 's economy is concerned . This
New Year will not be without its inflationary problems and spiraling costs .
In light of this situation , I thought it best not to bore you with speculations
but rather give you some advice for determining your own success in
1979.
"Prepare for the worst ; and, if it doesn 't happen , think how much better
off you'll be ." These words were spoken to me when I was a child , and
I've found that they still hold true today . To adequately prepare for the
future , you must set speCific goals for yourself. Setting goals and achieving
them is the key to personal and financial success .
When setting new goals , try to be as realistic as possible . If you set them
too high , you may become discouraged early and end by defeating your
own purpose . Conversely , if you set them too low, you end up cheating
yourself. If ~ou plan to increase your revenue this year . keep in mind that
you need to increase it by at least ten percent just to stay with the rise in
inflation . A goal of fifteen to twenty percent would certainly be more
realistic .
Once you have established your goals, the next step is to make a plan of
action . Note specifically how you intend to increase your revenue or cut
back on your costs . Start programs that are designed to meet the goals that
you set. At certain intervals throughout the year . evaluate your plans and
programs and gauge their effectiveness . Sound planning and regular
follow-ups are essential to achieving goals .
There are a number of ways in which you can improve your own profit
picture . Developing new locations. upgrading present ones. cutting back
on marginal locations . providing better service . better commission
arrangements . higher play prices , and careful of equipment purchases are
some areas . Start keeping more records . You should know what the
average pinball or phonograph on your route earns . likewise . you should
know what your average location earns. Once you know these figures , you
can aim to increase them and because you have them on record you can
accurately measure your success . These are just some of the goals that you
can set for yourself. There are indeed a great many more . but only you can
decide what areas you can improve on most. The main thing is to realize
that you cannot predict the future , but you can certainly prepare for it. So
don 't sit around wondering about the future . do something about it.
~~
----
Ralph C. Lally II
Editor and Publisher
PLAY METER, January, 1979
it will be like . If I were a fortune teller, I would happily answer that question
for you . But as a journalist I feel it's best to leave the predictions to the
fortune tellers and the forecasts to the weathermen .
One thing you can be certain of in 1979, however , is that it will be
another difficult year as far as the nation 's economy is concerned . This
New Year will not be without its inflationary problems and spiraling costs .
In light of this situation , I thought it best not to bore you with speculations
but rather give you some advice for determining your own success in
1979.
"Prepare for the worst ; and, if it doesn 't happen , think how much better
off you'll be ." These words were spoken to me when I was a child , and
I've found that they still hold true today . To adequately prepare for the
future , you must set speCific goals for yourself. Setting goals and achieving
them is the key to personal and financial success .
When setting new goals , try to be as realistic as possible . If you set them
too high , you may become discouraged early and end by defeating your
own purpose . Conversely , if you set them too low, you end up cheating
yourself. If ~ou plan to increase your revenue this year . keep in mind that
you need to increase it by at least ten percent just to stay with the rise in
inflation . A goal of fifteen to twenty percent would certainly be more
realistic .
Once you have established your goals, the next step is to make a plan of
action . Note specifically how you intend to increase your revenue or cut
back on your costs . Start programs that are designed to meet the goals that
you set. At certain intervals throughout the year . evaluate your plans and
programs and gauge their effectiveness . Sound planning and regular
follow-ups are essential to achieving goals .
There are a number of ways in which you can improve your own profit
picture . Developing new locations. upgrading present ones. cutting back
on marginal locations . providing better service . better commission
arrangements . higher play prices , and careful of equipment purchases are
some areas . Start keeping more records . You should know what the
average pinball or phonograph on your route earns . likewise . you should
know what your average location earns. Once you know these figures , you
can aim to increase them and because you have them on record you can
accurately measure your success . These are just some of the goals that you
can set for yourself. There are indeed a great many more . but only you can
decide what areas you can improve on most. The main thing is to realize
that you cannot predict the future , but you can certainly prepare for it. So
don 't sit around wondering about the future . do something about it.
~~
----
Ralph C. Lally II
Editor and Publisher
PLAY METER, January, 1979
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).