Courage, audacity and determination

For nearly a year now, I get up every morning with the joy of reading La Presse + newspaper on my iPad. Even more, I had the chance to travel Europe a few times since and La Presse + has always followed me ... inevitably ... even on Sundays, although the Sunday paper edition no longer exists since June 28, 2009.

Gesca leaders (owner of La Presse newspaper) understood long time ago the inevitable decline of traditional newspaper format before the "too late" alarm goes on. Rather, they had the courage, boldness and determination to make complex and imposing tough decisions - in initiating major digital transformation - in order to maintain their basic mission : to inform!

• June 28, 2009, La Presse put an end to the Sunday edition, achieving $26 million in savings, half in labor costs (ref. 1).
• After three years of R&D and $40 million in developing a new digital business model that is at odds with the model that has always existed, La Presse + was launched on April 18, 2013. (ref. 2). 
• In January 2014, only nine months after its launch, La Presse + application has been installed on more than 400,000 iPads (ref. 3). 
• On February 17, La Presse negotiated with Transcontinental for a lump sum payment of $31 million, so that the newspaper has more flexibility to reduce printing volumes and consequently savings (ref. 4).

Today I want to praise leaders who understand that the future of their business is somewhat similar to La Presse: "Thinking outside the box" which means thinking differently, unconventionally or from a new perspective. Not to be afraid, to charge on new ideas, to invest time and money, and above all, to have a strategic plan.

The World Wide Web, the public Wi-Fi, smartphones and tablets, the multitude of applications and new designs had transformed the way we work, we consume, we get informed, we get educated, we entertain, and we live. Some leaders have understood quickly and to the benefit of all.

On the eve of the first anniversary of La Presse +, I invite all Quebec leaders - from small, medium or large businesses, industrial, commercial or institutional, to have the courage, boldness and determination, to think "outside the box". Likely that the future of your business depends on it.

On that note, I wish you good continuity in business! And do not hesitate to contact me to discuss about the transformation of your business model.

References:

1) http://www.lapresse.ca/le-soleil/affaires/actualite-economique/200906/15/01-875859-la-presse-cesse-de-publier-le-dimanche.php
2) http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/Economie/2013/04/18/004-tablette-lapresse-pari.shtml
3) http://www.grenier.qc.ca/nouvelles/4697/la-presse-franchit-le-cap-des-400-000-usagers
4) http://affaires.lapresse.ca/economie/medias-et-telecoms/201402/17/01-4739769-impression-de-la-presse-transcontinental-sentend-avec-gesca.php