There's an episode from "Happy Days" where the Cunninghams have gone to California and Fonzie becomes a daredevil by jumping over a cage with a shark in it on waterskies. And he's wearing his everpresent brown leather jacket. To some this was the beginning of the end of "Happy Days."

Most TV shows experience "jumping the shark", the time in the series when it takes a turn for the worse and you know the end it year. In my option, "Frazier" jumped the shark when Daphne and Niles got together. "MASH" jumped the shark when everyone, including Klinger, started talking in clever catch phrases and puns like Hawkeye.

There's even a web site (www.jumptheshark.com)
that documents the different times that shows jump the shark.And Ted McGinley is the patron saint of jumping the shark, considering the fact that he was at the end of "Happy Days", "Married ...With Children" and "Love Boat". The end is near when he shows up.

Businesses jump the shark, too. It's when they start trying to do too many things, or they try to change their image for the worse, or they get a leader who isn't qualified to lead. You know the end is near before they go under or have to do a major revamping. They are desperate.

How desperate are you and are you doing things that spell the beginning of the end? One example would be getting clients that are too small or you keep on a client even though they are wrecking havoc on your staff. Another one would be keeping or getting a client who borders on the shady. No matter how hard we try, we try to justify it.

It takes boldness and faith to either hold the line on something you know will work and it just needs time. Or it means getting rid of products or services that are outdated or unneeded that you've always done.