Nobody knows why dinosaurs died off, but there are many intriguing theories.

Dead dinosaur hypotheses parallel the excuses owners use when their businesses fail.

Reason 1. An asteroid or volcano caused a fatal disaster. This absolves dinosaurs or businesses from any blame, since extinction was due simply to being a pathetic "victim of circumstances."

However, this theory never explains why so many other forms of plants and animals survived when dinosaurs could not--or why so many competitors are thriving while you're dying.

Reason 2. Dinosaurs were too nomadic and unwisely wandered away to strange new places, places where their immune systems couldn't function well.

In business, a firm can wander into new unfamiliar product opportunities and markets--and they cannot maintain financial health as a result. Their managerial immune systems cannot cope in unfamiliar territory.

Reason 3. The firmament encapsulating the earth was removed by God to allow rainfall for the flood during Noah's time.

As a result, the available oxygen on earth was reduced by half and dinosaurs, having very small lungs anyway for large animals, couldn't get enough oxygen and died quickly.

In business, the similarity is free trade agreements and removing the protective encapsulation of trade restrictions.

Sometimes, businesses cannot function without the Nanny State artificially protecting them against the "thinner air" of new cheaper, smarter competitors from other continents.

Reason 4. Dinosaurs evolved into birds. There must have been skillful vetrenarians years ago offering great body sculpting and diet programs to downsize dinosaurs into birds.

Businesses often try evolving into something they aren't, and never could be, then becoming extinct. However, downsizing sometimes can help a fat, floundering business return to basics and profitability.

Reason 5. Dinosaurs were kidnapped by space aliens. If you're a fellow reader of "Weekly World News" that's not credible since this publication describes space aliens as generous and friendly, very unlikely folks to steal our dinosaurs.

Maybe space aliens come down and take away the feeble profits of failing companies. That excuse, while far-fetched, is a whole lot better than what many companies offer when profits fail to meet Wall Street expectations.

What's a business to do to prevent going the way of the dinosaur?

Retain a strategic planning consultant and planning meeting facilitator. That gives you and your business maximum protection from repeating the fate of dead dinosaurs.

Remember, if you fail to plan, you're planning to fail.

John Alquist

John J. Alquist owns and operates Alquist Enterprises, along with his wife, Shirley. The firm promotes self-employment via the professional services and network marketing opportunities offered.

John is a speaker, consultant and author. His first published piece was at age 15, in a Connecticut daily newsletter, blasting a brainless politician. He has been writing ever since.

He started his career after college graduation as a writer for a Connecticut weekly newspaper.

He has been self-employed for 18 years and, prior to that, John spent 24 years in the corporate world, especially senior bank marketing positions.

He was Vice President of Market Planning for Wells Fargo Bank and Vice President & Director of Marketing for BarclayAmericanCorporation, an American commerical and consumer finance subsidiary of the Barclays Bank Group.

John & Shirley life and work in St. Petersburg, FL. John has lived in Connecticut, New Jersey, North Carolina, California, and Florida.

He is a graduate of Providence College, holding a Bachelor of Arts degree.

John is an avid exerciser, eats mostly organic food, and has considerable knowledge of wellness. He takes lots of nutrtional supplements. Though 64, he has a "Real Age" of 53.

Politically, John is a Libertarian. He and his wife, Shirley, are Christians. John is an avid Bible student and researcher.