Recession-Proof Your Small Business
By Susan L Reid
How safe is your business if the U.S.
experiences a recession this year? Will it
do well, continuing along its
productivity and growth trajectory
with little more than a slight re-focusing
and tightening of the belt? Or will it
dissolve into ruin, going belly-up
as consumers hunker down
by reducing spending?
On Tuesday, January 8, 2008, President
Bush gave his State of the Union address
to Congress, televised for all to see.
In it, he stated:
"Our first goal is clear: We must have
an economy that grows fast enough to employ every man and woman who seeks a
job. After recession, terrorist attacks, corporate scandals and stock market declines, our economy
is recovering, yet it's not growing fast enough, or strongly enough. With unemployment rising,
our nation needs more small businesses to open, more companies to invest and expand, more
employers to put up the sign that says, 'Help Wanted'."
Some small business owners listening to the broadcast buried their heads in the sand,
thinking a recession isn't going to occur. Some mistakenly believe that the U.S.
government will take care of them if there is a recession. For others, the cloud of
impending gloom has already begun to cast its shadow.
Earlier this week it was reported that the U.S. economy is primed to slump into a
three-quarter recession. What will you do? What action will you take to
recession-proof your small business this year . . .or any year, for that matter?
What if there were a simple, effective solution to ensure your business productivity
and growth, no matter what the economy does? Would you want to learn more? What
if I told you there are ways to increase productivity no matter what
the economic climate; not just by a little, but by 20 percent? Would you be interested?
Seven Sure-fire Ways to Boost Productivity
1. Be known for delivering great products and services. Now, more than ever, this
oft repeated maxim is true. Your products and services are a reflection of you, are the
frontline calling card for your business, and are the number one way to make your
customers trip all over themselves referring others to you.
2. Stand out by offering an astonishing guarantee, one so amazing that others in
your industry would balk at offering it. Delivering on your astonishing guarantee
distinguishes you and gets your business noticed.
3. Add value, not price. Continuously adding value to your products and services
makes you look rich and attractive to your customers and prospects. Adding price
without value makes you look cheap.
4. Cultivate business with customers who have similar beliefs and interests. This
eliminates having to work with jerks.
5. Connect to give; don't connect to get. Cultivate mutually beneficial win-win
relationships with emphasis on the "give" part. Ask not what your customer can do
for you, but what you can do for your customer. Then deliver.
6. Command time and space this year and create what you see for yourself, not what
someone else sees for you. Meet your own sales goals, provide your own growth
incentives, and keep abreast of the markets so you can remain on the cutting edge,
rather than waiting for someone else to do these things for you.
7. Forget about last year. Whether you did well or not, forget about it. Create a new
voice. In the words of T. S. Eliot, "Last year's words belong to last year's language,
and next year's words await another voice."
What makes these seven steps so special? How will they recession-proof your
business? These seven steps focus exclusively on strengthening your business from
the inside, at its core. They are not dependent upon outside sources or resources to
function or sustain them. They focus on actions you can easily and effectively take
now. No long-term planning is required to implement them. They are things that
everyone -- from solopreneur to company of 20 an do right now.
Do yourself a favor. Don't stand idly by with a wait-and-see mindset. Recession-proof
your business to ensure increased productivity and growth this year. Take these
seven steps now. Make 2008 your best year ever. You'll be glad you did!
About the Author:
Dr. Susan L. Reid is a business coach and consultant for entrepreneurial women
starting up businesses. She is the author of "Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The
Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success". Susan provides intuitive
small business solutions, powerful attraction marketing tools, inspiration, and
direction. Visit www.SuccessfulSmallBizOwners.com and download
your copy of her latest free business success article.
By Susan L Reid
How safe is your business if the U.S.
experiences a recession this year? Will it
do well, continuing along its
productivity and growth trajectory
with little more than a slight re-focusing
and tightening of the belt? Or will it
dissolve into ruin, going belly-up
as consumers hunker down
by reducing spending?
On Tuesday, January 8, 2008, President
Bush gave his State of the Union address
to Congress, televised for all to see.
In it, he stated:
"Our first goal is clear: We must have
an economy that grows fast enough to employ every man and woman who seeks a
job. After recession, terrorist attacks, corporate scandals and stock market declines, our economy
is recovering, yet it's not growing fast enough, or strongly enough. With unemployment rising,
our nation needs more small businesses to open, more companies to invest and expand, more
employers to put up the sign that says, 'Help Wanted'."
Some small business owners listening to the broadcast buried their heads in the sand,
thinking a recession isn't going to occur. Some mistakenly believe that the U.S.
government will take care of them if there is a recession. For others, the cloud of
impending gloom has already begun to cast its shadow.
Earlier this week it was reported that the U.S. economy is primed to slump into a
three-quarter recession. What will you do? What action will you take to
recession-proof your small business this year . . .or any year, for that matter?
What if there were a simple, effective solution to ensure your business productivity
and growth, no matter what the economy does? Would you want to learn more? What
if I told you there are ways to increase productivity no matter what
the economic climate; not just by a little, but by 20 percent? Would you be interested?
Seven Sure-fire Ways to Boost Productivity
1. Be known for delivering great products and services. Now, more than ever, this
oft repeated maxim is true. Your products and services are a reflection of you, are the
frontline calling card for your business, and are the number one way to make your
customers trip all over themselves referring others to you.
2. Stand out by offering an astonishing guarantee, one so amazing that others in
your industry would balk at offering it. Delivering on your astonishing guarantee
distinguishes you and gets your business noticed.
3. Add value, not price. Continuously adding value to your products and services
makes you look rich and attractive to your customers and prospects. Adding price
without value makes you look cheap.
4. Cultivate business with customers who have similar beliefs and interests. This
eliminates having to work with jerks.
5. Connect to give; don't connect to get. Cultivate mutually beneficial win-win
relationships with emphasis on the "give" part. Ask not what your customer can do
for you, but what you can do for your customer. Then deliver.
6. Command time and space this year and create what you see for yourself, not what
someone else sees for you. Meet your own sales goals, provide your own growth
incentives, and keep abreast of the markets so you can remain on the cutting edge,
rather than waiting for someone else to do these things for you.
7. Forget about last year. Whether you did well or not, forget about it. Create a new
voice. In the words of T. S. Eliot, "Last year's words belong to last year's language,
and next year's words await another voice."
What makes these seven steps so special? How will they recession-proof your
business? These seven steps focus exclusively on strengthening your business from
the inside, at its core. They are not dependent upon outside sources or resources to
function or sustain them. They focus on actions you can easily and effectively take
now. No long-term planning is required to implement them. They are things that
everyone -- from solopreneur to company of 20 an do right now.
Do yourself a favor. Don't stand idly by with a wait-and-see mindset. Recession-proof
your business to ensure increased productivity and growth this year. Take these
seven steps now. Make 2008 your best year ever. You'll be glad you did!
About the Author:
Dr. Susan L. Reid is a business coach and consultant for entrepreneurial women
starting up businesses. She is the author of "Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The
Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success". Susan provides intuitive
small business solutions, powerful attraction marketing tools, inspiration, and
direction. Visit www.SuccessfulSmallBizOwners.com and download
your copy of her latest free business success article.
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