Let’s face it; we are all in this together! As Dr. Robert Schuller says, ‘Tough times don’t last, but tough people do’. So, the question then becomes, what is it that tough people do? What is it that we can do as business people riding these turbulent economic times? Most of us would simply say, ‘Work harder’! I say, ‘Work harder at doing what?’ It’s not only that you put in the time, financial resources and energy, but that you use them wisely and prioritize where, when and how you do use them.

Small business owners have an advantage right now.

1. You can move faster to make changes and decisions within your company
2. You can make strategic purchases, like buying the building you have been leasing, or buying a competitors business
3. You can take this slow time to do a business SWOT* analysis so that you sharpen your competitive advantage and perhaps do away with lost productivity or redundancies
4. You can negotiate wisely for hiring great talent, using your advertising budget to stretch farther, and make deals on your core merchandise
5. Invest in building your brand recognition – really get that out into the market place
6. And…work with a good, business Coach who will shorten your time to reach your goals and success
7. Yes, using your time, money and energy wisely to be ready for the coming upturn of the economy. Think of it…you’ll be at the top of your game!

*Analyzing and create strategic decisions around your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats