Don’t Sit There, Survive and Prosper
As a small business owner, you don’t even have to turn on the dismal financial news to know that the economy is lousy. You are already feeling the pinch, and then when you hear of your tax dollars being used to bail-out the big banks and corporations that helped to create this mess, you begin to get bitter. After all, I haven’t heard much mention of any help for the little guy.
Well, you have two options right now. You can either sit there and wait out the storm and possibly go under as many of your competitors are, or take advantage of a slower time to revamp your business.
I spoke with a few construction companies recently. Operating in California, they are struggling with the new laws that require all plans to be inspected by an architect. One family company decided to send one of the younger brothers to college to become an architect. Another company is using this time to branch out and to explore new avenues. They invested in heavy equipment and training for some crew members so that they can now offer excavation services. One older construction owner made the decision to take this opportunity to scale back his operation and pursue a lifelong dream to build custom furniture and cabinetry. He enrolled in the appropriate classes to learn the trade, and is now happily remodeling his shop to accommodate his new direction.
The point is, don’t just sit there. Use this slower pace to do the things that you’ve been too busy to address in years past. As a friend who was dying from cancer said of his enthusiastic outlook, “surround yourself with those you love and always have something to look forward to.” This economic storm will end, and a bright future will emerge. Those who will survive and prosper will be the companies that take the appropriate action now.
Tags: branching out, business, economy, education, expansion, finance, new avenues, operations, prosper, scaling back, small business, survival, tips