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Small Business Articles from Make-it-Fly®
 Ways
to Stay Up in a Down Economy
By Victoria Munro
Printable version
The news is rarely good these days
and, as a result, it’s easy to adopt a negative
outlook on business, and even life in general. It’s
certainly tough to remain upbeat when everyday conversations
often center on pessimistic topics and what’s
wrong with the world.
Running a business today is especially
challenging. According to a recent article in CNN Money.com,
by Alexander Stein, a practicing psychoanalyst in New
York City, “Running a
small business requires enormous psychological resources
in the best of times. It's even harder to stay focused
and positive while the pundits predict economic Armageddon.”
In times like this, it’s easy for entrepreneurs
to freeze up in fear, but having a plan to deal with
it can help.
Below are some tips that others
and I have found useful.
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Accept
the fact that you’re afraid. Fear is
natural, and it’s a powerful emotion. Be honest
with yourself about your fears and feelings, without
dwelling only on the negatives. |
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Verbalize
or write down how you feel. The simple act
of expressing feelings in this way often puts things
in perspective. |
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Shift
your focus from what’s wrong with your
business and/or the economy, to what is right with
your business and your life. What we focus on tends
to become our reality. Keep your eye on your big
picture—what you ultimately want to achieve. |
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Take
action! Look for and brainstorm possible
opportunities that you may never have thought about,
or that may not have existed before. Consider possible
new markets or new products and/or services that
could be in demand now. |
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Be
thankful. When you’re tempted to worry,
stop and make a list of what you’re grateful
for. |
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Prevent
unnecessary worry. Watching the news and
listening to negative conversations can heighten
anxiety. Spend little or no time watching the news
and, when people around you talk about what’s
wrong, instead of going with the flow, turn the
topic to something positive. |
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Don’t
fly solo! Surround yourself with supportive
people. In the article mentioned above, Stein also
writes, “Business owners may be particularly
susceptible to the corrosive effects of fear and
anxiety because they're
professionally more isolated than most, having no
peers or superiors, only employees, clients and
competitors. Especially in high-stress situations,
having partners (or a trusted confidant) can make
all the difference.” Meet and discuss
your challenges with wise and positive friends,
start your own mastermind group or join
an Advisory Board. |
(500 words)
© 2005-2008 Victoria Munro.
Click here
for printable version.
About the Author: Victoria Munro is
co-founder (along with husband Dave Block) of Make-it-Fly®
LLC, a company dedicated to creating success for
small-business owners through creatively designed programs
and tools. Victoria has started and run nine different
businesses. To receive FREE business success articles
with tips to help you with your business, sign up for
their award-winning ezine, “In-Flight Refueling,”
at: www.Make-it-Fly.com,
and receive a free copy of the eBook, Get
More Done in Less Time: 101 Quick and Easy Time Tactics
& Tips.
You’re welcome to “reprint”
this article in your ezine, print publication
or on your website, as long as it remains complete and
unaltered (including the “about the author”
info at the end). Please send a copy of your reprint
to info@make-it-fly.com.
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