The sky is falling – should we hide or do something about it?

Have you been reading these headlines?

“Investors bail out”

“Congress urged to pass $700 billion bailout”

With all its “upbeat” news headlines and talk of doom and gloom, makes you wonder exactly when the sky will be falling.

All of this made me think about what every one of us could do to offset the negative “vibes” coming from the experts and the media. After all, it’s a well-known fact that you can talk yourself into just about anything. And, if you listen too hard to the media right now, I bet your “confidence meter” is spiraling downward.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not denying the negative signals emanating from the markets. What I’m thinking is: how can we make a positive contribution in our businesses to ensure that we don’t feel a significant impact from the “slowdown”, if it comes. If enough of us undertake this “positive action” approach, can’t we become contributors to minimizing the impact of such a slowdown?

Could we not see the situation as an opportunity to take advantage of all this negativity? Think positive. Don’t simply “batten down the hatches”. Most of your competitors will be doing that, so do something different.
Marketing Tip of the Month

Successful businesses market themselves in the “down times”. I’ve always maintained that marketing should be done all the time, and in particular in the “good times”, when businesses traditionally have funds available, so that they can prevent the “down times” from coming. This will offset the impact of any slowdown, will level out the peaks and troughs of turnover and profits and will provide the business with a more constant profile which inevitably positions the company for success. Moreover, it creates a great perception of the company from a customer perspective because the customer will see the company as being successful, despite the “down times” being experienced by others.

Don’t wait for things to slow down. By then it could be too late. Be proactive in your marketing. Do whatever it takes (market to the level you can afford), but don’t hide your business. It sends the wrong signals to your customers and potential customers.

Let us all take the bull by the horns and make things happen for ourselves. Ignore the skeptics, the pessimists, and the economists. Read your own business signals. And believe in yourself, your vision, and your people.

Take something away from the following inspirational quotes. It may just be the inspiration you need to do something special:

George Bernard Shaw: “The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can’t find them, make them.”

Cynthia Kersey: “Believe in yourself and there will come a day when others will have no choice but to believe with you.”

Stedman Graham: “People who consider themselves victims of their circumstances, will always remain victims unless they develop a greater vision for their lives.”

Milton Berle: “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.”

Oscar Wilde: “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”

Denis Waitley: “There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them.”

All it takes is some SMART marketing, and you could find yourself flying while others are floundering. If you don’t look for it, you will never find it.

Click here to find out where to begin with SMART marketing

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