You know that feeling… you have tried everything and nothing works.  Your bottom line has been in the red so long you’ve gotten use to it.  And your top line looks like it did when you first began your business.  You have tried everything you can think of and nothing seems to work.  You are so frustrated at this point you would sell everything for a dollar and a dream.  Well don’t!

I have proof positive that there are companies making money in this recession; in just about every sector.  While they aren’t seeing the numbers they saw just a few years ago; they are making money.  Yes we have hit a reset button and anyone who is successful now has figured out how to do business in the new economy.

First and foremost stop whining.  Yes you are angry and you are discouraged; but crying about it isn’t going to get you anywhere.  Life has never been fair and it never will be.  Besides are you so sure you would fare better if some entity showed up with the fair stick and waved it your way.  The only way you will move forward is if you stop looking for reasons to be offended and start being grateful for the business you have.  The universe will give you more of what you focus on.  It is simple physics.  So if you think your business sucks well then it will.  Look for the opportunities in every situation you encounter and you will begin to see them more clearly.  Depending on how far down this rabbit hole of negativity you have climbed will depend on how soon you get to see daylight again.

You might have to find someone else to make the necessary changes in your business.  If you have been at this awhile; you have probably become myopic in your thinking about what will work.  It can be a very subtle thing; so don’t be surprised if you don’t see it.  Far be it from me to state the obvious; however, if what you thought had worked…. you wouldn’t be in this position.  See if you can’t hand some of the decision making over to someone else while you focus on operations for a while.  Don’t look at this as a failure or weakness.  It actually means you are smart enough to know when to stop digging and courageous enough to bring someone in to help get you out of the hole you are in. 

If bringing in some outside help isn’t feasible; then join a group that will provide some mentoring.  We have a formal business mentoring program that we facilitate for businesses; but you could do something a little less structured to get started.  Just make sure you have a lot of outside influence to get you out of the box and into the new economy.  Be careful of joining groups that have been around for a while and are industry specific.  They tend to insist on the old paradigms and keep doing the exact things that got you into this position to begin with.

Success means change and change is difficult.  But it is doable.  You can’t redo the beginning or anything you have done so far; but you can change the ending.  So get up, get positive, and get going; because this ISN’T a dress rehearsal!

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