At this point, I think we all realize that things are a little different this year than they were last year. Realizing that some have been bathed in financial security, I just want you to know that we are in an economic recession. That means that people are buying and spending less, creating a ripple effect making it harder for businesses to stay in business and keep all assets and resources, resulting in an exponentially expanding catch 22 – “I can’t spend because I lost my job because my company cannot sell their widgets which people can’t buy because they lost their job…”

I believe that (in case anyone missed it) all of the articles on how to survive the recession, have been written, and going into Q2, it is time to have our noses to the grindstone and get to running our businesses and being as successful as possible. Now, if you are interested in becoming a statistic, i.e., “one of the 3 million businesses closed in 2009”, I have put together a number of steps, categorically, that you can take. Maybe, possibly, they will get you on the bailout list.

Here are the first five suggestions:

1) Don’t stay true to your company’s belief statements. Heck, they are only fancy words that you use, anyway. The “whatever goes” mentality works fabulously well. I call it the ‘Earthquake” belief program.

2) Try to reach all of the people, all of the time. While this will make you stretch your marketing dollars infinitely thin trying to reach all of them, this approach might actually work. Of course, your core customers may feel that your business has gone in another direction, and may wish to do business with another, more focused organization, but that’s okay…it’s only temporary…you can get them back any time you want.

3) Skip steps and cut corners. Everyone understands that this is a bad economy. They will put up with substandard quality, lateness and unpredictability. Don’t worry about it.

4) Don’t set up systems and processes. These are a waste of time and money. Just because you will be able to operate more efficiently – more done at a lower cost – doesn’t mean that it would be worth investing the time it takes to develop them.

5) Stay tunnel-visioned. By keeping your head low and to the grindstone, you won’t have to worry about things that are happening in the marketplace. SWOT analysis are for students and teachers, anyway. Most importantly – don’t pay attention to your market’s spending habits – that could be detrimental.

While these are great suggestions, and can ensure your proper placement in history, please stay tuned for the final five ways you can ensure your business becomes a statistic in this economic downturn.

At Aepiphanni Business Solutions, we are a Small Business Consulting Firm dedicated to serving the needs of small business owners. We specialize in helping you develop strategies for your organization, and are committed to your success. If you have further questions about creating your strategy or developing your vision, please give me, Rick Meekins, a call at 678-265-3908, or email us at [email protected].