My husband is a traveling IT consultant and is a frequent flier on Southwest Airlines. Many times the flight attendants make flights more bearable with their sense of humor. Recently one told the passengers goodbye with the following: “Buckle up, drive fast, take chances, and come see us again real soon!” Although there may not be an obvious direct connection, this humorous farewell made me think about how so many business owners get caught up in the daily grind of work, or worse yet, the negative press regarding the economy.
It’s an easy trap to fall into. The demands of your everyday responsibilities grow little by little until, before you realize it, they consume every available minute of your time and all of your energy. You find yourself working ‘heads down’—focusing on trying to get everything done. Then, should you look up from these important but mundane tasks, you find yourself bombarded by the media with stories about how terrible the economy is and how hard everyone is struggling to just keep their jobs. At that point, many people, including many bright business owners, go into what I call ‘survivor mode.’ They put their heads back down and work even harder to just keep the business plodding along.
I doubt this describes the vision you had when you started your business. I’m sure when you decided to go into business, you saw yourself making plans and implementing them to make your business grow and become a source of satisfaction and affluence. But here you are now just trying to keep it afloat. Who has time for this type of strategic thinking?
It doesn’t have to be that way!
First, make a mental note to yourself that it’s the media’s job to sensationalize situations to get people to tune in. They are always going to play up the unusual and usually the downside, so don’t pay them too much attention. Remember that there have been companies that began, grew, and even thrived in even the worst economic periods this country has faced. Carvel Ice Cream Company, Farmers Insurance Group, Motorola, and United Van Lines were founded in 1928 just before the Great Depression, and they’re still with us today.
Second, step back a little and look at where your business is and where you want it to be. Here are just a few ideas to consider:
- Think through decisions but don’t stop making them–paralysis will kill a business faster than anything!
- Take some calculated risks to move things forward.
- Base decisions on facts, not the emotions brought on by the media.
- Focus on positive thoughts, read positive materials, and guard against negative influences.
- If your friends are negative, find new friends.
Austin is listed as the friendliest city in the country for small businesses. Make the decision that your business will survive and thrive in this year’s economic climate. Bolster your determination that next year will be your best year ever. Then take the time necessary to put together plans to make those goals a reality.
Get out of the way negative people, because Austin has a group of serious entrepreneurs ready to “buckle up, drive fast, take chances, and come see us again soon!”
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