A lot of businesses are hurting right now. A lot of people are thinking it’s the economy.

It’s true, the economy is not doing well. That’s the big picture. But what about YOU?

Did you know that at the peak of the Great Depression, 1934, the unemployment rate was 25%? 75% of people still had jobs. More to the point, even then, some people became millionaires.

You can’t just say “the economy’s so bad and I can’t do anything about it.”  I mean, you could. My point is you always CAN do something about it.

Yes, in economic hard times, you need to recognize and acknowledge that as a fact. But not as an excuse.

In an economic boom running a business is a lot easier. You can get complacent and then get surprised by a downturn. Or because the competition got busy while you stood still. That’s just lack of alertness.

It’s time to roll up the sleeves and get busy.

This you can be sure of: one way or another, getting out of the jamb is going to take promotion, marketing, advertising – whatever you call it. You need to get the word out.

Sure, tighten your belt. Salad days are over – for now. But don’t count on cutting expenses being sufficient. And if you are really ambitious, look at it as an opportunity.

In every economic downturn, some businesses disappear, and some expand. The businesses that disappeared, their customers are going to go somewhere. Plan and act to make sure you not only get through it but reap the benefits when things turn around.

I can’t leave this subject without reminding you how big a part of this is mental. Right now there are people thinking this is the end of the world. America’s sliding into third-world status.

Don’t believe it and stop listening to the preachers of doom and gloom. They’ve been preaching the end of the world for 10,000 years and they haven’t been right yet.

Get clever with your marketing. Above all, greatly increase the volume of your marketing efforts. You’ll be glad you did.