How to Start a Business in a Recession
I gotta say, common sense still rules.
I had a great conversation with a guy this morning that was referred to me from two business partners. (Thanks Dave and Laura for the referral!)
He’s motivated, excited, opening up a new business in a small town, during a recession. Sounds nuts, eh?
The economy and one’s business success are most of the time (not always) mutually exclusive. The most moronic time, most think, is NOW to start a business. I wholeheartedly disagree. You see, what’s carrying this guy through are TWO KEYS to survival right now (and anytime):
1) PASSION/ENTHUSIASM
2) ACTION
I could tell on the phone he was just as charged up as I was. He’s been doing a lot of the right things, too. He’s gone back to real, early and mid 1900s business-building basics.
For instance: He’s shaking hands, meeting neighbors, doing cool stuff for a local school, trying to be OF service before trying to “service.”
What he’s not doing is what most people are doing: hiding, waiting for the phone to ring, worried sick, just praying Obama will do something for them. NEWSFLASH: He ain’t. No politician has YOUR interests in mind before THEIR OWN interest of getting re-elected. You’ve got to understand it’s all rhetoric. They’ve got their fat salary, great healthcare and even better retirement plans.
The only person that can get YOU going on the path to success is YOU.
Prime example: My wife, God bless the woman for putting up with my horseshit, is starting her career out right now as a new real estate broker. IMAGINE THAT? She’s $2,500 or so in the hole from training, etc. Now she’s gotta make it work. She’s doing all the things she needs to – sure, she’s nervous, a little scared, all normal and natural. But you know what? SHE’S creating MOVEMENT. She has two listings already and is working and doing the things it takes to get more. Not because she’s been wasting time, either.
This afternoon, the two of us are canvassing the neighborhood together to meet our neighbors. Would you be willing to do that to get more business? If you’re not, you’re spoiled, fat and happy. And, you’ve got enough money in the bank where you aren’t interested in building relationships now that pay off handsomely later.
if you’re a dentist, I can give you (as can Howard Farran – see Howard at my upcoming event on Dec 3-4 in Salem!) 100 ways that cost you NOTHING to go out and drum up business. If you’re a real estate agent – another easy 100 (oddly, they’ll look the same and are many of the same things a dentist or ANY other professional would do!).
Get out in the community and get going! Try the press release I posted last week that gave us 10 patients at SofTouch Dental for FREE! Try some of the no-brainer stuff I’ve mentioned above. Go buy a book on marketing. Call people. ASK if you can help them. REACH OUT.
This old analogy is one of my favs: If you want fish for dinner, the boat’s gotta head out of port in the morning to go and get it. If your vessel is stuck at the dock, you’ll be damn hungry when dinner time rolls around. Get out of port now!
A true Business Anarchist doesn’t WAIT for results. They CREATE their own.