Down Times Are the Best Times to Grow Your Small Business

With all the talk about the R word, many small business owners are scrambling to just survive based upon what they are hearing or reading. For example, if you are in the real estate or financial industries, the mortgage crisis continues to make news. Yet, a column by John Stossel revealed "The Mortgage Bankers Association's 2007 fourth-quarter survey reports that foreclosures came to 2.04% of all mortgages. "This is far different picture from what many of us have been led to believe.

How often do we allow what we read, hear or what others say affect our beliefs that drive our actions creating the results? What would have happened to the majority of the small businesses owners if they had believed the major news networks that had predicted 40 of the last 3 actual recessions?

Smart and savvy small business owners can use all of this doom and gloom talk to their strategic advantage because some of their competitors actually believe all of this negative hype. Now is the best time to lose the reactive belief of why should I call because my prospect probably does not have the money to buy from me. Embrace a proactive belief based upon your customer loyalty, marketing and sales action plans that I need to call everyone to see how I can help them?

Of course your help must be authentic. Infecting your prospect with the 3Ps Virus of Product, Price or Proposal will surely keep you from securing a successful commitment. Yet, if you make a genuine call to see how you can help your prospect and especially your existing clients, you have positioned yourself quite differently.

John Maxwell said "No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care." During perceived times of economic difficulty, people appreciate those who truly care about them and many are willing to return these real outreaches by providing referrals or even actually buying from you.

Small Business Coaching Strategy: Take action by revisiting your strategic growth action plan and identify your top 5 to 20 customers. Then connect with them to learn how you can assist them. Next, ask for at least one referral. When you meet a new prospect, take time to listen. Ask how can I help you? The response may be as simple as do you know so and so or who would you recommend for such and such? Remember, now is the best time to grow your small business because you control your daily beliefs and actions.

Are you seeking small business help? Take this free customer loyalty assessment to help improve your business results.

Is your business facing inconsistent or insufficient cash flow, lackluster sales to poor productivity? Then do you have an action plan or are you Captain Wing It flying by the seat of your pants?

Leanne Hoagland-Smith helps small business owners to C Level executives from Chicago to Indianapolis to worldwide who are truly tired of struggling to unlock the results that they want. Call 219.759.5601 to schedule a free small business coaching strategy session to being to quickly unlock tomorrow's solutions today.

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