How to Survive the Recession

I just want to be done with hearing about this recession. But many businesses are still suffering, folding or becoming unrecognizable in terms of staff, clients and success. Ultimately, to survive these troubled economic times, we all need to become more quantitative. If what we are doing is not getting tangible results, we have to make a change. Here are some smart and simple activities to consider:

• Focusing on sales and marketing again in a new, inspired way. The most successful companies have become more aggressive in messaging their value and benefits and letting their target markets know what they do so well. It is simply getting back to a daily focus on the core of what makes a business successful: more sales.
• Asking, "What's the return on investment?" For instance, a seminar or event isn't successful based on the number of attendees; it's successful based on the results and measurable outcomes (i.e., sales or referrals). Firms are getting increasingly quantitative—as if they were publicly traded companies. Sounds simple, but setting a sales objective for everything you do and reaching it is truly inspiring.

Though they sound simple, these changes require focus, strategy and motivation to make them a reality. Smart changes, yet changes you probably should have made long ago.