DEAL WITH IT

You may never know why bad things happen to a business, but giving up isn’t the answer. The thing to do is to deal with what you are given.

Coming out of a “woe is me” pity party can be the start of a new wave of growth for a business. Instead of focusing on all the things that you lack to make your business a success, make a list of all the things you have. The next step is to develop a plan to grow your business with the tools you have.

Buying into the concept that success can be achieved with what you have, then a progressive planning session can take you to your goal. Having an idea that you believe in is the hardest part of growing a business; everything else is really available at virtually no upfront cost.

Let’s examine a few necessities that can be obtained at little or no cost:

• Don’t have an office? Work out of your home and set all your appointments at a coffee shop. I
  jokingly tell my wife I have three offices at three different coffee shops. I schedule the majority
  of my meetings at these places.
• Don’t have internet service? Most coffee shops provide free internet service and some libraries
  provide both internet service plus a computer with which to work.
• Business cards are available from as little as $10 for 250 cards.
• Strategic partnerships allow you to gather a support group that will give you credibility.
• Need a store front? The internet offers many store fronts free of charge.
• Need someone to talk to? Look for a mentor/coach who believes in your future; or go to a free
  networking session and talk to people until you find someone that you feel at ease with and
  develop a relationship.

Many of the businesses that I encounter who are holding “why me” parties are not necessarily in need
of material support, but in need of a listening and support “post” and guidance on where to go from
here.

Things only look bad if you can’t see beyond your current situation. I heard on the news this week that
for the first time in U.S. history there are more businesses closing than are opening. There is help
available if you are willing to look for it.

“LIFE is not the way it’s supposed to be … It’s the way it is …. The way we COPE with it, is what makes the
difference.”