I just got off the phone talking with my friend James. We spoke about how his business was doing, and I asked what he planned on earning this year. His response surprised me:

'Making money's not my focus now. I don't really think this is the right time--I'm planning to just hold on until things get better.'

James is usually pretty optimistic and 'survival' is not part of his normal vocabulary, so I started wondering about others I know: my consulting clients, people who take my DYBO business-doubling e-course, people I meet speaking.

One client wrote they had 'survived' last year, but had 'done the unpardonable -- cut marketing.' Another told me, 'Well, we made it. But we cut half our sales force.' And a service provider I know reduced her total payroll from 130 to 75 people in the past six months.

Even though Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan has pronounced the recession over, many businesspeople are taking about one thing only: survival. They are hunkered down trying to weather the storm, but they're doing it at the expense of building their businesses. And I believe many companies are unwittingly sacrificing their future. Here's the typical survival strategy:

• Cut marketing.
• Lay off marginal employees.
• Cut sales travel expenses.
• Lay off good employees.
• Lay off salespeople.
• Fire ineffective management.
• Reduce your prices hoping to att
  Let there be Light!
  The ancient and Europe well remembered when tracing the origins of candles. Essentially a source of light then, tallow, beeswax, and vegetable wax were molded into cylindrical shapes with twisted wicks in between. Radiance well remembered in time as the melt and glow continues today.Evolving further, organic sources came be replaced by wax made by chemicals as the radiance continued. Advances of the human intellect brought about the development synthetic organic wax and plaited wicks came about to be replaced by the twisted. In the name of the light, the shining continues.The style of hanging chandeliers lit by candles still continues. Antique owners know the glow of a chandelier when aglow with the light of candles. A candle sconce, another version of a chandelier functioning as a candle holder does not cease to make an impression on a d?cor.Characterist
  really think this is the right time--I'm planning to just hold on until things get better.'

  James is usually pretty optimistic and 'survival' is not part of his normal vocabulary, so I started wondering about others I know: my consulting clients, people who take my DYBO business-doubling e-course, people I meet speaking.

  One client wrote they had 'survived' last year, but had 'done the unpardonable -- cut marketing.' Another told me, 'Well, we made it. But we cut half our sales force.' And a service provider I know reduced her total payroll from 130 to 75 people in the past six months.

  Even though Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan has pronounced the recession over, many businesspeople are taking about one thing only: survival. They are hunkered down trying to weather the storm, but they're doing it at the expense of building their businesses. And I believe many companies are unwittingly sacrificing their future. Here's the typical survival strategy:

  • Cut marketing.
  • Lay off marginal employees.
  • Cut sales travel expenses.
  • Lay off good employees.
  • Lay off salespeople.
  • Fire ineffective management.
  • Reduce your prices hoping to at
    Business Plan Basics - Part 1
    Online or offline, when you want to start a business you need a business plan. Writing a business plan helps when pursuing investment capital, but it also helps you set some clear goals. A business plan is a living document, so you can first create it as an outline and develop it later, as your business grows.Executive Summary:This is the most important section of your business plan. If you look for investors, make sure to write this part properly. The executive summary describes the company, the products and services and what unique opportunities you are offering. Remember: the executive summary creates the first impression of both you and your business. This is a business plan in miniature, no preface, no introduction.Do not write a very long executive summary. Keep it at 3 pages at the very most. Focus on the opportunity and benefits and use co
    people I meet speaking.

    One client wrote they had 'survived' last year, but had 'done the unpardonable -- cut marketing.' Another told me, 'Well, we made it. But we cut half our sales force.' And a service provider I know reduced her total payroll from 130 to 75 people in the past six months.

    Even though Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan has pronounced the recession over, many businesspeople are taking about one thing only: survival. They are hunkered down trying to weather the storm, but they're doing it at the expense of building their businesses. And I believe many companies are unwittingly sacrificing their future. Here's the typical survival strategy:

    • Cut marketing.
    • Lay off marginal employees.
    • Cut sales travel expenses.
    • Lay off good employees.
    • Lay off salespeople.
    • Fire ineffective management.
    • Reduce your prices hoping to at
      Binding Machine Prices
      Consumers may be very confused when purchasing binding machines. This is because the market has a number of competitive products to offer. Most of these goods are available at cutthroat prices and offer similar functions. This makes it tricky for new users to make the right choice.Binding machine prices depend on pricing policies of different manufacturing companies. Some companies concentrate on increasing sales by offering a relatively low rate whereas others offer binding machines at premium prices to target a niche market consisting of small to medium level binding firms. Binding machines are available for domestic and commercial use. For this reason, potential buyers need to research the prevailing prices and analyze the available options. Binding machine prices tend to vary as they highly depend on the brand and the available features.Entry-level binding m
      ven though Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan has pronounced the recession over, many businesspeople are taking about one thing only: survival. They are hunkered down trying to weather the storm, but they're doing it at the expense of building their businesses. And I believe many companies are unwittingly sacrificing their future. Here's the typical survival strategy:
      • Cut marketing.
      • Lay off marginal employees.
      • Cut sales travel expenses.
      • Lay off good employees.
      • Lay off salespeople.
      • Fire ineffective management.
      • Reduce your prices hoping to at
        The Practical Guide to Oil Analysis
        As a predictive maintenance tool, oil analysis is used to uncover, isolate and offer solutions for abnormal lubricant and machine conditions. These abnormalities, if left unchecked, usually result in extensive, sometimes catastrophic damage causing lost production, extensive repair costs, and even operator accidents.The goal of a world-class oil analysis program is to increase the reliability and availability of your machinery, while minimizing maintenance costs associated with oil changeouts, labor, repairs and downtime. Accomplishing your goal takes time, training and patience. However, the results are dramatic and the documented savings in cost avoidance are significant.What are Lubricants Industrial oils are specifically designed fluids composed of a base oil and a compliment of additives. The base oil performs these functions, including forms a
        ing their future. Here's the typical survival strategy:
        • Cut marketing.
        • Lay off marginal employees.
        • Cut sales travel expenses.
        • Lay off good employees.
        • Lay off salespeople.
        • Fire ineffective management.
        • Reduce your prices hoping to attract business.
        • Fire effective management.

        Hope for anything. Pray for business. Wait for the recession to end.

        Does any of this sound familiar?

        Of course survival is not all bad--not by a long shot. There's a 'statistic' reputed to come from the US Small Business Administration, which says 9 out of 10 new businesses don't last five years, or something like that. The details vary with the telling but the point is well made--it is hard to keep a business profitable over the long haul, which is why so few of America's largest companies from 75 years ago even exist today.

        The good side of survival makes you 'lean and mean,' scavenging the landscape for sharp opportunities and playing for keeps.

        But the dark side just ends up like a strategy for playing it safe, putting off decisions and delaying action. Of course, you may still be around when 'things get better, but will you be in a position to take advantage of your opportunities? Perhaps--if you've conserved cash and preserved your ability to generate new business.

        But if instead you've so reduced your ability to go after new deals - or if you've let your product languish to the point where it is no longer