Recession fears? How do you adjust?

The Strategy taught by Sun Tzu applies equally to Business as it does to the battlefield, the courtroom, the sports arena...or the poker table.

He taught that our skill comes from Five Factors and to constantly study and adjust; because life happens...we Must Adjust to it.

Those Five Factors that should be discussed and constantly studied are: Philosophy (or our Mission/Goals); the Climate (those things outside our control); the Ground (the battlefield common to you and your opponent); Leadership (your skills and knowledge); and Military Methods (or People Skills).

It is a fools thinking to believe that the seasons will remain warm and sunny all year long. That is not a natural thing or a healthy way of thinking in nature or business.

There are highs and lows, peaks and valleys. When we do not have the vision to plan for the entirity of the road ahead perhaps we are not the general we thought we were.

It is certainly not the best of times, but it is part of the cycle of things. Evolution demands that the leaves fall from the trees in due time; that the weaker species die away. We hate to consider such possibilities, but the result is a better, stronger life force.

Advice: be the field general you thought you were. Reappraise your goals; determine the strengths and weaknesses of yourself and your opponents; find all the information you can regarding the environment in which you do battle; take aim on the market share you desire; advance confidently with the attitude of a warrior...and once there...pretend you've been there before...claim it as though you've always owned it.

Kick some butt!

I've had the privilege to work with Gary Gagliardi over the last few years.

He’s probably America's top authority on Sun Tzu. He’s a good friend and his translation of The Art of War is considered the closest to what the good general (Sun Tzu) intended.

That’s not to say he intended his Strategy to be employed for tournament poker, but the application is much more global in nature than simply the narrow military scope that’s been applied for the last two millennia.

If you're interested...here’s a link to a PDF version of Gary’s translation: http://www.goldenkeysolutions.com/Art_of_War.pdf.

I wish you well in your photography concerns.

I tend to have a philosophy similar to Warrior Guy. Our more long-standing business, Cat's Eye Group (a graphic design firm), was born not too long after the recession of 1991 and, of course, also weathered the 2001 downturn.

I think the peaks and valleys are normal. During both of those times, we made an extra effort to market more, to keep out name out there, to be involved in the community. We may have seen a slight decrease in revenues but were also the first firm people came to when the economy started to recover because our name had stayed on their radar screen.

With our new venture, MarketingYourSmallBiz.com, I guess it remains to be seen. We are focused on the solopreneur and this is a market that may need the tips we offer in our e-zine to help them stand out in the crowd and get and keep their share of the market in this downturn.

Interesting question, Conrad.

If you’re like a lot of entrepreneurs, you’ve already worked your rear end off building your business. You’ve discerned your needle movers, built a rockin’ team and you’re ready to MOVE! So what’s stopping you? Well, if you’re like most of us, fear raises its ugly head just when the fun starts. But here’s the good news: like your limiting beliefs, your fears are ALSO only illusions. And THAT means you can release them and create new ones. (Did she say, “New fears?”) Sure I did — some fear is good. Fear that are centered on survival are essential. Fear that is motivating helps us keep going on the tough days. For the most part, however, our fears are just a kind of illusion – and not even a special kind. When I work with entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs, I find we share a lot of common fears. Visit http://www.askchristinenow.com/ and let me answer your business fears

If we are talking about "adjusting", we are dealing with Change and realignment. In recent decades (a mere blink in relational time) our science has awkwardly defined Quantum Theories that oddly are in alignment with the fundamentals of shamanic practice -- used for over 40,000 years. It's all about vibrational energy...and we're literally capable of manifesting the reality we place most of our thought, emotion and passion into. Those "core beliefs", Christine, are also energy forms we've stacked in and accepted as Truth. Our "fears" are generally founded somewhere within that core belief system, however the energy that surrounds each and every cell in our body...our home...our business/job...our every relationship provide the framework for change and design. Clearing bad energy from self, our surroundings (both at home and at work) and even that of our pets is a foundational step for increasing power. It's like filling a bucket with holes in the bottom; all your effort is wasted. And the energy clearing I speak of is a sort of PRE-Feng Shui. It's more than simply rearranging your furniture and placing figurines about the room. Fears also blossom within anyone who's lost soul fragment...life essence. For more information about these concepts visit http://www.ReluctantShaman.com/.

H. Lee,

Thanks! I needed to read this today. It's nice to be reminded that it is not enough to simply focus our time and energy on the positive side of the spectrum; we must also CONSCIOUSLY REMOVE the negative from our mindset, thoughts and especially our vocabulary.

This reminds me of that epic piece by Rudyard Kipling...

"If you can make one heap of all your winnings, And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And LOSE, and start again at your beginnings, And never breathe a word about your loss..."

Sometimes we get so wrapped up in "breathing a word" about our losses that it becomes all that we do - talk about our loss.

If it's lost, it's lost... move on... "Fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds worth of distance run!"

Letting go is the only way to take hold of the things that are yet to come our way.

Mark,

That is the essence of living...really living.

To dwell on (and live in) the Past...we reside in the decay of death...it is all gone but the lesson.

To exist in the unformed Future...we reside in a dream.

This Now, this Present is all we have. Be alive in it and be all we're able.

Leave the past to the buried and the future (short of mindful planning) to the dreamers.

Thanks, Mark

Lee http://www.ReluctantShaman.com/

My tips for adjusting the recession are:

• Listen to the marketplace.

• Reinvent your products/services to meet needs that need a solution right now.

• Don't get stuck in "That is the way we've always done it" mentality.

• Steer clear from those with what Jack Canfield describes as "Ain't it Awful" disease. What you need is to be around positive people who see possibilities instead of obstacles.

• Stay visible through tenacious, passionate, and ongoing marketing and public relations activities.

Good luck!

Nancy

Hi Mark,

I do the following:

I network a lot. I go to 4 or five networks each week if I can, if not more.

Stay visible on social networks as well, by answering questions and participating in the conversation.

Offer classes...for example I'm offering classes on social media, networking, and how to improve your business.

Follow up with people who've expressed interest in what you offer.

And I've also offered payment plans to clients...it brings in some money even if they can't pay in full, and shows them I believe in them.

Taylor Ellwood http://www.imagineyourreality.com

Hey Taylor,

I hope I didn't leave the wrong impression. I am one who by nature turns the page and moves very quickly back into "filling the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds worth of distance run."

The first half of this year has certainly brought its share of challenges, but those things have only served to strenthen areas in me where growth was needed most.

And I am a big proponent of not lingering in closure to the point of clinging to the past.

Reference a recent article for a little more of my outlook and perspective on the topic: http://biznik.com/articles/in-search-of-happy-endings

I thought that Lee's comments offered some great insight. And for me, it couldn't have come at a better time as there are days when even I need to remember to forget. :-)