I keep hearing a quote lately about this recession.  It goes something like, "There is a recession out there but we've chosen not to participate."  To me the quote says a lot about the attitude we need in order to keep striving in tough economic times and you can't just hang around and wait for this recession to end. It reminds me of 2003 when I was a solitary employee handling all aspects of my business.  I had just dodged two large bad debts and I was beginning to realize that I was going to need to build my business back up for the second time in my career.  

I knew a few things needed to change right away.   I had grown tired of spinning my wheels and the day-to-day of this business was beginning to wear me thin.  I knew that I needed to learn to delegate in order to focus on more important day to day sales efforts.   So I sat down and hammered out my first business plan, more of an outline really.   It was simple but effective and a few days later I had my direction, all I needed to do was execute the plan.

Innovation was the key to success in 2003 and it still remains the key to success today.  I learned that every business must constantly evolve in order to remain viable.  Since 2003 I don't think there has been a single month where I have not been selling in some form.   Those monthly sales efforts have helped to keep my business moving forward so when my peers are slow, I'm about average.  When the same peers are busy...well then I am swamped.