When the Going Gets Tough, What Do You Do?

You can hear the wind buzzing past your ears through the visor in your helmet. The engine rumbling from below vibrating and shaking your hands until your throttle hand becomes nearly numb. You can smell the fresh air mixed with the exhaust from the cars in front of you. You click through the gears, first gear, 30 mph click, second gear, 50 click. Now you’re humming at 60 mph, and you let your mind wander just for an instant in the enjoyment of the open road.

Suddenly you see a flash of steel in front of you, no time for the brakes; you hit the side of a car that made a left turn in front of you with no warning. The bike thuds to a grinding halt, your legs break as you sail over the car and the bottom of your chin scrapes across the roofline, breaking your jaw into pieces. Flashing lights, investigating police forces, the rush of ambulances, the whirl of the helicopter blades over head, and the sound of the  defibrillator  winding up, “Clear!”. 

What little else you remember from immediately before or after the impact; silence.

This nightmare was a reality for the president of Sandwire Corporation, Adam Schwam, 15 years ago. Talk about a game changer. His recovery is still taking place today with constant back pain and a noticeable limp due to his shattered legs. How Schwam felt and continues to struggle with is what small businesses are currently experiencing. Recovering from a painful economy and a crushing of all hope, -there are signs of light at the end of the tunnel; but only the strong will survive. Just like Adam.

Having a business not only survive but thrive in this environment may seem overwhelming. There is so much going on to keep up with, including the new jobs programs that are supposed to help small business owners, the uncertainly of income taxes,  the erratic stock market,  a new balance of power in Washington and the European economic crisis. How do you assimilate all this into your goals to run a successful business?

Here are a few options to get you started:

Go back to basics. 

As the end of 2010 quickly approaches, business owners and entrepreneurs need to take a critical look at their business model to asses if it’s working as well as it could be the new economy. I spoke at an event earlier in the year and a commercial printer told me that a bank would not lend him desperately-needed cash in order for his business to survive. When I asked him what he has done to change and adjust his business model in light of his redefining industry and environment, not surprisingly, he answered “nothing”. If you don’t have a business plan, write one with the help from a professional or get effective software to assist you. It will pay significant dividends. Not all business is just a hunch or feeling, it has to be rooted with some hard facts as well.

Be a voracious reader and remember that being well-informed is key. 

If you are not a strong reader, find other methods to listen to or assimilate world, national, and local politics as well as business moods and trends. I have repeatedly heard that what happens in Europe has no bearing on my small business in middle-America. I firmly disagree. International trends and events impact all markets, availability of money, our national debt and import and exports; all of which change our hyper-local economies. Knowing more also puts you ahead of your competition and being up on current events will help you relate to your clients better no matter what industry they are in.

Be a civic leader. 

It does not mean you have to jump into politics. I simply mean to take a keen interest in your local community. Make sure you are involved with the right local organizations and play a role that fits your personality and skills. Put yourself in a position to meet people that can impact your life and business in a positive way. Even if your personality does not lend itself to be a public speaker or an outspoken individual, become a small business advocate or a mentor to new or struggling professionals. You can make a positive impact that helps our local economy while being rewarded with a higher profile, positive public image. I am not suggesting you get involved just because you want a higher profile. Get involved for the right reasons, pay it forward, and your public image will follow suit. That’s not self serving; it’s being a good citizen.

Americans are resilient people and still believe in the dreams of our forefathers: to be prosperous and free. We can all learn a lesson from Adam from Sandwire. He was confronted with a horrific life-altering experience, but never gave up hope that he would recover and continue to build a successful, fruitful life and business. He has done both and might I add, very well. So, be hopeful and passionate this holiday season and make a commitment to get your business back to basics and believe you can not only survive, but thrive, too.