Has the “recession” hit your business?  Have you felt like there is less business walking through your door (literally and figuratively)?  The most important question, though, is what can you do about it?

Economic cycles have been around as long as we’ve had a free market economy.  And while it’s more fun to be in the middle of an economic boom, there have always been downturns.  Here are some ideas on how you can increase your sales and take back the control in your business.

1. Don’t Believe the Hype – Whatever you read or see in the press, remember that the U.S. economy is still the biggest and wealthiest in the history of the world.  Many, many people are doing just fine, in fact, many businesses are growing.  Bad news sells, and the media wants to sell newspapers and commercial time, not put you in the best frame of mind.  The attitude with which you go about your business has important ramifications – if you look for doom and gloom, you’ll find it.

2. Stop Worrying and Start Moving – The problem with all of this negative information is that it paralyzes people with fear.  It is true that there is less “low-hanging fruit” in a slower economy.  So get out there and put some effort into your business.  Make more phone calls, participate in more Chamber events (wink, wink), and do something besides just sitting there worrying about what will happen with your business.  John F. Kennedy said “Things do not happen.  Things are made to happen.”

3. Do Something Different – If you find that doing what you used to in your business isn’t getting you the same results, change what you are doing!  This isn’t the time to just stick to the same old story.  Mix up things in your business.  Try a marketing avenue you’ve never tried before.  Find a new business to partner with or put a twist on your products and services so they will appeal to a new demographic.

4. Improve Your Business – Is it time to get better at what you do? Look for areas of opportunity where you can become more productive, efficient, or profitable.  Looking in the mirror and honestly assessing your business can be scary, but it’s the first step to improvement.  Use the slowdown as an impetus to revamp how you do business.  Strong businesses come out of down times even stronger – make sure yours is one of them.

5. Stay Positive – It’s not enough to avoid the negative news that’s out there, maintain your own positive mental attitude.  Good things come to those who think about good things.