Small Biz Bites Blog
Two viewpoints on getting through a recession
The bear market is official. While some people play the Polyanna role, others take the occasion to provide advice on managing during tough times.
First, revenue coach Kristin Zhivago counsels to get closer to your customers:
This is the time to tiptoe out of the Recession Zone and start focusing on making it easier for your customers to buy. This is the time to re-commit to your life's work, to learn everything you can. This is the time to give your revenue machine an overhaul. You'll sell more - now, during the slow time, and later, when people start spending more freely again.
All her advice for downmarket times is in the same practical vein: focus on selling and marketing.
Presenting the Harvard viewpoint are the Nashes, who last week offered advice on interviewing.
1. Build a sense of urgency for change.
2. Build a guiding coalition.
3. Create a vision for the future.
[etc.]
The full article is at their new blog.
I suppose the Zhivago and Nash approaches can be complementary, but I have a natural tendency to find common ground between viewpoints. So let me turn it over to you. What's your plan for the down times?
February 5 Update: "Riding Out the Storm" customer-retention advice from hands-on marketing sage Anne Holland, and BusinessWeek's "10 Worst Innovation Mistakes In A Recession."
