Right now there are more people being laid off and probably looking for opportunities, especially possibility of working at home and spending more time with family, walking kids to bus and picking them up again - having more precious time with those who mean so much. If new people are coming to Internet scene, they will need more of tools and tips to help them promote and learn to be web-savvy. These tools and services should do well, also, if they are truly of value and deliver as promised.

Think about products and services you have available to offer, and figure out reaspons people will want them now. If you cannot figure out why anyone would want to buy into it now, put it aside and don't waste any effort on it. If you can find an "angle" that will make it of value in these times, then use that and go promote it.

Think about your direction and plan your business focus accordingly. Shift it as needed for times. And don't give up - times are tough for everyone right now - you can still figure out how to make things work if you sit back, re-evaluate, and re-focus.

It also means that, sometimes, if you have to juggle from one area of budget to make up for a shortfall in another area temporarily - you've got cash to do it. Or, if you have to put out a great deal of money for seasonal inventory, for example, but you won't make it back in sales for several months, you can manage - if you have a positive cash flow.

4. Mission.

You may think that your business will 'make it or break it' based on your cash flow, but equally important to successful life of your business is its mission.

What is it that your business is setting out to accomplish? If you are not too sure about what your company's mission is, think of it this way. Your business - whether you are selling widgets or words - will not succeed unless it is filling a consumer need. Consumers have needs because they have problems that must be solved.

So, quite simply, if your business can provide a SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM, you'll succeed. Write out a mission statement detailing what 'problem' is, and how whatever your company has will solve that problem - and you've got yourself a mission statement.

Keep these four things in mind throughout life of your business, and you're bound to succeed.