Unify your energies. - Put your energy and effort into doing one project at a time. When all of your energies are working in same direction, your effectiveness is greatest. Think of light again, when all of its energy is aligned in a single beam aimed at a single target, a laser beam, it can cut through anything.

Simplify your life. Decide what your priorities are and eliminate everything that distracts you. It is not easy and you need to make choices. Don’t allow yourself to get scattered. Know what you want to achieve and organize your life around it. Stephen King is such a prolific writer because he disciplines himself to write 2000 words a day – writing in early mornings. He does nothing else until those 2000 words are done. Stephen King is focused.

When you know exactly what you want and all your efforts are focused on achieving it you will feel alive. You will be alert and invigorated and you will certainly accomplish your goals.

Quotes

“You can focus on what you’re thankful for and become a better person, or you can focus on what you’re disappointed about and become a bitter person.” Mark Goulston (author of Get Out of Your Own Way).

“Your focus is your reality.” Qui Gon Jin (Star Wars I)

Second, offer lower prices. Wait, hear me out! With business down you may be thinking, "How can I lower prices if I don't have any business?" Well, maybe those lower prices are just what you need to bring in some customers. Use those flyers you bartered for to advertise a 20% off recession special, and you may find your phone ringing again. Someone who couldn't spend $100 can maybe spend $80, and cheaper business is better than no business, right?

Third, use your downtime to improve your operation. When we're busy, it's really easy to let day to day things fall by wayside. Little maintenance projects may be sitting on your desk, half-finished, buried under invoices and trade papers. Dig them out. Clean house and have your employees (if any) do same. Go through your desk and get rid of anything that isn't pertinent. Catch up on customer correspondence. Write an article or two to submit to business journals about your business. Basically, make sure that your business is running at maximum efficiency for that time when customers start calling again.

So you see, without spending much money, we can really start to improve things. With a little faith and a little creativity, we can make it through these troubled times.