Staying aggressive in a poor economy…

It is only natural in a poor economy, you tend to let things happen to you and your business instead of letting “you” happen to your business world.

As clients cut back or new business slows or the media shrinks in the case of PR firms like ours, you tend to play defense instead of offense and just hold onto to what you have instead of building on it and going for more.  This stance obvious leads to a murky middle ground that is not satisfying to you, your employees, your clients or your business.  So how can you break out of this?  Here are some thoughts:

• First, admit you have a problem:  The first step is to agree with yourself that you have been laying back and letting things happen to you.  There is nothing wrong with this and it is usually the first step on the road to recovery.
• Take some risk:  Not the “I’m going to do something stupid risk,” but the “I’m going to force myself out of my comfort zone” type of risk.  Risk by the nature of it makes you more aggressive.
• Enlist the help of the rest of your organization:  When you lay it out in front of them most of your partners, co-workers, employees will admit they have been laying back as well.  Most of them will welcome the challenge even though they may share their initial discomfort.
• Challenge your customers or clients:  They hired you to not only to perform a service, but also to provide expertise.  If they feel that you are not being aggressive and challenging them, they will likely go off and find someone else who does.
• Set a six-month goal:  Usually financial but this goal can be physical or spiritual as well.

There are more but with the holiday and all I don’t want to take up too much time.  Also remember that aggressiveness sets you up for a quicker bounce back once the economy really turns for the better.

Please share what you do to reignite your business aggressiveness, I’d love to know.