Talk, communicate, talk, write, talk. Let’s have lunch and talk. Excuse me while I take this important call….I’m so sorry. Let’s write about our thoughts and experiences and feelings. Let’s let everyone know everything. Let’s IM, tweet, text and discuss our way through another day. Phew….wasn’t that enlightening? Wasn’t that great? Isn’t the world a better place now that everyone is “in touch”?
Seems to me that in our world, the idea of talking or communicating about something is replacing actually doing something. Huh? I see it with small businesses all the time. I see it in myself. I have bought in just as much as the next guy. Shame on me. I’ll be honest with you though…..I don’t like it and I aim to make a change.
If you are a small business person interested in making your business thrive through WHATEVER economic climate exists here are some actionable items to actually do:
1. Stop wasting money on junk advertising. If you can’t measure it you can’t improve it. It’s that simple.
2. Stop using the economy as an excuse. It’s not going to change when you sit around and complain about it. In fact, it’s our very inaction that is making it worse for all of us.
3. Admit that you don’t know everything. It says in the Bible that “First pride, then the crash— the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.” Proverbs 16:18 (The Message translation). That wisdom hasn’t been around for thousands of years because it’s faulty.
4. Take a chance. If you have never done it before don’t dismiss it out of hand. If you have a pat excuse for something new try just putting that aside for a minute and take a good long look at the new option. Stop delaying success with preconceived notions of what will or will not work.
5. Find a way. Fighters will make it through these trying times.
Since talk is cheap I better take my own advice. I need to stop “communicating” and start doing.
SMB Takeaway – It’s time to “Put up or shut up”. Tough times call for real action which may require change. Do you have it in you to make it through?
Thanks and have a great (and action filled) day.
