SmallBizResource Blog -- Productivity

What To Do When Business Is Slow (Or Nonexistent)

Posted by Gayle Kesten Thursday, Jan 24, 2008, 02:40 PM ET

Stock-market instability. Looming layoffs at Yahoo, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America and Sprint. We’re a mere 24 days into the New Year and the business world resembles something like the gray New York sky outside my home-office window.

One bright spot: President Bush and friends are considering an emergency tax break for companies in the red as part of a bigger plan to stimulate this shaky economy. You don’t have to be one of the big corporate players to benefit from it, either.

A handful of proactive thinkers from around the blogosphere have also read the possible recession-writing on the wall and are offering up their suggestions. You might think some of their tips are no-brainers, but it’s easy to lose sight of even the obvious when times get tough.

The first batch comes from Robert Scoble, of Scobelizer blog fame. While reading his advice about what to do if you find yourself on the wrong side of a pink slip, I was struck by the parallels of job-hunting and business-building. Both involve plenty of networking, training programs and time spent in pursuit of your goal. Both can also put you in the path of government assistance. Apply if you need it.

Another compilation that caught my eye comes from AllFreelance.com, a blog that targets freelancers and the self-employed. (Hel-lo!) This 26-point list, which will help fill your time when your days seem too quiet, reminds me of all the administrative details I need to catch up on ASAP. Blech.

OK, say a recession does happen. No matter what you’ve done to fortify your business, you still have to be financially practical. The author behind The Cube Monkey Web site, which promotes “business success and personal development,” proposes a half-dozen ways to rethink and get a grip of your spending. Even if numbers make your eyes glaze over, it's a worthy read and easy to understand.

Productivity