Growing Business In Down Timesby Randy Gage
Not too long ago, I spoke at the Central European Direct Marketing Congress. One evening, I was invited to an exclusive private dinner, with a small group of the most influential business leaders in the region... One of the men (and yes, they were all men) was the CEO of a large fashion house that has been struggling as of late. I spoke about how a “magalog” might energize his business. He said he felt the downturn was because the area was influenced by Germany, and the Germans had recently changed their priorities, and no longer saw fashion as a high priority. People around the table sagely nodded their heads in agreement. Come again? He had the belief that the Germans somehow cast a spell over the region, based on their disregard for fashion. And because he voiced it, the other colleagues in other fields assumed it to be true. “Are you kidding me?” I exclaimed. “The Germans haven’t had any regard for fashion in decades! Why would the people here all of a sudden be influenced by this? They are much more likely to be swayed by what is going on closer in Italy, where fashion still reigns supreme.” In fact, I stopped in Paris on the way there, and the way back, and I can tell you fashion there is still going quite strong in all the fashion centers. And I have the credit card bills to prove it! But our fashion mogul chose to believe that it wasn’t. Why? Because that belief justified the poor results he is experiencing. He has “confirmation bias,” like a lot of people in the world today. And they all have “evidence” to support their “facts.” A lot of speakers I know are hurting right now. Because they have bought into the whole idea of the dot-com meltdown, reduced travel budgets, companies cutting back on training, the 9/11 recession, etc. I choose not to participate in those things. So last year I had my best year ever, and this year promises to make last year look sick! Because I never got off my game plan. Even in the worst downturn and bad economic conditions, savvy marketers still prosper. “The herd” holds back, waiting for better times. Smart people use the decrease in competing marketing messages to capture greater market share. So even when an industry is in a decline—and especially when it is—you can move forward and do good business. So what are you doing right now? For more than 15 years, Randy Gage has been helping people transform self-limiting beliefs into self-fulfilling breakthroughs to achieve their dreams. Randy Gage is a modern day explorer in the field of body-mind development and personal growth. He is the author of the best-selling albums, Dynamic Development and Prosperity and director of BreakthroughU.com. For more resources and to subscribe to Randy's free ezine newsletters click here now. Copyright © Randy Gage All rights reserved worldwide.
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