There’s a lot of fear these days that is a direct result of the losses people have experienced with this “economy” and the changes we are experiencing as we live our lives. I recently became curious and wondered if there were people and businesses doing well during this “recession” or “economic downturn.” I wondered too if the media was correct in the doom and gloom assessments that we were and are being pummeled with.
Before beginning, I want to preface what I am about to share with the acknowledgement that many have suffered enormous losses during the last year or so. The focus of this note is not about loss and suffering. It’s about the good that is happening and the mindset that goes with a different outcome.
It felt important to share something extraordinary that I have observed since asking the question. As I contemplated the idea of recession and looked at it through the lense of law of attraction, I discovered something very interesting. There are many business owners out there who are thriving and may be having their best year ever in their businesses!
It all started at a popular Italian restaurant here in the desert. I was there one night about 2 months ago with my friend Linda. We arrived about 6:30 and managed to get the last table in the bar. (You see we did not have reservations and we were both operating under the assumption that it was early enough and the economy bad enough that this was not a problem.)
Well, we were quite surprised because this place was mobbed and there were often 20 people waiting in the entry way for their tables. I had an opportunity to ask the owner if he had been effected by the recession and he proudly announced “there is no recession at my restaurant!”
Being the curious person that I am caused me to probe deeper. One of the metrics restaurants use is the dollars per person a customer spends. So I asked him if he had noticed a decrease in this number. He replied that he hadn’t and looked at me as if I was asking the same question again. The liveliness of the restaurant was remarkable too! Here were all these amazingly happy people enjoying each other’s company, listening to music and spending money.
I coach a couple of restaurant owners with exceptional and wonderful restaurants, exquisite food and they are having a different experience. Keep reading to learn my view point of why . . .
It wasn’t too long after this experience that I was talking with the person who I use for manicures and pedicures. I thought I would ask her if her client base had decreased or if people were using her services less frequently. She replied that she was completely booked until the end of May when the season in the desert is over and many of the snowbirds return to their summer homes.
Another successful small business owner whose revenue has not been impacted by the economy.
Last week at my Chiropractor’s office, I asked him the same question. He looked at me and said I am having my best year ever; consistently treating 60 patients a day. He went on to say he was so tired he fell asleep on the golf course on his day off.
I know another Chiropractor who’s not having that experience. Are you wondering what the Chiropractor, nail technician and successful restaurant owner have in common? Keep reading . . we’re getting there!
A former client and caterer acknowledged that while revenues were down in her gourmet store her catering revenues were up and way up! She has now been discovered by a couple of the area’s celebrities and is preparing lots of food for them.
Once again an interesting conversation because a week after we talked I met a neighbor who has a catering business and told me he was reinventing himself as a landscape gardener because no one was buying catering services anymore.
Another friend owns a shipping business and deals with the post office, UPS, FedEx and other shipping companies. He provides an exceptional level of service with a genuine caring for the people his business serves. He’s been telling me how busy his business is and how the economy is not seeming to have an impact on his revenues. Last week he called to tell me April was a record month for his store.
Interesting, I thought, as at least 3 UPS shipping stores have closed in this area in the last year.
Several coaches I know had record months in April too. And I talk to coaches everyday who are struggling with their income and blame it on the economy.
Time to ask myself and observe what was remarkable about all of these people? The discoveries were simple and it’s usually the simple things that we often forget about.
This lead to the list of the Top 5 Ways to Lose the Recession Mindset
1. Each of the still successful business owners that I talked to demonstrated the amazing quality of bringing their best self to the business. What do I mean by this? They are not absentee owners. They are there present and happily engaging in the business they chose
Are you bringing your best self to your business? As an employee or in any other capacity . . . Choose to be the best you can be and be grateful for the opportunity you are experiencing; after all you chose it! Remember the restaurant owners I coach? They are often not at their restaurants.
2. The business owners doing well were also amazingly good at keeping their focus and attention on what they want; instead of what they fear.
Notice what you are focused on. Is your attention on your desired end result or on something you fear?
3. Delivering the best service and attention to detail was a shared trait among all who were doing well. When I was at the first restaurant I mentioned on another occasion, the owner noticed we were not eating the appetizer we ordered. He came to our table, asked us why, took it away, and came back to tell us we were correct, it was not good and he had ordered something else for us. Are you present, or checked out? What have you delegated that you need to take a look at? Are you multitasking? Would you pay someone what you ask for the products and services you are promoting?
4. None of these people were talking about the recession, economy or how bad things are. Each, while acknowledging that some people are having difficult times, chooses to focus on what they are grateful for and experiencing instead. This is hugely powerful because energy flows where attention goes and if you are focused on how bad everything is you’re right! Time to tell a new story . The one you are going for instead of the one that seems to be real now.
5. The successful business people I have discussed in this note all have a plan. The plan is not about how am I going to cope in times of loss; it’s about how am I going to deliver the best products and services at a good price and be remarkable doing it? These people are on purpose. Do you have a plan? I am amazed at the number of people I talk with during breakthrough or coaching sessions who have not developed a simple plan. How will you know that you have gotten where you are wanting to go with out a plan that defines your goals and benchmarks that are the indicators you’re headed in the right direction?
The Remarkable Business Owners are the successful owners.
Will you be remarkable or forgettable?
Join me for “The Economy Shift”™
Join me, on Monday May 27, 2009 at 10AM Pacific time for “The Economy Shift”™. During this 60 minute call I will be joined by Perenna Fleming and we are going to focus on permanently erasing the limited beliefs and programming associated with the recession mindset.
I want recession freedom… let me in!
http://www.rockitcoaching.com/economyshift/
Don’t worry if you can’t attend- just register and you will be sent a link to the recording.