You Refuse to Participate in this Recession? Get a Clue!

So many of us in the consulting and sales training industry have been preaching about not letting yourself get sucked into negative thinking in these touch economic times. This has got to have been the number one topic in the last few months in new blog posts and articles from the business and sales training community.

But "not getting down about the economy" is not the same as "fooling yourself that the economy doesn't suck." It does suck. That's why I disagree with the folks who cleverly say, "I refuse to participate in this recession." Recession (and there's been increasing mention of economic "depression" lately) is here and we must accept it and face it head-on. "Refusing to participate in the recession" is naive and a recipe for disaster.

That's why I like Seth Godin's advice to real estate agents so much. His advice refuses to accept defeat, but embraces the reality of the recession in which we all participate, like it or not. Read his post, even if you're not a real estate broker. All of us must create new tactics for success (and for some, it's a matter of survival). And I'm certain that people selling cabinetry and automobiles and shoes can find a way to modify Seth's advice for their unique situations.

[Speaking of new tactics for success, my new FREE eBook, "27 Can-Do Steps to Sell More in Tough Economic Times" will be available very soon...stay tuned!]

Hey! Yeah, you! Why haven't you commented on one of these blog posts yet? C'mon, now...click "comments" below and add your comment...it's EASY...

Skip Anderson is a professional speaker, sales coach, and the Founder of Selling to Consumers Sales Training, a B2C and retail sales training and consulting company. Subscribe to our free sales tips newsletter.

Comments

[Top Sales Blog]

Skip,

I agree that you have to accept reality in order to put a realistic plan of "action" together. We all need to dig deeper to find more ways to connect and sell. If we survive or are even lucky enough to thrive in this enviroment, we can look forward to even bigger successes when the economy finally turns around.

Will Fultz

[Michael J. Maher, MBA]

Skip,

I do refuse to participate in a recession. While the world is filling full of Chicken Little's telling everyone within earshot that the world is falling apart, some of us are putting our nose to the grindstone and capturing market share (sales up 78%, revenue up 49% in REAL ESTATE!). It's not about being ignorant, it's about not becoming paralyzed and using the economy as an excuse. While your competitors go out of business, people look to replace them with the strong and positive.

Also, Seth's advice is off-base at a specific level. An agent should not be producing a newspaper for the masses, no matter how local (Newspapers can't even make money being newspapers). Tweaking Seth's suggestion, an agent should sent a bi-monthly newsletter out to the people he or she knows.

Your suggestion that B2C professionals need to think outside the box is right on. What SOLUTIONS can you add to your repertoire? Then COMMUNICATE and EDUCATE your NETWORK about your SOLUTIONS.

Keep up the good work Skip.

Michael

Michael J. Maher, MBA
Author, Seven Levels of Communication: Go from Relationships to Referrals (June 2009)
www.7LBook.com for Facebook users
www.TheMaherTeam.com <--- Kansas City real estate

P.S. Become a Fan on Facebook at www.7LBook.com and get my Communication Plan for FREE.

[Michael J. Maher, MBA]

I applaud your openness and strength to post contrasting and sometimes even contradicting comments.

Also, I meant "send" not "sent" in my previous post.

Michael J. Maher, MBA
Author, Seven Levels of Communication: Go from Relationships to Referrals (June 2009)
www.7LBook.com for Facebook users
www.TheMaherTeam.com <--- Kansas City real estate

P.S. Become a Fan on Facebook at www.7LBook.com and get my Communication Plan for FREE.

[Skip]

I can debate as aggressively as anyone on the face of the planet, and often do. But I also enjoy other points of view and learn from them. None of us can afford not to be open to other perspectives, can we?

Thanks for the nice comment and thanks for commenting. Thanks for commenting Michael.

[HGillespie]

I like your style! –and your philosophy. My “day job” is tied into government spending, so, for now, I’m doing fine. As we all know, things can change quickly. Your comments, as well as Seth Godin's are a great combination of preventive medicine and healing tonic.

[Skip]

H,

Thanks so much for your kind comments. I'm pleased your situation is plugging along fine.

[Zane11]

I agree that we are all participating in this economy, the trick is what to do while participating to make sales. I like Seth's advice.

[Bill]

I guess I'm one of those 'clever' guys b/c I've been saying that very statement - my refusal to participate in any recession.

To me, this isn't about salesmanship, but rather leadership and the ability to anticipate market swings. For instance, 24 months ago, I took my 40 person company entirely virtual - let everyone work from home - and saved for a rainy day (instead of buying that new Porsche Turbo). BTW - I founded the company during the last recession in 2001 and inked the first contract on Sept 12, 2001 (if you can believe that). No rich uncle here...

Now that the rain has started to fall, I'm in a fortunate (but not lucky) position to invest in new ideas, businesses and assets.

I hope the result of all this is a more entrepreneurial and fiscally responsible spirit in this country. Too many people are looking to others to 'take care of them' with long term job security. What our parents took for granted is now over. Time to move on and live with thicker skin and emotional intelligence when it comes to money and how we make/spend it.

This country has a 0% savings rate and our Asian counterparts are eating our lunch - literally. Middle class Chinese and Japanese savers are buying our debts in record amounts.

So no, I don't participate because thats not my mindset or reality. And its not luck...just good old fashioned hard work and living below my means so that the sky doesn't have to fall when the economy inevitably ebbs and flows.

Best wishes,

[Skip]

Thanks for your insights Bill. Hats off to you for wise and responsible planning. Although you say you aren't participating in the recession, I think you are participating, but you're winning the war because of your smart approach to your business. Congrats and may continued good fortunes come your way.

[TJ]

Hi Skip
I agree with your post. I had been saying things like your title, but then realized it was far more energizing to say it a little differently -- I won't be beaten by this recession, depression, what-have-you, but will perservere and accomplish. It is a bit of semantics, but the reality is - it is a harsh economy. Even if it isn't for your business or company (not you specifically, but other readers/posters), it is for many, many people. And to comment or pretend otherwise misses the point you were making.

[Skip]

TJ,

"I won't be beaten by this recession."

I love that. It recognizes the reality of the economy we are currently living in, while also indicates your commitment to win over it. Bravo! And thanks for commenting.

Skip

[Tom]

Great article.

I'm fortunate to be in an industry that has really been thriving during this recession, if you can believe that.

However, before I even read this advice, I've been working on optimizing our business process. I felt that using the economic downturn as an excuse to make my business more lean was worth it and will pay off well when the boom comes.

This post just re affirms my conviction.