Whether you are just trying to survive or you want to grow your business - whatever you do, you are going to have to do it better and faster than your competition

The last year has seen unprecedented challenges to our financial institutions and economic stability, and also I believe, to how we should run and control our businesses. As governments and financial institutions continue to try and repair the damage that has been done, businesses and individuals continue to try and assess exactly how they will be affected, and more importantly - what they should be doing.

The view of the media, whenever I feel brave enough and strong enough to read the headlines, seems to be one of unrelenting gloom and doom. We seem to be frozen in time, wondering what is going to happen next, hoping that someone will wave a magic wand and solve our problems. Even businesses that are doing well seem to doubt their own abilities, and the strength of their businesses to survive. There is a tangible lack of confidence and hope. Is this the reality of where we are, or is it a perception based on events that appear to be out of our control, and which we do not fully understand?

"Reality doesn't bite, rather our perception of reality bites." - Anthony J. Dangelo

Whatever the economic outlook might be, I believe we need to have confidence in our own beliefs, abilities and experiences, so that we can control how we see and react to the world around us. Our purpose is to survive, to develop, and to grow - both as individuals and as businesses. We need to get back into the driving seat, and take back control of our lives and our businesses!

To achieve this we are going to have to change both our mindset, and how we run our businesses. The main game in town at the moment is ‘survival of the fittest’, and that means that all businesses - big and small - need to understand exactly what it takes to run a successful business. They need to make sure that they are covering all the bases in every part of their business. They need to understand and apply fundamental business practices, tools and strategies.

So, what can you do? You will need to spend more time working on your business and less time working in it. Difficult, but not impossible

Whether you are just trying to survive or you want to grow your business - whatever you do, you are going to have to do it better and faster than your competition. You will need to think smarter and work smarter, be flexible, and you will have to innovate, differentiate and motivate. You will need to manage your time, your processes, and your people - you must pursue excellence in everything you do, and …

Remember to go the extra mile - it's not as crowded as the first.

Is it all really gloom and doom? I don’t believe so. Whilst I appreciate that there are obstacles and hurdles on the road to economic recovery, I also recognise that there are also opportunities for those that are looking out for them.

So where do you start? As with every journey - you start with the first step, and then you just keep taking another step until you reach your goal. You may well need some help on the journey, but the important thing though is to - take that first step.