What control do you have over the economy?

None really. However, you have 100 percent, complete and total control over your own mindset. Believe me, your mindset is the most important thing right now.

If you can keep calm, and actually see the opportunities available to you right now, when everyone else sees threats – what do you think is going to happen? You'll find more clients who are perfect for you. And you'll grow your business, your sales, your profits and your wealth faster.

If you are a real entrepreneur, you’ll be looking for the opportunity in here. People still need and want your product or service. Sure, you can do your part to change/save the world, but for now, I recommend building your own strength for what’s coming down the road. As if you were in a sailboat, how would you trim your sails (sales) to keep going?

I recommend that you open your business plan (since you likely have BizPlanBuilder) and first review what it is that you offer – I mean You, then your business. How might you tweak your business? How can you further know yourself and stay on track with your purpose in life and values no matter what. When they say, “The sky is falling!” You cover your ears and say, “la la la la…” and focus your mind on the following thoughts:

=>Where is the opportunity? How can I capitalize on this?
=>What deals can I take advantage of?
=>I’ll re-do my financial projections (using the BizPlanBuilder model). What needs to change? How can I re-prioritize?
=>Who can I collaborate with?
=>How can I support my friends’ businesses? (That also means paying their price, not asking for a discount!)
=>How can I buy from the local businesses and perhaps avoid the big box stores? (Seems it would be more useful to build relationships with local merchants wouldn’t it? I would introduce myself to the business owner and tell them I came here instead of Wal-Mart... and invite them to my business.)
=>Who can I call to rekindle an old relationship? Rebuild my relationships before I may want something from them. =>What can I offer them? (My girlfriend from college just emailed me!)
=>What do I have that I can appreciate? (God & Co. seems to bring more of what you think about… Complain or appreciate? What are you praying for?)
=>What needs do my customers and potential customers have now?
=>Choose with whom I’m around with consciousness to make sure I am influenced by quality relationships (avoid the doomsayers, etc. and hang those who are looking for solutions.)
=>Everything comes in waves. Paddle a bit and ride this wave. Paddle some more and ride the next one.
=>Find more ways to have more fun!
=>Keep this ‘prayer’ handy:

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change…
The courage to change the things I can…
and the wisdom to know the difference."
~ Reinhold Niebuhn, 1918

Be willing to cope with some confusion for a while, and shape / shift your plan as you go. Allow some disorder, and then out of it create order. If you get too detailed in the beginning you may find yourself worrying over low-priority potential problems and non-productive details, instead of what’s really important – getting the job done.

Here is an interesting brief podcast on this subject from my long-time friends and mentors at Productive Learning & Leisure: http://xtraordinaryliving.blogspot.com/2008/09/podcast-50-sky-is-falling.html

~ Burke Franklin, Founder & CEO of JIAN, Developer: BizPlanBuilder Software, Author: Business Black Belt