I just got off the phone with two of my good friends. One in Michigan. One in Indiana. Two States that are hit hard by automotive industry meltdown in the recent years and probably not the States that come to mind when you think, " Hottest Places To Start A Business" type of list that gets published in business magazines all the time.
One of them works full time, in Industrial Sales. Another one, had a business that was related to the auto industry and it was going nowhere for the last three years and finally, last year, with a very heavy but determined heart, he shut it down.
I called both of them in early January to see what they were up to in the New Year and both of them asked me about some business ideas they have been tossing around. They also wanted me to give them some ideas on how to talk to their families about the plan of starting a new business smack dab in a recession.
I liked one idea better than the other for both of them. Told both of them what I thought the pros and cons were and if I were doing it how would I go around launching the business. We brainstormed 3 big marketing strategies on the spot and thought that should be enough for the launch.
As far as launching or even thinking about starting a new business during a recession - my only comment was, "Play your game." Do whatever you have to do and then some. Hustle. Go out and meet people, as most are not moving. Put up a website that sells. Make phone calls. Make lots of noise. Shake the trees and see what falls down. Don't worry about anything. Don't pay attention to anything. Just do what you know is right for your business. Start. Tweak. Execute.
That was around three months ago. After couple of frustrating slow ignition, they are both off to a roaring start. Turns out that even during recessions, people got to eat, people got to go places, people got to sell what they are selling, people need to run businesses, buy and sell real estate, get married, have babies, live their lives.
And they are all looking for help that you can provide.
