The Side Note

We are going to deviate a little from our regular topics of marketing, advertising and public relations because I would like to address business in general right now.

I recently attended the International Franchise Association International Convention in San Diego, California. During the convention Matthew R. Shay, president and CEO of the International Franchise Association, and former President Bill Clinton each addressed the topic of the 2009 Business Economic Outlook. Shay and Clinton both stated that the current economic stimulus plan did not do nearly enough to help small to medium sized businesses in these economic times. This statement hit home, hard. Not only am I president and partial owner of a business that fits this description, but according to the Small Business Association, in 2007 small firms with fewer than 500 employees represent 99.9 percent of the 27.2 million businesses in the United States. Clearly, this means that there is a high likelihood that you are employed by a company that fits into this category. The current stimulus package is not going to help your employer much.

The point of this posting is not to make a political statement, but rather a simple statement. The backbone of our economy is built on small to medium sized companies creating and selling products or providing services that they in turn get paid for. And an economic recovery will not happen unless these same companies are making money and paying salaries to employees, who can then go out and spend their salary on other goods and services. The Federal Government is not going to help us get there. So what are we going to do to solve this problem on our own? What are you going to do?

I have hosted podcasts and webinars on marketing in a tough economy, and I want to reiterate a feeling I have already tried to express. We – business owners, employees, partners – all need to be committed to and confident about selling our products and services. It looks like we are going to have to claw our way out of this economic black hole on our own. But we can do it. Look out your window and see the people driving around, going to lunch and buying coffee. People are still consuming. Maybe they are consuming to a lesser degree than they were a year ago, but they are still consuming. So go after them. Go get them. Don’t become complacent in the work you are doing. Work harder and smarter to continue to sell your services and products. We may have to force this recovery on our own, but we can do it and we must do it.

How are you going to help change this economy?