No one’s going to pretend that things aren’t challenging, but that might not be a bad thing. The following are five strategies for shifting your perspective and changing your set-in-stone way of doing business.

1) Shift your perspective. These are volatile times, but learn to view these economic challenges not as obstacles, but as opportunities. When the media goes on and on about the doom and gloom of the bad economy, remember this is a ship that is slowing down to change direction, not a ship that is sinking. Market corrections are being made. As some doors close, others open. So get excited about the shifts. Try other doors. A setback can stop you in your tracks or set you on a new path towards success.

2) Review how you’re currently running your business and see what internal shifts can be made to implement new systems, streamline your process, and build your team.

3) Look for new target markets and new ways to present your product or service. Brainstorm. Don’t censor yourself. Throw out any ideas, no matter how silly they may sound. View your business from your customer’s point of view; view your business from different perspectives and you’ll be surprised at what you’ll learn.

4) Move forward on the marketing, promotional and public relations fronts. The worst thing a business can do in hard economic times is to pull the marketing plug. That is like pulling your customer lifeline. This is the exact time that you want to reach out to your customers.

5) Develop creative PR and media relations story ideas. Advertising can be expensive and you might need to be more conservative on that front, but that is all the more reason to be more creative on the public relations front. Remember the media is looking for stories. Look at your business from the perspective of an editor or producer; write out a list of five different compelling story ideas. Turn those ideas into press releases and start pitching them.

Copyright © Anthony Mora 2009

Author's Bio: 

Anthony Mora began his media career as a journalist and magazine editor. In 1990, Anthony formed Anthony Mora Communications, Inc., a Los Angeles-based public relations company that has placed clients in: Time, Newsweek, 60 Minutes, CNN, USA Today, Oprah, The New York Times, Vogue, and other media. Anthony, who is the author of “Spin to Win," has been featured in: USA Today, Newsweek, The New York Times, , The Wall Street Journal, The BBC, CNN, Fox News, and other media outlets.