Tweet

Two Minute Truth: HOW to AVOID DEATH in a TOUGH ECONOMY

Written by: Michelle Pippin

Article Overview: Learn one quick strategy for surviving a tough economy! Um.... not appropriate for the very sensitive animal rights activist or the chronic excuse maker!

Two Minute Truth: HOW to AVOID DEATH in a TOUGH ECONOMY

I grew up in a very rural area of Virginia... where we learned (in drivers education

and from our parents) which animals we should HIT if they ran in front of us

and which we should try (for our own safety) to avoid hitting.

For example, if a squirrel (or cat or small dog or muskrat or raccoon)

ran across the road, don't risk your life trying to avoid the animal...

risking running off the road or driving head on into another car. Their advice?

Just run over it.

But, if it was a large deer or horse or cow in the road, we should try to

avoid the collision. Because the collision with the animal could cause enough

damage to harm us.

What always shocked me was how these animals wouldn't move. They would

see you coming and FREEZE.

Right now, the truth is that many businesses are

paralyzed by the same fear that gripped these animals. Instead of using the

economic threat to motivate them to create FAST, SERIOUS improvements..

(making it okay to be afraid) they are pulling back, becoming defensive, and

trying to maintain rather than move forward. BIG MISTAKE..

Because if I learned anything growing up in the country it was this:

STANDING STILL WILL GET YOU KILLED.

Related Articles
  A Tough Economy Can be Good for Your Career
  Is My Boss an Idiot? Clues you may have an IDIOT for a boss...
  MLM rags to riches in a downward economy
  Focus On Where You Want To Go, Not The Wall!
  It's Not the Economy - It's Your Attitude!

Article Tags: animals, big mistake, br, cow, deer, drivers education, economic threat, fear, improvements, muskrat, nbsp, parents, raccoon, risk your life, rural area, squirrel, truth



Related Forum Posts
Me Too - So.... - I write. Its a form of 'pull' marketing that suits me, though I'm quite an outgoing person. I know all the stuff about it not being me, 'they're just not ready yet'. Truth is I'm not good with rejection and will walk if I get too much of it - so I do it differently. Each to his own I guess. Still, I wish I had the guts to do those 500, just to say 'I did it'! Will read that article!
Re: Do Articles For Businesswomen need to be written differently - One of the best books ever written to illustrate this point beautifully, half the book is written in a story style and then the same thing is written again in more of a text book style. The book is The One Minute Millionaire by Mark Victor Hansen and Robert G. Allen. Quite different and I am sure that each half appeals to different people in different ways. MichelleJ
Marketing vs Web Optimizers vs Usability - Hi BigJim22, I must be honest - I haven't really read a lot of Seth's articles on web site strategies. What I have found though is that there always seems to be a three way conflict between marketing ideas, SEO strategies and usability issues when doing web development. The secret is to balance between the ideal situation for each of these. Since a website needs to be found, visited and acted upon we need a strong combination of marketing, SEO and usability to be successful. It's something we struggle with constantly at Last Minute Training and I'm sad to say - we still haven't found the right combination.
Re: Did you reach your goal this year? - I love the honesty in this thread. There is so much power in that! It's reassuring to remember that entrepreneurship is TOUGH. But I find that very motivating. But to know that we all CAN do it, if we only stay the course. Sometimes I can compare myself with the worlds most famous whoever, and then feel discouraged. But that's not really realistic now is it? I've had a lot of ups and downs since I moved to Manhattan 3 years ago, and last year was no exception. I've been really surprised by some happy developments though -- just when you think everything is going to fail, something good happens! Last year, I'm most proud of being invited to speak at 3 different events, getting 6 new clients, and having a magazine article published about my coaching. A few years ago I never would have thought I could do any of that -- I had some really frustrating times where I was seeming to get nowhere. So for me, dealing w/ disappointment,frustration, and having realistic expectations has improved over the last 5 years, and now it's helped me to become a better coach for others going through the same thing. I really do understand what it's like to move to NYC alone w/ a suitcase, not have an apartment,and meanwhile try to start a business w/o support. It was sort of a right of passage for me. Side note story, but sort of represents some of the feelings I'm talking about here -- I used to make paintings. I'd sell them online. I made one called "idealism" which was basically showing how there is no place for idealism, art, or new ideas is a society of grids and stop lights and cubicles. It was an extremely low time for me, and I wanted to take all of my paintings to the dumpster -- I almost did! My mom called me and insisted that I not throw them out. Within a month, a stranger in NYC (I was still in AZ at the time), bought my idealism painting. This buyer must have felt the same way I did, and that alone proved to me that there WAS a place for what I had to offer in the world -- even if I couldn't see it at the time. I then moved to NYC where there was much more of a place for what I had to offer. Moments like that drive me forward, past whatever doesn't seem to be working.
Re: Cash up front ... or Royalties? - There are so many amazing stories here. Most my inventions were created on the job and are the property of my employer. Cash up front if you are out of options is what some people must do. These people may consider a 5 year contract. This would allow them to renegotiate another license when they are stronger financially. Truth is most people that are in financial trouble today are still in trouble 5 years later. Discipline and control of your own life is priceless. An example of cash up front versus royalties is "Star Wars" Harrison Ford (Hans Solo) took cash up front. He needed the money. Alec Ginness (Obiwankonbi) took royalties. I believe the force is still paying.


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

SEO Gurus, Software and Ebooks

What I Really Want Is...

Top 5 Tips for Better Online Ads

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.